WOW...Lots of extremely helpful comments. Thanks. let them keep coming.

To answer few questions (OP here) : If its Galveston, I dont need a flight. Yes, We'll be taking kids ( elementary school aged). We may be forced to cruise on school holidays only as the school district has some crappy rules on missing 3+ days of school unexcused. I dont want to train my kids to make-up a story to make it excused. I do agree that missing few days of elementary school is not a big deal though.

Seems like, I need to use my Fidelity AMEX Retirement Rewards points (2 cents per dollar cashback), which was my primary card before I got into churning. As it can be redeemed for cash at anytime for any reason without any devaluation, that was my last option. But, it seems thats the only option.