Let’s be honest—cruises aren’t cheap. Between the cabin, meals, excursions, and all those little extras (looking at you, drink package), the total can add up fast. But here’s the good news: if you’ve got points or miles sitting in your account, you might be closer to setting sail than you think.
Yes, you can book a cruise with points. Real points. From your credit cards, hotel stays, even airline miles. And when done right, it can cover part—or all—of your cruise. We’re not just talking about a small discount here and there. We’re talking cabin upgrades, onboard credits, and full-blown vacations paid for with rewards you already earned.
So, if you’ve been dreaming of a balcony room in the Caribbean or a European river cruise but hesitated at the price tag, keep reading. This post walks you through how to make your points and miles work for you—starting with how to find the right programs and avoid the fine print traps.
Key Takeaways
- You can book a cruise with points using credit card, hotel, or airline rewards from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Marriott Bonvoy, and United MileagePlus.
- Travel portals make it easy to redeem points directly for cruise bookings, often at fixed rates—no complex reward charts required.
- Hotel points and airline miles can cover more than just cabins, including pre-cruise hotels, onboard credits, upgrades, and discounts.
- Sign-up bonuses and cobranded cruise credit cards offer a fast track to earning enough points for a full or partial cruise fare.
Why You Might Be Sitting on a Cruise and Not Know It
Most people think of points as something you use for flights or hotel rooms. That’s fair—it’s how many programs market them. But what often gets overlooked is that some of the best redemption value can come from travel beyond the plane or hotel lobby.
If you’ve got Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Capital One miles, you’re already set up to book a cruise with points. And if you’re a Marriott Bonvoy or United MileagePlus member? Even better. These programs have specific portals or partner options that let you put those points toward cruise fares, upgrades, or even pre-cruise hotel stays.
The best part? In many cases, it’s far simpler than transferring points to airline partners or navigating complex award charts. Booking a cruise with points is often just a matter of searching, clicking, and confirming. You don’t need to be a “points expert”—you just need to know where to look.
Best Credit Card Programs for Cruise Bookings
A few leading rewards programs allow you to book a cruise with points or miles. Each works a bit differently—some let you apply points directly, while others offer better value when redeemed through travel portals or partner programs. Here’s how they compare.
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for cruises directly through Amex Travel, typically at a rate of 1 cent per point. While that’s not the highest possible redemption value, it’s straightforward and easy to apply toward cruise bookings. The Platinum Card from American Express is a top-tier option for travelers looking to book a cruise with points, offering strong earning potential and premium perks through Amex Travel.
You may get more value by transferring points to Amex airline or hotel partners, where redemptions can reach up to 2 cents per point, depending on the partner and route. Amex also occasionally runs cruise promotions through its travel portal, offering extras like onboard credit or statement credits for select cruise lines. These limited-time offers can significantly boost the value of your points.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are among the most flexible for cruise bookings. If you use the Chase Sapphire Preferred, your points are worth 1.25 cents each when booking travel through the Chase Travel portal. With the Sapphire Reserve, that jumps to 1.5 cents per point.
Chase also offers gift cards for cruise lines such as Carnival, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line, which can be purchased directly with points and applied toward cruise fare or onboard extras. This adds another layer of flexibility, especially if you want to book directly through the cruise line.
Citi ThankYou Rewards
Citi ThankYou Rewards points can be used through the Citi Travel portal at a flat rate of 1 cent per point. You can also transfer points to various airline partners, which may yield higher value, typically up to 1.3–1.5 cents per point, depending on the program.
Pairing the Citi Premier® card with its substantial welcome bonus and transfer partners can help you earn and redeem points more efficiently for cruise travel, especially if your itinerary involves air travel or hotels as part of the trip.
Capital One Miles
Capital One Miles are versatile and straightforward. With cards like Venture Rewards or Venture X, you earn 2x miles per dollar on every purchase. Miles can be redeemed at a fixed value of 1 cent per mile through the Capital One Travel portal, including for cruises. The Venture Rewards credit card from Capital One makes it easy to earn 2x miles on every purchase, which can be redeemed toward cruise bookings or transferred to travel partners for added value.
Another unique Capital One feature is the ability to “erase” recent travel purchases—including cruise charges—within 90 days using miles. You can also transfer miles to airline loyalty programs, which may provide better value, particularly for international flights tied to cruise itineraries.
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Using Airline Miles to Book Cruises
Surprisingly, yes. You can use airline miles to book your next cruise! And this is one of the most underutilized travel hacks out there.
Let’s say you’ve been flying with United for years and have a decent stash of MileagePlus miles. You don’t need another flight anytime soon—but what about a cruise? United Cruises lets you redeem your miles directly on sailings with big-name cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian. You just log into the United Cruises portal, pick your sailing, and apply your miles.
Even better? Some cruises offer bonus miles back for booking through the portal. So you get a trip and more miles for next time.
This is especially useful if you’re not flying much this year or if your miles are close to expiring. Redeeming them for a cruise turns a passive asset into a real vacation.
Airline Cruise Booking Portals
Many airlines now offer dedicated cruise booking portals, allowing you to book a cruise with points directly—no third-party sites, no extra steps. These platforms often include added benefits like onboard credit or discounts on pre-cruise hotels, giving your miles more value than you’d get from a basic redemption.
Checking your frequent flyer program’s cruise options is a smart move, especially if you’ve built up a mileage balance and aren’t planning to book flights anytime soon.
United MileagePlus Miles
United MileagePlus Miles is one of the more user-friendly programs for cruise redemptions. Through the Cruises for MileagePlus portal, members can use miles to book sailings with major cruise lines like Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean.
The process is simple: log in, browse available cruises, and apply miles directly to the fare. Some cruises even include bonus mile offers, letting you earn while you redeem.
