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The luxury travel space has been evolving beyond champagne and caviar for a few years now. In fact, most luxury travelers are no longer seeking high-end goods and are turning to grand experiences instead. It comes as no surprise, then, that Hilton is expanding its loyalty program in that exact direction, capitalizing on this recent and growing consumer sentiment.
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Earning Hilton Honors Points While Sailing
In an announcement this week, Hilton revealed a new collaboration with Explora Journeys — a luxury cruise operator under the MSC Group. Through this partnership, Hilton is launching a fresh initiative within its rewards program — called Hilton Honors Adventures — designed to give members a shot at ocean travel experiences in addition to hotel stays.
Starting in summer 2026, Hilton Honors members will be able to use their points toward sailings on Explora Journeys. This takes loyalty from earning and redeeming points at one of Hilton’s 9,000+ properties worldwide, and expands it into multi-day, ocean-based journeys for both earning and redeeming opportunities. Adding more options to the Hilton Honors program is certain to deliver additional value for its members.
Special Offer for Hilton Honors Members
But summer 2026 is a long time to wait. In the short term, though, there’s already a way to get a taste of what’s to come. Since the announcement this week and all the way through June 7, 2026, Hilton Honors members can take advantage of a “preview offer”. That means members can book select sailings now and enjoy special perks.
For this limited offer, Hilton and Explora Journeys have selected 16 curated itineraries to give travelers a hand-picked opportunity to sample what the cruise liner has to offer, at an early-access value.
Among the perks:
- Every suite booked under the preview promotion gets a bonus of 100,000 Hilton Honors points.
- On those selected 16 itineraries, guests receive up to $400 in “Journey Experience Credits” (JEC), and for other sailings outside the curated list, there’s a similar but smaller credit of $200.
- An in-suite welcome gift.
Credits can be used onboard for extras like fine dining, drinks or wine tastings, spa services, off-ship excursions, shopping (excluding certain premium boutiques), or even to be applied toward suite upgrades.
Capitalizing on Trends
Hilton here is capitalizing on many of the trends it revealed earlier this year. According to both Hilton and Explora, the goal is to offer a different pace of travel — one that embraces unhurried discovery rather than ticking off crowded itineraries. Explora Journeys describes its approach as an “Ocean State of Mind”: giving travelers room to slow down, soak in the surroundings, and travel with intention.
For travelers who —like me— enjoy comfort, quiet, calm, and quality service, this might represent a compelling alternative to traditional cruises or hotel-based vacations.
Each sailing promises to blend the freedom of the open sea with refined hospitality, curated dining, and thoughtful itineraries. While there are only two ships currently sailing in Explora’s fleet, the cruise liner plans to have six ships operating by 2028.
Destinations under the new offering are varied, from sun-soaked isles in the Mediterranean, to the dramatic coastlines of Northern Europe, to tropical vibes in the Caribbean and Central America, including the Panama Canal, and further afield. Also included are sailings to the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula, glacial fjords of Alaska and Canada, and future Asia sailings including Japan — although some of those itineraries don’t start until 2027.
For many travelers, this adds a new dimension: ocean-going travel accessible through the same loyalty program they use for hotels. Longtime Hilton customers, or those who collect points regularly, could enjoy a cruise as more of a natural extension of their vacations — redeemable, flexible, and integrated into a familiar rewards ecosystem. For regular cruise ship travelers, it might represent an excellent value in tying together their pre- and post-departure hotel stays with the sailing itself.
Bottom Line
Hilton is broadening the definition of what a stay is. With Hilton Honors Adventures, your next stay might not be at a hotel. It could be a suite at sea, setting sail at a different pace than you may be used to. If you like the idea of blending the predictable comforts of a hotel brand with the exploration of ocean travel — and collecting loyalty points while you’re at it — this new partnership could be worth a closer look.
- Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
- Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with your Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. Terms and Limitations apply.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $150 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 12X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
- 6X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
- 4X bonus points on U.S online retail purchases
- 3X bonus points for all other eligible purchases on your card
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees)
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