best cruise line loyalty program

A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs

Editor's Note

If you show loyalty to a specific cruise line, you can earn some wonderful rewards.

While entry-level tiers of cruise line loyalty programs usually don't offer much in terms of valuable perks, mid-level tiers can bring everything from spa discounts to free meals at extra-charge restaurants on the ship. The perks only get better from there.

At the very top tier of some cruise line loyalty programs — such as Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society and Norwegian Cruise Line's Latitudes Rewards — you can even get what we at TPG consider one of the truly great loyalty perks: a free cruise for two.

Perhaps the greatest thing about cruise line loyalty programs is that unlike most airline or hotel loyalty programs, they don't usually require customers to requalify for status every year.

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Members of most cruise line loyalty programs keep their points at the end of each year and continue to accrue points indefinitely. That means that someone who hits the top tier in a cruise line loyalty program will remain there forever (or until the line makes a change to the program).

Still, not all cruise line loyalty programs are created equal. Some are very robust with lots of great perks even at low-tier levels. Others only are modest in what they get you.

Here is TPG's guide to the cruise line loyalty programs at 10 of the most popular cruise brands, with an overview of their main attributes. For more detailed information on each of the programs, click on the links in the text below that will take you to our main loyalty guide for each of the brands.

Related: The ultimate guide to picking a cruise line

Carnival Cruise Line: VIFP Club

Ways to earn points

The VIFP Club points-earning system is super simple. You earn one point for every day you cruise on a Carnival Cruise Line ship. If you take a three-night cruise, you'll get three points. If you take a seven-night cruise, you'll get seven points. You don't have to worry about different earning levels for different cabin categories or different types of bookings, as is the case with some lines.

Note that certain charter sailings and nonrevenue fares do not get you any points.

Insider tip: After sailing on one of Carnival's ships in Australia, you won't automatically get points for the trip deposited in your account. You'll need to log in to your account online, click on "Missing a Cruise?" and request the VIFP points be awarded for the days you earned on that voyage.

Program tiers and benefits

There are five tiers to the VIFP Club program:

• Blue (your first sailing)
• Red (second sailing to 24 points)
• Gold (25 to 74 points)
• Platinum (75 to 199 points)
• Diamond (200 or more points)

One of the nice little surprises of Carnival's loyalty program is that you hit the first tier level, Blue, the moment you board your first cruise with the brand. Unlike many lines, you don't have to complete a cruise to reach the first level. In fact, you can get to the Blue tier even before taking a cruise. All you have to do is sign up in advance.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships

That said, the Blue tier of the program brings almost no perks. There are only two: You are eligible for members-only cruise offers, and you'll receive a members-only electronic newsletter.

The next two tiers in the program are almost as stingy when it comes to perks. The second tier, Red, offers the same two perks as the Blue tier with just one additional perk: a complimentary, 1-liter bottle of water delivered to your cabin during sailings. (Don't go drinking it all at once.) Gold adds a complimentary appreciation drink, but only if your cruise is more than five days long.

The elite level that makes a difference

The Platinum level of the VIFP Club is where your loyalty to Carnival finally starts paying off.

Many of the perks that kick in at this level offer priority access of some kind, including:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority spa reservations
• Priority water shuttle boarding (ship-to-shore only)
• Priority line at onboard Guest Services desk and priority assistance by phone
• Priority debarkation
• Priority reservations at the Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

In short, once you're at the Platinum level, you'll suddenly find yourself bumped to the front of the line from the moment you arrive at a ship until the moment you leave. This is no small thing. Priority boarding means you'll get on the ship more quickly than other passengers, giving you more time on your first day to enjoy its offerings. Priority access to restaurant reservations means you'll get the best table times.

Best elite perk

Even at the highest Diamond level of its VIFP Club program, Carnival is still a little stingy with the perks. Unlike Royal Caribbean and some other lines, it doesn't give members a free cruise upon reaching this pinnacle of loyalty status. That said, Diamond status does bring a few nice privileges.

We definitely appreciate the free cabin upgrade (or third-and-fourth-passengers-sail-free offer) that comes when you first reach Diamond status; however, we're disappointed this is a one-time-only benefit. Another good but one-time-only perk of Diamond status is a complimentary meal for two at a specialty restaurant of your choice.

In our eyes, the best elite perk of the VIFP Club program is the unlimited wash-and-fold laundry service that comes with Diamond status. Unlike the above two perks, you'll get this every time you sail once you reach Diamond level.

For more details on Carnival's VIFP Club, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to the Carnival Cruise Line VIFP Club .

