You can sail on a self-disinfecting cruise ship with Hyatt points
Lindblad Expeditions has a new selling point that might grab your attention: All its ships now are "self-disinfecting."
The pioneering expedition cruise company this week announced it had coated the interiors of all nine of its vessels with a new specialized treatment that interacts with light to break down bacteria, viruses, mold and airborne allergens.
Lindblad is now claiming to have the "first self-disinfecting fleet in the cruise industry."
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Dubbed ACT CleanCoat, the new system was developed by Copenhagen, Denmark-based ACT.Global. Billed as a transparent, odorless and sustainable disinfectant, the coating can eliminate microbes such as Ebola, E. coli, viruses, mold spores and allergens for up to a year, the company says. It also removes noxious odors.
CleanCoat’s main ingredient is titanium dioxide, which is also found in sunscreen and food additives. Lindblad says the coating is completely harmless to passengers, crew and the environment.
If this sounds familiar to you, it's because in March of 2019, two hotels in (you guessed it) Denmark introduced the technology for the first "self-cleaning" guest rooms.
Lindblad was working on the coating project long before the outbreak of coronavirus. The project is part of an effort at the line to reduce its impact on the pristine environments its ships visit. The line is known as a leader in expeditions to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galápagos and other remote, relatively undeveloped parts of the world.
“We are very conscious of the waste we produce, and how the cleanliness of our ship and protection of our guests onboard is vital to a healthy environment,” Bruce Tschampel, the line's vice president for hotel operations, said in a statement accompanying the announcement.
Tschampel said a pilot program on one ship proved the coating worked. The number of illnesses reported by passengers on the vessel dropped by 50% after the coating was added, he said.
The ship's cleaning staff also was able to use less disinfectant and water for cleaning, which lowered the vessel's environmental footprint, according to Tschampel.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
On an annualized basis, the single ship in the pilot program "eliminated over 1,000 plastic bottles of cleaning products and dramatically reduced water usage by 1.1 million gallons," Tschampel said. "The crew is raving about how much healthier the ship is."
Lindblad operates relatively small vessels that carry just 48 to 148 passengers, and has been a leader among cruise lines in sustainability efforts. In 2019, it became a carbon neutral company, offsetting 100% of emissions from its ships, land-based operations, employee travel and corporate offices. Lindblad also was one of the first cruise companies to eliminate single-use plastics in passenger areas.
The news comes as Lindblad prepares to unveil its hardiest vessel ever: the 126-passenger National Geographic Endurance. Named by The Points Guy as one of the eight most exciting new cruise ships of 2020, National Geographic Endurance has been specifically designed to take adventurous travelers deep into the world's polar regions. Among its initial sailings will be an epic, 26-day crossing of the Russian Arctic that we're calling one of the best new cruise itineraries of the year.
How to book a Lindblad cruise
In addition to now offering self-disinfecting ships, Lindblad is one of the only cruise-selling companies that lets you book a voyage using points. Thanks to a relatively new partnership between Lindblad and Hyatt, World of Hyatt members can pay for a cruise using Hyatt points. Alternately, members can earn 5 base points per dollar on eligible spend (excluding incidentals), plus the standard bonuses for Hyatt elite members and elite tier-qualifying night credits.
All members — regardless of status — will enjoy a $250 onboard credit to use on incidentals. Visit the Lindblad Expeditions cobranded Hyatt site for more details.
Planning a cruise for 2020? Our planning guide starts here:
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- 5 cruise lines to try if you just can’t stand being around kids on vacation
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended 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.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.