Tag: Travel Planner

We periodically get a question from readers: “Which points or miles should I collect if I don’t travel often?”

No single answer is best for everyone. For example, a cash-back rewards card might be best if you don’t travel much at all. However, if you have a particular airline or hotel loyalty program you strongly prefer, that will need to be considered.

For ease, I’ll assume you want to earn points and miles instead of cash-back rewards. With this assumption out of the way, let’s dive into some topics to help you decide which points and miles to collect.

Benefits of points and miles

If you’re reading this article, you may already know the benefits of points and miles. You can usually earn points and miles on your travel by signing up for loyalty programs and entering your loyalty number for the associated program when you book hotels, flights and car rental bookings.

These points are often an included perk of booking directly with a hotel program, renting a car or taking a flight. You can use points and miles to save on future travel, which may let you travel more frequently or comfortably.

There are multiple aspects to consider when deciding which points and miles to earn if you don’t travel frequently. First, let’s consider earning points and miles with one or more loyalty programs you like through rewards credit cards.

Travel rewards credit cards

If you don’t travel frequently, you may struggle to accrue enough rewards to make a redemption if you only earn rewards through your travel. This is where travel rewards credit cards can help.

If you have a few loyalty programs you prefer when you travel, consider getting a cobranded card with one or more of these programs, such as United MileagePlus for flights, World of Hyatt for hotels and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards for rental cars.

In this case, you might benefit from getting the United℠ Explorer Card or the World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn more rewards in a loyalty program you already use. Plus, both cards offer valuable perks to even occasional travelers. For example, the United Explorer card would give you and a companion a first checked bag free when flying United, and the World of Hyatt card would give you complimentary Discoverist status.

Here are links to our guides about the airline credit cards that are best depending on which airline you prefer:

• Best Delta credit cards
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
• Best United Airlines credit cards
• Best Southwest Airlines credit cards
• JetBlue Plus Card vs. JetBlue Business Card

Likewise, here are links to our guides about the hotel credit cards that are best based on your preferred program:

• Best Marriott credit cards
• Best Hilton cards
• IHG card offers
• World of Hyatt card vs. World of Hyatt Business card

These cobranded cards help you earn rewards with a specific loyalty program. But, as we’ll discuss in the next section, infrequent travelers may also benefit from earning transferable points.

Related: The best credit cards to reach elite status

Why you should earn transferable points

Earning transferable points can unlock redemptions with more hotel and airline loyalty programs.

Earlier in this story, we considered someone who prefers to fly with United, stay with Hyatt and rent cars with Hertz. Chase Ultimate Rewards might be the perfect transferable points currency for this person since you can transfer Chase points to United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt — among other airline and hotel loyalty programs.

If you don’t know which transferable points currency would be best for you, check out our guide to credit card transfer partners. The guide provides useful tables showing which loyalty programs are transfer partners of each transferable currency. The simplest approach is determining which transferable currency transfers to most programs you use or already have points or miles with.

Related: How to transfer credit card rewards to partner programs

However, a more complicated approach is to also consider programs through which you can book United, Delta and American flights (often for lower rates than the operating airline’s loyalty program would charge). See our domestic award sweet spots post if you want to take your flight redemptions to the next level, even as an infrequent traveler.

If you’ve found a transferable currency you think would be best for you, here are our guides for each program:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Bilt Rewards
• Capital One miles
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Rewards

Transferable points add complexity over simply earning airline miles or hotel points on credit card purchases. However, transferable points are worth more than other rewards because you can access redemptions with multiple programs instead of just one.

Related: 10 no-annual-fee credit cards that earn transferable points

Bottom line

As you can see, the best rewards to collect if you don’t travel frequently depends on your preferences when you do travel and how simple or complicated you want to make your strategy.

Earning transferable points can provide higher value than hotel points or airline miles simply because you have options when it comes time to redeem. For example, there’s an argument to be made that Delta flyers should have a Membership Rewards card instead of (or in addition to) a Delta credit card.

But in the end, the best points or miles to earn as an infrequent traveler also depend on the rewards you’ll use. If transferable rewards seem too complicated, getting a cobranded hotel or airline credit card with your favorite program may be best.

Launching July 22, Utopia of the Seas is part of Royal Caribbean’s beloved Oasis Class series of ships. The fact that Royal Caribbean is launching an Oasis Class ship on the heels of the much-touted debut of Icon of the Seas — the bigger, newer Icon Class of ships — is a testament to the popularity of Oasis Class vessels.

Larger than its sister ship, Wonder of the Seas, Utopia will be the world’s second-largest cruise ship (until the second Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, steals that spot in 2025).

Royal Caribbean hopes to draw a new crowd of never-cruised-before travelers by focusing on short three- and four-night itineraries that allow folks to sample cruising without too much of a commitment. It’s the first time the line has earmarked a new Oasis Class ship for short-cruise service from its beginning. When it debuts, Utopia of the Seas will be far bigger, newer and more amenity-packed than any other cruise ship sailing short itineraries in North America.

From new restaurants and bars to announced itineraries, here’s everything we know so far about Utopia of the Seas.

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Overview of Utopia of the Seas

The 237,000-ton Utopia of the Seas will be 18 decks high and is expected to carry up to 6,700 passengers in 2,830 cabins, placing it just behind Icon of the Seas as the world’s second-biggest cruise ship.

Utopia of the Seas will be the sixth vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class of ships, which includes Oasis of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries

It will sail a series of three- to four-night cruises to the Bahamas from Florida’s Port Canaveral (near Orlando). All of the Utopia of the Seas sailings will include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. Fares for a three-night sailing start from $469 per person (excluding taxes and fees).

Like other Royal Caribbean vessels, Utopia of the Seas will teem with family-focused attractions like multiple pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a zip line and a two-story dry slide called the Ultimate Abyss. And that’s just on the top decks.

Inside, you’ll find an extensive selection of shops, as well as new and returning favorite restaurants and bars, a massive casino, an indoor ice-skating rink and theaters with Broadway-style shows. It will also feature a designated suite area with an exclusive lounge, restaurant and sun deck. With so much to do on board, your biggest challenge might be hitting all the activities on your to-do list on a three- or four-night sailing.

Related: The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

Utopia of the Seas’ design and layout will mirror the line’s last new Oasis Class ship, Wonder of the Seas, launched in 2022. Like other Oasis Class vessels, the ship will feature individual “neighborhoods,” each with its unique vibe. The Royal Promenade will be the ship’s main thoroughfare, lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and bars. Also, leafy Central Park will be reprised on Utopia.

Entertainment venues like the casino and comedy club will be in the aptly named Entertainment Place, and the vessel will also feature the exclusive Suite Neighborhood for suite passengers.

Other neighborhoods include The Boardwalk — where you’ll find the AquaTheater and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade — and the Pool & Sports Zone — complete with an expansive Caribbean-themed pool deck and a three-story Lime and Coconut bar. The Youth Zone (with a for-fee arcade and youth activity programming) and the Vitality Spa & Fitness area round out the list.

Utopia of the Seas cabins and suites

Utopia of the Seas will feature 2,830 cabins and suites, with more than 20 types of accommodations to suit every budget and group size. They include inside (windowless) cabins, ocean-view cabins and balcony cabins. Cruisers can choose from varied suite options, including the new posh Solarium Suites, exclusively on Utopia of the Seas.

The ship will also offer virtual balconies in select inside cabins. These accommodations will include 80-inch LED TVs that provide live views from outside the ship.

Royal Caribbean debuted the concept of interior-facing balconies with its Oasis Class vessels. On Utopia of the Seas, guests will also have the option to book a traditional balcony that faces the ocean or one overlooking the Boardwalk or Central Park.

The line’s Royal Suite Class comprises three categories of suites — Star, Sky and Sea. All come with VIP perks such as a dedicated lounge area for suite guests, complimentary drinks and dining, personal concierge services via a Royal Genie, reserved pool deck seating and other amenities. Which perks you get depends on your suite tier.

Within the highest Star tier of suites (and exclusive to Utopia of the Seas), two expansive Solarium Suites will be perched above the ship’s navigation bridge, providing spectacular 280-degree top-deck views. Each will feature a huge living room, a dining area and an infinite balcony. The infinite balcony technology, which Royal Caribbean debuted on Icon of the Seas, allows guests to lower a large window at the touch of a button to let fresh air into their room.

Other Royal Suite Class accommodations include the 1,500-square-foot, two-level Royal Loft Suite; it has a lofted master bedroom, a massive living room and a private balcony with an outdoor shower, hot tub, TV and minibar.

Additionally, the three-bedroom Ultimate Family Suite can accommodate up to 10 guests and features a slide from the upper level to the lower one. It has a private cinema and karaoke station, a balcony with a ping pong table and a private hot tub. The two-bedroom AquaTheater Suites allow guests to watch AquaTheater productions from their personal balconies.

Utopia of the Seas restaurants and bars

Utopia of the Seas will offer more than 20 restaurant and bar options, with a solid mix of included-in-fare and extra-fee specialty dining venues. Here is what you can expect on board.

Restaurants

The following dining options are included in your fare:

The Dining Room: The multilevel main dining space will serve multicourse meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Windjammer Cafe: As on other Royal Caribbean ships, the buffet-style restaurant will be the go-to for varied breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

Solarium Bistro: Passengers can opt for healthful, lighter fare like salads, soups and fresh fruit.

The Spare Tire: Debuting on Utopia of the Seas, this food truck-style eatery will be found poolside and feature sandwiches, flatbread and various desserts.

Coastal Kitchen: Suites guests and Royal Caribbean’s top-tier Pinnacle loyalty program members will have exclusive access to this space, serving California and Mediterranean fusion dishes.

Sorrento’s Pizza: Curb pie cravings day or night at Royal Caribbean’s popular pizza parlor.

Other spots to fuel up for free will include El Loco Fresh for fast-casual Mexican fare; Sprinkles for serve-yourself ice cream; Boardwalk Dog House for hotdogs, sausages and brats; and Park Cafe for coffee, tea and pastries.

Here is a rundown of added-fee specialty dining available on Utopia of the Seas.

Royal Railway — Utopia Platform: While full details are still under wraps, the new Royal Railway — Utopia Station restaurant will use technology to virtually transport guests to different places and times. After enjoying pre-dinner drinks on the station platform, guests will “board” the train and enjoy a multicourse dinner.

150 Central Park: This upscale restaurant offers six- to eight-course tasting menus and is only on Oasis Class ships. Dishes here highlight locally sourced ingredients, some prepared tableside.

Chef’s Table: This private, five-course wine pairing dinner is hosted by the executive chef and onboard sommelier.

Chops Grille & Trellis Bar: You’ll find the same flavorful steaks, fresh seafood and extensive wine selection at this version of Royal Caribbean’s marquee steakhouse. On Utopia, the venue will be attached to the signature Trellis Bar, perfect for a convenient pre-dinner cocktail.

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar: As on other ships, this popular Italian eatery will feature homemade pasta and fresh seafood, as well as a solid selection of wines. New to Utopia, the venue will span two floors. Guests can opt to dine alfresco on the restaurant’s outside terrace overlooking The Boardwalk at the line’s first Gio’s Terrazza.

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi and Izumi in the Park: Guests can opt for a multicourse meal and entertainment in a private dining setting or grab fresh sushi and Japanese-inspired sweets at Izumi in the Park’s walk-up restaurant.

Hooked Seafood: Serving New England-style seafood, Hooked will be the spot for Maine lobster rolls, crabcakes, oysters and other fresh seafood.

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade: Like its predecessors on other Royal Caribbean vessels, this popular sports bar perfectly pairs pub grub with arcade games.

Related: Playmakers: Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship sports bar (with menu)

The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar: This popular venue is a returning favorite for Southern comfort food and live music.

Johnny Rockets: This popular added-fee ($12.99) spot is worth its weight in golden french fries (and burgers, onion rings and milkshakes).

Vitality Cafe and Starbucks are other added-fee venues on board.

Bars

With more than 20 bars and lounges, passengers on board Utopia of the Seas will have plenty of ways to celebrate a long weekend at sea. Here are some to look forward to.

Pesky Parrot: This new Caribbean-themed bar will replace the Bionic Bar on the Royal Promenade. The low-key venue will serve frozen drinks and fruit-based cocktails.

The Lime and Coconut: This lively Caribbean-themed pool deck bar will expand to a three-deck-high venue.

The Vue: The Vue first debuted on Wonder of the Seas. Adjacent to the ship’s solarium, the bar is unique because it’s cantilevered over the ship’s side.

Add to the list returning venues like the aforementioned Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade for gameday bar favorites and drinks; Schooner Bar, the line’s classic piano bar; the English pub, Bell and Barley; Boleros, the line’s signature Latin bar where you can enjoy live salsa, samba and merengue music; and the romantic Giovanni’s Wine Bar.

Related: Royal Caribbean drink packages: Everything you need to know

Utopia of the Seas activities

With several returning favorites and a few new or updated attractions, the newest Oasis Class vessel will be packed with onboard diversions.

Get your fill of fun in the sun with five onboard pools. Find the vibe you seek, with options ranging from the tranquil adults-only Solarium Pool to the bustling Lido Deck pool area with three pools and 11 whirlpools.