And if there’s any remaining balance, paying with a travel rewards card can keep the points flowing, making your cruise both rewarding and cost-efficient.
Redeeming Hotel Points for Cruise-Related Costs
Those hotel points you’ve been saving for a future trip? You might be able to use them sooner than expected. In fact, they can help you book a cruise with points—or at least cover key parts of the experience.
Marriott Bonvoy’s Cruise Partnership
Marriott Bonvoy members can redeem points through the Marriott Cruises portal, which lets you apply rewards toward sailings with lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival. Instead of using points just for hotels, you can book a cruise with points and save a few hundred dollars off your fare.
I once used leftover Bonvoy points from a work trip to take $300 off a balcony cabin—it was quick, easy, and well worth it. Marriott also offers an onboard perks program called Anchor Society, which includes extras like bonus amenities and credits once you’re on board.
Pre-Cruise Hotel Stays
If you’re traveling to the departure port from another city, hotel points can also help you stay the night before. Programs like Hilton Honors and Hyatt Rewards let you book free nights at hotels near cruise terminals, often including extras like parking or shuttle transfers.
This can be especially helpful if you’re sailing from places like PortMiami or Fort Lauderdale—no rushing to the pier, no risk of missing the ship due to delays. Some cobranded hotel cards even offer cruise-specific packages, turning points into stress-free, pre-departure comfort.
Tips to Maximize Your Points and Miles
You might think you’ve got the points-and-miles game down—until you’re staring at your rewards balance, wondering why you’re still booking inside cabins. With a little strategic effort (and maybe a bit of casino luck), you could book a cruise with points and find yourself enjoying a balcony view instead.
Meet Sign-Up Bonuses
Sign-up bonuses are one of the fastest ways to boost your rewards and book a cruise with points. Credit card issuers often offer generous welcome bonuses, usually after spending $3,000 to $4,000 in the first three months.
One of our editors picked up a Chase Sapphire Preferred last year, hit the $4,000 mark, and walked away with 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points. That’s about $750 for cruise bookings through the Chase portal—more than enough to cover a full fare or land a solid upgrade.
These big bonuses can fill your points balance quickly without changing your spending habits—just use the card for everyday expenses like groceries, gas, or bills. Instead of draining your checking account, you’ll be paying for that cabin with rewards already earned.
Leverage Cruise Line Cobranded Credit Cards
Sign-up bonuses are a great way to build your rewards, but cruise line cobranded credit cards offer perks that keep paying off trip after trip. We found this out firsthand while sailing the Caribbean—using Carnival’s co-branded Mastercard that got us priority boarding, discounted shore excursions, and onboard credits from the moment we stepped aboard.
These cards help you save money right away and earn points toward your next trip at the same time. Cruise lines like Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Disney offer similar cards, each with its own set of traveler-friendly benefits. Think room upgrades, gift shop discounts, or free drinks on deck.
With every purchase, you’re building cruise-specific points that can help you book a cruise with points faster and enjoy extras that feel more rewarding because they didn’t come out of your pocket.
Earn Extra Perks Through Casino Loyalty Programs
Casino loyalty programs aren’t just for frequent gamblers—they can unlock valuable cruise perks, even for occasional players. Many cruise ships have onboard casinos tied to rewards programs that offer benefits like cabin upgrades, spa credits, and complimentary dining.
Onboard play isn’t the only path to perks. Major land-based casino chains also partner with cruise lines. Caesars Rewards, for example, works with Norwegian Cruise Line to provide members with discounts or even complimentary sailings, depending on annual activity. MGM Resorts has a similar arrangement with Royal Caribbean through the MGM Rewards program, offering bonuses such as onboard credits and member-exclusive events.
For travelers who enjoy gaming, these partnerships can add real value—and in some cases, help book a cruise with points while enjoying extras that typically come with premium fares.
Book a Cruise With Points: Why It’s a Strategy Worth Knowing
Booking a cruise with points isn’t just a clever travel hack—it’s one of the most efficient ways to save money while unlocking extra value. Credit card programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards stand out for their flexible redemptions, transfer partners, and strong support for cruise travel.
Airline portals such as United MileagePlus Cruises also offer straightforward tools that let travelers apply miles toward cruise fares, often with added perks like onboard credit or bonus miles.
To get the most out of this approach, it’s worth aligning everyday expenses with high-earning rewards cards, targeting sign-up bonuses, and taking advantage of seasonal offers. Booking through trusted, program-affiliated platforms ensures a smooth, transparent experience.
There may be occasional restrictions—peak season surcharges or limited cabin availability—but overall, learning how to book a cruise with points opens the door to better vacations for less money. For travelers who value comfort, smart planning, and financial flexibility, this strategy is one worth mastering.
FAQs
1. Can I book a cruise with points?
Yes, you can book a cruise with points through several major credit card, hotel, and airline loyalty programs. Cards that earn transferable points like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Capital One Miles often allow direct cruise bookings or redemptions through travel portals.
2. What’s the easiest way to book a cruise using points?
The easiest way is to use a travel rewards program that offers direct cruise booking through its portal. Chase, Amex, and some airline programs provide platforms where you can apply points at checkout—no need to transfer or calculate complex award charts.
3. Do all cruise lines accept reward points?
Not all cruise lines accept points directly, but many popular ones—including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian—partner with major rewards programs. It depends on the card or platform you’re using, so check available cruise partners before you redeem.
4. Are there hidden fees when booking a cruise with points?
Yes. Even if you book a cruise with points, you’ll usually still need to pay taxes, port fees, and gratuities out of pocket. Not always, but many rewarding credit cards that let you book a cruise with points come with an annual fee. Always review the full cost breakdown before confirming your booking to avoid unexpected charges.