Celebrity Cruises: Captain's Club

The number of Captain's Club points you earn for Celebrity cruises will vary depending on both the length of the sailing and the type of cabin you book.

When staying in the most basic cabins, such as windowless "inside" cabins, you'll earn 2 points for each day you sail. When staying in a top suite, you can earn as many as 18 to 24 points per day.

Staying in balcony cabins, which the line calls Veranda cabins, will get you 3 points a day.

Here is a breakdown of the point structure:

As you can see, you'll earn far more points by staying in a suite than by staying in a less pricey regular cabin. The Captain's Club program is designed to reward Celebrity's biggest-spending customers the most.

There's one more way to earn Captain's Club points. In 2020, Celebrity launched a new program called Power Up Points that allows Captain's Club members to earn bonus points by filling out online surveys, participating on social media or booking specific promotions.

Related: The ultimate guide to Celebrity Cruises

Taking part in such activities will get you Power Up Points, which then can be converted into Captain's Club points at a ratio of 10 to 1. For every 10 Power Up Points you earn, you'll receive 1 additional Captain's Club point.

There are six tiers to the Captain's Club program:

• Preview (0 points)
• Classic (2 to 149 points)
• Select (150 to 299 points)
• Elite (300 to 749 points)
• Elite Plus (750 to 2,999 points)
• Zenith (3,000 points or more)

The good news here is that you'll qualify for the program's first tier (Preview) before you even take a single cruise. All you have to do is sign up for the program. At the Preview level, you can access the online Captain's Club newsletter and the Loyalty Desk. You also can book Captain's Club promotions once you're on board your first cruise.

The next level up, Classic, brings:

• Pre-sailing specialty restaurant reservations through the loyalty desk
• Exclusive captain's club offers
• One pre-cruise category upgrade to AquaClass (based on availability)
• Access to exclusive events on specialty sailings (like the President's Sailing)
• An invitation to a Captain's Club welcome party
• One complimentary specialty coffee when you dine at a specialty restaurant
• One free scoop of gelato
• 10% discount on any bottle of wine
• 10% discount on a Premium Drink Package upgrade when purchased pre-cruise only
• 10% discount on a Drink Package when purchased pre-cruise
• 10% discount on Wi-Fi packages and upgrades and complimentary premium minutes
• 25% discount on any digital or print photo package
• 10% discount on The Studio photo package
• 10% off one-time use laundry service
• 10% discount at the spa
• various casino perks
• 5% discount on small group discovery shore excursions
• 5% discount on Hollywood Hot Glass

The Select tier adds bigger discounts on internet and photo packages (25% and 30% off, respectively). You'll also get an invitation to a wine tasting and a backstage tour on the ship; a discounted price for one standard bag of laundry (wash, dry and fold) if your cruise is 12 nights or longer; and two complimentary pressed items.

Being loyal to Celebrity really starts paying off when you reach the Elite and Elite Plus levels.

One of the great perks of Elite status is gaining access to the Captain's Club Coffee Lounge, where you can enjoy a coffeehouse-style breakfast each morning. This is a particularly big deal on shore excursion days, as it means you have a relatively quiet and uncrowded place to grab a quick breakfast before heading out for a tour.

Related: The 4 types of Celebrity Cruises ships, explained

Elites also get unlimited free drinks from the Captain's Club menu each day except embarkation day between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at most bars and lounges on the ship. All you have to do is present your Sea Pass card. This isn't quite the perk it used to be, though, since a basic drinks package now comes with all bookings as part of the line's new Always Included fare structure.

If you're sailing on a Solstice-class or Millennium-class vessel, reaching the Elite tier will get you free access to the Persian Garden spa zones — home to steam rooms, saunas and heated loungers — on one port day of your choice.

Elite level also brings:

• Priority tender service, where available
• Access to a private lounge on departure day serving continental breakfast
• An invitation to a senior officer party
• An invitation to a Create & Pour event on Edge-class ships
• An invitation to a Music & Mixology event
• A higher 20% discount on a bottle of wine
• A higher 30% discount on Wi-Fi packages and upgrades, plus 90 complimentary stream minutes
• A higher 15% discount on drinks packages
• A higher 40% discount on a digital or print photo package
• A higher 20% discount on The Studio photo packages
• One complimentary dry clean item
• One bag of complimentary laundry
• A higher 15% discount at the ship's spa

Elite Plus kicks things up by offering many of these same benefits plus another free bag of laundry, additional discounts for onboard services (including a 15% discount on specialty dining cover charges) and free cappuccinos, lattes, espressos and teas throughout your sailing.

