As If The Cruise Itself Wasn’t Good Enough

For a lot of passengers, one of the rewards of going to sea is arriving home with a gorgeous tan.

However, some passengers booking fall and winter sailings on one luxury cruise ship could return home with an even bigger bonus: a free round-trip ticket for domestic travel on United Airlines.

In fact, if you’re a card-carrying member of any of several airline frequent-flier programs, listen up: If you sail on ships of Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, you can reap rewards that include discounted cruises and extra frequent-flier miles. And if you take a cruise aboard the Song of Flower, you’ll be awarded enough frequent-flier points to earn that free United ticket.

Oh no, you say; not another one of those complicated frequent-flier point programs we’ve all come to covet but struggle to figure out! Well, not quite - these offers actually are a twist on traditional permutations.

It has become almost commonplace to redeem frequent-flier points for free or discounted cruises. For years, airlines such as USAir and other carriers have offered cruise perks for racking up airline points. And it isn’t uncommon these days to earn cruise discounts through points of all kinds, awarded when you make a credit-card purchase or even when you open a bank account.

More commonly, you can earn cruise rewards by sailing repeatedly with the same cruise line - something like “frequent floater” points that reward repeat passengers with cruise discounts or cabin upgrades. Cunard, for example, was one of the first to plunge into the travel-reward waters with Cruise Miles. The program, launched in 1994, allots points for days sailed, and those points are redeemable for upgrades or for future cruises.

Similarly, Seabourn Cruise Line has Herald Club, a program that totes up the days you’ve cruised and awards 25 percent discounts for subsequent cruises.

Radisson’s program takes a slightly different approach. Instead of awarding points that can be redeemed for cruise discounts, the cruise line awards frequent flier points.

Radisson says its program is the first of its kind. The cruise line’s current offerings are part of a recently expanded incentive program that originally was introduced last year.

And the program does seem to makes sense: These days, just about anyone who flies is a member of one - or several - frequent flier programs, so it’s a logical extension to offer both cruise line and frequent flier benefits.

According to Mark Conroy, Radisson’s president and chief executive officer, “There’s a built-in alliance between airlines and cruise lines, who share a significant percentage of the same customers. In the past, this alliance was apparent in fly/cruise (air/sea) programs and the awarding of free cruises for frequent flier miles.”

Smart marketing ploy notwithstanding, the cruise line says its program gives more value to the customers that airlines and cruise lines share.

Here’s an example of Radisson’s latest and best offering, which gives you a United Airlines ticket. Let’s say you sail on a Song of Flower Far East cruise by March 11, 1996. Brochure prices for these cruises already have several features built in. Prices include round-trip airfare from any of 79 North American gateways; pre and post-cruise hotel stays, and tours and shore excursions.

But if you are a member of United Airlines’ Mileage Plus program and you book this cruise, you can expect this windfall: a cruise fare that is equal to the price you would pay if you had booked your cruise 120 days in advance, regardless of whether or not you book early. (The discount depends on the specific cruise you choose.)

You also would get frequent flier miles added to your United account for the air portion of the trip, something not normally available to regular air/sea cruisers. On a Far East cruise, this can amount to a hefty balance, considering the distance to, say, Hong Kong.

Perhaps the biggest plus for United card-holders is a 25,000-bonus-miles award per person - enough mileage points to earn that free round-trip domestic ticket.

For more information, contact your travel agent or call Radisson at (800) 333-3333.