5 surprising spots to book a cruise

Bulk toilet paper, discount brand apparel, and... a cruise? While you're out running errands, a cruise may not be the first thing on your mind. But the places where you shop for groceries, cash in credit card points, or get roadside assistance might also offer cruise deals.

When you're considering options for your next vacation purchase — travel agent, online travel agency, cruise line, or direct booking — it's wise to explore these lesser-known cruise vendors as well.

In this discussion, I'll highlight some cruise booking avenues you might not have considered, including options that could provide discounts or additional perks for members.

Membership clubs

Wholesale clubs, where you pay an annual fee for bulk shopping or discounts, are excellent for snagging cruise deals, as they provide lowest-price guarantees, onboard perks, and even cashback. Both BJ's and Costco offer cruises through their respective BJ's Travel and Costco Travel services.

While both clubs feature cruises from major lines like Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean, BJ's offers a broader selection, including MSC Cruises and many luxury and river cruise brands. Travelers can access the current promotions from partner lines.

With Costco, Executive Members earn a 2% annual reward certificate on travel booked through Costco Travel (certificate sent upon membership renewal). Members who reserve through the Costco portal and use a Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (see rates and fees) will receive 3% cash back on qualifying travel purchases.

BJ's Travel guarantees you'll secure the best price on your cruise booking, promising 110% back if you find a lower rate within 48 hours. Additionally, BJ's offers enticing perks; at the time of writing, members could earn 5% back (up to $500 in BJ's gift cards) on qualifying cruise purchases. Plus, using a BJ's One™ Mastercard® for payment nets you 3% cash back. Details for the BJ's One Mastercard have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The card information presented here has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Moreover, both companies showcase timely promotions like deposit waivers, onboard credits, prepaid tips, and more, based on the cruise lines' current offerings. The only requirement is that you must be an active member or cardholder to benefit from the discounts and deals these clubs provide. Note that Costco bookings typically aren't eligible for upgrade bidding programs with most cruise lines, so pick a cabin you'll be happy with.

Automobile clubs

While AAA and the Canadian Automobile Association are primarily recognized for their roadside assistance, they also provide travel planning services akin to those offered by travel agents.

Alongside cruise planning assistance from a dedicated agent, you can snag discounts and added benefits when you book. If you require a hotel before or after your cruise, flights, or directions to the port, AAA and CAA are available to assist you, plus they provide 24/7 support if any issues arise during your trip.

To further enhance your cruise investment, consider booking with the AAA Member Rewards Visa credit card from Bank of America. This card provides 3 points for every dollar spent on eligible travel and AAA purchases, which can be redeemed in various ways — including for more travel.

General discount and deal platforms

If you’re in search of local deals, Groupon is a website and app that encourages shoppers to explore products or services from partner retailers at reduced prices. Users can look for general or area-specific deals and buy time-sensitive vouchers for the products and services they wish to enjoy.

Cruises occasionally become available.

Previously, I’ve spotted Groupon deals for affordable sailings with MSC Cruises and Margaritaville at Sea. These offers typically come with various restrictions, and you'll need to know your travel dates in advance. However, if significant discounts are a priority for you, I've found rates as low as $65 per person, per night.

Do you remember those adorable Entertainment Books filled with tear-out coupons for local businesses — the ones that every school seemed to sell, which your parents would buy and then quickly forget? The company ceased printing the books in 2022 and now features all its deals on an app (available for a yearly fee of $34.99 or $4.99 monthly).

This is crucial information, especially since Entertainment has a travel division that includes cruises. Entertainment Cruises offers trips from many well-known ocean, river, and luxury lines, boasting a 110% guarantee that you won't find a lower price or better deal elsewhere at the time of booking.

Travel rewards program portals

Few things are more rewarding than earning travel simply by traveling, yet many cruise line loyalty programs don't offer much. That's why it's exciting that you can also accumulate points and miles by booking cruises through some of the hotel and airline loyalty programs you may already belong to.

Several airlines — such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines — operate cruise booking sites that let you earn miles with every sailing purchase. You can earn bonus points — literally — if you book through one of these portals using the associated airline-branded credit card, which gives you extra miles for your cruise purchase.

If you’re more inclined to stay loyal to hotels than airlines, you can also book cruises through hotel chains like Hilton via Hilton Grand Vacations or through Marriott's Cruise With Points program to earn Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy points, respectively. Bonvoy offers the better deal, granting cruisers 3 points per dollar spent, up to 30,000 points.

Similar to airlines, hotels will provide even more points for cruise bookings made with cobranded credit cards, like one of Marriott's Bonvoy cards, which can award you up to an additional 3 points per dollar for cruise bookings through the portal.

Marriott's program also lets Bonvoy members redeem their points for a cruise. However, if you're seeking value beyond just points, booking through these avenues can help you secure discounts of up to 75% on cruise fares, onboard credits, and various perks from many of the most renowned cruise lines.

You can also earn rewards across different travel sectors. For instance, if you're part of United's MileagePlus frequent flyer program, you can book your cruise via United Cruises and pay with your Marriott Bonvoy card, allowing you to earn both United miles and Marriott points simultaneously.

Credit card travel portals

If you hold an American Express or Chase card, you can utilize your card's travel portal or dedicated agents to arrange a cruise, potentially earning extra points and benefits in the process. For example, American Express Travel features a Cruise Privileges Program that provides passengers with up to $300 in onboard credit per cabin, as well as bonus points on cruise bookings made through Amex.

While cruisers cannot directly book sailings through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, they can call an agent to make the reservation over the phone. You have the option to pay with points if you have enough accumulated or use a credit card that earns points for future redemptions. Although Chase's cruise program doesn't offer as many perks for travelers as Amex's does, Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders receive up to $300 in annual statement credits when booking travel, including cruises.

A significant downside of these portals is that they only collaborate with a limited number of cruise lines, often leaving out at least one or two major brands and some specialty options like river cruises.

How it operates

In many instances, these providers sell cruises directly from the cruise lines (like Groupon) or through a travel agency, such as World Travel Holdings, which manages bookings made with BJ's, Entertainment, and the airlines mentioned earlier.

Final thoughts

If you're looking to earn points or miles, unlock extra perks, and potentially save on your cruise fare, these unconventional booking options are worth exploring. Just make sure to compare prices to ensure you're getting the best deal, and be mindful of which credit cards to use to maximize rewards on your spending.

Remember, when booking through third-party platforms, it's important to check beforehand whether assistance will be available if any issues arise. Some options — like auto clubs, airline and hotel portals, and wholesale clubs — offer customer support, but with others (such as Groupon), you'll likely need to handle any problems directly with the cruise line.