Southwest Cruises is dangling a million Rapid Rewards points-and a Carnival cruise-before travelers' eyes. The sweepstakes, open through July 31, 2025, will award one grand-prize winner 500,000 points plus a $5,000 Carnival Cruise Line voucher, while five additional entrants each snag 100,000 points. Eligibility is limited to U.S. residents aged 21 or older, and entry is free via the Southwest Cruises site. Winners will be drawn about 30 days after the contest closes, giving entrants plenty of time to dream about sunny decks and upgraded flights.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Rapid Rewards points stretch far, so the grand prize could cover multiple round-trip flights and a Cruise.
- Entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on July 31, 2025.
- Grand prize: 500,000 points + $5,000 Carnival Cruise voucher; five first prizes: 100,000 points each.
- Winners chosen at random roughly a month after closing; points post within eight weeks after verification.
Snapshot
The Million Points Giveaway is Southwest Airlines' latest loyalty splash aimed at keeping flyers-and cruisers-engaged ahead of sweeping product changes. Entrants need only supply a valid email address and ZIP code on the Southwest Cruises promo page. A Rapid Rewards account is mandatory to receive points, but membership is free. The cruise voucher must be used on Carnival by December 30, 2026, and covers standard accommodations, meals, and Onboard Entertainment. Winners shoulder taxes, tips, excursions, and travel to the departure port. Odds hinge on total entries, yet the lure of half-a-million points and an ocean escape is proving irresistible.
Background
Southwest's Cruise arm partners with World Travel Holdings to bundle sea voyages with Rapid Rewards earnings-one point per eligible dollar spent on fares. The giveaway dovetails with broader modernization efforts, including the airline's first-ever assigned-seating program that opens for booking on July 29 ahead of a January 27, 2026, launch. Travelers can get the full seating rundown in our recent coverage of Southwest's assigned seating rollout. Together, these initiatives signal a strategic push to broaden revenue streams, diversify perks, and keep the carrier top-of-mind amidst fierce loyalty wars.
Latest Developments
How to Enter
Prospective cruisers visit the Southwest Cruises sweepstakes page and complete a brief sign-up for weekly deal emails. No purchase is necessary. Each entrant is limited to one submission, and participants agree to receive promotional messages, though they may unsubscribe later. Once registered, travelers automatically join the prize pool. Southwest warns that potential winners must reply to notification emails within three business days and sign an eligibility affidavit. Failure to respond or to provide a Rapid Rewards number triggers forfeiture and selection of an alternate. The airline encourages contestants to keep inbox filters open to avoid missing that life-changing email.
Prize Breakdown
The headline reward totals $25,000 in value. The grand-prize haul of 500,000 points can cover dozens of domestic round-trips or a handful of bucket-list international tickets when fares are on Sale. The $5,000 Carnival voucher can be applied to any sailing, cabin upgrades, or onboard credits-ideal for a balcony splurge. First-prize winners get enough points for several free flights, a hefty boost toward Companion Pass status, or a points-plus-cash Hotel stay. All points deposit within eight weeks after verification, and they do not expire but remain subject to Rapid Rewards rules.
Analysis
Southwest's giveaway accomplishes three objectives. First, it gathers fresh marketing leads by requiring entrants to opt into Cruise emails, bolstering a vertical that already touts a 110 percent price-match guarantee. Second, it stimulates Rapid Rewards engagement ahead of next year's seat-assignment overhaul, seeding members' accounts with points that can be redeemed under the new fare bundles-Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Third, the partnership with Carnival cross-pollinates two loyalty ecosystems, potentially nudging Southwest flyers to choose Carnival for future vacations and vice-versa. While the contest's odds remain unpublished, Southwest's track record of nearly one in a million entries for past campaigns suggests long-shot chances. Yet the low barrier to entry and the airline's fan-base enthusiasm make the promotion a clever branding exercise that converts attention into actionable data and reinforces Southwest's evolving value proposition in an increasingly fee-driven market.
Final Thoughts
For travelers eyeing free flights and Caribbean sunsets, this sweepstakes is a risk-free shot at a windfall. Act before July 31, keep an eye on your inbox, and you could be charting a course courtesy of the Southwest Cruises Million Points Giveaway.