How We Booked My Parents’ Canada Cruise With Points
My parents are heading out on a beautiful Canada cruise soon — and while our amazing agent Mary Kennedy found the cruise itself, I handled all the logistics around it. This is my favorite kind of travel planning: simple, strategic, and built around real‑life needs for retirees who want comfort, ease, and great value.
Here’s exactly how we booked everything.
This story is part of my Points & Miles Adventures Hub— where I share real examples of how our family uses points and perks to make travel affordable for everyone, including retirees.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to use them—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and resources I personally use, trust, and genuinely believe will help you travel more for less. Thank you for supporting No Point Left Behind and helping me keep all of my guides free for everyone.
⭐ Flights to Ft. Lauderdale — Southwest Rapid Rewards
Their outbound flights were booked using Southwest Rapid Rewards, one of my favorite programs for simple, flexible travel. No blackout dates, easy changes, and perfect for retirees who want stress‑free flying.
Learn more about how the program works: Southwest Rapid Rewards
⭐ Flights Home — Capital One Travel Portal
For their return flights, I checked transfer partners first… but the Capital One Travel Portal had a better price. It was cheaper to book directly through the portal than to transfer miles, so that’s exactly what we did.
This is why I always tell beginners: sometimes the portal wins, sometimes transfers win — always check both.
⭐ Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale — Covered by Their Venture Card
Their pre‑cruise hotel is completely covered thanks to the Capital One Venture card they opened for the sign‑up bonus. One bonus, one redemption, one free hotel night — simple and beginner‑friendly.
More about the card: Capital One Venture
⭐ Excursions — A Mix of Booked & DIY
This is where I had the most fun.
I sat down and mapped out every port for them, keeping things simple, accessible, and enjoyable. We ended up with a mix of:
• Two tours booked through Get Your Guide • DIY days in Boston and Quebec City
I was just in Quebec City last summer, so I already had a full list of favorites ready to go. Their day is planned around an easy route:
Taxi to the Fairmont → explore the upper city → wander downhill toward the port → Uber back if they get tired.
If you’re wondering how I decide when to book excursions versus plan DIY days, I break it all down in my Excursions Guide — including how I choose between cruise‑line tours, third‑party options, and self‑guided days. It’s one of my favorite ways to earn extra points and save money at the same time.
If you’re planning your own cruise, my Cruise Packing List makes it easy to pack light while still bringing everything you’ll actually use. It’s one of my most‑shared posts — and it includes affiliate links to my favorite cruise essentials.
Don’t miss my 10 Cruise Essentials — it’s a quick guide to the gear I use on every sailing, from luggage to portable espresso makers. Perfect for retirees who want comfort and simplicity onboard.
⭐ Travel Tools We Used for This Trip
If you want to see the exact tools and programs I used to book my parents’ Canada cruise, here are the ones that made the biggest difference:
• Southwest Rapid Rewards — simple, flexible flights
• Capital One Travel Portal — often cheaper than transferring points
• Capital One Venture Card — covered their hotel night
• Get Your Guide — easy, reliable excursion booking
These are the same tools I use for my own family’s trips, and they’re perfect for retirees who want comfort, flexibility, and great value.
⭐ You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
If you’re ready to start travel hacking but want a judgment‑free place to ask questions, join my Travel Hacking Moms Group on Facebook. It’s where I share real‑life examples, beginner tips, and updates from our community — including stories like my parents’ cruise in Canada.
👉 Join the Travel Hacking Moms Group and start learning alongside other travelers who are turning points into memories.
⭐ About the Author
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches families how to travel more for less using points, perks, and simple stacking systems that actually work in real life. After 20 years of travel hacking, she’s taken her family on dozens of nearly free trips—from cruises and national parks to Europe and Alaska—while keeping her approach beginner‑friendly and overwhelm‑free.
Julie also helps her retired parents travel affordably using the same strategies she shares here. Their trips often become real‑life examples inside her guides, showing how points and perks can make travel accessible at any age.
Her mission is simple: help you build a flexible, stress‑free points strategy so you can see more of the world without spending more.
