How I Saved $300 on a Holland America Cruise Plus Perks
How I Saved $300 on a Holland America Cruise: Step-by-Step
Cruising doesn’t have to break the bank. On my latest Holland America sailing, I combined price drops, onboard credits, and an American Express offer to save over $300—without sacrificing the experience. Here’s exactly how I did it, and how you can too.
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Step 1 Watch for Price Drops
I love using travel hacks to save big on travel. My friend/cruise agent, Mary and I have wanted to return on a Holland America cruise since our amazing cruise last December. We are also very budget-conscious. We like to cruise a lot! I had been eyeing a 4-day cruise out of Ft Lauderdale. We kept watching, and the price dropped to $880 for the cruise for an obstructed ocean view. Since we don’t spend much time in the room, this was perfect for us. A little light to help my claustrophobia, and I am good!
Step 2: Stack Onboard Credits
Mary scored us an extra $100 onboard credit when booking. That’s free money for drinks, excursions, or specialty dining. That’s why I like using a cruise agent for my cruise bookings. She can find onboard credits, etc, that I don’t have access to. Check out my review of Mary here: Certified Cruise agent - Mary Kennedy.
Step 3: Use AmEx Offers
The real win? An AmEx Offer for $300 off a $750 Holland America purchase. I added it to my card, paid for the cruise, and within a week saw the $300 credit on my statement.
💡 Pro tip: Check AmEx Offers regularly—each card has unique deals, and they refresh often. Amex Offers Save Big Explained
Step 4: Maximize Travel with Points
Flights: I booked my Nashville–Ft. Lauderdale flight for 10,549 Southwest points.
Hotels: I could have used Hyatt points for a free night at Hyatt Place Dania Beach, but since Mary lives nearby, I stayed with her.
Other Hacks
I’ve even used AmEx Offers to help my parents save on Carnival cruises—paying part of their fare with my card so they got $150 off. These little wins add up fast.
Final Thoughts
By combining price drops, onboard credits, AmEx Offers, and points, our cruise cost just $290 each—plus perks. Holland America delivered the experience we wanted, and the savings made it even sweeter.
Love cruising? Me too! Check out my Cruise Central. I share all my strategies for saving on cruising with you! How to use credit card points for travel
Let’s Travel Hack Together!
If you enjoy learning how we travel as a family using points, miles, and smart credit card strategies, I’d love for you to follow along:
