If you’re a parent, chances are the topic of a Disney Cruise will come up at some point. It’s been a while since I’ve watched the Travel Channel, but a few years ago they were running a constant stream of shows about cruising. One show focused on the Disney Cruise, which looked really fun. Even to someone who doesn’t have kids and would normally hyperventilate at the thought of being confined in a cruise ship filled with them for an extended period of time.
My nieces are at that age where they’re obsessed with everything Disney (i.e. age 1 – 65). After a disastrous weekend trip to Disneyland, my sister is thinking of opting for a Disney Cruise next time.
She asked me what her options were for booking a Disney Cruise with points and miles. I also figured this information might be relevant to some of you parents reading this blog. Thus, an extensive post was in order!
Disney Cruise with Amex points
American Express Membership Rewards points are worth 1 cent each towards cruise bookings made through Pay with Points. Since the Amex Travel website doesn’t list Disney Cruises in their search results, you’ll have to redeem Membership Rewards points for statement credits at a rate of 0.6 cents each.
With Disney Cruises starting at $465 per person, this would require over 77,500 Membership Rewards points per person after taxes. Obviously, this isn’t the best use of Membership Rewards points.
It’s much more prudent to book a non-Disney Cruise through Pay with Points and get 1 cent per point, along with a 20% point discount for American Express Platinum Business cardholders.
Disney Cruise with Arrival miles
One of my favorite rewards currencies (which I’m sure you’re all either sick of reading about or have turned into a drinking game), Barclay Arrival Miles are worth 1.1 cents each towards travel.
The 46,000-mile sign-up bonus from the Barclay Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is worth $483 towards a Disney Cruise. Since the Barclay Arrival Plus card earns 2 miles per $1 spent, it’s worth channeling your household spending or churning some gift cards to increase your Arrival miles balance and off-set some more of your travel expenses.
Disney Cruise with Chase Ultimate Rewards
It’s pretty baffling that Chase allows you to book everything from airfare to walking tours through the Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal, yet you have to call to redeem points for a cruise. Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each towards cruise bookings. Plus, there’s a 50% discount for Sapphire Reserve cardholders.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card currently offers 50,000 points after $4,000 spent in 3 months. Since Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a 50% bonus on points, the sign-up bonus is worth $810 towards a Disney Cruise.
Using Citi ThankYou points for a Disney Cruise
Citi ThankYou points are worth 1 cent each towards cruise bookings, though Citi ThankYou Premier cardholders get 1.25 cents per point. This makes the 53,000-point sign-up bonus of the Citi ThankYou Premier card the best option. It can be redeemed for $662 towards a Disney Cruise.
Disney credit cards
Cruise credit cards are the worst option when it comes to sign-up bonuses. The Disney Rewards Visa offers a measly $50 statement credit after the first purchase. At that rate, they might as well offer an inflatable Spider-Man toy as a welcome bonus. Besides, booking a Disney Cruise with the Disney Debit Card from Chase gets you the same $50 statement credit without the 5-point hit on your credit.
The Disney Premier Visa offers a $100 statement credit after $500 spent within 3 months. However, the Disney website lists an offer for a $200 statement credit. In case you’re considering getting this card, don’t. Just…don’t.
Save on a Disney Cruise with Disney gift cards
Disney Gift Cards can be used for onboard charges and cruise bookings. Safeway sells Disney gift cards. Purchasing them with a category bonus-earning credit card won’t cover the cost of the cruise, but it will earn you extra points or cash back that you can redeem for future travel.
Book a Disney Cruise with United miles
Airline frequent flyer programs offer some generous bonuses on cruise bookings. But did you know you can also redeem airline miles for a cruise? United Cruises allows you to do just that.
Similar to an airline award ticket, cruises booked with miles come with taxes and fees. A 3-night Bahamas cruise cost $465 per person or 54,706 miles for an Interior cabin.
Taxes and fees for two people are an additional $135.02, plus a $24.99 processing fee. At less than 0.85 cents per mile, this isn’t the best use of United miles. However, to some, it’s worth it for a 3-night vacation that includes transportation (except for airfare), lodging, and meals.
My recommendation
I’d recommend using the sign-up bonus from the Barclay Arrival Plus card to cover the cost of the cruise. United miles are best saved for hassle-free award tickets to Europe.
Those are some of your best options for booking a Disney Cruise with points and miles. Arrival Miles offer the best value since they are accrued at a rate of 2.1 miles per $1 spent. I would steer clear of using United miles or the Disney credit cards. You’ll get very little in the way of value from these currencies.
If you decide to book a Disney Cruise with a rewards card that allows you to redeem points for travel purchases, don’t forget to shop through a cash back or rewards portal for extra savings and points.
Is there a way to use multiple credit cards to pay for this cruise? I have a family of 5 so a cruise would be a minimum of $3,500. Thanks!
Certainly. If you and your spouse each got one card from each bank (i.e. Barclay Arrival, Citi Prestige, Sapphire), you could easily cover 5 people. Right now the Platinum cards have pretty hefty bonuses so if you can manage to meet the spend (preferably without ms, to avoid claw-backs) you can achieve this with even fewer credit c