Reward cruise 2015 / 2016

[Clobu5]

My inlaws have finally awoken to the world of point collecting.

They are thinking of using their shiny new cards to collect enough points to go on a cruise. At the moment they have both got Nab Velocity cards which transfer direct to Velocity.

Having looked at the burn rate on VFF to purchase credits with cruisepilot i eventually picked my jaw up off the floor and figured there must be a better way to get them on a cruise from their normal annual spend each year. I though 89,000 would get more then $500 when you compare it to flight redemptions.

I worked out they should accrue around 1mil points per year between the cards which gives them about $5000 in travel credit. This is quite a lot for nothing but I guess i justed assumed it would be more.

As I dont have access to outher redemtion rates is there a better reward program out there for them to book reward cruises with? Amex? Citi? Something else?

Quick google shows Amex MR are 100,000 per $1000 for helloworld gift cards...

This is their first reward credit card and they are more then happy to burn and churn to get the right mix between them

What have others found to work best?

 

[smit0847]

I wouldn't have thought a couple spending $700000 a year on their credit cards would be too worried about the price of a cruise!

 

[SydneySwan]

I wouldn't have thought a couple spending $700000 a year on their credit cards would be too worried about the price of a cruise!

Mrs SydneySwan is never too bothered how much a cruise costs and we earn much less than 700k per annum!

 

[Clobu5]

Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately some post night shift brain mush must have been calculating that points earn. 1mil is significantly more then what they would achieve per year. Maybe something closer to 100k in points, this would even be including the 3/$1 plat edge earn.

100,000 mr points is looking the best. Its not so much about taking themselves on their cruises (as thay do these religiously) more about getting their un travelled other children to see something outside the SA borders. They were hoping to earn something close to paying for a family of 4 to cruise.

This is appearing to be a highly unrealistic idea for the best use of their points.

Might just get them to earn them and ill take them for myself.

 

[Limewood]

Mrs SydneySwan is never too bothered how much a cruise costs and we earn much less than 700k per annum!

Yes agree I'm just under that too

 

[Formal Hall]

Unfortunately there is no sensible way to redeem VFF or QFF points for cruises. In the US some of the cruise lines have credit cards but nothing similar here; a gap in the market I think!

Where points come in handy is one way cruises; ie pay for a cruise from Fremantle to Singapore then fly back using points. Such 'repositioning' cruises tend to be much cheaper than round trip cruises, and using points for the flights is much better than using the cruise line's inflated flight prices.

 

[Bolthead]

Exactly, we are doing that exact thing. Sydney to Singapore in March on the Diamond Princess and we then trip around to Penang, coughet and fly home using points from Hong Kong.

 

[Limewood]

Used up some of our points in J to get to departure point then spent not much dosh having a week cruising around the fantastic islands on this little number.

and what a week it was with just 40 pax over 50+, inc the 6 Aussies (the A team), liked it so much going back for second round Sept.

So yes use points to get there then go cruising wherever.

 

[Pushka]

Croatian coast is simply stunning.

 

[Bolthead]

Jealous... I was just talking to my wife about cruising in that area.

 

[Limewood]

Jealous... I was just talking to my wife about cruising in that area.

Been looking at this new one. The more expensive small ships usually have the 45+ age group.

There's about 1100 islands, these boats go to about 5/7 main ones like Brac. Hvar etc. they usually depart after breakfast each day and moor up by lunch time so you can take an hours tour then rest of the time is yours to explore. The water is pristine and we were surprised how clean the cities are. Another plus is unlike big ships these go right in and moor up at the wharf. Wish they were available as awards

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Been looking at this new one. The more expensive small ships usually have the 45+ age group.

There's about 1100 islands, these boats go to about 5/7 main ones like Brac. Hvar etc. they usually depart after breakfast each day and moor up by lunch time so you can take an hours tour then rest of the time is yours to explore. The water is pristine and we were surprised how clean the cities are. Another plus is unlike big ships these go right in and moor up at the wharf. Wish they were available as awards

My advice is www.silversea.com. or www.seabourn.com both lines excellent & my motto is GO BIG or Don't GO!!...... sorry.

 

[Limewood]

Done both take the small 40 pax ship any day of the week, no offshore long boat to go ashore for short period, no queues, so much time ashore, all tours and most meals inc., really get to know other pax and its very personal service all the way. Know of no big ships that do 5/6 islands there in a week either. Each to their own though.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Done both take the small 40 pax ship any day of the week, no offshore long boat to go ashore for short period, no queues, so much time ashore, all tours and most meals inc., really get to know other pax and its very personal service all the way. Know of no big ships that do 5/6 islands there in a week either. Each to their own though.

Now that is a blast from the past "offshore long boat" sounds like the BOUNTY!!..... ship Ahoy.. cheers.

 

[Limewood]

as they say "whatever floats your boat"

 

[Masonic Phantom]

as they say "whatever floats your boat"

Yep.. I like it Limewood.

 

[sinophile888]

I agree that FF points are of great value when cruising. Unless the itinerary returns to the departure port, one needs a one-way fare to return home.

We are planning a Perth to Hong Kong cruise early next year and have enough points to return from HKG on CX in J. This would cost $4650 or 65000 points. We also plan a cruise from Tokyo to Hong Kong. This requires a one-way fare from HKG to NRT. The fare for that flight was
≈ $750 or 20000 points.

The company which we use for booking cruises also allocates QFF points based on the cost of the cruise at a rate of 2 points per $3 spent.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

I agree that FF points are of great value when cruising. Unless the itinerary returns to the departure port, one needs a one-way fare to return home.

We are planning a Perth to Hong Kong cruise early next year and have enough points to return from HKG on CX in J. This would cost $4650 or 65000 points. We also plan a cruise from Tokyo to Hong Kong. This requires a one-way fare from HKG to NRT. The fare for that flight was
≈ $750 or 20000 points.

The company which we use for booking cruises also allocates QFF points based on the cost of the cruise at a rate of 2 points per $3 spent.

Amex.. 2pts per $1.

 

[sinophile888]

Amex.. 2pts per $1.

Thanks, Masonic Phantom. I forgot that this agency doesn't charge a premium for using an AMEX card, so extra points are earned as well.

 

[Imw]

You can book and earn points for cruises with Qantas? is that any help? Just for the record we are cruise addicts too! Just about the most relaxing way to holiday and if someone is free to take advantage of last minute specials there are some fantastic pickings (last year we booked on a Wednesday for a cruise departing Sunday - Brisbane to South Pacific, (Princess line) and the all up cost was $800 for the both of us. Only inside cabin but hey, at $114 per cabin per night for all our food entertainment and accommodation we reckoned it was a bargain.

I'd do repositioning cruise and fly there or back as best use of points too.