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
Rewards
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
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- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month