Benchmark
Cruises benchmark
How each major US airline's cruise booking site earns, redeems and counts toward status. From the airlines' own cruise pages.
What stands out
- Delta Cruises lists no way to pay for a cruise with miles, and neither does Southwest. United and American take miles or miles plus cash, and Alaska says cruise redemption is coming later this year.
- Cruise spend counts toward status at American (Loyalty Points), Alaska/Hawaiian (1 status point per $1) and JetBlue (tiles). Delta lists no MQDs for Delta Cruises bookings.
- United pays the most right now: up to 6 miles per $1 on balconies and suites (10 for United Chase cardmembers) against Delta's flat 2, and adds Premier onboard extras with Norwegian, Oceania and Regent.
Tap an airline to see its cruise program.
DeltaDelta Cruises (cruises.delta.com)2 miles/$ · earn only
- Booking channel
- Delta Cruises at cruises.delta.com or by phone with a cruise agent.
- Earn rate
- 2 miles per eligible $1 on the base cruise rate, plus bonus miles on select sailings.
- Status credit
- None listed for Delta Cruises bookings. Delta lists MQD earning for Delta Vacations packages (flight + hotel) instead.
- Catch
- Port charges, taxes, fees and travel protection excluded. Miles go to one passenger per booking and post 6 to 8 weeks after the cruise. No option to pay with miles is listed on Delta Cruises.
Sources
UnitedUnited Cruises (cruises.united.com)2 to 4 miles/$ · miles or miles + money
- Booking channel
- United Cruises at cruises.united.com or 1-800-596-5529.
- Earn rate
- Standard: 2 miles per $1 on interior and oceanview, 4 on balcony and suites. United Chase cardmembers: 4 and 7. Limited-time offer now: up to 6 miles per $1 (up to 45,000 miles) on balcony or suite, up to 10 per $1 (up to 60,000) for United Chase cardmembers.
- Redeem
- Miles or miles plus money for cruise fares, taxes and fees.
- Elite perks
- Premier members get onboard extras (spa credit, wine, onboard spending money) from Norwegian, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas.
- Catch
- Earn excludes port charges, port expenses, taxes and travel protection. Miles are per stateroom, to one passenger, 6 to 8 weeks after sailing. U.S. currency only.
Sources
AmericanAAdvantage Cruises (World Travel Holdings)1 mile/$ · earns Loyalty Points
- Booking channel
- AAdvantage Cruises at aadvantagecruises.com; miles bookings at redeem.aadvantagecruises.com or 888-557-6972.
- Earn rate
- Standard: 1 mile per $1, 2 for cardmembers. Limited-time offer now: 2 miles per $1 on every cruise, 3 for AAdvantage credit cardmembers.
- Redeem
- Miles or miles plus cash for cruise fares, taxes and fees. Miles cannot pay for optional extras or insurance.
- Status credit
- Earns Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage status on cash bookings.
- Catch
- Bookings paid fully or partly with miles earn no miles or Loyalty Points. Port charges, taxes and travel protection excluded from earn.
Sources
SouthwestSouthwest Cruises (World Travel Holdings)1 point/$ · earn only
- Booking channel
- Southwest Cruises at southwestcruises.com or 800-222-7759.
- Earn rate
- 1 point per eligible $1. Limited-time: 4 points per $1 on Norwegian sailings booked Oct 18 to 31, 2026.
- Catch
- Port charges, port expenses, taxes, fees and travel insurance excluded. Points once per stateroom, to one passenger. No points redemption listed.
Sources
Alaska/HawaiianAlaska Hawaiian Cruises (Arrivia)1 point/$ · 1 status point/$
- Booking channel
- Alaska Hawaiian Cruises online or 1-855-716-4535.
- Earn rate
- 1 point per $1 on the cruise purchase price.
- Redeem
- Not yet. Alaska says points redemption on cruises is coming later this year.
- Status credit
- 1 status point per $1 on eligible bookings paid in cash.
- Catch
- Taxes and fees excluded. Run by Arrivia under its own terms. Norwegian sailings include up to 40% off public rates plus the More at Sea package.
Sources
JetBlueJetBlue Vacations cruises (Paisly), incl. Virgin Voyages1 point/$ · earns tiles
- Booking channel
- JetBlue Vacations, cruise-only or flight + cruise packages.
- Earn rate
- 1 TrueBlue point per $1 on cruise fare, plus 6 points per $1 on JetBlue airfare in a flight + cruise package. Cruise line loyalty points can be claimed too.
- Status credit
- Packages earn tiles toward Perks You Pick and Mosaic status.
- Catch
- Oct 20, 2026: JetBlue Vacations and Virgin Voyages launched Do Not Disturb, a kid-free JetBlue flight paired with an adults-only sailing, earning TrueBlue points, tiles and Sailing Club rewards.
Sources
Also worth knowing: Virgin Voyages' Sailing Club Status Match (apply and book by Oct 31, 2026) accepts Delta SkyMiles Medallion, United Premier, AAdvantage, Atmos and TrueBlue Mosaic status. It is a cruise line offer, not an airline program. Virgin Voyages
Checked Oct 24, 2026.