Tag: Travel Planner

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

While most loyalty programs do not offer a way to extend elite status beyond the current year, a workaround is available: By matching your expiring elite status to a competing loyalty program, you can potentially maintain your benefits by selecting different carriers.

Numerous airline loyalty programs provide the opportunity to match elite benefits from other programs. For instance, if your Delta Air Lines Medallion elite status will expire next year, you might be able to match it to a competitor’s program. This typically grants you temporary elite status with the competing program, which can be extended by meeting specific flight or revenue requirements.

Therefore, if you qualify, you can gain complimentary elite status with another airline. Keep reading to learn more about current airline status matches and challenges you can snag in 2024.

What is an airline status match?

A status match typically involves getting an equivalent or lower status tier with a new airline based on your existing status with a competitor’s program. So, why would airlines offer a status match challenge?

If a traveler has shown significant loyalty to one particular airline and program, this behavior can be attractive to a rival airline. The traveler may consider switching loyalty because they are unhappy with their existing program, or perhaps their circumstances have changed, such as moving from a city like Houston, where United Airlines is the dominant airline, to Atlanta, where Delta has a hub.

If you want to try out another program but don’t fancy starting from scratch, a status match or challenge can be a great way to solve this problem. It’s worth exploring the major elite status match and challenge opportunities available if you want to break up with an airline — though there are some caveats to consider.

What to know about getting an airline status match

There are some important strategies and principles to remember when initiating a status match or challenge.

For a status match, you must typically provide a photo of your membership card and a mileage statement to prove your status. It is crucial to avoid altering or falsifying your credentials, as this can result in severe consequences, including account suspension.

On the other hand, a status challenge may or may not require you to have existing status. The airline will specify the number of elite qualifying miles or dollars you must earn within a specific time frame to achieve a particular elite tier. It is essential to thoroughly understand the requirements and which activities count toward the challenge, as some cobranded credit cards or partner airline tickets may be excluded. Remember that status matches and challenges are often limited to once per lifetime per account, although some carriers have exceptions.

It is usually advised to complete a match or challenge after June to enjoy status for the rest of the year and potentially retain it for the following year. However, recent airline status match challenges, like the one Delta began offering in 2024, will allow you to maintain status through January 2026.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that airlines may not always publicize their status match and challenge opportunities. You may need to call or email the airline’s customer service and check websites like StatusMatcher. Remember that your request’s outcome may vary depending on the agent processing it.

Related: Is airline elite status still worth it?

Alaska Airlines status match

Alaska Airlines used to offer straightforward status matches; however, the current status match process now includes a challenge component.

Alaska will match elite status from the following programs:

• Aeromexico Rewards
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• American Airlines AAdvantage
• Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
• Frontier Airlines Miles
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus

When you request a status match, you will be granted the corresponding status level in the Alaska Mileage Plan program for 90 days. To retain this status beyond the initial period, you must fly a specific number of miles on flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air or SkyWest Airlines, depending on the tier you match.

The required flight thresholds are as follows:

• MVP: 5,000 miles
• MVP Gold: 10,000 miles
• MVP Gold 75K: 20,000 miles

Unfortunately, Alaska’s MVP Gold 100K tier has no status match opportunity.

To submit a request, visit the dedicated status match page and provide a screenshot of your current mileage statement displaying your name, status and miles earned this year or flown in the prior year to achieve elite status.

If matched to MVP Gold 75K, you won’t be eligible for the 50,000 bonus miles associated with qualifying for that status, even if you successfully reach the 20,000-mile threshold. However, if you match to Gold and fly enough to keep that status, you will receive four Gold guest upgrades. Meanwhile, those who complete the MVP Gold 75K challenge will receive those upgrades, plus four Alaska Lounge daypasses and the ability to nominate someone for MVP status.

If you request a status match by the end of June and fulfill the requirements, your new status will be valid until the end of the calendar year. On the other hand, if you initiate your status match on or after July 1 through December and fulfill the requirements, your status will be valid until the end of the following year, so applying for it in July or August of this year would maximize the length.

