Table Of Content
Members of most cruise line loyalty programs keep their points at the end of each year and continue to accrue points indefinitely. That means that someone who hits the top tier in a cruise line loyalty program will remain there forever (or until the line makes a change to the program). If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.
Best cruise destination for travelers without a passport: Hawaii
You’ll be able to search for a cruise using parameters like destination, cruise length, travel dates, cruise line, cruise ship, or departure port. Kauai is the place to admire the 50th State's lushest rainforests and to cruise past the scenic cliffs of the Napali Coast. And with two ports of call on the Island of Hawaii, you'll enjoy the waterfalls of Hilo (along with access to Volcanoes National Park) and the sunny Kona coast, where snorkel trips and coffee farm visits are popular. Since you'll be cruising in U.S. territory, you don't have to worry should you need to leave the cruise early and fly back to the states because of illness or a family emergency.
Ways to earn or redeem points and miles on cruises
This card also comes with a 25,000-point bonus offer that is worth $250 towards upgrades, discounts, onboard credits, and more. Capital One offers the most flexibility of all the major issuers because you can book your cruise directly or through a travel agent. With multiple booking options, you can take advantage of additional perks and access promotional rates from travel agents and online retailers that aren't available through credit card portals. You could even stack those deals for additional savings by booking via an airline portal to earn miles. Research which of your existing loyalty rewards programs offer partnerships with cruise lines.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
If you're eager to embark on a cruise and have accumulated points, you might not have to pay for your next trip. Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
If you cruise with family or friends, we think the best perk in Holland America's program is the complimentary cruise fare for kids and extra guests staying in your cabin on select sailings. As noted above, this is a 4-Star Mariner perk that also carries over to 5-Star Mariners. Note that you will also get cruise day credits for the days you spend touring on land with Holland America cruisetours in Alaska.
If you value cruising more than a hotel stay or really have no plans to use your Marriott Bonvoy points anytime soon, booking a cruise could be a decent option. You can redeem points for a cruise certificate to apply as partial payment towards a cruise or you can pay for the entire cruise with Marriott Bonvoy points. Regardless of how many points you use, you’ll get 0.4 cents per point in value. Then scroll down the page until you see Travel (Use your points to book cruises, flights, car rental, and more).
MSC Cruises: MSC Voyagers Club
As with several other cruise line loyalty programs mentioned above, the first tier of the Mariner Society loyalty program (Star Mariner) doesn't come with too many valuable perks. Unlike some lines, Disney offers no truly over-the-top elite perks, such as the free cruise that top-tier members of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society get. It's also skimpy on handing out big discounts on shore excursions, spa treatments and other cruise line-sold services to elite members — something some other lines do.
Best cruise destinations for every type of traveler
The final way to earn points is by updating your contact details up to 72 hours before departure on your next cruise. The points-earning system for MSC Voyagers Club is a bit convoluted, as the number of points you earn on any given cruise depends on various factors. We love that Holland America will let kids sail free on select journeys at this tier.
Cruise line loyalty programs: The ultimate guide - The Points Guy
Cruise line loyalty programs: The ultimate guide.
Posted: Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Hotels
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top. Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. Through a special partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line, Club Wyndham members can redeem points for numerous cruise itineraries on a Norwegian ship.
If you don’t have enough miles, you can sometimes use a mix of miles and cash to pay for a cruise. Note that the number of points customers earn during the promotion is based on the total cruise purchase price, including taxes, insurance and processing fees. Instead, the Marriott Cruises site acts like an online travel agency to allow you to book cruises through Marriott Bonvoy. When using Marriott Bonvoy points for a cruise, you’ll get ~0.4 cents per point in value, which is less than what those points are typically worth. When you choose to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your cruise, you’ll be subject to a $24.99 processing fee, which can negate the value of some of the bonus points you can earn. Marriott Cruises is a little tricky with this fee, too — it’s not displayed until the end of the booking process after you enter passenger details and cruise line loyalty info, so it can be easy to miss.
Disney fans are known to snap up the best cabins — if not all the cabins — on unique new sailings very quickly. Elites also get unlimited free drinks from the Captain's Club menu each day except embarkation day between 5 p.m. This isn't quite the perk it used to be, though, since a basic drinks package now comes with all bookings as part of the line's new Always Included fare structure. The Select tier adds bigger discounts on internet and photo packages (25% and 30% off, respectively).
There are lots of options to pay for your entire cruise with points or to use points to get a substantial discount. As with most options for booking a cruise, using United miles isn’t the best option as far as value is concerned — you’ll get ~0.7 cents per mile when booking a cruise. United miles are generally valued at right around 1.3 cents per mile, so you’re getting less than half the value you could get if you used your miles for a flight. While it’s great to have this option, unless a cruise is the only way you want to travel, it’s not the best use of your Marriott Bonvoy points since you’ll only get 0.4 cents per point in value when booking a cruise. Marriott Bonvoy points are worth ~0.7 cents each, so you’ll miss out on some value by using Marriott Bonvoy points for a cruise. Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
No comments:
Post a Comment