How to Use Points and Miles to Cruise More for Less
Let’s be honest:
Cruising is amazing… but the flights, hotels, and “everything before you even get on the ship” can get expensive fast.
That’s where points and miles come in. I don’t use points to pay for cruises — I use points to make cruising way cheaper, easier, and more frequent.
Here’s exactly how I do it.
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⭐ 1. I Use Points to Cover My Cruise Flights
Flights are usually the most expensive part of any cruise trip — especially Europe itineraries. So instead of paying cash, I use points to book:
Flights to the departure port
Flights home after the cruise
Positioning flights when the best deals leave from another city
This alone saves me hundreds (sometimes thousands) per cruise.
My go-to redemptions:
Chase Ultimate Rewards → United / Air Canada
Amex Membership Rewards → Delta / Air France
Citi ThankYou → American Airlines
Lazy Girl tip: I always check award flights before choosing a cruise itinerary. If flights are cheap on points, the cruise becomes an easy yes.
And if you want to see exactly how I book my cruises — step by step, with screenshots, tips, and the exact order I follow every single time — you can read my full guide here:
👉 Real Steps for Booking a Cruise
It’s one of my most helpful posts because it shows the actual process I use behind the scenes, not just the strategy.
⭐ 2. I Use Points for Cruise Hotels (Pre & Post Stay)
I never fly in the day of a cruise — and you shouldn’t either. So I use points to cover:
1–2 nights before the cruise
1 night after the cruise
Extra nights when we want to explore the port city
My favorite hotel redemptions:
Hyatt (best value, best elite perks)
Hilton (easy to earn, great for Europe)
Marriott (solid for big cities like Rome or Barcelona)
Lazy Girl tip: Hyatt is my secret weapon — fewer points, better hotels, better perks.
If you want to see the real Hyatt stays I’ve booked using points — from Barcelona to Albuquerque — check out my full hub here: 👉 Hyatt Hotels I’ve Stayed Using Points
⭐ 3. A Real-Life Example: The Time I Used Points to Erase a Charge
Here’s the thing: Travel hacking isn’t about chasing perfect redemptions — it’s about using points in a way that makes your life easier.
And yes… I once used points to erase a charge on my Capital One card.
Was it the mathematically “best” use of points? Probably not.
Did it make a dream trip a reality when cash was tight? Absolutely — and that’s what matters to me.
That redemption helped me pull off one of my favorite wins ever: 👉 My Alaska Cruise for $325
It’s the perfect example of why I always say:
There is no wrong or right way to do this — only the way that gets you traveling.
Points are a tool. Use them in the way that supports your life, your budget, and your travel dreams.
⭐ 4. I Pair Points With My Casino Strategy to Cruise More
Not everyone loves the casino — and that’s totally okay. But for me? It’s one of the most powerful ways I cruise more for less.
I pair points + casino offers to create a stacking strategy that works beautifully:
Points cover flights
Points cover hotels
Casino offers reduce cruise fares
Casino perks reduce onboard costs
Stacking them together makes cruising way more affordable
If you want to see exactly how this works, you can read the full strategy here:
👉 My Casino Strategy for Cruising More
And if you want real examples of trips I’ve booked using this exact combo — points, miles, and casino offers — you can explore them here:
Lazy Girl tip: You don’t have to use casino offers — but if you do, pairing them with points is magic.
⭐ 5. I Use Points to Stack & Save on Cruise Costs
Points don’t pay for the cruise fare itself — but they do help me save money on everything around it.
Here’s how I stack:
Use cashback portals
Use credit card offers
Use category bonuses
Use shopping portals
Use gift card stacking when available
Lazy Girl tip: I treat points like coupons — they reduce the cost of cruising without making anything complicated.
And because I’m all about stacking easy wins, I personally use Rakuten and Rove Miles to earn extra points on everyday purchases. These two portals are the simplest way to add more points to your balance without changing anything about how you shop.
I use my personal referral links for both — because I only recommend tools I actually use. If you want to see how I use them (and how quickly the points add up), you can check them out here:
👉 Rakuten
These are truly Lazy Girl‑friendly: open the app, click the store, earn the points. That’s it.
⭐ 6. I Use Points to Upgrade My Cruise Experience
Points help me save money on the basics so I can splurge on the fun stuff:
Specialty dining
Spa days
Private drivers
Better hotels
Longer trips
More cruises per year
Lazy Girl tip: Points don’t replace the cruise — they make the cruise better.
And because I’m a full‑time thermal spa girlie, I use points to free up cash for the things I actually care about — like heated stone loungers, quiet relaxation rooms, and those dreamy ocean‑view saunas.
If you want to see why I love cruise thermal spas so much (and what’s actually inside them), you can read my full guide here: 👉 Cruise Thermal Spa Guide
It’s one of my favorite posts I’ve ever written — and one of my favorite places on any ship.
⭐ 7. I Use Points to Cruise More Often
This is the real magic. By covering flights and hotels with points, I free up cash for:
More itineraries
Better cabins
Longer sailings
Bucket-list ports
Points = flexibility. Flexibility = more cruising.
⭐ 8. My Simple Lazy Girl Strategy (No Overwhelm)
I don’t do spreadsheets. I don’t do complicated award charts. I don’t chase every deal.
I keep it simple:
My 3-step Lazy Girl system:
Earn points easily through everyday spending
Redeem points strategically for flights + hotels
Use the savings to cruise more
That’s it. No gatekeeping. No overwhelm. Just smart, simple travel.
⭐ 9. Want to Start Using Points to Cruise More?
Here are the best places to begin:
⭐ About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie — a travel‑hacking mom, cruise lover, and the creator of No Point Left Behind. I teach beginner‑friendly strategies that help you travel smarter, cruise more, and spend less using points, miles, and simple Lazy Girl systems.
I’ve been travel hacking for over 20 years, and I’m obsessed with making travel feel easy, accessible, and fun — without spreadsheets, overwhelm, or gatekeeping.
When I’m not cruising with my husband, Brandon, or planning our next European adventure, you’ll find me writing guides, testing casino offers, or helping readers book their first big redemption.
Follow along for more tips, real-life examples, and beginner-friendly strategies to help you travel better — the Lazy Girl way.
If you want a cozy place to ask questions, share wins, or learn points the Lazy Girl way, come hang out in my Travel Hacking Moms Facebook Group— it’s where all the real-life conversations happen.