Younger cruisers will have a blast at the Splashaway Bay water park complete with slides, fountains, sprinklers and water cannons.

Out of the water, passengers can test their mettle on Utopia’s 259-foot-long Ultimate Abyss slide. It’s a Wonder of the Seas holdover — with an upgrade. The slide is 43 feet longer than previous iterations, making it the longest dry slide at sea.

The ship will also feature the signature FlowRider surf simulator, a 10-story-high zip line, a rock climbing wall and Utopia Playscape climbing structure and play area.

On Utopia of the Seas, passengers can choose to play at the main Casino Royale or a separate nonsmoking room. Casino Royale will offer about 30 table games and more than 370 slot machines.

The ship’s Vitality Spa & Fitness will offer body- and soul-soothing treatments and ample opportunities to up your fitness game.

Related: How I had the busiest 2 days ever on Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis Class ship

Utopia of the Seas shows

Like on previous ships, the main Royal Theater will host Broadway-style stage productions, the AquaTheater will feature the line’s iconic water and diving shows, and Studio B will feature ice-skating productions. Enjoy live music at various venues throughout the ship, including Boleros and Music Hall (or make your own music at Spotlight Karaoke). The Attic also returns as the go-to place for nightly comedy shows.

When will Utopia of the Seas set sail?

In 2024 and 2025, Utopia of the Seas will sail three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida (near Orlando) to Nassau, Bahamas, stopping at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

How much does it cost to sail Utopia of the Seas?

If you want a spot on the maiden voyage of Utopia of the Seas, fares for the four-night sailing start at $1,049 per person for an inside cabin and $1,180 per person for a balcony cabin (at the time of writing).

Rates for other itineraries start at the following prices:

• $399 per person for an inside cabin or $629 per person for a balcony cabin for a three-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise
• $496 per person for an inside cabin or $624 per person for a balcony cabin on four-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise
• $619 per person for an inside cabin or $739 per person for a balcony cabin for a three-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise

Bottom line

Utopia of the Seas will provide a dizzying array of dining venues, drink options and activities for Royal Caribbean cruisers. From brand-new experiences to evolving fan favorites from previous vessels, the ship offers both seasoned cruisers and new-to-cruising travelers plenty of ways to fill a long “Ultimate Weekend.”

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

If you want to fly business class for an upcoming trip without paying a massive amount of cash, you may consider booking an award flight. Business-class award flights can be difficult to find on some routes as availability can be limited. You can improve your chances of snagging a great award by learning how to search for award availability and the best times to book business-class award flights.

Here’s what you need to know.

How to find award availability

Some airlines make every seat available with miles. For most other airlines, though, you’ll need to find award availability before you can book an award flight.

There are often multiple tiers of award availability with varying award rates that you can book through the airline operating the flight. But you can usually only book the less-expensive saver award seats through partner programs.

In short, award availability is a complicated topic with always more to learn. A good place to start is our guide on searching award availability, but I also highly recommend reading our story about apps and websites that make award redemptions easier to find. (Point.me and Seats.aero have become indispensable for me.)

It’s also worth taking a look at the following stories if you’re interested in booking award flights with an airline in a specific alliance:

• The best websites for searching Oneworld award availability
• The best websites for searching SkyTeam award availability
• The best websites to search for Star Alliance award availability

Related: Check seasonal flights for better award availability and pricing

Book business-class award flights far in advance

If you plan your trip at least 11 months in advance, you may be able to snag your business-class award flight right when the booking window opens.

See our guide on how far in advance you can book a flight to see when bookings might open for the award flight(s) you want to book. However, if you are booking a flight operated by a different airline than the one through which you want to book, you’ll need to wait for both programs to open their booking windows.

It’s best to start checking awards on dates near yours through the program you plan to use at least a week before you expect the booking window to open. Doing so will let you see award pricing and whether the program tends to have saver award availability at the start of the booking window.

Earlier this year, my husband and I snagged some end-of-schedule American AAdvantage business-class award flights to fly from the U.S. to Japan for 60,000 miles plus $5.60 each. We plan to ski in Niseko, Japan, again in 2025, and these flights will help us do so.

Related: 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots

Book last-minute business-class award flights

While last-minute paid rates are often sky-high, you can sometimes use points and miles to book last-minute flights at saver rates. A glance at Seats.aero may show a significant amount of last-minute business-class award availability from a city you live in or a city in which you could book a positioning flight.

Some programs don’t release award availability to partner programs for premium cabin award flights until the last minute. One well-known example is if you want to book Lufthansa First Class through a partner program (such as Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan or United MileagePlus). A look at the Seats.aero Lufthansa First Class Finder shows ample award options — but as is now common, they were all within the next three days.

My husband and I previously based ourselves in Frankfurt, hoping to book a last-minute Lufthansa First award flight. A now-fixed Avianca LifeMiles glitch led us to find another way home. We plan to base ourselves in Frankfurt again and wait for an award we want to book this fall.

Related: These award tickets are best to book at the last minute

Book business-class award flights when there’s availability

If you need a flight between two airports, you can check for award availability periodically. However, it’s often better (and easier) to set up award availability alerts. Various services let you set up award availability alerts, but I use two paid services: Seats.aero Pro account and ExpertFlyer Premium account (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures).

Once you get an award alert (or find availability on your own), check that it is available via the loyalty program you plan to book through. Then, transfer in points if needed and book your award.

Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points

Use airline promotions to book business-class award flights

Some airline loyalty programs offer periodic promotions that you can use to snag business-class award flights at lower-than-usual rates. The best time to book your business-class award flight might be during an airline promotion.

For example, you can often find good transatlantic deals for flights operated by Air France and KLM through the monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards. These Promo Rewards can be great if you want to travel between the U.S. and Europe.

You can also find deals on award flights operated by Singapore Airlines through KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes. These deals are great for visiting Asia. Promo Rewards are occasionally valid on Singapore’s fifth-freedom routes, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Frankfurt.

Related: Points and miles travel deals for this month

Use transfer bonuses to book business-class award flights

Finally, you’ll occasionally find transfer bonuses that give you more miles when you convert transferable points into airline miles. The best time to book a business-class award flight might be when there’s a transfer bonus to the airline loyalty program you plan to book through.

For example, if a business-class award flight costs 80,000 miles and the transfer ratio to the program is 1:1, you’d usually need to transfer 80,000 points to book the award flight. But, during a 20% transfer bonus, you’d only need to transfer 67,000 points since the transfer bonus would give you an additional 13,400 miles.

Related: A complete list of transfer bonuses over the past decade — which issuer is the most generous?

Bottom line

As you can tell, there’s no set “best” time to book a business-class award flight.

It does pay to be patient, though, and to set up award availability alerts. By doing so, you can book when and if award availability appears for the flights you want.

If you grow impatient or can’t find award availability at the price you want, leveraging a transfer bonus to book an award priced slightly higher than you’d like can still provide good value.

Editor’s note: TPG’s Ashley Kosciolek accepted a free trip from Carnival Cruise Line to sail on Carnival Jubilee for its christening voyage. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren’t subject to review by the line.

When Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee debuted in December 2023, it became the third ship in the line’s Excel Class, closely mimicking sister ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. Although there are more similarities than differences among the three, Carnival has still found a way to make Carnival Jubilee innovative and fun by tweaking a few of the offerings.

The ship shares Carnival’s “zone” concept with its two older sisters, meaning it has dedicated areas for dining, drinking, entertainment and outdoor fun, including Bolt, a top-deck roller coaster. The biggest differences on the newest iteration are in two reinvented zones, Currents and The Shores; respectively, they take the place of The French Quarter and La Piazza on Mardi Gras, and The Gateway and 820 Biscayne on Carnival Celebration.

On my voyage, the ship carried 5,676 passengers, plus crew. This meant it wasn’t at capacity, but it still felt loud and crowded, and often was fraught with lines. However, the service was generally excellent, with an exceedingly friendly crew.

The vessel is also a ton of fun, featuring two new shows (one with a football tailgate theme and the other with an onboard wedding plot), plenty of daily activities and so many fantastic dining options — many of them free — that it’ll make your head spin.

Here’s the rundown on what you can expect on board so you can determine if Carnival Jubilee is right for your next sailing.

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Carnival Jubilee overview

Carnival Jubilee is a megaship, coming in at 183,521 tons and carrying up to 6,631 passengers at full capacity. It’s tied with Carnival Celebration for the title of the largest ship in Carnival’s fleet.

The vessel offers weeklong Caribbean voyages on a regular rotation from its home port in Galveston, Texas, meaning you’ll find a healthy dose of Texas-style fun on board (more on that later). In fact, Carnival is so dedicated to keeping the ship in the Lone Star State that it had a Texas star painted on the ship’s hull.

Carnival Jubilee’s demographics run the gamut from families with young kids or extended family groups to groups of friends, couples and even solo cruisers (even though it doesn’t have any cabins for singles). True to the rumors about Southern hospitality, the people on my cruise were some of the warmest and most polite I’ve ever encountered; fellow passengers were saying “excuse me,” allowing others to go first in line and generally being more courteous than I’ve found on sailings from other places.

The ship is divided into six zones, where passengers can find a mix of bars, restaurants, live performances, water-filled fun and exhilarating activities like a ropes course, minigolf and, of course, the Bolt roller coaster. Here’s a bit about each zone.

Carnival Jubilee zones

Grand Central: This bustling area rises up three decks — decks 6, 7 and 8 — and replaces the traditional atrium found on older Carnival vessels. The focal point is Center Stage, a starboard-side (on your right when facing the front of the ship) secondary theater that’s home to events like bingo during the day and song-and-dance performances at night.

Surrounding the stage are tons of seating options, as well as JavaBlue Cafe, which serves coffee and snacks; Cherry on Top candy shop; the Center Stage and Grand View Bars; and Bonsai Sushi and Teppanyaki. It also serves as an access point for the onboard shops, Piano Bar 88, The Punchliner Comedy Club and the Jubilee Casino.

Currents: Currents is one of the other main social hubs on Carnival Jubilee. It starts on Deck 6, just aft of Grand Central and features two new bars. The Golden Mermaid has gilded decor and a custom-designed mural depicting mermaids and lots of hidden Easter eggs (look for SpongeBob SquarePants references). Meanwhile, Dr. Inks, Ph.D., is a bar based on the fictional character Dr. Inks — an octopus with academic credentials. Both bars have excellent drink menus.

Also in the space is Emeril’s Bistro 717, a New Orleans-style, for-fee eatery developed by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.

On the wall above Dr. Inks, window-shaped screens provide a show for anyone passing through the length of the Currents promenade area. Programming rotates between underwater adventures, nature scenes and even artwork produced by passengers and kids from St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. For a better view, head up one deck to the Alchemy Bar.

The Shores: If the Currents zone is the underwater-themed area of the ship, The Shores on Deck 8 is what you get when you pop your head above the metaphorical surface. Inspired by boardwalks and beaches, The Shores offers two walk-up food counters: Beach Buns (Carnival Deli on other ships) and Coastal Slice (the equivalent of Pizza Pirate or Pizzeria del Capitano). Offset by colorful, blinking carnival-style lighting, the venues all but scream, “Step right up!”

Other venues in the area include the Marina Bar for cocktails and coffee, complimentary Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano and for-fee seafood eatery Rudi’s Seagrill, created by food pop artist chef Rudi Sodamin.

Summer Landing: From The Shores, continue aft on Deck 8 to reach Summer Landing. It’s an indoor space that encompasses Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, a Guy Fieri barbecue joint with its own microbrewery and live music; the Heroes Tribute Lounge, which honors members of the military; and soft-serve ice cream.

Outside, the area continues with The Patio, which features a pool and hot tubs, and neighboring The Watering Hole, a bar that serves the space.

Lido: A mix of food and fun, the Lido zone fans out on decks 16 and 17 around the ship’s main Beach Pool, which serves as the center of the action. Around and above it, you’ll find outdoor movies, dedicated teen hangouts, a video arcade, a two-story version of the RedFrog Tiki Bar, cruiser favorite BlueIguana Cantina, extra-fee Seafood Shack and Street Eats street food.

On the upper deck is the popular Guy’s Burger Joint, which is oddly set a bit farther away from the action on Excel Class ships. Farther afield on Deck 16, passengers can check out Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken restaurant or venture to Lido Marketplace, the ship’s complimentary buffet.

The Ultimate Playground: If you’re looking for alfresco thrills to keep you busy, The Ultimate Playground is the place to be. It comprises a miniature golf course, a basketball court, a ropes course and the line’s signature WaterWorks water park, all of which are free.

Of course, the highlight of this zone is the Bolt roller coaster. It’s an added-fee experience during which passengers (one to two people per ride) zoom twice around the track on a motorcycle-style vehicle that allows you to throttle up or down to a speed that suits you.

What I love about Carnival Jubilee

Grand Central

Grand Central is one of my favorite spots on board. Although it’s often loud, busy and difficult to navigate, especially on sea days, it’s a prime place to sit and people-watch. I found myself gravitating there repeatedly to enjoy coffee or a snack from the nearby JavaBlue Cafe while watching the cast from that night’s show rehearse at Center Stage — something you can’t usually do on other ships.