Related: Alaska Airlines MVP elite status: What it is and how to earn it

American Airlines status match

American Airlines offers a status challenge program called Instant Status Pass to Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Diamond Medallion members and United MileagePlus Premier Platinum and Premier 1K elite members. To participate, you can apply on aa.com and be matched to either AAdvantage Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum.

The program consists of three phases, each lasting four months. Upon registration, you will immediately enjoy the benefits of the chosen status tier. To maintain the temporary status for another four months, you need to earn a prorated number of Loyalty Points, which is around one-third of the full requirement for a year.

The Loyalty Points required for each tier are as follows:

• AAdvantage Gold: 13,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Platinum: 25,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Platinum Pro: 42,000 Loyalty Points
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum: 67,000 Loyalty Points

During each phase, you can earn Loyalty Points through qualifying activities with American, its partners and cobranded credit card spending. All these activities count toward your status challenge.

The status you achieve in the first phase determines your starting point in the subsequent phase. This means that regardless of the initial tier you registered for, you will begin the second phase with the benefits you unlocked in the previous phase.

Related: Quick Points: How Hyatt and American loyalists can earn more rewards by linking accounts

British Airways status match

British Airways is currently offering a limited-time status match opportunity for British Airways Executive Club members based in the U.S.

From now through May 7, new and existing U.S.-based British Airways Executive Club members with elite status in one of eight airline programs can receive reciprocal status with the British Airways Executive Club status for free.

Here are the programs and status levels eligible for this match:

Airline loyalty program	British Airways Executive Club Silver status	British Airways Executive Club Gold status
Delta SkyMiles	Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion	Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion
Air Canada Aeroplan	Air Canada Aeroplan 50K	Air Canada Aeroplan 75K and Super Elite
Lufthansa Miles & More	Lufthansa Miles & More Senator	Lufthansa Miles & More Hon Circle
United MileagePlus	United MileagePlus Premier Gold	United MileagePlus Premier Platinum and Premier 1K
Air France-KLM Flying Blue	Air France-KLM Flying Blue Gold	Air France-KLM Flying Blue Platinum
Scandinavian Airlines EuroBonus	Scandinavian Airlines EuroBonus Gold	Scandinavian Airlines EuroBonus Diamond and Pandion
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold

Note that you must apply online for this offer and provide valid proof of eligible frequent flyer status.

Approved applicants will be upgraded to the matched British Airways Executive Club tier for six months, with the opportunity to extend the match for up to a year by booking two eligible flights or one return flight, per the offer’s terms and conditions.

Eligible flights include BA-marketed business- or first-class flights with origins in North America, Canada or Mexico and landing in Europe, Norway or Switzerland. Eligible flights must be operated by British Airways, American Airlines, Aer Lingus, Iberia or Finnair.

Delta Air Lines status match

Delta SkyMiles is currently offering a status match, up to Platinum Medallion, to elite members of various airlines, including international programs like British Airways Executive Club, Lufthansa Miles & More, Virgin Australia Velocity and major U.S. programs.

After submitting your information and proof of your current status, you’ll be matched to the corresponding Medallion tier, complimentary, for three months.

With Medallion status moving to a Medallion Qualification Dollar-earning system in 2024, to extend the status beyond the initial three months, you would need to earn the following:

If you qualify and complete the challenge’s additional requirements, your Medallion status will be extended through Jan. 31, 2026.

Related: Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it

Frontier Airlines status match

While not yet available, you can join the waitlist for Frontier Airlines’ 2024 status match. The landing page does reveal some details of the new match program, including that:

• You can match from 45 different airlines, hotels and cruise lines.
• A new Elite Silver tier will provide 12 points per dollar spent and Zone 2 priority boarding.

Although further details have not yet been released for 2024, Frontier has previously charged members for the “administrative costs” of approving a status match.

Related: I was offered top-tier airline elite status for $499 — here’s why

Hawaiian Airlines status match

While not publicly advertised, HawaiianMiles has previously offered status matches up to top-tier Platinum status on a case-by-case basis via its online contact form. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

To ask for a status match with Hawaiian Airlines, the company typically requires two things:

• Proof of current elite status
• Documentation of flights completed that earned the elite status, including flight activity to at least one of Hawaiian’s destinations

Matches are usually good for one calendar year from the time of upgrade.

