Norwegian Cruise Line via Amex Pay with Points
Amex cardholders can redeem MR points toward Norwegian Cruise Line bookings via the Amex Travel portal, but Pay-with-Points cruise redemptions are worth only about 0.5-0.7 cents per point, not the 1.0-1.4c previously claimed here. MR is worth ~2.0c via airline/hotel transfer partners, so this is a low-value way to burn a large MR balance rather than a sweet spot. The 140,000-point figure is an illustrative balance, not a fixed rate.
Why this redemption is worth chasing
At 0.7¢ per point this is a modest but real redemption. The cash ticket of around $980 doesn't make this a steal, but it's a fair use of 140,000 points if you weren't going to redeem them for anything better.
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How to earn 140,000 American Express Membership Rewards points
American Express Membership Rewards accepts transfers from these credit cards. One sign-up bonus from any of them gets you most or all of the way to this redemption.
Sometimes the points cost beats the cash rate, sometimes it doesn't. Quick way to sanity-check the math:
Once your hotel is locked in, these are the three add-ons most travelers grab next, bookable in a couple minutes each.
How to book this redemption
Confirm award space before you transfer. Transfers are usually irreversible, and award costs here are published-pricing estimates.
- 1Confirm award space first. N/A award seats can disappear in minutes. Search for the specific dates you want directly on the American Express Membership Rewards website (or use our sweet-spot library to compare programs side-by-side first).
- 2Earn or transfer the points. If you don't already have 140,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, transfer from a flexible bank-points card (e.g. Citi Strata Premier Card, Citi Custom Cash). Transfers usually complete within minutes.
- 3Book immediately after the transfer lands. Award seats can vanish between your transfer and your booking. Have the search results open when you transfer.
- 4Pay any fuel surcharges or taxes. Most awards carry $50-$300 in cash fees on top of the miles. Check the estimate before you transfer, it should still be a fraction of the cash ticket.
Common questions
- How many points do you need to fly N/A hotel class to Various?
- 140,000 American Express Membership Rewards points one-way for hotel class on N/A. Cash equivalent runs around $980, putting this redemption at roughly 0.7 cents per point.
- Is 140,000 American Express Membership Rewards points a good redemption?
- Yes, at 0.7¢ per point this beats the typical 1¢ baseline by -30%. Worth doing if you have the points; not worth optimizing for.
- What credit cards transfer to American Express Membership Rewards?
- American Express Membership Rewards accepts transfers from major flexible-points programs. Check the program's transfer partners on each bank's portal. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards each partner with different airline programs.
- When should I transfer points to American Express Membership Rewards?
- Transfer only after you've confirmed award space on the specific date you want. Transfers are non-reversible. American Express Membership Rewards can devalue their award chart at any time, so if you have the points and the seat is available, book the same day you transfer.
Award pricing is set by American Express Membership Rewards and can change with little notice. The 140,000-point figure reflects the most recent published award chart we've verified. Confirm current pricing and availability inside your American Express Membership Rewards account before transferring, transfers are non-reversible.