Norway Fjords Cruise on a Budget
My son and me in Norway - thanks to points and miles
A 7‑night Norway Fjord Cruise with Princess Cruises is a bucket‑list trip for most travelers — but we booked ours for less than $1,300 total, including flights to Europe, a Hyatt stay in London, and onboard credit. By stacking a Princess casino offer, points and miles, and smart timing, we turned a dream itinerary into an affordable adventure.
This breakdown shows exactly how we booked it, what we paid, and how you can use the same strategy to plan your own European cruise for a fraction of the cost.
Heads up: This post has affiliate links. If you use them, I earn a tiny commission — the kind that fuels coffee, not private jets. Thanks for supporting my travel‑obsessed corner of the internet.
🎰 Princess Casino Offer: The Secret to a Cheap Cruise
I received a casino offer from Princess Cruises after spending time in the casino on my May 2024 Enchanted Princess sailing. Since then, I’ve been getting free interior cabin offers with $50 free play almost nonstop.
How Princess casino offers work:
Base fare for the cabin is waived
You pay taxes + port fees
You pay a $200 deposit, refunded as onboard credit
Offers vary, but interior cabins are the most common
You can still earn loyalty points and stack other deals
For our Norway Fjord Cruise:
Upfront cost: $620
Onboard credit: $400
Net cruise cost: $220 for 7 nights in Europe
👉 Princess Players Club: Casino Offers + Points Strategy
👉 What to Expect With a Casino Cruise Offer
This is one of the most powerful travel hacks we use — especially for expensive itineraries like Norway.
Want to check current Princess cruise prices or casino‑eligible sailings? Book Princess Cruises → Princess Cruises
✈️ Flights to London Using Points (Nashville → London → Nashville)
Our cruise departed from Southampton, so we flew into London.
Outbound Flight (Nashville → London)
65,000 miles + $75
Booked with airline miles, we used Flying Blue to fly Delta
Return Flight (London → U.S.)
Flights home from the UK always have higher taxes, but points still saved us hundreds.
60,000 Amex Membership Rewards + $300 each in taxes
Total for two people: $675
Round‑trip flights to Europe for under $700 is a win — especially in peak season.
The secret sauce to this was Transfer partners - Check out my Full Guide.
I use point.me to help find award tickets
🏨 Free Hyatt Hotel Stay in London (17,000 Points)
After the cruise, we spent a night in London before flying home. We booked the Hyatt Regency Blackfriars using points.
Cost: 17,000 Hyatt points
Location: Walkable to Parliament Square, Trafalgar Square, and the Thames
Perks: We used a Hyatt Club Access Award for free drinks + appetizers
Experience: Beautiful hotel, amazing staff, perfect for a quick stay
Check out all the Hotels we stay at on Points - Point Friendly Hotel Stays
🚐 Transfers to Southampton
To get from London to Southampton, we booked a transfer through Viator.
Why Viator works well:
Pay closer to your travel date
Easy cancellation
Great for cruise port transfers
🛳️ Norway Fjord Cruise Itinerary (Sky Princess)
We sailed the first week of August on the Sky Princess. We were scheduled for four ports but missed Olden due to a storm. Thankfully, our excursion provider, Olden Adventures, automatically refunded us before we even left the ship.
Ports We Visited
Haugesund
We visited a Viking Farm — perfect for my dad, who has Viking ancestry. He loved seeing what life might have been like for his ancestors.
Skjolden
A charming village with stunning scenery. We explored on foot and enjoyed a peaceful day. If we had known Olden would be canceled, we would have booked a RIB tour here — they sell out early.
Stavanger
We booked a fjord boat ride to Pulpit Rock. It was perfect for our multi‑generational group and one of our favorite days.
How You Can Book a Cruise Like This:
Cruise $620 with $400 back in onboard credit
Flights $675 in taxes and fees
Hotels - Free thanks to Hyatt Points
🧠 Final Thoughts
This Norway Fjord Cruise was everything we hoped for — dramatic landscapes, peaceful villages, and unforgettable moments. But what made it even better was knowing we booked it strategically:
Free cruise cabin through a casino offer
Flights to Europe on points
Free Hyatt stay in London
Smart stacking to reduce out‑of‑pocket costs
If you’ve ever thought a European cruise was out of reach, this is your sign that it’s absolutely possible with the right strategy.
📚 Related Resources
👩💼 About the Author
Julie Davis is the founder of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches families how to travel smarter using points, miles, and simple stacking strategies. She has booked hundreds of flights and hotel nights on points — including flying her son to Europe seven times before he turned 19. Julie specializes in beginner‑friendly travel hacking and real‑life examples that help families save thousands on 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:
