How I Booked a Thanksgiving Cruise for Under $800 for Two — In a Mini‑Suite
If you’ve been around here for a minute, you know I love a good cruise deal — especially when it involves a sneaky upgrade that feels luxurious without blowing the budget. And this Thanksgiving sailing on the Island Princess is exactly that.
Not only did I score a mini‑suite for less than some people pay for an inside cabin, but our pre‑cruise travel plans got even better thanks to a last‑minute Lazy Girl pivot that saved us money, miles, and stress.
Let’s get into it.
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🌊 The Mini‑Suite Deal: Why This Was a No‑Brainer
Princess pricing has been chaotic this year — inside cabins creeping up, oceanviews disappearing, and mini‑suites sometimes dropping into “wait… is this real?” territory.
That’s exactly what happened here.
The mini‑suite was:
Cheaper than the oceanview
Only slightly more than the inside
Available in a great location
Perfect for a holiday sailing
And you know me: If a mini‑suite is even close to inside pricing, I’m taking it. Lazy Girl rule.
✈️ Updated Pre‑Cruise Travel Plan (New Flights + New Hotel + Bigger Wins)
Our original plan was simple: fly into Miami on AA miles and stay at the Hyatt. But then JetBlue dropped a gift from the sky — and everything changed.
This update makes our pre‑cruise experience smoother, cheaper, and way more stacked.
We Switched to JetBlue — And It Saved Us Money AND Miles
JetBlue brought back their Nashville → Ft. Lauderdale direct flights, and the fares were too good to ignore. So we pivoted — and it was absolutely the right call.
Here’s how we booked:
One ticket on JetBlue miles
One ticket in cash through Rove, which means:
We earned JetBlue points
We earned Rove Miles
And we still got the low JetBlue fare
This is the exact kind of Lazy Girl stacking I love: one free ticket, one double‑earning ticket, and both on the same direct flight.
If you’re new here, my Stack & Save Hub breaks down exactly how I layer miles, cashback, and perks like this.
Bonus Win: JetBlue Lets You Pool Points
If you’re flying JetBlue and you’re not pooling points, you’re missing out.
JetBlue’s Points Pooling lets families combine their points into one shared balance — which means:
Brandon’s miles
My miles
The miles earned from my cash fare
Any future JetBlue flights
…all go into one shared pot we can use for future trips.
It’s one of the easiest ways to stretch your points further — and it made this pivot even sweeter.
🛬 We’re Now Flying Into Ft. Lauderdale (Not Miami)
Since the Island Princess sails from Port Everglades, flying into FLL makes the travel day so much easier:
No Brightline needed
No Miami traffic
Shorter transfer to the port
Lower fares
Better flight times
It’s one of those “why didn’t we do this sooner?” moments.
🏨 And We Upgraded Our Hotel to a Marriott Through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts
Instead of staying at the Hyatt, we used my Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts credit and booked a Marriott — and it ended up being a total win.
Our out‑of‑pocket cost is $127, and that includes:
A $100 dining credit
Free breakfast
Late checkout
A nicer pre‑cruise experience
A better location for Port Everglades
Plus, there’s a cozy little wine bar behind the hotel that I love — the perfect way to start a cruise trip.
This upgrade feels like the exact Lazy Girl move: better perks, better location, better value.
🚢 Why This Matters for the Mini‑Suite Deal
This updated travel plan pairs perfectly with the mini‑suite deal itself.
The whole point of the mini‑suite post is showing how small, smart choices can elevate your cruise without overspending — and this updated pre‑cruise plan is the same energy:
Smart flight pivot
Stacked rewards
Better airport
Better hotel
More perks
Less money spent
It reinforces the entire Lazy Girl philosophy behind the mini‑suite upgrade.
💳 The Double Dip: Airline Points + Rove Miles
If you’re not using Rove Miles, this is your sign.
Booking through Rove means:
You still earn your airline points
You also earn Rove Miles
You stack rewards without doing anything extra
You can check out Rove Miles here.
👩💻 About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie — travel advisor, points hacker, cruise girl, and creator of No Point Left Behind. I help travelers maximize their points, miles, and perks without spreadsheets, stress, or gatekeeping. My Lazy Girl travel hacking system is built on real-life experience, flexible strategies, and making every trip feel a little more elevated without spending more.
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