If you’ve ever wondered how to cruise for free, you’re not alone. While cruises are traditionally seen as cash-heavy vacations, there are several ways to use credit card oints, hotel rewards, and even airline miles to cover most—or all—of your cruise costs. Whether you want to relax in the Caribbean, explore Europe, or sail the seas in luxury, this guide will show you how to make it happen using your hard-earned points and miles.
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How to Cruise for Free with Credit Card Points and Airline Miles
Here are the best ways to cruise for free (or close to it) using various points and rewards programs:
1. Use Credit Card Points Through Travel Portals
Some credit cards let you redeem points directly through their travel portals for cruises:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: Use points to book cruises by calling the Chase Travel Center. Value: 1.25–1.5 cents per point depending on your card.
- Amex Membership Rewards: Use points via Amex Travel or Pay with Points. Value: around 1 cent per point.
2. Use Airline Miles for Cruise Redemptions
Surprisingly, a few airlines allow cruise bookings with frequent flyer miles!
United Airlines
MileagePlus members can redeem miles for cruises. Book your cruise on cruises.mileageplus.com.
- Book major cruise lines: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian, Disney, and more.
- Value: Around 0.7–1.0 cents per mile, depending on the cruise and timing.
Book here: MileagePlus Cruise Awards
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points for Virgin Voyages Cruises
You can use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points to book Virgin Voyages, the adults-only, all-inclusive-style cruise line by Virgin.
- Redeem directly through the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for cabins on select Virgin Voyages sailings.
- Redemption rates start at 325,000 Virgin Points for two people in a Sea Terrace cabin, including taxes and fees.
- Includes all meals, tips, basic drinks, group fitness classes, and Wi-Fi—making it one of the most all-inclusive redemptions available.
Book here: Virgin Voyages
Why it’s a great deal:
- Easy fixed-rate redemptions (no dynamic pricing).
- Taxes and fees are already included.
- Can often get 1.5–2+ cents per point in value depending on sailing and season.
Pro tip: Virgin Points are easy to earn with U.S. cards like Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Capital One—all transfer 1:1 to Virgin Atlantic.
3. Use Hotel Points for Cruises
Marriott Bonvoy
You can use Marriott Cruise with Points to redeem points for a cruise.
- Includes luxury cruise experiences, sometimes with exclusive excursions or celebrity events.
- Value: Varies—can be amazing if it’s a bucket-list cruise.
- Website: Cruise with Points. You will need to call 800-596-0452 and mention the reference ID number of your selected cruise to book using your Marriott points.
Best for: once-in-a-lifetime cruise experiences like Mediterranean cruises or music festivals at sea.
4. Redeem Points for Cruise Gift Cards
You can use your points to buy cruise line gift cards from major credit card programs like Chase, Amex, and Citi. These work like cash when booking directly with:
- Carnival
- Royal Caribbean
- Disney Cruise Line
- Norwegian
- Princess
Value: Generally 1 cent per point, but can be more during promotional sales.
5. Use Travel Eraser Cards
If you have cards like Capital One Venture or Venture X, you can erase any travel charge—including cruise bookings:
- Book the cruise with your card.
- Use your miles to erase the purchase after the fact (1 cent per mile with Capital One).
- Works best when booking with travel sites that code as travel (e.g., UndercoverTourist, Cruises.com, Direct Cruise Line Websites).
6. Stack Your Strategy
Even if your points can’t cover the cruise fare, use them to cover surrounding expenses:
- Airline miles: Book your flights to the cruise port (especially international sailings).
- Hotel points: Cover pre- or post-cruise stays with Hilton, Hyatt, IHG or Marriott.
- Travel credits: Use statement credits (like the $300 from Venture X or Chase Sapphire Reserve) to cover part of the cruise or excursions.
Best Credit Cards for Cruises with Points
| Card | Why It’s Great for Cruises |
|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 1.5x point value, $300 travel credit, access to cruise phone bookings |
| Capital One Venture X | Erase cruise purchases, $300 travel credit, 2x on all purchases |
| Amex Platinum | $200 airline fee credit (use on flights), luxury cruise perks |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 1.25x point value through portal, great for gift cards + flights |
Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Learn How to Cruise for Free
Learning how to cruise for free using points and miles isn’t just for travel hackers. With a little planning and the right credit card or loyalty program, you can turn your rewards into a dreamy sailing vacation. From airline portals like United to luxury experiences through Virgin Voyages and Marriott, the possibilities are vast—and often overlooked.
Bonus: My Ideal Cruise Booking Strategy Using Points
- Use Chase points via travel concierge to cover the cruise.
- Use United miles to fly to the departure port.
- Book a Marriott hotel before the cruise with Bonvoy points.
- Use Capital One Venture to erase taxes, port fees, or excursions after the trip.
Want to learn more about redeeming points and miles for travel? Read this post next.