Related: How to upgrade your seat on Hawaiian Airlines

JetBlue status match

While JetBlue previously offered a limited-time status match for disgruntled Delta Medallion members following the widely controversial changes announced in 2023, that offer has now ended, and JetBlue currently has no publicly available status match offer.

Southwest Airlines status match

Previously, it was difficult to discover Southwest’s status match and challenge programs as they were not widely advertised. However, the airline has now made these programs more accessible by providing all the terms and conditions on its website.

You must have status with another domestic airline to qualify for a Southwest A-List status match. Any status level seems to be accepted. To initiate the process, email southwest.statusmatch@wnco.com with your full name, Rapid Rewards account number and proof of elite status.

Once your request is processed, you will receive promotional A-List status for 90 days. Typically, Southwest grants this status within 12 business days of submission.

To extend your A-List status for an additional 12 months, you must book and complete three qualifying round-trip flights (or six one-ways) within 90 days. These flights must be paid fares, not award tickets. Existing A-List members with expiring status are not eligible for a status match.

It’s important to note that according to the terms and conditions, your flights must be booked and completed during the 90 days. While existing bookings may not count, Southwest allows easy cancellation and rebooking without penalties. This means you can convert existing bookings into new ones if the fare has not increased significantly.

To qualify for the Southwest status match, you must not have received promotional A-List status from any program, including status matches and challenges, within the past 12 months.

Related: Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it

Spirit Airlines status match

Similar to Frontier’s offering, the Spirit status match is currently unavailable. You can register on Spirit’s website to join the waitlist or apply once it becomes available again.

Historically, here’s how the program has worked.

Those with elite status on many North American carriers were eligible for a 90-day status match to Spirit’s Silver or Gold tier, depending on their existing elite status.

Here’s a look at elite statuses that have been eligible for Spirit’s status match in the past:

Airline	Silver status match — $49 application fee	Gold status match — $99 application fee
Alaska Airlines	MVP	MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K
American Airlines	Gold	Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum
Delta Air Lines	Silver Medallion	Platinum, Gold and Diamond Medallion
Frontier Airlines	20k	50k and 100k
Hawaiian Airlines	Gold	Platinum
JetBlue	N/A	Mosaic
Southwest Airlines	A-List	A-List Preferred and Companion Pass
United Airlines	Premier Silver	Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K

In the past, you could extend your status by fulfilling the following requirements in the 90-day window:

• Free Spirit Silver: Earn 500 status qualifying points by flying Spirit or spending on a cobranded credit card.
• Free Spirit Gold: Earn 1,250 SQPs by flying Spirit or spending on a cobranded credit card.

Silver and Gold elite members receive waived fees, such as free seat selection, priority boarding and same-day standby. You’re even eligible for a free checked and carry-on bag at the Gold level.

We’ll update this story when (or if) the Spirit Airlines status match returns.

Related: Everything you should know before flying Spirit Airlines

United Airlines status match

United has relaunched its MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge promotion in 2024; members can register and receive complimentary status for 120 days.

Here’s a look at how several popular airlines’ respective statuses would translate to United MileagePlus status:

According to United’s website, this is only a partial list. A full list is available on the Premier Status Match Challenge form.

After enrollment, members have 120 days to earn a set number of Premier qualifying flights and Premier qualifying points to extend their elite status. If you earn Premier status on or after July 1, 2024, your elite status is valid through January 2026. If you earn status before July, your Premier status is only valid through January 2025.

Note that the flights must be operated by United or United Express — partner flights (including those on Star Alliance carriers) aren’t eligible. Challenges are limited to once every five years per MileagePlus account.

Related: United Premier status: What it is and how to earn it

Virgin Atlantic status match

Virgin Atlantic offers a publicly available status match to members of select competing programs.

Depending on your existing status tier, you’re eligible for an instant match to Second Tier (Silver) or Top Tier (Gold). However, those who match to Gold must have a future paid flight booked in Upper Class or premium economy to be eligible. Meanwhile, those matching to Silver must have a flight booked in any cabin to be approved for a match. Once approved, your status match will be valid for 12 months from the date the account was upgraded.

Here’s a look at what programs and status tiers are eligible:

Loyalty program	Second Tier (Silver)	Top Tier (Gold)
American Airlines AAdvantage	Platinum Pro	Executive Platinum
British Airways Executive Club	Silver	Gold
Cathay Pacific	Gold	Diamond
El Al Matmid	Gold	Platinum
Hong Kong Airlines Fortune Wings Club	Silver	Platinum or Gold
Iberia Plus	Oro	Platino
Lufthansa Miles & More	Senator	Hon Circle
Pakistan International Airlines Awards +Plus	Sapphire	Diamond
Scandinavian Airlines EuroBonus	Gold	Diamond
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	Silver	Gold
South African Airways Voyager	Silver	Gold or Platinum
United Airlines MileagePlus	Premier Platinum	Premier 1K

Once your status is upgraded, you’ll enjoy your status for 12 months. Here’s what you have to earn in the 12 months to retain your status:

• Silver: 400 tier points
• Gold: 1,000 tier points

Those with Virgin Atlantic status benefit from flying with the airline and its partners. On Delta flights, Gold members receive priority seating, lounge access on select flights, priority baggage and other benefits. Plus, they receive benefits on SkyTeam airlines, including Air France, KLM, Korean Air and China Eastern Airlines.

Unfortunately, since Virgin Atlantic is now a member of Sky Team, you can’t use your Delta status for this match.

Related: The ultimate guide to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Bottom line

Airlines offer status matches and challenges to attract elite customers from their competitors. However, as customers, we can also benefit from these opportunities. Status matches and challenges provide a shortcut to enjoying perks, cost-saving measures and waived fees, especially if you are moving to a hub where your preferred airline doesn’t operate (or has a smaller presence).

They can also be advantageous for specific trips, particularly international ones. Or, you can use them if you’re ready to break up with your existing airline over unwelcome changes to its program.

Before applying for a status match or challenge, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand the terms and conditions and ensure you can meet the requirements and apply at an opportune time. Don’t overlook opportunities with foreign carriers that could grant alliance elite status, offering benefits like lounge access and increased baggage capacity on domestic airlines.

If your current elite status is about to expire, remember to submit your status match request before it does to avoid missing out on the opportunity.

If one of your favorite components of a cruise vacation is a robust cocktail scene, Carnival Cruise Line has you covered. The Alchemy Bar, found on most Carnival ships, is a popular hangout among cruise passengers. It made TPG’s list of the best cruise ship bars for good reason.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

Here’s all you need to know about Carnival Cruise Line’s Alchemy Bar (including its menu).

What is Carnival’s Alchemy Bar?

The Alchemy Bar is designed to resemble a pharmacy from a bygone era. The venue’s vintage pharmacy theme plays out in bar props like apothecary jars, old-timey-looking wooden drawers and lab coat-wearing mixologists.

The rustic leather-covered cocktail menu holds a list of “remedies” and “elixirs” made with various herbs and botanicals.

If you don’t see what you like on the menu — or have already tried everything on it — no problem. Share some of your cocktail “likes,” and your Alchemy Bar mixologist will “prescribe” something just for you.

The Alchemy Bar typically opens at 4 p.m. on embarkation and port days. On sea days, it opens at 2 p.m. It has no official closing time, but it’s often open past midnight.

Carnival Alchemy Bar menu

You won’t find frozen drinks here. Freshly prepared botanical-forward drinks are the star at the Alchemy Bar. The Cucumber Sunrise (a fan favorite) made with vodka, fresh lime juice, watermelon nectar and muddled cucumber is definitely worth checking out. Also, the Quick Fix, with vodka, gin, rum, Midori liqueur, Pernod absinthe and Sprite, should cure all that ails you.

You can also enjoy mocktails at the Alchemy Bar. Carnival offers seven classic cocktails handmade with Lyre’s Spiced Cane, Agave Blanco, White Cane and Dry London nonalcoholic spirits.

Enjoy a refreshing Martini Seduction, made with Lyre’s White Cane, red passion fruit nectar, freshly squeezed lime juice and a smidgen of orange. The Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini features Lyre’s Agave Blanco, handcrafted chipotle pineapple syrup, pineapple juice and mint leaves.

The Remedy, Hearts of Fire, Restorative Basil Drop, The Perfect Storm and Cucumber Sunrise cocktails are also available sans alcohol.

What do drinks at the Alchemy Bar cost?

Cocktails at the Alchemy Bar cost $14 for alcoholic beverages and $10 for nonalcoholic drinks. Drinks on the Alchemy Bar menu are covered under the Carnival Cheers drink package.

Related: Carnival Cheers drink package: Will it save you money on your next cruise

Which Carnival ships have the Alchemy Bar?

All ships in the Carnival fleet, except Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia, have the Alchemy Bar.

Carnival Cucumber Sunrise recipe

The Cucumber Sunrise is probably my favorite Alchemy Bar cocktail. Refreshing and light, it tastes like a vacation in a glass. It’s made with Belvedere vodka, fresh lime juice, Monin watermelon syrup and orange juice and is topped with cucumber wheels.

Whether you want to celebrate an upcoming Carnival cruise or are craving to relive your previous Alchemy Bar experience, here’s the recipe for the Cucumber Sunrise so you can create it at home. Throw on a lab coat for the ultimate Alchemy Bar vibe.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries
• 43 Carnival Cruise Line tips, tricks and hacks to enhance your vacation at sea
• Best Carnival cruise ships: Here’s which ship you should sail, based on your travel style
• Carnival cruise packing list: What to pack for a cruise, Fun Ship style
• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly

Editor’s note: TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt advisor and investor.

Bilt apologized April 10 after some Bilt Rewards members received an alarming email notice from Bilt Legal that their accounts were in jeopardy due to misuse. And there’s good news for those who may have transferred their points out just in case.

If you’re not familiar, the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees) offers holders the opportunity to earn points on paying rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year) and everyday purchases.

More than one TPG staffer was a recipient of the email, which stated:

“We have reason to believe that behavior on your account demonstrates an intent to engage in sustained misconduct and wrongdoing in connection to the program. Pursuant to the legally binding Bilt Rewards Terms & Conditions, Bilt has the right to ‘reject, revoke, cancel, terminate, or suspend any membership, benefit, and/or any and all points, or take any other action at its discretion… “

“We only ever use this account to pay rent and spend enough so we meet the non-rent spend minimum, so it was extra shocking because we only use it for what the card is made for. We also haven’t even redeemed anything with our points yet,” one TPG staffer said.

Around 2:30 p.m. Eastern time, Richard Kerr, vice president of travel at Bilt, posted a notice to Reddit explaining that the initial email was sent by mistake. Not long after, a corrective email was sent.

When TPG reached out to Kerr directly for comment, he said, “A small subsection of members received an email regarding loyalty program misconduct. This was sent in error, and members’ accounts are currently in good standing. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and have added 250 points to any members who received the incorrect email.”

Related: 5 ways to pay your rent or mortgage with a credit card

Unfortunately, the erroneous communication spurred some Bilt Rewards members to action, with one Redditor commenting that they had transferred their points “to avoid losing them,” while several others noted they did the same.

But Bilt told TPG that any points transferred by mistake would soon be returned to users’ accounts.

Protecting your rewards

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a similar notice in the future, you can take these steps in an effort to protect your points, and your sanity.

First, confirm that the communication you’ve received is actually from your reward program or credit card issuer. This may mean you have to call a support line and speak to a representative to get additional information.

Related: How the Credit Card Competition Act can affect your credit card rewards

Next, although the fine print in the terms and conditions you agreed to may be lengthy, they’re worth reading so that you know exactly what you signed up for and what specific actions could jeopardize your earned rewards.

The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be if you find yourself in a spot similar to this one.

And if you find yourself in a situation that you can’t figure out on your own, don’t hesitate to reach out to The Points Guy for answers. We have a special editor to help with consumer problems. You can email us at ombudsman@thepointsguy.com.

Bottom line

While the email from Bilt was no doubt scary, Bilt Rewards members will be made whole.

One Reddit commenter said that they received both the original erroneous message and the second “disregard” email but no notice about getting comped 250 points.

Bilt assures us those points are coming.

To learn more about the Bilt program, check out our full review of the Bilt Mastercard.

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Official application link: Bilt Mastercard

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For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

Luxury hotels are great. Some have incredible spas where you can revive your skin and spirit, while others offer rooftop infinity pools with sweeping vistas for miles and miles.

These days, hotels aren’t just for people, though. The best ones have wised up to the fact that more and more travelers have pets (thanks, COVID-19), and many of those people want to travel with their furry companions.

Many pet owners aren’t simply looking for a hotel room with a dog bed tossed in the corner, though; they’re looking for hotels and resorts that let their — let’s all just say it — most-loved family members join in on every part of the experience.

Related: A comprehensive guide to traveling with pets

With that in mind, we’ve gathered some of the most over-the-top experiences, packages and programs for pets we could find. From a Southern California resort offering puppy paddleboarding lessons to a hotel that will treat your dog like an A-list celebrity, here are our favorite luxury pet amenities worth planning a trip around.

Pampered pups at The Plaza

Last year, my corgi, Splenda, got to be wined and dined at The Plaza in New York City — one of the world’s most famous hotels.

With the hotel’s Pampered Pup Package ($195), your fur baby can experience a multi-tier tray of dog macarons, food and water bowls (with bottles of Evian), a plush dog bed and a Plaza dog bathrobe. (You can even get the robe custom-fitted to your dog for an extra fee if you contact the hotel 30 days before your arrival.)

But the best treat, in my and Splenda’s experience, was all the love that the incredible staff and fellow guests at this iconic Fairmont property gave to the pets.

The Plaza welcomes two dogs of any size at no additional fee.

Hermes, Tiffany and wine at the Conrad

For some pups, money is no object. When those dogs find themselves in the nation’s capital, they insist their parents book them at the Conrad Washington DC for the $5,999 “Lab of Luxury” package.

Sure, it’s not cheap, but it does include two nights in a “bark-view” suite (or park-view for us humans), a Hermes collar and leash, a Tiffany & Co. water bowl and pet-friendly treats from chef Nelson Lopez. To get out on the town, the package also includes a picnic with car service to take you and your furry companions on a tour of three dog-friendly wineries in the area, a photo session at CityCenterDC and a $500 donation to the Humane Society of the United States.

Dogs up to 150 pounds are allowed at the Conrad Washington DC for a fee of $75. Luckily, that fee is included in the Lab of Luxury package.

A doggy playlist and pet-friendly headphones

The new Hotel Swexan in Dallas is an oasis for pets (and pet owners). It even has an on-staff “pet adventures and wellness specialist,” Crystal Montero, who oversees the property’s pet offerings.

Beyond offering the basics like dog beds and treats, guests can also take advantage of 24-hour dog walking services and pet-friendly spot recommendations in Dallas. You can even borrow a pair of pet-friendly Bluetooth headphones, so your dog can listen to the hotel’s curated “doggy playlist” to relax after a long day of exploring.

Hotel Swexan charges a $150 pet fee and allows dogs less than 35 pounds.

Puppy paddleboard lessons in San Diego

In San Diego, paddleboarding isn’t just for those of us with two legs. At Kona Kai San Diego on Shelter Island, pets and pet parents can enjoy a day out on the water learning the ins and outs (and most importantly, safety) of paddleboarding in the resort’s private marina.

After a fun day in the sun, take advantage of other pet-friendly perks like a 25-minute “Furry Flex” muscle stretch massage from a certified pet massage therapist. Your pup can enjoy dinner from the Pooch Provisions Plates menu at Vessel Restaurant, featuring dishes like Pawnut Butter Crunch and Carrot Sticks ($5).

Two dogs up to 65 pounds are welcome at Kona Kai San Diego for a fee of $100 for up to three nights or $150 for four to seven nights.

A pet massage in Cabo

At The Cape, a Thompson Hotel — and one of TPG’s favorite points hotels in the area — the Currents Spa understands that even dogs get stressed. They know pups have some kinks here and there that need to be worked out, especially on vacation.

That’s why the World of Hyatt-participating property offers the “Sun, Sand and Paws Massage,” an exclusive 25-minute in-room massage for your pooch that costs $149. Sure, that might sound expensive, but can you really put a price on the well-being of your very best friend?

One pet is allowed to stay at The Cape for a fee of $100 per night.

Private gardens and luxury clothes in Rome

At the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, dogs have it made — seriously. With the hotel’s V.I.P. (Very Important Pets) program, which costs 35 euros ($38) per day, dogs have access to the hotel’s private 15-acre Mediterranean park and even a dog walker who can take them to galavant around it.

While pup parents hit the spa, the hotel can arrange to take their pooch to La Dmous Aventina, a local dog spa, for a high-end treatment. And, because Rome is one of the world’s fashion capitals, the hotel can arrange for a cashmere sweater embellished with your dog’s name on it, waiting in the room.

At this hotel, pets are also welcome to join their owners at the Tiepolo Lounge & Terrace or the Imperial Club. But even pets know that the best meal at a hotel is one served in bed; this Waldorf’s in-room pet menu includes a two-course meal for 28 euros ($30) with options like a pasta terrine, tuna and veggie starter followed by lamb and rice as a main.

Small dogs are allowed for 35 euros ($38) per day.

‘Pup-arazzi’ treat dogs like Hollywood stars

The Foundry Hotel Asheville, Curio Collection by Hilton knows that in pet owners’ eyes, their fur baby is a star. That’s why the hotel offers the “Pup-arazzi Adventure Package,” which includes pet-friendly accommodations and a one-hour pup photo session with a local photographer to document your trip to share with the world.

The hotel can also set you up with pet-friendly hikes and ensure that owners are loaded up with treats; the hotel even includes a voucher for a dog bath for a post-hike cleanup. Furry guests will also receive goodies from Patton Avenue Pet Company, like treats and a dog beer (because it’s Asheville).

The package starts at $460. Otherwise, dogs of all sizes are welcome for a fee of $75 per stay.

Doggie donburi for the four-legged foodie

These days, it’s not rare to find hotels offering gourmet dog menus, but few have made dishes so pretty they could snag a spot on a human foodie’s Instagram grid.

In Savannah, the chic Perry Lane Hotel knows exactly what every discerning pup wants: a colorful bowl of doggie donburi made up of juicy grilled chicken breast, cucumbers and green cabbage. But that meal doesn’t have to be served in the room; you can order it at the pet-friendly hotel rooftop bar and lounge, Peregrin. Savannah-bound pups can also expect a Perry Lane bandana, bowls, a bed and treats from the local pet bakery Oliver Bentley.

Dogs up to 50 pounds are welcome at the Perry Lane Hotel for a fee of $150 plus $20 per night.

A pet-friendly reiki session in Santa Fe

At the Auberge Resort Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, the Land of Enchantment has a beautiful way to connect with your pet on a spiritual level: through the Japanese healing art of reiki.

For $280, you and your pet can opt for the 60-minute “Animal Life Force” ritual, best described by the Stream Dance Spa:

“During this insightful session, our ‘helper’ holds space with the animals as they share helpful information for their humans to know in order to better the animal’s physical & emotional well-being. A pre- and post-consultation with animal guardians is part of the session in addition to a sentimental take-away.”

I’m not sure I can tell you what that means exactly, but I’m told it’s great to help with animals suffering from trauma, stress or injury.

Two dogs are allowed at Bishop’s Lodge for a fee of $100.

Pet-friendly cabanas in Cancun

While many hotels are pet-friendly, pets are often not actually allowed to go many places outside of the room.

That’s not the case at the Waldorf Astoria Cancun, where dogs can hang out by the pool and lounge in a cabana to soak up some warm Yucatan sunshine. As part of the “Rover Night” package, very good doggos can roam around the property, order canine-friendly food from a special pet menu and then cozy up in a special dog bed waiting in the room.

Dogs up to 50 pounds are welcome at the Waldorf Astoria Cancun for a fee of $150.

Related reading:

• The 15 best dog-friendly hotels in the US you need to know about
• The 10 best road trips to take with your family this summer
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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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