Earn airline rewards at sea: Southwest adds cruise bookings

Travelers can book cruises through the airline as part of a partnership with travel agency World Travel Holdings, Southwest said Tuesday.

“We’ve heard from our customers that cruises were of interest to them, and our new partnership with World Travel Holdings gives customers access to all major cruise lines, such as Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean, to complement their travel experience on Southwest,” Phil Gouel, the airline’s Vice President of Product Development, said in a news release. “This partnership also gives our loyal members new ways to earn points.”

Reservations can be made at www.southwestcruises.com.

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Members of the airline’s Rapid Rewards program can earn one point “per eligible $1 spent,” according to the website. Passengers can also earn double points on qualifying cruises booked through Oct. 31.

Other carriers, including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have similar offerings.

The news comes after the airline said last week that it would start selling tickets with assigned seats in the second half of 2025, a break from its signature open seating policy. The move is one of a slate of changes aimed at adding value for passengers and investors after the airline’s earnings faced pressure in recent quarters.