How we Booked our 2026 Solar Eclipse Cruise
Some trips are convenient. Some trips are spontaneous. And some trips — like a solar eclipse cruise — are once‑in‑a‑lifetime.
When Princess released this itinerary, I booked the cruise immediately. I didn’t have flights yet. I didn’t have hotels yet. But when something this rare comes along, you grab the cabin and figure out the rest later.
If you want to see everything I’ve booked for 2026 and exactly how I booked each trip, you can browse them all here: 👉 2026 trips booked on points
This post walks you through exactly how I booked everything — the cruise, the flights, the hotels, and the strategy behind it all — using points, casino offers, and smart timing.
If you want to understand exactly how these offers work and how I get deals like this, here’s my full guide: Princess Casino Players Club Guide
🌟 Affiliate Disclosure
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book through them — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I personally use, love, and trust.
🌘 Step 1: Booking the Cruise (Casino Offer Win!)
This cruise was one of my biggest wins of the year.
Solar eclipse itineraries are always priced high, but because I always check my casino offers first, we scored an unbelievable deal:
We paid just $1,100 for an oceanview cabin — and received $400 back in onboard credit.
That means our net cost for the entire 7‑day cruise was $700.
This is exactly why I always check my casino offer strategy before booking anything. These offers can turn a bucket‑list cruise into something totally affordable.
Since this is our big vacation of the year, I decided to go all‑in and add the Princess Premier Package to make the experience completely over the top. I don’t always get Premier — I’m very intentional about when it’s worth it — but for this cruise, it absolutely was.
If you want to dive deeper into Princess — ships, packages, perks, and booking strategy — here’s my full guide: 👉 Princess Cruises Guide
If you want to see everything included in Premier and how I decide when it’s worth it, here’s the full breakdown: 👉 Premier Package details
For a full walkthrough of how I book cruises in general — from researching itineraries to stacking savings — here’s my step‑by‑step guide: 👉 How I Book Cruises
If you’re packing for your own cruise, here are the 10 essentials I used every single day on my last sailing — all tested, all practical, all linked for easy shopping: 👉 10 Cruise Essentials
🌗 Step 2: Booking Flights to Barcelona (Alaska Miles)
Once flights opened, I grabbed an amazing award deal using Alaska Airlines miles on American Airlines.
“American Nashville (BNA) to Dallas‑Ft. Worth (DFW)… American Dallas‑Ft. Worth (DFW) to Barcelona (BCN)”
And the best part?
“New Ticket Value $5.60… Per person total $0.00… Total charges for air travel USD $0.00”
We paid $5.60 each — the standard U.S. security fee — and that’s it.
This is why I always tell people: Alaska miles are sneaky powerful for Europe.
🌖 Step 3: Booking Flights Home from Rome (Avios + Transfer Bonus)
For the return, I used British Airways Avios and booked a Reward Flight Saver fare from Rome back to Nashville.
“Rome (FCO) to London Heathrow… London Heathrow to Nashville”
Cost for two people:
“Avios debited 95500… Payment Total USD 302.00”
I also took advantage of a transfer bonus, which saved me even more points — but I only transfer when I have something I’m actively booking. Once points move, they can’t move back, so I’m very intentional about it.
Reward Flight Saver capped the taxes and fees, which is why this redemption is such a sweet spot.
🌕 Step 4: Booking Hotels with Points
Barcelona — Hilton Points
Before the cruise, we are staying in Barcelona completely free using Hilton points.
When tickets open, I’ll book our Sagrada Família entry through Viator or GetYourGuide — both make it easy to grab timed entry and skip‑the‑line access:
Rome — Hyatt Points
After the cruise, we’re staying at a Hyatt property near the Spanish Steps, booked entirely with points.
We stayed at the Sina Bernini Bristol last year (and it was fabulous), but I love trying new hotels when I travel — especially when I can do it for free with points.
If you’re planning your own port days, here’s how I choose, book, and save on excursions: 👉How I Book Shore Excursions
🌔 Why This Strategy Works
This trip is the perfect example of how I book almost everything:
Book the big thing first
Use points to fill in the flights later
Mix and match alliances
Use open‑jaw flights (into BCN, out of FCO)
Leverage casino offers
Use transfer bonuses only when you’re ready to book
Book hotels with points for maximum savings
It’s the same system I teach in my Build Your Credit Card Lineup Series— because it works.
🌑 About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie — creator of No Point Left Behind, travel‑hacking educator, and admin of the Travel Hacking Moms Group on Facebook. I help families and retirees travel better, smarter, and more affordably using points, miles, and simple strategies that work in real life.
Follow along for more tips, guides, and real itineraries you can copy.
