Using the Right Travel Credit Card
Using a travel credit card for your cruise expenses can significantly boost your rewards. Look for cards offering more than 1% or 1 mile per dollar on travel. Your cruise fare covers basics, but extras like drinks, fine dining, and shore excursions are perfect opportunities to rack up points.
Consider cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, which earns you 1 AAdvantage Loyalty Point per dollar spent. The United Quest Card is another solid option, earning 2 miles per dollar and helping you accumulate Premier qualifying points (PQPs) toward United Airlines status.
Sign-up bonuses can be a game-changer. For example, the Platinum Card® from American Express offers 80,000 points after spending $8,000 in the first six months – enough for a few more trips if you plan it right!
Booking through credit card portals can unlock extra perks. The Amex Platinum's Cruise Privileges Program might score you up to $300 in cabin credit on various cruise lines. Similarly, airline portals like United, American, and Delta often offer bonus miles for cruise bookings.
Don't forget about casino loyalty programs. MGM Rewards members can earn onboard credit on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, with higher-tier members even enjoying a free cruise annually.
Strategic Purchase Timing and Spending
Timing your cruise payment with a new credit card application can be a smart move. For instance, if you're about to drop $8,000 on a dream cruise, using that expense to meet the sign-up bonus requirement for the Amex Platinum could net you 80,000 points – that's about $1,600 in travel value!
Make sure to put all your onboard purchases on your travel credit card too. From specialty dining to spa treatments, every dollar spent should be working towards your next adventure. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® reward you generously for dining and travel purchases, meaning every meal and shore excursion could earn you double points.
Don't overlook off-board spending either. Many cards offer additional points for travel-related expenses like transportation to and from the cruise port. By strategically timing your payments and using the right card for all cruise-related expenses, you're investing in future travels while enjoying your current trip.
Unlock Extra Perks Through Loyalty Programs
Cruise loyalty programs can take your journey from good to fantastic. Take MSC Voyagers Club, for example. With four tiers – Classic, Silver, Gold, and Diamond – each level adds more perks to enhance your cruise experience. You could enjoy:
- A complimentary specialty restaurant meal
- Priority tender access
- A free thermal area session
MSC Voyagers Club offers an exceptional feature – status matching. If you have high-tier status with another cruise line or hotel loyalty program, you could jump straight to their Gold or Diamond tiers, enjoying elite benefits on your very first MSC cruise.
Marriott Bonvoy's partnership with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is another luxurious option. Book a yacht cruise through this program to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and enjoy elite status perks like priority boarding, exclusive lounges, and complimentary dining.
Don't underestimate the power of status matching from other loyalty programs. By leveraging your status from hotel or airline programs, you could step onto a cruise ship with a suite of perks waiting for you, transforming your entire travel experience.
Booking Through Airline Portals
Airline portals like United Cruises, American Airlines Cruises, and Delta SkyMiles Cruises can supercharge your rewards earning. These portals often offer bonus miles on top of what you'd typically earn from your credit card.
For example, booking through United Cruises as a United credit card holder could earn you up to 10 miles per dollar spent on balcony or suite rooms, with a potential of up to 60,000 MileagePlus miles plus an extra 2,500-mile bonus for each booking.
American Airlines and Delta have similar setups, often providing exclusive bonuses for their affiliated credit card users. Prices on these portals generally match direct bookings, so you're not paying more for the privilege of earning extra miles.
The real advantage here is the double-dipping opportunity. You're earning standard points from your credit card on the initial purchase, plus those juicy bonus miles from the airline portal. It's like having your cake and eating it too – while someone keeps refilling your plate!
So next time you're planning that dreamy ocean getaway, check out these airline cruise booking sites. It's a smart move for every points enthusiast looking to turn a relaxing vacation into a reward-earning opportunity.
- MSC Cruises. MSC Voyagers Club Program Overview. 2023.
- Marriott International. Marriott Bonvoy and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Partnership. 2023.
- United Airlines. United Cruises Rewards Program. 2023.
- American Airlines. American Airlines Cruises Rewards Program. 2023.
- Delta Air Lines. Delta SkyMiles Cruises Rewards Program. 2023.