Plus, the space is a bit of a throwback to the days when interior designer and architect Joe Farcus was responsible for Carnival’s ship decor. The decor is midcentury modern style meets ’80s quirk, featuring a pink and teal color scheme, fun light fixtures and a bar with colored mirror accents.

Fun drinks

I’m not generally someone who cares about alcohol. Give me one or two pina coladas on a weeklong cruise, and I’m good to go. However, the massively creative options on the menus at both the Golden Mermaid and Dr. Inks, Ph.D., bars are absolutely worth a shoutout.

For the wow factor, the best drink I had was A Pearly Bubble. Found on the menu at the Golden Mermaid, it’s a mix of gin, St-Germain liqueur, white cranberry juice, dragon fruit and lime juice. It was a bit too dry for me, so I didn’t care for the taste; however, you won’t want to miss the presentation, which involves a giant bubble atop the drink. It pops when you poke it, leaving behind a tiny poof of smoke.

For taste, which I know is subjective, my favorite is the Crimson Catch (Swedish Fish candy-infused vodka, lime juice, pomegranate liqueur, white cranberry juice and Swedish Fish candy). I prefer sweet drinks, and this hit the spot.

Marina Bar

It’s not unusual for the line at JavaBlue to snake around the corner and down the hall at peak times. The staff members try their best to keep things moving, but if you don’t feel like waiting 10-15 minutes for a cuppa, head upstairs to Deck 8’s Marina Bar instead.

There, you can order any of the same coffee beverages you’ll find at JavaBlue but in far less time. If you’re feeling more like a cocktail, you can grab one of those, too. On my sailing, the bartenders were phenomenal and even remembered that I prefer non-dairy milk with my lattes.

Bolt roller coaster

Cruise fans know that Carnival brought Bolt, the first-ever roller coaster at sea, to Mardi Gras in 2021. Carnival Jubilee offers the same ride — the third of its kind on a cruise ship — in the deck 18, 19 and 20 Ultimate Playground area.

Pay a fee to ride, and you (or you and a friend) can navigate two laps of twists and turns around the ship’s funnel as you use the throttle and hyper-boost buttons to try to break the day’s speed record. (Yes, you’ll be timed, and don’t forget to smile for a photo.) The ocean views from above are totally worth the cost.

What I don’t love about Carnival Jubilee

The crowds

There’s no easy way to say this: The ship almost always feels crowded. If you want to enjoy it when it’s not, you’ll have to stay on board during port calls just to find some space to yourself. Many restaurants and walk-up counters have near-constant lines, particularly at the complimentary venues during peak dinner times every evening.

It’s so common for JavaBlue to be backed up throughout the day that an easy-to-miss sign directs passengers to other locations where they can grab a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, lines at the onboard deli and pizzeria counters frequently snake so far down Deck 8 that they block the entrance to seafood restaurant Rudi’s Seagrill. One night, as I was dining at Rudi’s with some of my travel companions, we joked that the lines were dangerously close to melding with the line for the nearby guest services desk.

And it isn’t just a problem with dining. I arrived 15 minutes early for a magic show at the Punchliner Comedy Club, and I couldn’t find a single available seat in the entire place. On another night, I showed up on time for Family Feud Live in the ship’s theater, and it was a standing-room-only situation. The sizes of the performance venues are generally way too small for the number of passengers wishing to watch the shows.

The noise

My cabin had some of the best soundproofing I’ve experienced on a new ship in a long time — I had balcony accommodations near an elevator bank and heard nothing when I was in my room. However, a couple of passengers told me they could hear noise from Bolt in their balcony cabin on Deck 15.

Most other places on board seem to be excessively loud. Even on port days, when most passengers are ashore, the public areas are filled with loud music that makes it hard to find a quiet escape. Some of it is understandable. After all, Carnival vessels are known as the Fun Ships, but some of it seems unnecessary.

One example is the Dr. Seuss-themed Seuss-a-palooza Parade that makes its way through the Currents zone once per sailing. I happened to be sitting at a table in the area when the festivities kicked off. I decided to stay to see what it was all about, and I’m sorry I did. As costumed Dr. Seuss characters arrived, Carnival staff asked the children to scream solely for the sake of screaming. Ear-piercing shrieks reverberated throughout the space, which was also blocked off to passengers trying to pass through.

The excessive upselling

Combining noise with the annoyance of hawking alcohol, the roving waiters visited every table at Chibang! — the ship’s hybrid Mexican-Asian restaurant — one night while I was having dinner there. Their goal was to push Rumchata shots on everyone. Whenever somebody bought one, the waiter would demand that they yell “Shot, shot, shot!” before downing it. This was extremely disruptive and added to the already loud atmosphere.

One afternoon later in the sailing, two different crew members approached me a total of six times in less than half an hour while I was having lunch on the Lido deck. The first five times, I simply said, “No, thanks.” After the sixth time, I had enough and told them nicely but firmly to stop asking me. I found the high-pressure sales tactics excessive and irritating when all I wanted to do was eat my meal in peace.

The inconsistencies

Oddly, there were some discrepancies on board that I was surprised to see on a ship that’s been sailing for several months.

The first couple had to do with differences between the Carnival HUB app and the daily Fun Times printed schedule. On one occasion, the app said Seafood Shack opened half an hour earlier than it did, while the paper version of the daily schedule had the correct information. Another time, the printed daily had the wrong theater show listed for that night; the correct one was posted in the HUB. On another day, the printed schedule was missing part four of a four-part show, which did show up on the agenda in the app.

In terms of food and drinks, I had a strange experience at Chibang! when I ordered spring rolls. Usually, they don’t have meat in them, nor was meat listed as an ingredient on the menu. When the waiter took my order, he said, “Spring rolls with chicken.” When I asked him about it, he said he could request for them to be made without it, but that doesn’t explain why something with meat in it wouldn’t have meat in its list of ingredients. If I were a vegetarian or vegan, it would have concerned me.

As for drinks, I ordered a Snapping Pop at Dr. Inks., Ph.D. It was completely different — different color, different taste and different presentation — from what I received when I ordered the same drink on a sailing two months prior. I was told the drink had to be changed for several reasons. However, the old ingredients were listed on the menu, meaning passengers weren’t getting what they thought they ordered.

Carnival Jubilee cabins and suites

Carnival Jubilee offers cabins in the usual varieties: insides with no windows or balconies, ocean-view accommodations with windows, balcony cabins with outdoor veranda space and suites that include additional perks. These include priority check-in, boarding and disembarkation; preferred dinner times in the main dining room; pillow-top mattresses; two large bottles of water and bathrobes; and extra square footage.

Within those categories, Carnival Jubilee offers three types of special cabins. First is Family Harbor, which offers nautically themed cabins that sleep up to five people and rooms that can be connected via an interior door. Families booked in Family Harbor cabins have access to a dedicated Family Harbor Lounge, which offers daily breakfast, snacks and drinks, as well as board games and TVs with a selection of movies and video games. They also receive a free night of babysitting in the kids club so parents can enjoy some alone time.

The second special cabin type is the Havana Cabana. Done up in bright, tropical colors, these rooms offer extended outdoor lounge space and private access to the Havana Pool and Bar area.

The third type is Cloud 9 Spa cabins. With calming seafoam green and yellow decor alongside extras like Elemis toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, these are some of the most relaxing cabins on any ship. These guests also receive priority spa appointments and free access to fitness classes and the onboard thermal suite.

Suites in all three of these special accommodation types also give passengers the suite perks mentioned above.

Excel Suites, Carnival Jubilee’s highest-level accommodations, receive all standard suite perks plus additional ones. These include complimentary access to the private sun deck at Loft 19, priority cabana reservations at Loft 19, concierge services, guaranteed reservations at most extra-fee restaurants, free room service, upgraded toiletries, fruit and sparkling wine upon embarkation, a free soft drink package, free in-room movies, an in-cabin coffee machine and complimentary laundry service.

Standard amenities in all rooms include a queen bed that converts to two twins on request, bedside shelving with reading lamps and USB outlets, a desk and vanity area, a sofa or chair, a closet and drawers for storage, a safe for valuables, a house phone and a hair dryer.

Bathrooms feature a toilet, sink and shower with a door instead of a curtain. Complimentary toiletries are basic: bar soap for handwashing and dispensers of shampoo and shower gel mounted on the wall in the shower.

On my sailing, I stayed in a balcony cabin, which was elegantly decorated in neutrals with blue accents. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of storage space. I appreciated touches like ample vanity mirror lighting, adjustable shelving in the closets and a surplus of USB outlets throughout the room, including near the vanity and beside the bed.

Speaking of the bed, it was exceptionally comfortable, and I was excited to find that the TV across from it had a sizable selection of free movies (as well as newer releases for a fee). The TV also allows you to watch select live channels and shipboard programming and to check your onboard bill.

Dislikes for me include a shower door that opens toward you instead of into the shower, making the already tiny bathroom even tighter. I also didn’t like the “SNOOZIN’” door hangers, which often got caught in my door when I closed it; I would’ve rathered a “do not disturb” button like many other new ships have.

I also would have liked a taller table on the balcony, but it only had room for two chairs (not lounger-style) and a small drinks table.

Carnival Jubilee offers 82 accessible cabins in a mix of types and categories: inside, ocean-view, balcony and suite, as well as rooms in the Family Harbor, Havana Cabana and Cloud 9 Spa categories.

Within those 82 options, there are fully accessible accommodations with access to both sides of the bed and rooms that are fully accessible with single-side access to one side of the bed, which work well for passengers who use wheelchairs and scooters. Ambulatory-accessible rooms provide accommodations for people who walk with the help of assistive devices like canes or walkers.

Fully accessible rooms are stair-free, flat-threshold cabins, which offer wider (32-inch) doorways, turning space and bathrooms equipped with grab bars and shower seats.

There are no solo cabins on Carnival Jubilee.

Cabin cleaning is limited to once per day. Unless you specifically request your cabin steward to come at night for turndown service instead of earlier in the day, your room will be made up in the morning. Hang the “SNOOZIN’” card on the outside of your door, and no one will bother you — but your room won’t be cleaned that day.

Carnival Jubilee restaurants and bars

Carnival Jubilee food

One of the best ways Carnival provides value to its customers is through its food offerings. Complimentary dining abounds on Carnival Jubilee, and the variety of cuisines is impressive. You’ll find more free options on Carnival ships than on just about any other fleet’s vessels, and they’re actually tasty. It’s entirely possible to eat only food that’s included in the cruise fare and not feel like you’re missing out.

Excellent added-fee options include steak, seafood and teppanyaki, which might be worth trying if you’re celebrating a special occasion or feeling like a splurge.

Dinner reservations are recommended for many eateries, even the main dining rooms. You can make them by visiting your restaurant of choice or by using the HUB app. If you don’t make one, you might find yourself waiting 20 minutes or more for a table at peak times. If you make a reservation through the app, you’ll receive a notification to report to the host stand when your table is ready.

In my experience, waiters were diligent in asking about dietary requirements and restrictions. However, it was disappointing to see that many menus weren’t marked with specific options for vegetarians, vegans and people who can’t eat gluten.

Free food

The ship has two main dining rooms: Atlantic Restaurant (Deck 6, mid) and Pacific Restaurant (decks 6 and 7, aft).

One of them is dedicated to passengers who select Your Time Dining, which lets you eat anytime between 5 and 9 p.m. (The dedicated YTD restaurant can vary by sailing, depending on how many people choose that option.)

Both serve the same menu for dinner, but only the larger Pacific Restaurant is open for Sea Day Brunch on sea days and breakfast (but not lunch) on port days.

I very much enjoyed an omelet with hashbrowns at Sea Day Brunch and salmon during the formal night dinner in the Pacific Restaurant. I also had a wonderful time at two special events — complimentary afternoon tea and an extra-fee Dr. Seuss-themed Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast — held in the Atlantic Restaurant.

Tip: If you’re a vegetarian or a fan of Indian food, don’t miss the daily Indian dish on the main dining room menu.

The buffet is the other free food option that’s a staple on just about any cruise.

On Carnival Jubilee, the Lido Marketplace on Deck 16 is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, but I found it largely uninspired and lacking in variety. The French toast I had for breakfast and the mahi mahi I had for dinner were tasty, but there are definitely better no-charge venues on board.

A little-known fact is that, at least for the inaugural season, passengers can dine at Mexican-Asian restaurant Chibang! and the Italian Cucina del Capitano, both on Deck 8, for free. Cruisers with YTD can eat there for dinner anytime; those with set seating can dine there after 7:45 p.m.

At Cucina del Capitano, I was exceptionally pleased with the spaghetti carbonara I ordered. The nachos and spring rolls are don’t-miss items at Chibang!

Unfortunately, both the service and atmosphere at Chibang! are lacking. The space is simply packed with tables — so much so that there were only about two inches between my table and the one next to me, even though I was dining alone. It then took nearly 10 minutes for a waiter to bring me water and another 10 before someone came to take my order.

Also on Deck 8 are Coastal Slice and neighboring Beach Buns, which respectively replace the pizza and deli counters found by the pool on most other Carnival ships.

The former bakes several different types of pies nearly around the clock, and they’re scrumptious. The latter whips up hotdogs, soups and a variety of sandwiches. (I was pleasantly surprised by the grilled ham and cheese.) Lines for both counters are often long, but I promise it’s worth the wait.

Two great staples in the ship’s outdoor Lido zone are the BlueIguana Cantina (Deck 16), where you can find yummy tacos and burritos throughout the day, and Guy’s Burger Joint (Deck 17), which is the place to grab some of the best burgers at sea via Carnival’s partnership with chef and TV personality Guy Fieri.

The breakfast burritos at BlueIguana are fantastic. My pick from Guy’s is the Chilius Maximus — an 80/20 ground chuck patty with cheese, chili, onion rings and barbecue sauce.

Guy Fieri isn’t the only celebrity affiliated with Carnival’s free food.

Shaq’s Big Chicken, a restaurant backed by basketball great Shaquille O’Neal (who is also Carnival’s CFO, chief fun officer), is perfect if you have a hankering for some fried chicken. In addition to chicken strips, sandwiches and fries, the counter-service venue also serves breakfast. Do yourself a favor and try the chicken and biscuit combo with fries.

If you’re seeking a between-meal snack or light bite, try the JavaBlue Cafe on Deck 6 in Grand Central. The cafe offers a sizable menu of specialty coffee beverages and tea, as well as free and for-fee snacks.

Breakfast pastries, bowls and English muffin sandwiches, as well as all-day options like salads, sandwiches, wraps, empanadas and calzones, are complimentary; cookies, doughnuts, cupcakes and cheesecake cost extra.

As a sucker for soft-serve ice cream, I was a frequent visitor to the three soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt machines on decks 8, 16 and 17. At some point, I lost count of how many cones I ate.

Since there are no toppings, I recommend you snag a bowl of dry Froot Loops from the buffet during breakfast, and stash them in your cabin to mix with your ice cream later. Or grab cookies from the buffet for a DIY ice cream sandwich.

Carnival Jubilee has so many places to eat that I ran out of time to try them all on my weeklong sailing.

I missed Fresh Creations, a salad station in the adults-only sun deck area on Deck 18, and Street Eats, a set of three street food-style walk-up windows on Deck 16 near the main pool. The walk-up windows include Steam Dream, which serves dumplings; Time Fries, offering creative takes on french fries; and Sizzle, a grill that specializes in kebabs and other dishes.

Extra-cost food

My favorite onboard dining experience of the whole sailing was at Emeril’s Bistro 717 in the Currents zone on Deck 6. A version of this chef Emeril Lagasse-affiliated spot is on each of Carnival’s Excel Class ships, bearing the hull number of the original vessel for which the new one is named. Simply walk up to order at the counter, have a seat and a waiter will take over from there.

During my visit, I ordered a pound of stone crab claws in garlic butter (market price) with red beans and rice ($3) and a brie bowl ($6). The food was fabulous, and the service was friendly. My only complaint is that, apart from a claw cracker, there were no other tools available to get to the crab meat. (I asked.) My waiter had no bibs or wet wipes to offer, which left me a bit messy afterward.

The food item I most recommend you try when sailing on Carnival Jubilee is an order of beignets at Emeril’s. Pillows of soft fried dough coated in powdered sugar with chocolate and strawberry sauces for dipping are $5 for an order of six.

My second favorite experience was a calm, quiet and uncrowded lunch at Bonsai Sushi on Deck 8. I partook in edamame ($3) and a California roll ($8). It was fresh, tasty, filling and reasonably priced.

Another excellent dinner during my voyage occurred at Rudi’s Seagrill (Deck 8), an upscale seafood restaurant named for chef and pop artist Rudi Sodamin. The lobster macaroni and cheese was the perfect indulgence to start my meal, and I followed it up with a delicious crab cake.

I wasn’t overly hungry when I sat down, but the $49 cover charge ($15 for kids) would also have included a soup or salad and a dessert if I had wanted them.

No Carnival sailing would be complete for a carnivore without a visit to Fahrenheit 555, the onboard steakhouse. On Carnival Jubilee, it’s adorned in neutral tans, dark browns and red tones.

The menu has several types of meat — including steak, of course, as well as lamb chops and chicken — and seafood items like fish and lobster tail. I went with a 9-ounce filet mignon, which was cooked to perfection. It came alongside several sauces and sides of broccoli and crinkle-cut fries for $49 ($15 for kids).

My two most disappointing extra-fee food encounters on Carnival Jubilee were Seafood Shack (Deck 16, in the Lido zone, near the pool) and room service.

The first one opened late, and despite my order being the first one of the day, it still took more than 20 minutes to be served. I chose a single crab cake for $15. When I received it, the bun was soggy, and no garnishes or sauces were offered until I went back to the counter to ask for coleslaw and tartar sauce, neither of which helped the flavor.

It didn’t hold a candle to the crab cake from Rudi’s, and I ended up abandoning most of it.

Room service, which comes with a la carte fees (except for free Continental breakfast), set me back almost $20 for a chicken quesadilla, chicken fingers with curly fries and a chocolate chip cookie, which I ordered sometime around 2 a.m.

Everything arrived quickly and at the right temperature. The fries and cookie were great, but the chicken fingers were rubbery and full of gristle. When I tried to order the quesadilla without chicken, I was told they were already made, which seems strange. Shouldn’t room service be made to order?

Again, I couldn’t fit every single restaurant into my time on Carnival Jubilee, so I missed out on Bonsai Teppanyaki, where chefs grill your food right in front of you, complete with corny jokes. I also missed Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, another Guy Fieri creation that serves barbecue fare, wings and microbrewed beer made right on the ship (lunch is free). I couldn’t make it to Chef’s Table, an exclusive multicourse small-group dining experience that’s the most pricey meal on board, either.

Carnival Jubilee bars

Drinks are priced individually unless you have a Cheers beverage package that includes alcohol.

My favorite bar on Carnival Jubilee is the Marina Bar in The Shores zone on Deck 8. It offers a menu of adult beverages, but it also serves the same specialty coffees you’ll find at JavaBlue, which often has a long line.

This nautically themed outpost is next to a popular access point to the outer decks, so the only downside is that you might be blasted with hot air while your drink is being made.

Unique to Carnival Jubilee are two new bars in the Deck 6 Currents zone.

The Golden Mermaid is a nod to treasures one might expect to find under the sea, and a mural on the opposite wall depicts underwater scenes, including mermaids. (For some “Where’s Waldo”-style fun, try to spot a miniature likeness of the ship, a pair of custom sneakers and references to SpongeBob SquarePants.)

The menu of drinks is noteworthy, too, featuring names like From Far Seas and Atlantis Potion. My favorite, though, is A Pearly Bubble — a blend of gin, St. Germain liqueur, white cranberry juice, lime juice and dragon fruit that’s as much for show as it is for taste.

The second new bar is Dr. Inks, Ph.D. In addition to a fun selection of cocktails — some of which involve candy — the bar’s theme is tied to an animated octopus named Dr. Inks. She has a Ph.D., pet butterflies and extensive collections of both books and fashionable eyewear. Every so often, she’ll appear on the screens above the area to chat.

Cruiser-favorite Alchemy Bar — where white-coated apothecaries prescribe drinks to heal what ails you (try the Cucumber Sunrise) — and the bar at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse returned to Carnival Jubilee after finding success on other Carnival ships.

Besides beer that’s brewed right on board — which you can order by the glass, flight or growler, or in cocktails — you can snag one of several whiskies or interesting cocktails like a smoky watermelon margarita and a black bourbon fizz. I tried a bacon Manhattan, but the taste wasn’t my favorite. I also wasn’t impressed with how long it took a bartender to ask for my order, especially since it wasn’t particularly crowded.

I’m not a huge drinker, so I didn’t personally try cocktails from the Center Stage Bar (Deck 6) or Grand View Bar (Deck 7) in Grand Central. The former features a bit of a retro vibe, and the latter is backed by a giant light-up wall that looks like wave.

I also missed out on the RedFrog Tiki Bar, a two-deck (decks 16 and 17), hut-style setup that replaces the RedFrog Rum Bar found on many other Carnival ships’ pool decks. It’s where you’ll find the most quintessentially tropical menu of mixed drinks on board.

Other outdoor bar options include The Watering Hole near Summer Landing on Deck 8, the Serenity Pool Bar on Deck 18 in the adults-only area and the Loft 19 Bar on the exclusive Loft 19 sun deck. (Access is free for passengers booked in suites or anyone who reserves a cabana for anywhere from $250 to $500 per day.)

Back inside, Deck 6’s Piano Bar is where passengers can order a tipple while an onboard pianist tickles the ivories. Make your way up a deck, and you’ll find the Limelight Lounge, which serves as a secondary performance space and trivia outpost.

Go one deck farther, and you can choose between the Havana Bar, which serves Latin-themed cocktails, and the Heroes Tribute Lounge, which has a special menu of drinks dedicated to military members.

Carnival Jubilee entertainment

Carnival Jubilee activities

Carnival Jubilee offers a full roundup of daily activities on each voyage.

Passengers might choose to head to the casino, play bingo, enjoy an alcohol tasting, participate in a sports tournament, go on a digital scavenger hunt, mingle at a deck party, play minigolf, take a dance class, learn towel folding, or attend a spa, jewelry or shopping seminar.

Particularly notable are the rotating animations that pop up throughout the Currents zone during each voyage.

If you show up during “Soundwaves Jukebox,” you’ll see synthesizer-like graphics pulsating to the music on the giant screens above the space.

“Change the Currents” will allow you to view underwater scenes from different areas of the world, including the Arctic and swampy Everglades; other experiences take you on an underwater adventure in a submarine and display ocean-themed artwork drawn by kids at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Some of my personal favorite pastimes on board included trivia, pool deck movies, for-fee culinary classes and a particularly relaxing massage. (Watch out for discounts early in your sailing or on port days.)

In addition to treatments, the Cloud 9 Spa offers salon services and a thermal suite — access to which is free with the purchase of a pass or a spa treatment — with a thalassotherapy pool, heated tile loungers, a sauna and two steam rooms. The adjacent fitness center is on the small side but features for-fee personal training and organized fitness classes, as well as equipment that’s free for passengers to use.

Looking to find a group of like-minded travelers on your sailing? Check out meetups for solo travelers, singles, veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ community listed in the daily program.

If you’re interested in spending time outdoors working on your tan by the pool, you can do so at one of five onboard pools.

There’s the Havana Pool (private access for cruisers staying in Havana Cabanas) and the Patio Pool, both on Deck 8 (the latter with hot tubs); the Beach Pool and Tides Pool on Deck 16 (also with hot tubs); and the Deck 18 adults-only Serenity Pool (with hot tubs). There’s also a hot tub at Loft 19 on Deck 19, which charges a fee for access.

Cabanas are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Prices vary by sailing, but on my voyage, they were $500 per day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pool lifts accommodating up to 300 pounds are available for passengers with limited mobility.

On Deck 18, you’ll find Waterworks, which offers waterslides and a splash area for kids.

Kids and adults who aren’t afraid of heights will enjoy the top-deck ropes course, which offers two options for different levels of skill and bravery. The Bolt roller coaster, a minigolf course and a basketball court are also found in the SportSquare area within the Ultimate Playground zone.

Additional activities for youngsters take place in Camp Ocean, Carnival’s kids club, which splits children into four groups: Turtles (up to 2 years old), Penguins (2-5), Stingrays (6-8) and Sharks (9-11).

Fun pursuits on the daily schedule might include arts and crafts, themed parties, science experiments, games and story time, depending on the age group.

Camp Ocean also has an interactive space wall, where astronauts lead kids on virtual expeditions, complete with a ceiling that lights up like the night sky to show the constellations.

Kids can also attend Build-A-Bear workshops, march along in a Dr. Seuss-themed parade led by the Fox in Socks and Thing 1 and Thing 2, and listen to the Cat in the Hat read stories.

Tweens and teens have their own dedicated hangout spaces. Activities here are less structured, and participants can come and go as they please. Plus, an onboard arcade offers video games for a fee.

Carnival Jubilee shows

Entertainment on Carnival Jubilee is a combination of passenger favorites from other ships and new shows that you’ll only find on this vessel.

Of the performances, I most enjoyed two main-theater shows that are also found on some other ships in the fleet. “Celestial Strings” is a mix of classical and modern pop instrumentals partnered with ethereal costumes and sets; “Soulbound” is a song-and-dance performance with a Victorian steampunk vibe, set in what feels like New Orleans, during which a soul-stealer tries to mess with a twisted love story.

Another excellent show is “Rio Carnival,” which occurs at Center Stage in the Grand Central zone instead of the main theater. Although the first half felt a bit shaky and slightly boring to me, the second half redeemed it all, featuring a parade of dancers and aerialists dressed in flamboyant costumes synonymous with Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival.

The ship’s two new shows are just OK. The first, “Dear Future Husband,” is a song-and-dance theater show with a plot that involves a couple taking their closest friends on a cruise for a combination bachelor/bachelorette party and wedding. Musical numbers befit the wedding theme and include Bruno Mars’ “Marry You” and, of course, Meghan Trainor’s “Dear Future Husband.”

After the performance, a “reception” (read: dance party with a DJ and visits from the cast) is held in one of the ship’s public areas. When I saw this show several months ago, the reception was in the Limelight Lounge. On this more recent voyage, Dr. Inks, Ph.D., served as the reception location.

The second new show is the “Lone Star Tailgate.” Drawing on Texas’ love for all things football, Carnival has created four indoor/outdoor “quarters” of fun to mimic the four quarters of a football game. When I sailed, the first quarter, which is all about pool deck games for kids, was held on one sea day, and the other three were held on another sea day.

The second quarter involves pool deck games where passengers have to dress up in football gear to complete team races.

During “halftime,” the ship’s theater singers and dancers put on a show on the pool deck, dressed in team colors to support the fictional Carnival University — the team cruisers are supposedly cheering on during the festivities.

The third and fourth quarters occur in the Summer Landing zone; passengers can rope hay bales, participate in a hot wing-eating contest at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse and follow it up with music from a live band.

Don’t miss the audience participation-style game shows like “Family Feud Live,” “Deal or No Deal” and the “Love & Marriage Show.” The first pits two family teams against one another to guess popular answers to survey questions; the latter tests couples to see how well they know one another, often resulting in hilarious answers.

Other entertainment during my sailing included several day and nighttime comedy acts, an absolutely phenomenal magic show (be sure to arrive at the Punchliner Comedy Club at least 30 minutes early or you won’t find a seat) and “We Are One,” a farewell show that focuses on togetherness.

Carnival Jubilee itineraries and pricing

Through at least April 2026, Carnival Jubilee offers two seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries out of its Galveston home port on a regular rotation. Both types of sailings begin and end in Galveston and visit Mahogany Bay in Roatan and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico with three sea days mixed in. The only difference between the two itineraries is the order in which the port calls and sea days occur.

At the time of publication, prices started from $709 per person ($101 per person per night) for an inside cabin or $919 per person ($131 per person per night) for balcony accommodations.

What to know before you sail on Carnival Jubilee

Required documents

If you’re a U.S. citizen on a cruise that starts and ends in a U.S. port, you’ll need a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver’s license or other government-issued photo identification to sail. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, also are acceptable.

Passports must be valid for at least six more months. For cruises from international ports, you’ll need a passport. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. All this said, we recommend checking Carnival’s website before sailing for up-to-date requirements.

Related: Which documents do you need for a cruise?

Gratuities

Carnival Jubilee passengers will automatically have $16 per person per day added to their onboard bills. Cruisers staying in suites will pay $18 per person per day. (Children younger than 2 are exempt from gratuities.) An 18% gratuity is also added to bar and cafe bills, spa treatments and the cover charge of the Chef’s Table.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Wi-Fi

Carnival Wi-Fi is generally fast and reliable, and Jubilee features StarLink connectivity. However, don’t be surprised if you find yourself repeatedly and automatically disconnected, which is annoying.

Packages have increased significantly in price in recent years, and each plan is only for one device. (You can log out of one and into another with the same account, but you can’t connect more than one simultaneously unless you buy additional plans.)

Three package tiers are available: Social (access to most social media and airline websites and apps for $18 per day or $126 for a weeklong cruise), Value (same as Social, plus access to financial and news websites and apps for $23 per day or $161 for a week) and Premium (everything from the Social and Value packages plus Skype access and video calling for $25 per day or $175 for a week). Passengers can also choose 24 hours of Premium access for $35.

Carnival claims that its packages don’t allow FaceTime, iMessage or streaming from popular apps like Netflix and Hulu. However, TPG writers have had success using all of those services with the Premium package.

Carnival Jubilee is also the first ship in the fleet to offer 5G cellphone connectivity, which means faster speeds when you connect using your cellphone’s plan. But be warned: If you don’t have a special plan that allows you to connect at sea without roaming, you could be looking at hefty fees when you return. Generally, it’s best to keep your phone in airplane mode when you sail.

Related: 5 things to know about cruise ship Wi-Fi

Carry-on drinks policy

Passengers can carry on one bottle of wine or Champagne per person (21 years and older); this will incur a $15 corkage fee for consumption in public areas. Each person can also bring up to 12 standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic beverages like juice or soda. Alcohol-free drinks in plastic and glass bottles aren’t allowed.

Related: Can I bring my own alcohol on a cruise ship?

Smoking policy

Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is allowed but only in designated outdoor areas on Deck 8 mid-ship on the starboard side. Smoking is also allowed on the starboard side of the casino, but it’s for cigarettes only. All types of smoking are forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies.

Related: Cruise line smoking policies

Laundry

Carnival Jubilee has self-service pressing rooms on decks 4, 5, 9, 14 and 15 with ironing boards and irons that are free to use. There are no self-service laundry facilities, though. Instead, passengers can send out their clothing for washing, pressing and dry-cleaning for a per-item fee.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry

Electrical outlets

Carnival Jubilee has standard North American 110-volt outlets in its cabins, as well as plenty of USB ports. In my balcony room, I had three standard outlets and four USB lightning ports by the vanity. There was also a USB port (non-lightning) on either side of the bed, just below the reading lamp.

Currency

The currency on Carnival Jubilee is the U.S. dollar. The ship also operates without cash. Passengers link credit cards to their onboard accounts or put up a set amount of cash to charge against, using their keycards as a means of making purchases. The only time you might want to have some bills handy is for tipping your room steward, bartenders, room service delivery people, luggage porters or shore excursion guides.

Drinking age

You must be at least 21 years old to drink alcohol on Carnival Jubilee.

Dress code

Carnival Jubilee does not have a specific daytime dress code, and people dress casually. If it’s a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you’re bound for the top deck, T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

During the evenings, the official dress code is pretty laid-back. Most nights are designated “cruise casual,” which means just that — khakis or jeans, polo shirts, sundresses and the like. Super casual items such as cutoff jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts are supposedly not permitted, but I saw plenty of them in the dining rooms during dinnertime on Carnival Jubilee.

Each weeklong cruise will schedule two formal nights — known as “elegant nights.” If you’re bound for the dining rooms, men are expected to turn up in dress slacks and a dress shirt, preferably with a sports coat or even a suit. The suggested attire for women on such nights is cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses. Passengers who wish to avoid dressing up can enjoy dinner in any of the casual eateries aboard.

Related: What to wear on a cruise – all about cruise line dress codes

Bottom line

Sure, Carnival Jubilee carries a lot of people, and it can feel crowded and cumbersome to learn your way around at first.

However, it offers new ocean- and beach-themed zones, delicious food, creative cocktails, friendly crew members, comfy cabins, outdoor thrills, Texas charm and a marquee packed with fun daily diversions and nighttime shows. You’ll find it’s an affordable Caribbean vacation that speaks to just about any traveler who enjoys a large-cruise-ship experience.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• 5 ways cruise lines are nickel-and-diming worse than ever
• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.  

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles are popular among Alaska Airlines and Oneworld loyalists — so getting one of their two cobranded credit cards might interest you.

Those two cards are the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card and the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card.

In addition to how useful Alaska miles can be, another good reason to consider these cards is that they are both issued by Bank of America. That’s important because if you have reached your limit with American Express cards or are affected by Chase’s 5/24 rule, looking to other banks for your next credit card is probably a good idea.

Let’s examine the details of these two cards and discuss how they match up.

Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa comparison

	Alaska Airlines Visa credit card	Alaska Airlines Visa Business card
Annual fee	$95	$95 ($70 per company, $25 per card, so $95 for the first card)
Sign-up bonus	70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account	50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account
Earning	3 miles per dollar on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging stations, local transit (including ride-hailing), cable and select streaming services 1 mile per dollar on other purchases	3 miles per dollar on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging stations, local transit (including ride-hailing) and shipping purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
Alaska benefits	Annual Companion Fare (each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year) Free checked bag for you and up to six additional guests on the same reservation when you purchase airfare with your card 20% off inflight purchases $100 off one Alaska Lounge+ Membership annually when purchased with your card Priority boarding when you pay for your flight with your card	Annual Companion Fare (each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year) Free checked bag for you and up to six additional guests on the same reservation when you purchase airfare with your card 20% off inflight purchases $100 off one Alaska Lounge+ Membership annually when purchased with your card Priority boarding when you pay for your flight with your card
Other benefits	10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America account No foreign transaction fees	10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from purchases if your company has an eligible Bank of America account No foreign transaction fees

Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa welcome bonus

The personal Alaska Airlines Visa is currently offering new cardholders 70,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Meanwhile, the Alaska Airlines Business Visa is currently offering new cardholders 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

For the same spending requirement, you’ll get 20,000 more miles with the personal card over the business card.

Winner: Alaska Airlines Visa. It’s currently offering 20,000 more miles than the business card.

Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa benefits

You won’t find many differences between the two cards’ day-of-travel perks.

Both the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card and the Alaska Airlines Visa Business card afford cardholders a free checked bag for themselves and up to six guests on the same reservation when they pay with their card.

You’ll also enjoy priority boarding and $100 off one Alaska Lounge+ Membership annually when you pay with your Alaska card.

Cardholders with either product also receive 20% back on Alaska inflight purchases, including food and Wi-Fi.

Both products also reward cardholders with an annual Companion Fare, one of the most generous airline credit card companion certificates around. In effect, this is a buy-one-get-one-discounted deal (plus taxes and fees). However — and this is a big one — you have to spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year to earn the Companion Fare on either card (apart from any that come with the welcome bonus).

When you book a round-trip economy ticket on Alaska Airlines, you can use the Companion Fare to reserve a second ticket on the same reservation from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23).

The Companion Fare must be redeemed within 12 months of the issue date, though the actual travel can take place after that — extending its usefulness to nearly two years. Even better, both travelers accrue full mileage credit for their flights and are eligible for upgrades.

The cardholder doesn’t even have to be flying but must use their Alaska card to pay for the tickets. Depending on how you redeem your Companion Fare, it can be worth hundreds of dollars, especially on some of the airline’s more expensive routes, like those to Hawaii, and can more than offset either card’s annual fee each year.

Winner: Tie. Both cards offer the same benefits.

Related: Maximizing the Alaska Airlines Visa Companion Fare

Earning miles on the Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa

Earning rates are comparable: both cards earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Alaska purchases, 2 miles per dollar on gas, EV charging stations and local transit (including ride-hailing) and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

The personal card also earns 2 miles per dollar on cable and select streaming services, while the business card offers a 2-mile-per-dollar rate on shipping.

Winner: Tie. Both cards offer similar earning rates.

Related: How to earn miles with the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program

Redeeming miles on the Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa

Despite the devaluation of Alaska’s award charts in late 2022, numerous valuable ways exist to maximize Alaska miles.

For short-haul flights like TPG editor Emily Thompson prefers, such as Seattle to San Francisco, you can redeem as little as 5,000 Alaska miles for each leg of the journey. Even for longer flights, economy awards often start at 12,500 miles.

If you prefer a first-class experience, longer domestic flights typically require 40,000 miles, but shorter flights can begin as low as 15,000 miles for each leg in first class.

Alaska Airlines also provides access to several partner airlines, allowing you to cover your travel needs across various destinations worldwide. Notable partners include British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Singapore Airlines.

While it’s important to note that Alaska may not always offer the lowest mileage booking rates for these partners (depending on the specific route), the airline’s unique benefit of permitting one free stopover on one-way award tickets can create exceptional itineraries. This feature enables travelers to maximize their journey by exploring multiple destinations within a single trip, making the most of their Alaska miles.

These options demonstrate that there are still attractive opportunities to utilize Alaska miles effectively despite adjustments to the award charts.

Winner: Tie. Both cards earn Alaska miles and provide the same redemption options.

Should I get the Alaska Airlines Visa or the Alaska Airlines Business Visa?

Since the cards are so similar, your decision may simply rest on whether you’re eligible for a business card. If you are, you’ll be free to choose the card with the better welcome offer when you’re applying.

Bottom line

Both the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card and the Alaska Airlines Visa Business card are worth adding to your wallet, given the high value of Alaska miles and the Companion Fare. Both come with less than $100 in annual fees and valuable Alaska Airlines benefits. Because of their similarities, your choice may come down to which one offers a higher welcome bonus.

Learn more in our full review of the Alaska Airlines Visa and our full review of the Alaska Airlines Visa Business.

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Apply here: Alaska Airlines Visa credit card

Apply here: Alaska Airlines Visa Business card

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Editors note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature overview

The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card offers a strong bonus and decent earning potential on Aer Lingus, Iberia and British Airways flights. It does, however, fall a bit short in terms of airline-specific perks. Loyal Avios members can benefit from the card, but most casual travelers will be better off with a card that earns a transferable currency. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

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The Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card is best suited for travelers who frequently fly back and forth between the U.S. and Europe. The card only charges a $95 annual fee, and you do get a couple of solid airline perks. However, the earning structure isn’t anything to write home about.

What sets this card apart is the ability to earn a good stash of Avios with the welcome bonus. We’ll dive into the details about the bonus and how you can earn it below, but that remains one of the biggest selling points for the card overall.

The recommended credit score for this card is at least 670 or higher. Let’s dive into the card details so you can decide if it’s a good fit for you.

Aer Lingus Visa pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Earns valuable Avios Avios can be transferred between all IAG group airlines Low annual fee	Limited benefits and most only apply to trans-Atlantic flights No free checked bag

 Aer Lingus Visa sign-up bonus

The Aer Lingus Visa is currently offering 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.

And for a limited time, you’ll also earn 5 Avios on every $1 spent on gas, grocery and dining in combined purchases (either up to $10,000 or for the first 12 months from account opening, whichever comes first).

Those 75,000 Avios are worth $1,125, according to TPG’s valuations. Plus, if you max out the  $10,000 cap in combined purchases, you’ll earn an additional 50,000 Avios and add another $750 of value, bringing your total bonus value to $1,875. This places it toward the top of our best limited-time welcome offers available.

This bonus is the biggest selling point of the card overall. Especially since you can use Avios across Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia interchangeably, earning a bonus in Avios does offer a little more flexibility in terms of earning and burning rewards compared to other airline loyalty programs.

Remember that since this is a Chase card, it does adhere to the Chase 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more accounts across issuers in the past 24 months, you’re almost certain to be denied for this card.

Related: Cards offering welcome bonuses of at least 100,000 points

Aer Lingus Visa benefits

As expected for a mid-tier cobranded airline card, the Aer Lingus Visa offers minimal perks. With it, you’ll get:

• Economy Companion ticket: Get an Economy Companion Ticket every calendar year that you spend at least $30,000 on your card. This allows you to add a companion to a paid economy flight at no additional cost to you, so long as you book by emailing Aer Lingus directly.

•  Priority Boarding: Primary cardholders and authorized users are eligible for Priority Boarding on any Aer Lingus flight to or from the U.S.
• No foreign transaction fees: You won’t be charged additional fees when using your card abroad.
• Visa Signature benefits: Since this is a Visa Signature card, you’ll get additional benefits like baggage protection, purchase protection, rental car insurance and access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.

While these perks are fine, we’re disappointed not to see an inflight discount or additional free checked bags.

Related: Credit cards that can get you free checked bags

Earning Avios on the Aer Lingus Visa

With the Aer Lingus Visa, you’ll earn:

• 3 Avios per dollar spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL
• 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel
• 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases

Additionally, for a limited time, you earn 5 Avios on gas, grocery and dining purchases (either up to $10,000 or for the first 12 months from account opening, whichever comes first).

For flights, that’s not a bad return for a cobranded airline card. However, you’ll get a better return on spending if you use a premium travel card like The Platinum Card® from American Express or Chase Sapphire Reserve® instead.

Related: The best ways to use Avios

Redeeming Avios on the Aer Lingus Visa

The Avios you earn with the Aer Lingus Visa are a valuable travel currency that you can redeem for Aer Lingus or partner flights or transfer to other Avios-earning airlines to redeem there.

But for those looking to capitalize on the Aer Lingus route network, there are some strategic reasons for booking on Aer Lingus. One of the competitive advantages is that it charges lower taxes and fees — which can save you hundreds of dollars on award flights. Additionally, Aer Lingus has a solid North American route network and the ability for U.S. travelers flying out of Dublin or Shannon to clear U.S. immigration in Ireland rather than waiting until hitting the ground in the U.S.

Whether you’re booking Avios award flights on Aer Lingus, B.A. or a partner airline, Avios gives you a lot of redemption options, including Aer Lingus A321 business class from Dublin (DUB) to Philadelphia (PHL) for just 50,000 Avios and $151.60 in taxes.

Related: How to book Aer Lingus award tickets with Avios

Transferring Avios on the Aer Lingus Visa

You can transfer Avios freely across Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia. And since British Airways is a Oneworld partner, that opens up many doors for redemption options across airlines. For instance, once you transfer your Avios to British Airways, you can then transfer them to Qatar to book the renowned Q-suites.

You could also take a page from TPG senior writer Ben Smithson‘s book. He regularly uses Avios to book short-haul flights from London to Europe for just 4,750 British Airways Avios each way, plus a reasonable $22 in fees, taxes and surcharges each way.

Related: 4 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Iberia and British Airways 

Which cards compete with the Aer Lingus Visa?

You can earn Avios on Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia cobranded credit cards. Plus, Aer Lingus is one of the Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, so you may be better off getting a card that earns that currency and transferring your points over as needed.

• If you prefer a more flexible currency and are under the 5/24 rule. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a solid card option that earns Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to Aer Lingus or any of its other hotel and airline partners. With it, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points per dollar on travel and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
• If you prefer a flexible currency and are over the 5/24 rule. The American Express® Gold Card earns Membership Rewards points. With it, you’ll get 4 points on dining at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (U.S. supermarkets capped at $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point), 3 points on flights booked directly from the airline or amextravel.com, and 1 point on everything else. For more information, read our full review of the Amex Gold.
• If you prefer another Avios-earning airline. The Iberia Visa Signature® Card is an airline card that earns Avios. It earns 3 points per dollar on Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL. This card has useful benefits such as 10% discount when you book flights through iberia.com/Chase10 and a $1,000 discount voucher each year after you spend $30,000. For more information, read our full review of the Iberia Visa.

For additional options, check out our best airline cards.

Related: Everything to know about Chase transfer partners

Is the Aer Lingus Visa worth it?

If you want to earn Avios, the Aer Lingus Visa may be worth adding to your wallet. With a low annual fee, solid welcome bonus and benefits like priority boarding and the ability to earn a companion ticket, this card is decent for Aer Lingus fans. Still, you may prefer to get a card that earns transferable points instead and simply transfer those points to your Avios account.

Bottom line

If Aer Lingus is the primary airline you fly between the U.S. and Europe, taking advantage of this offer and the card’s benefits makes sense. However, if this isn’t your primary airline, you’ll want to choose a different option to earn Avios.

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Apply here: Aer Lingus Visa

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It’s been an eventful few months when it comes to U.S. budget carriers’ route networks, shifting capacity to reduce their exposure to plummeting fares in prime leisure markets like Florida, especially in Orlando.

Spirit Airlines is the latest with an update with seven new routes that the carrier confirmed Friday.

The Miramar, Florida-based company’s latest routes focus on a handful of airports: San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) in California, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Maryland, Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in Missouri and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

There was also a notable transcontinental flavor to the new routes, which all launch in June or July.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

Spirit’s new routes

Here’s the full rundown:

Route	Launches	Frequency
SJC-Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)	June 5	Daily
SJC-Portland International Airport (PDX)	June 5	Daily
BWI-SJC	June 5	Four weekly round trips
BWI-Sacramento International Airport (SMF)	June 6	Three weekly round trips
EWR-Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)	July 10	Daily
EWR-MCI	July 10	Daily
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)-MCI	July 10	Daily

Scaling up in several cities

Many of the airports included in Friday’s route announcement are places where the carrier has put a clear emphasis amid recent months’ network adjustments.

Take Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon, for instance, which will get a new Spirit route from San Jose. This summer (in June, July and August) Spirit is set to grow its scheduled seats out of Porland by a whopping 153% over that same period in 2023, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

It’s also set to grow seats by more than 50% this summer out of Kansas City, which got two new routes Friday — and by 44% out of San Jose, which gained the most capacity (three new routes) Friday.

Flight delayed or canceled? Here are the best credit cards with trip delay reimbursement 

In a statement Friday, San Jose’s city manager, Jennifer Maguire, noted these three new Spirit routes the airport is getting this summer help the airport in its goal of “flying simple by offering more affordable direct flights.”

Ironically, for its part, Spirit has said it hopes to do more flying that offers travelers flight connections as part of what the airline hopes will be a business turnaround.

BWI transcontinental focus

Also noteworthy in this latest route announcement: two new transcontinental flights from BWI — to San Jose and Sacramento International Airport (SMF). BWI is the point of origin for a fast-growing list of transcontinental options on Spirit.

The airline previously announced cross-country flights from BWI to Portland and San Diego International Airport (SAN). And Spirit’s seats from BWI to the West Coast will be up 140% this summer over last year.

An airline spokesperson could not immediately comment on what, if any, routes the carrier is eliminating in unveiling these seven new routes. However, it’s likely there’s some give-and-take, since the carrier has been fleet constrained in recent months — a challenge that led Spirit to temporarily postpone its plans to fly to the brand-new airport in Tulum, Mexico. 

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations

Beginning on June 11, Turkish Airlines will launch a new nonstop route from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Istanbul Airport (IST). To kick off the exciting new transcontinental flight, several Star Alliance partners are offering business-class award seats for as low as 88,000 miles with open availability from July through late fall, first reported by Instagram user @Findflightsforme.

Even if Istanbul is not on your bucket list, this could be a great positioning flight to visit other countries in Europe and Asia this summer.

Keep reading to find out how you can book business-class tickets to Istanbul this summer.

Book Turkish Airlines business-class flights through United

As a Star Alliance member, you can snag one-way business-class seats from DEN to IST for as low as 88,000 MileagePlus miles. Whether you’re planning to travel this summer or into the fall, United’s website currently shows wide open award availability.

MileagePlus is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, with the recent addition of MileagePlus family pooling, you can now join and pool and leverage several family and/or friends’ miles to help book award flights.

Related: United Airlines MileagePlus: Guide to earning and redeeming miles, elite status and more

Book Turkish Airlines business-class flights through Aeroplan

Unlike other airline loyalty programs that operate using dynamic ticket pricing, Air Canada’s Aeroplan still operates using an award chart system for partner flights. Plus, since eliminating having to pay fuel surcharges on award flights, Aeroplan is a great option to book use when looking for award availability.

Currently, Aeroplan is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Chase, Capital One miles and Bilt, making it an easy program to use your transferable points.

If you’re looking to travel from Denver to Istanbul this summer and/or fall, you can book one-way business-class seats for as low as 90,000 points.

However, when searching for nonstop flights on Turkish Airlines when booking through Aeroplan, there was limited availability compared to United. Therefore, you may have to be flexible on your travel days if you want to book this route in particular.

Related: Air Canada’s Aeroplan program: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming points

Book Turkish Airlines business-class flights through ANA

ANA Mileage Club may not offer the most user-friendly online database when it comes to booking award flights; however, the airline still uses award charts which makes it a viable option if you want to book award flights from the U.S. to Europe and Asia. As a Star Alliance member, you can book business-class tickets from Denver to Istanbul for 88,000 miles round-trip. Yes, round-trip business-class seats for under 100,000 miles.

While that may seem surprisingly low, just keep in mind that ANA passes on fuel surcharges to some partner airlines. Therefore, if you want to book this itinerary on Turkish Airlines through ANA Mileage Club, be prepared to pay about $500 in taxes and fees.

Currently, Amex Membership Rewards is a transfer partner of ANA Mileage Club at a 1:1 ratio.

Aside from the high surcharges, keep in mind that ANA only allows you to book round-trip award flights. Additionally, if you want to get the most out of your points and miles, be sure to book your seats before ANA increases its award chart prices, which is set to go into effect on April 18.

Related: Why you need to know about ANA Mileage Club as a US-based traveler

Best credit cards to book Turkish Airlines business-class flights

As we mentioned, there are several ways you can use your transferable credit card points to book one-way or even round-trip business-class seats from Denver to Istanbul this summer and fall. Whether you decide to visit the beautiful country of Turkey or use this as a positioning flight to venture to other parts of Europe and Asia, here are some of the best travel credit cards we great welcome offers that can help get you there.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of card membership.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Affectionately called the Big Easy, the city of New Orleans pulses with energy at every turn. From the French Quarter to the Garden District to the Treme, New Orleans’ neighborhoods have their unique personalities. Each offers so many sights and activities it’s impossible to fit them all into a travel guide.

Then there’s the food. New Orleans’ culinary scene is full of delicious food showcasing a slew of Cajun, Creole and classic Southern dishes. It celebrates the city’s rich history, and you can taste it in every bite.

Unsurprisingly, hotels in New Orleans are equally as memorable. Accommodations here are exactly what you’d expect to find in a city brimming with culture, character and charm.

Whether you’re after a quirky boutique hotel with local flair or a chic outpost of a big-name brand, New Orleans’ accommodations have you covered. These are the best hotels in New Orleans — and what you can expect at each.

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Opened in 1886, Hotel Monteleone claims to be one of New Orleans’ last great family-run hotels. Less than a block from lively Bourbon Street, this Preferred Hotels-affiliated property gives guests easy access to many of the contemporary attractions and amenities for which this city is known. It doesn’t forget about its storied past, though.

The interior remains distinctly baroque in style. Details like crown molding, chandeliers and matching patterned fabrics on beds and draperies are on display in the 522 guest rooms and suites. Modern-day comforts like Keurig coffee makers, minifridges and plush bathrobes are also available, should you crave a few contemporary amenities when you travel.

Splurge on one of the Literary Suites to sleep in a space that draws inspiration from famous American authors — such as Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner — with ties to the hotel. Rooms and suites in the Hotel Monteleone’s recently renovated Iberville Tower come with twice-daily housekeeping, marble bathrooms with walk-in showers, a New Orleans-themed amenity, private check-in, and a personal concierge.

You’ll find one of New Orleans’ quirkiest attractions outside the hotel’s rooms and suites: a rotating carousel bar. The first and only rotating bar in the Big Easy, the Carousel Bar & Lounge is a popular spot for both guests and tourists staying elsewhere (guests in the Iberville Tower have early access). So, aim to arrive early if you want to sip your Sazerac or Pimm’s Cup from one of the 25 coveted bar seats. For more substantial fare, sit for a meal at Criollo Restaurant, where seasonal Southern dishes are on the menu.

If you are interested in the paranormal, be on the lookout for spooky encounters during your stay. Hotel Monteleone is considered one of New Orleans’ top haunted hotels. Visitors have reported locked doors opening and shutting on their own, elevators stopping on the wrong floors and apparitions of former guests appearing by rooms where they died.

Rates at Hotel Monteleone start at $259 per night.

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Occupying a former luxury apartment building from the 1920s, The Pontchartrain Hotel is a charming place to hang your hat in the quaint Garden District. The 106-room hotel’s decor complements the building’s 1920s facade through details such as rich fabrics in jewel tones, crystal chandeliers and old-fashioned room keys with red tassels.

Rooms continue the traditional, elevated design while drawing inspiration from the hotel’s surroundings. An array of colors, including black, mint green, pale pink and red, appear on everything from the walls to draperies to furnishings; the colors are a nod to the city’s Spanish-French roots and the Garden District’s romantic Spanish moss-draped trees and palms. In-room amenities include reading nooks, desks and Le Labo toiletries.

On-site amenities are limited, but guests can access a few food and beverage outlets. At Silver Whistle Café, early morning essentials like coffee and pastries are available. The Bayou Bar might remind travelers of the Prohibition era, as it’s adorned with dark wood and a piano. Jack Rose, the hotel’s only full-service restaurant, brings you closer to the 21st century with a painting of famous New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne pictured with a tie and a piece of cake.

There’s also the Tennessee Williams-inspired rooftop bar, Hot Tin, which has strong cocktails and panoramic city views. Williams was even one of the many famous faces over the years to check in to the hotel, which has also hosted Frank Sinatra and presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush. Why not add your own name to the list of fabulous guests?

Rates at The Pontchartrain Hotel start at $143 per night.

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Situated in New Orleans’ central business district, The Troubadour Hotel New Orleans is a clean, modern hotel that offers proximity to the bustling French Quarter neighborhood without sitting directly in the action.

Bookable with Hilton Honors points, this Tapestry Collection property is made for cool, trend-following travelers who desire modern yet timeless accommodations. All 184 rooms and suites pay homage to the art deco style and the 1970s through a mix of warm wood and leather furnishings, colorful local artwork, denim blue-hued headboards, throw blankets and carpets.

When you’re not mixing up a drink with ingredients from the in-room cocktail kit, head to the laid-back Troubadour Lounge & Listening Room to hear some tunes and chill out while sipping a beverage. There’s also the rooftop bar, Ingenue, where classic cocktails like peach bellinis, mojitos and Palomas come with a fresh twist.

A 24-hour fitness center is also available on-site, should you wish to maintain your fitness regimen during your stay.

Rates at The Troubadour Hotel New Orleans start at $110 or 32,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

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One of the most interesting facets of The Windsor Court is its art collection, worth more than $10 million, which is displayed throughout the property. However, this impressive feature is only one of many reasons to visit this luxurious hotel.

Found in downtown’s Central Business District, this member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts family offers all kinds of upscale amenities. This includes a tranquil rooftop pool, a well-equipped fitness center, concierge service that’s practically guaranteed to get you a reservation at any restaurant in town and a full-service spa with customized facials designed by biomedical expert Augustinus Bader. Even pooches and felines are cared for when they stay, thanks to the property’s Pampered Pets Program; it spoils four-legged friends with perks like plush beds.

Guest rooms and suites feature dark wood furnishings, floral prints on curtains and throw pillows, finely patterned taupe carpeting and pops of pale blue throughout. All accommodations come with fully stocked minibars, flat-screen TVs, marble bathrooms, and private balconies or bay windows with views of the Mississippi River or the city skyline.

As for dining, you’ll find a variety of restaurants on-site: The Grill Room (which serves American cuisine), The Polo Club (with elevated pub fare and live jazz music) and the seasonal Pool Bar (where salads, sandwiches and frozen cocktails are on the menu). A salon serving afternoon tea on weekends and a grab-and-go cafe with caffeinated beverages, homemade sweet treats and more are also available.

Rates at The Windsor Court start at $301 per night.

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One of the newest hotels in the French Quarter, One11 Hotel offers the perfect blend of solitude and convenience. This boutique property has a phenomenal location on the southwestern edge of the lively French Quarter neighborhood. It gives guests enough peace and quiet to get a restful night’s sleep without keeping them too far away from the action on Bourbon Street.

Housed in a former sugar warehouse, the decor combines contemporary design with original features. Each of the 83 guest rooms and “sweets” (a playful nod to the property’s history) has a neutral color scheme that lets original details — like exposed brick walls, high beamed ceilings and natural timber pillars — shine. Expect modern essentials like glass walk-in showers, flat-screen TVs and pillow-top mattresses.

For a boutique hotel, One11 Hotel offers quite a few property amenities. A courtyard with a fire pit and pool is available for lounging. Additionally, guests can venture eight stories up to the rooftop terrace for incredible views of the neighborhood and the Mississippi River. Visitors can enjoy complimentary access to a fitness center located across the street.

When you start to get hunger pangs, head to the first-floor Batture Bistro + Bar, which serves New Orleans-inspired fare for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Small plates and cocktails are available later in the day as well for those who need some sustenance after a day of exploring the French Quarter.

Rates at One11 Hotel start at $199 per night.

Related: Understated glamour and hospitality: The One11 Hotel in New Orleans

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If you’re planning to visit The National WWII Museum (or another attraction in the Warehouse Arts District), The Higgins Hotel New Orleans should be on the top of your hotel list. This Curio Collection property, named after a local entrepreneur who built more than 20,000 boats used during World War II, is the official hotel of The National WWII Museum. It features art deco decor inspired by the time period. In addition to The National WWII Museum, it sits within walking distance of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, making it an ideal spot for museumgoers.

The Higgins is only about a mile from Bourbon Street’s bars and restaurants, though its drinking and dining establishments are worth sticking around for. Rosie’s on the Roof serves up city views and delectable small plates like crab beignets, while the French-inspired Café Normandie is open daily for breakfast and lunch. Additional options include Kilroy’s Bar & Lounge, a terrific spot for happy hour, and Provisions, a grab-and-go cafe with drinks, sandwiches and salads.

Once you’ve satiated your appetite, retreat to your room or suite. All 230 accommodations offer at least 360 square feet of space and come equipped with minifridges, 55-inch TVs, walk-in showers and custom linens with red, white and blue piping. Book one of three suites named after former presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt to enjoy extras like a spacious terrace, a kitchenette, a soaking tub and an entrance foyer.

Rates at The Higgins Hotel New Orleans start at $175 or 50,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Related: Trendy and affordable steps from the French Quarter: My stay at the Canopy by Hilton New Orleans Downtown

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With just 67 rooms and suites, Maison de la Luz feels more like an intimate guesthouse than a traditional hotel you’d find in any city in America.

Every corner and detail has a thoughtful design, with an eclectic mix of decor styles combined to a beguiling effect. The concierge desk looks like a 1920s Hollywood movie palace concessions counter; the Breakfast Room is flooded with light that sets the royal blue furnishings and blue palm wallpaper off to dazzling effect. The Living Room lounge is a snapshot of a vintage Egyptian hotel lobby with boldly patterned rugs, African-inspired wall art and brass chandeliers with pink shades.

Spacious guest rooms are just as thoughtfully adorned as the rest of the property, with wavy, blue headboards, mismatched light fixtures and huge windows that let ample light pour in. Room rates also cover several extra touches, including a daily pot of coffee, a carafe of filtered water and a post-breakfast glass of iced tea; a nightly wine and cheese reception; concierge service; and use of a pool and gym at the adjacent Ace Hotel New Orleans.

On-site dining options are limited but include 24-hour room service and buffet and a la carte breakfast options at the aptly named Breakfast Room. Guests also enjoy priority access to neighboring establishments like Bar Marilou, Josephine Estelle and Three Keys, so don’t be afraid to ask the concierge to put your name on the list. This is Southern hospitality, after all.

Rates at Maison de la Luz start at $296 per night.

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Housing only 14 rooms, The Chloe exudes New Orleans charm from the moment you arrive. Occupying a 19th-century mansion, the hotel displays (and sells) all kinds of local art and sundries to bring more genuine flair.

The hotel feels like a home away from home. The lobby bar has rich green walls and busy fleur-de-lis bar stools; meanwhile, blush pink walls, upholstered booths with vibrant floral patterns and an assortment of hanging plants await patrons in the property’s Creole restaurant. The small outdoor pool also offers a classic pool bar with a beachy blue exterior, wicker barstools, wooden accents, and a collection of straw hats.

The guest rooms offer simpler (yet stylish) designs, mostly white with blue or black pops of color. While each room category is slightly different in appearance, all come equipped with locally sourced touches like record players with vinyl records, handwoven robes, chocolates, bath salts and oils. Breakfast is complimentary every day.

Rates at The Chloe start at $280 per night.

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The vibe at Ace Hotel New Orleans is trendy, hip, mature, and, some might say, ascetic. It might not have the bold colors or plush fabrics of some other hotels on this list, but its affordable price point and pared-down design draw many visitors.

The hotel has a second-floor gym and Three Keys, a music venue where you can listen to live jazz, rock and blues performances. The Ace also features five dining outlets, including one in Alto — a rooftop garden with a heated pool, fire pits and lounge chairs for enjoying cocktails and small plates. Additionally, guests can head to Lovage for drinks and pastries on the go, the lobby bar, a seafood-focused eatery and Josephine Estelle, which dishes up Southern cuisine with an Italian twist.

Inside the 234 rooms and suites (all pet-friendly), you’ll discover boho-chic midcentury modern furniture, plus large windows and moody black, gray and brown color schemes. Standard amenities include wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, custom bathrobes, Smeg refrigerators and fully stocked minibars with local treats. Music lovers will want to pay extra for a suite, as they’re also outfitted with Martin guitars and turntables with various vinyl records.

Rates at Ace Hotel New Orleans start at $143 per night.

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The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, is located on Canal Street, just one block from the French Quarter. Housed in the former Maison Blanche department store building, this Marriott-affiliated outpost wows with its beaux-arts design. Resembling the Garden District’s pre-Civil War mansions, the property is packed with eye-catching details, ranging from marble floors and ornate chandeliers in the tall, light-filled lobby to verdant plants surrounding a bubbling fountain in the tranquil courtyard.

Unsurprisingly, amenities here aim to attract guests who prefer the finer things in life but still want a taste of New Orleans while on-site. The property is home to the largest spa in the city. You’ll find a whopping 20 treatment rooms for locally inspired spa services such as the Voodoo Ritual and a couples package that incorporates coffee and praline (two New Orleans staples). Additionally, guests can enjoy farm-to-table fare at the fine dining restaurant M Bistro or enjoy cocktails or afternoon tea in the elegant Davenport Lounge.

As for accommodations, you’ll have your pick of 528 rooms, including the Residence, that continue the luxe New Orleans theme. The decor varies by room category, but expect Big Easy touches like headboards with fleurs-de-lis accents and vibrant throw pillows and curtains in Mardi Gras-appropriate colors. Some suites have balconies or terraces overlooking the Mississippi River; others have exclusive access to a lounge with concierge services and culinary offerings throughout the day.

Rates at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans start at $234 or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Opened as an orphanage in 1861, Hotel Saint Vincent invites guests to branch out beyond the elegant, traditional decor commonly found in Garden District accommodations. The property’s interior is not for the faint of heart. Guests will either love or hate the pink tiled bathrooms and bright, kaleidoscopic wallpaper —  This is retro, 1970s style at its boldest.

The 75 rooms are on the small side: Measurements start at 252 square feet for basic Crescent King rooms and measure no more than 589 square feet for the largest suite available, the Mary Suite. However, they come with all the essentials, including walk-in showers, flat-screen TVs and minibars. Plus, some offer private furnished verandas or direct access to the hotel’s courtyard, where the pool and pool bar are located.

When you’re not taking a dip in or lounging by the small outdoor pool, browse the local textiles and jewelry sold at the ByGeorge New Orleans Boutique. Or, head to the guest-only Chapel Club lounge for drinks.

Enjoy pastries and specialty dishes like dumplings and noodles at Elizabeth Street Café, a French-Vietnamese eatery to satiate your appetite. There’s also the signature San Lorenzo restaurant, where menu items combine Italian and New Orleans flavors.

Rates at Hotel Saint Vincent start at $221 per night.

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This Hyatt property — part of the brand’s Unbound Collection — is conveniently located in the Warehouse Arts District, placing guests just two blocks away from the bustling French Quarter. Situated inside seven historic warehouses that once housed local businesses like the Gulf Baking Soda company and The Daily Picayune newspaper, The Eliza Jane is named for Eliza Jane Nicholson — The Daily Picayune’s first female publisher.

Several parts of the 196-room property pay homage to the building’s rich history. At The Press Room — the hotel’s lobby lounge full of antique typewriters and original architectural details — guests can ease into their day with a cup of coffee and a newspaper, or they can mix and mingle while enjoying snacks and cocktails. Couvant, The Eliza Jane’s signature restaurant, also takes cues from its past: It serves French-inspired specialties in a dining room full of art from the Peychaud Cocktail Bitters factory that once occupied the space.

Beyond the food and beverage outlets, visitors can access a 24-hour fitness center with various machines, including a Peloton bike. The property also sports a charming courtyard with a gas lantern and a bubbling fountain and a small business center with a tablet, printer and fax machine.

Given the array of structures that comprise the property, each accommodation features a unique design and layout. However, there are a few commonalities, including bathrooms with white subway tiles, tufted leather headboards, polished brass fixtures, and accent walls or furnishings with floral prints and patterns. Some rooms and suites also have exposed brick walls (painted or in their natural state) and wooden beams.

Rates at The Eliza Jane start at $175 or 17,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Related: The 12 hotels where you’ll get the most out of your Hyatt reward night certificate

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Kimpton Hotel Fontenot brings IHG’s whimsy brand to the up-and-coming Warehouse Arts District — and it’s pet-friendly. Like other Kimpton properties, this New Orleans location’s nightly rates cover all kinds of amenities, including the use of in-room yoga mats, a 24-hour fitness center and loaner bikes, plus a wine reception every evening.

Guest rooms and suites here are spacious and stunning, offering light and airy interiors with pops of light blue and pale pink; the metal and wicker beds are dressed in Frette linens, and the curvaceous art deco-inspired chaise lounges are upholstered in velvet. All accommodations also come outfitted with minibars stocked with local items, plush bathrobes, Bluetooth speakers and Atelier Bloem toiletries. The hotel added 33 rooms and suites in a 2023 expansion that also saw the addition of a new French restaurant, King.

The gorgeous design continues in the Hotel Fontenot’s two more established on-site bars. The ornately decorated Peacock Room bar serves craft cocktails and small plates like local oysters and chorizo-stuffed dates in a chic space; its murals and deep blue banquettes nod to its namesake bird. Meanwhile, Gospel Coffee and Boozy Treats is an interesting take on the typical cafe: You can add a shot of alcohol to any menu item, whether you enjoy it in the cool black-and-white space or take it to go.

Rates at the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot start at $136 or 23,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

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Originally the World Trade Center and International Trade Mart, this waterfront 34-story tower is now the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans. Inside the historic modernist building — designed by highly regarded architect Edward Durell Stone to commemorate New Orleans’ 250th anniversary in 1968 — visitors will find 341 accommodations, 61 of which are suites.

The sleek decor is a breath of fresh air that contrasts nicely with the city’s 19th-century character and the more classic look of other luxury hotels in the area. Each spacious room offers at least 438 square feet of elbow room, plus a clean, bright look; decor includes white shiplap walls, a light gray chaise, blond wood furnishings and a bathroom covered in marble. All have walk-in showers, Nespresso coffee makers, iPads for service requests and minibars stocked with a selection of soft drinks, wine and snacks; select upgraded accommodations also come with freestanding bathtubs and walk-in closets.

Even the pickiest of eaters will find plenty to enjoy here. The hotel has two restaurants to choose from, including Miss River — which serves elevated New Orleans fare like blackened snapper with creamy rutabaga and pecan chimichurri — and Chemin à la Mer — where patrons can savor a variety of Louisiana-inspired dishes while taking in picturesque views of the Mississippi River. The Chandelier Bar, a chic lobby-level hangout, is also available for classic New Orleans cocktails and gourmet snacks such as caviar, duck liver pate and fried oysters, among other options.

For even more pampering, head to the hotel’s spa, which houses a sauna and a steam room. No visit would be complete without a dip in the crescent-shaped pool on the hotel’s fifth floor.

Rates at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans start at $405 per night.

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The cheekily named Hotel Peter & Paul is housed in a renovated complex featuring a former church, schoolhouse, convent and rectory. It gives guests the unique opportunity to sleep in a one-of-a-kind apostolic hotel. The 71 rooms are just as eclectic as the Marigny neighborhood in which the property resides, offering old-fashioned details fitting of this converted church.

No two rooms are the same, but you can expect traditional touches such as plaid textiles in yellow, green, red or blue hues, black rotary phones and antique furnishings perfectly polished to make any sexton proud. Know, though, that entry-level rooms are tiny, with some only measuring 200 square — enough space to squeeze in a set of twin bunk beds or a full or queen-size bed.

When you’re not sleeping, visit The Elysian Bar for more elbow room. Open daily for breakfast and dinner, the eatery offers an assortment of pastries and caffeinated beverages in the morning; it transforms into a sit-down establishment at night. Highlights from the dinner menu include oven-roasted beef bone marrow and roasted Gulf shrimp with Calabrian chile butter.

Rates at Hotel Peter & Paul start at $149 per night.

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This townhouse-turned-boutique hotel, the Henry Howard Hotel, sits in the verdant Garden District. Unlike other properties in the neighborhood, you’ll discover a mishmash of styles here. This includes everything from Greek Revival elements (think: tall columns and crisp white paint) on the facade to a parlor with Italianate details (like an ornate chandelier and period-appropriate furnishings). Yet despite the blending of styles, every aspect of the property pulls together and works.

Inside the 18 rooms, you’ll find a mix of modern and vintage furniture atop hardwood floors. Accent walls with patterned wallpaper depict city scenes, and brass instruments serve as wall art. The compact but beautiful bathrooms have pedestal sinks and Beekman 1802 Fresh Air bath products.

Property amenities are limited, but guests can relax in the parlor, on the front porch or in the courtyard when they’re ready to venture outside their rooms. Coffee, pastries and cocktails are available daily in the parlor.

Rates at the Henry Howard Hotel start at $159 per night.

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You’re in the Big Easy, baby. The whole town is a party — right? But don’t feel bad if you have a night in while staying at Virgin Hotels New Orleans, where the party — plus a dose of Southern charm — is alive and well within these walls.

Funky designs (think: a sculpture of a man in a bunny costume playing chess in the library) are some of the first eye-catching clues that this hotel is more than just a place to sleep and shower. Book a table at Commons Club for everything from dinner to a burlesque brunch, where you can tack on a bottomless Veuve Clicquot accompaniment to your shrimp and grits.

Upstairs, you’ll find guest rooms and suites with city views and spacious dressing rooms, even in the most affordable guest rooms. Don’t forget to escape the New Orleans heat at The Pool Club on the rooftop — doing laps always feels better when seeing the sun set over the Crescent City.

Rates at Virgin Hotels New Orleans start at $198 per night.

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A French Quarter glow-up arrived earlier this year at the W New Orleans — French Quarter.

The hotel unveiled an extensive, multimillion-dollar renovation of its 97 guest rooms and suites and Carriage House suites. The new color palette is a nod to Sazerac, the signature amber-hued New Orleans cocktail, and bayou moss as well as the nautical heritage of the city. Guests will also find elevated, modern furnishings and French-style wall moldings with gold hardware and soft accent lighting in their accommodations — the design team refers to it as “textural gumbo.”

Guests who splurge on Carriage House suites can be treated to more than just extra elbow room. The one-bedroom studio suite comes with a living area as well as a private courtyard to feel like a true resident of the French Quarter.

The 3rd Block Depot Kitchen + Bar is the W’s sleek restaurant and bar serving Southern classics mere steps from Bourbon Street. 3rd Block’s bananas Foster French toast is decadent, but don’t forget you’re in one of America’s top food cities: The W concierge team is more than happy to help you find any number of scrumptious restaurants in the surrounding neighborhood.

Rates at the W New Orleans – French Quarter start at $224 or 42,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

What is the best part of New Orleans to stay in?

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is a roughly 15-mile, 25-minute drive to downtown New Orleans, where you’ll find some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods.

Travelers flock to New Orleans for the French Quarter and Bourbon Street during the bacchanalia of Mardi Gras and beyond. This is one of the city’s oldest parts and where you’ll find some of the most historic boutique hotels (with the occasional big brand masquerading as a boutique hotel).

New Orleans’ Central Business District and Warehouse District are where travelers looking for bigger, modern hotels or proximity to the Caesars Superdome and additional nightlife venues and restaurants.

Uptown and the Garden District have more of a residential feel suitable for travelers looking for a quieter experience with access to boutique shopping and art galleries. There’s more of a bohemian-meets-jazz residential vibe to the east of the French Quarter in the Marigny, where jazz clubs and bistros dot the streets.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Loyalty programs are a huge moneymaker for airlines and hotel companies because they have many revenue streams. One of these revenue streams is selling airline miles and hotel points directly to travelers.

By selling points and miles, programs can get an immediate cash injection as travelers prepay for future travel. However, it generally only makes sense to purchase points and miles when a discount or bonus offer is available.

This roundup of points and miles sales walks you through some of the best current offers on airline miles and hotel points, including some that may be targeted. But first, let’s discuss when it makes sense to buy points and miles.

Should I buy points and miles?

There are a couple of things to consider before taking advantage of points and miles sales.

First, buying points and miles only makes sense for certain travelers and at certain times. It’s generally a much better deal to earn points and miles for “free” through welcome bonuses tied to travel rewards credit cards. However, buying points and miles during good promotions can make sense for those who have tapped out their credit card options and can get high value from their rewards. It can also make sense when you need more points to lock in a specific award.

We generally only recommend buying points or miles if you have an immediate use in mind. Otherwise, you’re left open to unexpected devaluations. However, if you have a specific hotel or destination in mind, buying points and miles can save you thousands of dollars.

With that, here are the current promotions for buying points and miles.

Related: What are points and miles worth? TPG’s current monthly valuations

Promotions for buying airline miles

American Airlines AAdvantage

• Current promotion: Up to a 35% discount
• Purchase rate: As low as 2.45 cents per mile
• TPG valuation: 1.55 cents per mile
• End date: Unknown
• Link to buy miles

American Airlines AAdvantage is offering up to a 35% discount on miles. You’ll get the highest discount when you buy 150,000 miles, dropping the price to 2.45 cents per mile. This is significantly higher than TPG’s valuation of American miles, but buying American miles for specific high-end awards could still make sense.

United Airlines MileagePlus

• Current promotion: Up to 100% bonus miles
• Purchase rate: As low as 1.88 cents per mile
• TPG valuation: 1.4 cents per mile
• End date: April 30
• Link to buy miles

MileagePlus is offering up to 100% bonus miles when purchasing at least 50,000 miles. This drops the purchasing rate as low as 1.88 cents per mile, which is still slightly higher than TPG’s valuation. However, if there is a specific United or Star Alliance redemption in mind, this could make sense to top off your United account to purchase the flight or even an upgrade.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

• Current promotion: 35% bonus miles
• Purchase rate: As low as 2.35 cents per mile
• TPG valuation: 1.2 cents per mile
• End date: April 25
• Link to buy miles

Flying Blue is currently offering 35% bonus miles when purchasing at least 2,000 miles, making the purchase rate 2.35 cents per mile. Since this is a lot higher than TPG’s valuation, we would not recommend purchasing KLM miles, even with the 35% bonus. However, if you’re looking to book one of Flying Blue’s monthly award promotions, it may make sense to top off your account to book a flight from the U.S. to Europe for just 15,000 miles.

Air Canada Aeroplan

• Current promotion: 80% bonus points
• Purchase rate: 1.44 cents per point
• TPG valuation: 1.5 cents per point
• End date: April 5
• Link to buy points

Aeroplan is currently offering 80% bonus points when purchasing at least 15,000 points, which costs $525 Canadian dollars (about $389). This makes the purchase rate as low as 1.44 cents per point, which is lower than TPG’s valuation of 1.5 cents apiece. Therefore, if you’re looking to book a getaway in 2024, this is a great promotion to top off your account to book a business-class ticket, a stopover for just 5,000 points or a round-trip economy ticket within North America.

If you want to maximize your Aeroplan points, be sure to check out our guide.

Promotions for buying hotel points

World of Hyatt

• Current promotion: 20% discount
• Purchase rate: As low as 1.92 cents per point
• TPG valuation: 1.7 cents per point
• End date: April 9
• Link to buy points

Though it’s not World of Hyatt’s best offer, the hotel brand is currently offering a 20% discount when you buy Hyatt points. To get the discount, you must purchase at least 5,000 reward points, which will cost you $96. This gives you a purchase rate as low as 1.92 cents per point. Though this is slightly higher than TPG’s valuation, it could be worth it if you have redemption in mind, especially since Hyatt still uses an award chart. Note that you can only purchase up to 55,000 bonus points.

Hilton Honors

• Current promotion: Up to a 100% bonus
• Purchase rate: As low as 0.5 cents per point
• TPG valuation: 0.6 cents per point
• End date: May
• Link to buy points

Hilton is currently offering a 100% bonus when you purchase at least 6,000 Hilton Honors points. This will give you a purchase rate of as low as 0.5 cents per point, below TPG’s valuation of 0.6 cents per point. Therefore, if you want to stock up on Hilton points or have a dreamy tropical Hilton destination in mind, now is the time to buy.

Which credit card should you use to buy points and miles?

Most of these promotions are processed through Points.com rather than directly by the hotel or airline. So, you won’t earn bonus rewards with most travel rewards cards.

As such, you’ll want to use an everyday spending card that offers a solid return on non-bonus spending. Or, if you’re working toward a minimum spending requirement to earn a welcome bonus, using that card may be the way to go.

Remember that you may incur foreign transaction fees on some cards when buying points or miles from a program abroad, so you may want to use one of the following cards:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)

The main exception to this rule is American Airlines. The airline reportedly codes mileage purchases as airfare, so you may want to use a credit card that earns bonus miles on airfare for the highest return when buying AAdvantage miles.