How to earn thousands of airline miles by booking a cruise this week
Cyber Monday is here. This year, it seems to be turning into Cyber Week, with cruise deals running through midweek and, in some cases, much longer. But what if I told you that you could stack the cruise lines' current offers with a way to score up to 60,000 bonus miles from your favorite airline just by booking a sailing?
If a cruise is on your wish list this year — either for yourself or as a holiday gift for someone special — you won't want to miss these chances to earn some extra miles that you can use to offset the cost of your flights, hotels and other trip-related expenses.
Here's how to make the most of airline booking portal deals that will help you earn your way to a cheaper cruise.
Delta Cruises
With its Cyber Deals event, Delta Cruises is allowing Delta SkyMiles members to earn 4 miles per dollar spent (up from 2 miles per dollar spent) on cruises with all of the major cruise lines. This includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages, as well as smaller luxury and river cruise brands.
Just be sure to book by Dec. 4, 2024, for a voyage departing on or before Dec. 31, 2025.
Beyond this offer, you'll receive the best available pricing, all current promotions the cruise lines are running and additional bonuses like free meals in specialty restaurants, onboard credit, cabin upgrades and other extras.
Southwest Cruises
Through Dec. 6, 2024, Southwest Rapid Rewards members can earn up to 10,000 bonus points on cruises booked through the Southwest Cruises portal. When they choose a Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America, MSC, Celebrity or Princess sailing of one to five days in length, they'll earn 1,000 points per person for inside and ocean-view cabins, 2,500 points per person for balcony rooms and 5,000 points per person for suites.
You can earn double the number of points on voyages of six days or longer — 2,000 points for inside and ocean-view bookings, 5,000 points for balconies and 10,000 points for suite accommodations.
Normally, passengers earn 1 point per dollar spent through the Southwest Cruises portal.
In addition to snagging the cruise lines' best rates and current promotions, cruisers who reserve their cabins through the airline's portal will receive bonus perks and freebies, such as cabin upgrades, waived deposits and more.
United Cruises
Through Dec. 4, 2024, United Cruises is offering two deals for cruisers looking to earn some extra miles. MileagePlus members can earn 6 miles per dollar spent (up from 4 miles per dollar spent) and up to 45,000 miles when they book a balcony or a suite with one of several qualifying cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line and several river and luxury lines like Azamara, Crystal, Oceania, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Avalon Waterways, Uniworld and Viking.
If that's not enough, United Airlines credit card holders can earn 10 miles per dollar spent (up from 7 miles per dollar spent) and up to 60,000 bonus miles when they book a balcony or suite through United Cruises using their United Airlines credit cards.
Inside and ocean-view cabins will earn 2 miles per dollar spent (if booked as a MileagePlus member without a United credit card) and 4 miles per dollar spent (if booked with a United credit card).
Additional perks of booking through the United Cruises portal include the lowest available rates and all current offers, plus special perks for being a MileagePlus member. These include spa credits, complimentary bottles of wine and onboard credit to spend on shore excursions, drinks, Wi-Fi and other onboard purchases.
Read more about cruise savings:
TPG featured card
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees