A few weeks ago, I went on a “free” cruise shopping spree. My husband’s MGM Gold status will expire today, so it was a “use it or lose it” type deal. And boy, did I hit a jackpot! In fact, I ended up letting Princess deal go because we simply don’t have the time or money to add it into the mix. I did consider canceling Peru trip and going on a cruise instead, but decided against it. Plus, Princess offer was for inside stateroom, and my husband isn’t a fan of those. So, that meant paying a hefty upgrade fee.
Anyway, I made peace with this decision until I saw recent news reports that rail access to Machu Picchu is currently suspended due to local protests. Apparently, there is a major conflict between the local community and central government when it comes to the rights to sell entry tickets. I don’t pretend to know all the intricacies of this issue and obviously, the needs of tourists don’t outweigh the need to feed your family.
That said, if we ended up going and not being able to access Machu Picchu, I would be extremely disappointed. I understand that there is more to Peru than this one historic site, but that’s my main reason for the trip. Of course, our visit isn’t supposed to happen for a few months, so it’s very likely that some sort of agreement will be reached. Still, it would make me nervous to invest a good deal of money and time into something that may or may not pan out. Plus, my husband already told me we should consider canceling the trip due to all the medical bills.
Visiting Machu Picchu has been a dream of mine for many years, and I realize that there aren’t any guarantees when it comes to travel. Peru is a developing country and challenging economic reality means that things can be quite unpredictable. But these new developments made me think that perhaps we should postpone the trip for a year or two, and let things settle down a bit. I can’t imagine going there and having a riot police protect us as we make our way to the ruins. I’m also thinking that we probably need to bring our kids, as both of them expressed interest in visiting Peru. Of course, the situation may become even more volatile as time goes on, but that’s why I plan to use miles and make refundable hotel reservations (again).
Circling back to my Princess cruise offer
I’ve mentioned earlier that the agent said I only have 30 days to book a cruise from the time I got the offer, so I needed to figure out something soon. I’ve linked to this Frequent Miler post before, as it’s probably the best resource to keep up with all the latest when it comes to comped cruises. One of the reasons is the fact that readers constantly share the latest data points on their experiences chasing this deal.
In the comments FM reader Josh has mentioned that he was able to get a free balcony offer from Princess by sending a screenshot of Carnival deal in addition to MGM Gold. Hey, I got one of those! I’ve already submitted an inquiry, so wasn’t sure if it’s too late to upgrade the offer. But I figured it won’t hurt to try. Boom, the next day I had a balcony offer from Princess. YMMV, as some agents apparently won’t budge.
I would probably book even an interior room, but this deal was definitely something I simply couldn’t refuse. Peru will still be there, and I doubt that hotel prices will go up that much in a year or two. But it’s somewhat unlikely that I will ever be able to pay $335 per person to cruise Alaska Inside passage in a balcony cabin. We did have to pay a $200 deposit per person in addition to that, but it will be refunded via onboard credit. We will easily use up $400 towards tips, internet, laundry and a few alcoholic drinks here and there.
When I called to book, the agent tried to upsell me to unlimited alcohol package and some spa treatments, but I politely refused. My husband and I aren’t big drinkers, so it would be a waste. Overall, the experience was seamless, and we even got an assigned balcony cabin. That allowed me to ask for starboard side, which is preferable when cruising the Inside Passage.
Figuring out our flights
I wanted the easiest possible option, so I redeemed Alaska miles for nonstop flights to/from Seattle. I paid 25k miles per person for an evening flight from Tampa to SEA, and 17.5k miles for afternoon Seattle-Fort Myers return flight. It’s not dirt cheap, but those are the exact tickets we needed, so I’m burning the miles and not thinking twice. Here is the kicker. I actually have a valid companion certificate for Alaska, and the total cost for refundable roundtrip flights for two would be $800 if I used it instead of miles.
A quick math will tell you that I’m getting a little less than a penny per mile in value. The reason for this suboptimal decision is simple: right now I need money more than I need miles. This goes along with what Nancy wrote yesterday. I’ve acquired these miles via sign-up bonuses, so I don’t feel the need to overthink this one. A bird in the hand, and you know the rest.
I will be keeping an eye on the afternoon Delta flight from Seattle to Tampa and may rebook if the rate goes down. Right now it’s running at 27.5k miles, so Alaska program is a far better option (17.5k miles). Unlike most people in the hobby, I value Delta and Alaska currencies equally.
Final thoughts
When I told my husband about my new plan, he was actually relieved. He is so stressed at work right now that the idea of a leisurely Alaska cruise sounds very appealing. We both love the scenery, and look forward to enjoying the views from our own private balcony.
Apparently, Princess now has a referral program where you and your friend can each get $25 onboard credit. Here is my link if you choose to use it.
My first cruise to Alaska in 2007 (before the blog) was actually on Princess and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see how this line has evolved over the last 17 years. Man, I’m getting old…
You can also read about my 2016 Alaska NCL cruise here , and our port excursions here
Macchu Picchu, I will come someday. That’s a promise.
Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
@Beck You are absolutely correct that costs still add up even if you get a “free” cruise offer. In our case, we happen to enjoy cruising, so it’s an easier sell. Plus, my husband expressed interest in doing another Alaska cruise, but the cost was always the biggest issue. Once that barrier to entry was removed, it became quite doable. I still had to cover flights via miles, but have some to spare at the moment. I hated canceling our trip to Peru, but once I got the balcony offer from Princess it was a no-brainer.
But yeah, if cruises don’t appeal to you, it’s a totally different story and I understand the hesitation.
I have free cruise offers with Holland and Carnival, but by the time I add daily wifi and taxes and flights it ends up being a good chunk of change (or points for the flight). Spouse and I drink 2-3 glasses of wine or cocktails in the evening on vacay so then add on either the beverage package or another $60/day and it gets expensive. I have never really been interested in cruises so the “free” not free part is hard to overcome. I agree with you re the balcony room, too. I would either have to spend more money for that or have an upgrade.
@Lynn That’s a great deal you got! Honestly, I was a bit surprised it worked. Apparently, it depends on the agent, so no guarantees you would get an upgraded offer. In our case, it’s been almost a month since I got an email, so I think the rep just wanted to seal the deal. It worked!
Never thought about just adding my carnival balcony offer after already getting the offer. I bid for a balcony and got one for 350 per person and used an amex offer. Congrats on getting it free!
@tda1986 Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It’s important to have realistic expectations when it comes to popular landmarks. For one thing, it’s virtually impossible to avoid crowds, and that certainly detracts from the experience. At least for me.
I do think we would enjoy Perú even if we ended up skipping Machu Picchu. But it sure would stink to be so close and miss seeing it in person. I would actually be up for doing the Inca trail, but it’s a no-go for my husband. Either way, Peru is on my list and I intend to visit it within the next few years.
Labor strikes affecting access to Machu Picchu are pretty common. Unless you’re hiking to the site, there are a number of choke points before the park where labor activity by different factions can essentially block tourists. During my trip, it was a railway workers strike that we were luckily able to revise our plans to work around. Hiking avoids almost all of these except park entrance, though the government has closed the Inca Trail at times as well (such as all next month).
That being said, I wasn’t completely awed by Machu Picchu. Perhaps my expectations were too high and it was just Paris Syndrome, but I feel like other pre-Columbian ruins I’ve visited were more impressive. My wife and I really enjoyed our Sacred Valley tour more. Of course, none of this changes the fact that it would be extremely disappointing to make the trip and not be able to visit Machu Picchu.
@Aleks I hope you do that Galapagos cruise! Sounds amazing.
Yes, miles and points usually give us the ability to pivot. I did lose $50 in partner booking fees since I used Alaska miles towards Latam, but it’s not the end of the world. Just a few weeks ago I fully intended to visit Peru in 2024. But then I got this amazing offer I simply couldn’t refuse. I wish I could do both, but it’s just not a possibility. But hey, first world problems!
It definitely makes it easier to cancel and change your travel plans with refundable fares/stays. In 2020 I have to cancel my trip Galapagos Isles in April due to covid. It perhaps would’ve been an epic trip, now placed on later time… And years 2020-21 turned out to be one of the best in life after all. So no regrets with change.
Enjoy your Alaska trip, just get warm clothes as it’s unpredictable even in summer. Last time I visited, it was still some snow on the ground in mid-May. Although 2024 is el Nino year so should be warmer in the Pacific.