The ultimate perk for Captain's Club members comes when you reach the top Zenith tier. You'll get a free seven-night Bermuda or Caribbean cruise in a balcony cabin. Yep, that's right: a free cruise.

Of course, you'll need 3,000 points to reach the Zenith tier — a number so high it's out of reach for most cruisers. For someone who always stays in balcony cabins and prefers seven-night sailings, it would take an almost inconceivable 143 cruises to reach the Zenith tier. Put another way, you'd have to spend 1,000 days at sea with Celebrity to hit the Zenith mark.

Related: Everything to know about Celebrity cabins and suites

Still, for those who always stay in top suites, getting to Zenith after just a few years of heavy cruising is not out of the question. For those travelers in Penthouse and Reflection suites, it would require 167 days at sea. Take a few long sailings of 20 or 30 days, and you'll be well on your way.

Once you hit the Zenith level, you'll get another free Bermuda or Caribbean cruise after every 3,000 points you accumulate. Plus, there's an added twist for your second free cruise and any others you accrue after that: The additional free sailings will be in an upgraded AquaClass cabin.

For more details on Celebrity's Captain's Club, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to the Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club .

Disney Cruise Line: Castaway Club

Earning status in Disney Cruise Line 's Castaway Club loyalty program is about as simple as can be — even after a recent upgrade that brought an all-new tier . You get a credit for every cruise you take, whether it's three nights long or 10 nights long. That's it. No muss, no fuss. Your status, as we'll explain below, depends entirely on how many cruises you take.

There are four tiers to the Castaway Club program:

• Silver (after one cruise)
• Gold (after five cruises)
• Platinum (after 10 cruises)
• Pearl (after 25 cruises)

Once you reach the first tier of the program (Silver), you will be entitled to exactly six perks. Perhaps the most notable is the ability to make advance bookings for onboard cruise activities such as ticket-only character greetings and specialty restaurant dinners up to 90 days before sailings. This is a big deal in the world of Disney cruises, where some of the hottest activities on ships sell out quickly.

Related: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line

Silver members can also book new Disney cruise itineraries one day ahead of the general public. That may not seem like much of a head start, but it can be a real advantage when trying to snag the perfect cabin on a hot new itinerary. Disney fans are known to snap up the best cabins — if not all the cabins — on unique new sailings very quickly.

Additionally, Silver members get:

• Select port arrival time and complete online check-in 33 days in advance of departure
• Exclusive cruise terminal check-in where available
• A members-only direct phone line to call for information and assistance
• A welcome-back-aboard gift

Upon reaching the Gold level, members get all the above perks with three notable upgrades. For starters, they can make advance bookings for onboard cruise activities up to 105 days before sailings. That's 15 days earlier than Silver members. They can also book new Disney cruise itineraries two days before the general public.

Plus, they can complete check-in 35 days in advance.

The third tier of the program, the Platinum level, extends the pre-booking windows even further. Platinum members can make advance bookings for onboard cruise activities up to 120 days before sailings. That's 15 days earlier than Gold members and 30 days earlier than Silver members. They can also book new Disney cruise itineraries three days before the general public.

For Platinum members, check-in opens 38 days in advance of departures.

Platinum-level members are also entitled to a free dinner at Palo , the upscale, adults-only Italian eatery on Disney ships.

The perks really get interesting once you hit the new Pearl level of the Castaway Club. The big perk at this level is booking new itineraries earlier than everyone else. You also have the earliest possible access to reserve onboard activities.

Specifically, you can make reservations for newly announced itineraries four days before the general public. You can also book activities up to 123 days in advance of sailing.

In the world of Disney, this is a very big deal. As mentioned above, Disney fans are known to snag all the good cabins for a popular sailing the moment a trip goes on sale. Ditto for onboard activities.

Additionally, Pearl status also lets you check in for your cruise 40 days in advance of sailing.

Unlike some lines, Disney offers no truly over-the-top elite perks, such as the free cruise that top-tier members of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society get. It's also skimpy on handing out big discounts on shore excursions, spa treatments and other cruise line-sold services to elite members — something some other lines do. However, a few perks get us at least modestly excited.

The most enticing offering, in our view, is the free dinner at Palo that comes with Platinum status.

The invitation extends to the elite member and any other adult passenger staying in the same cabin. Assuming there are two of you, that's a $100 value. Palo normally costs $50 per person.

You can use the perk at either the Palo eateries on Disney's four older ships or the Palo Steakhouse eatery on the line's new Disney Wish .

For more details on Disney's Castaway Club, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Club .

Holland America Line: Mariner Society

Holland America 's Mariner Society points-earning system is also a relatively simple one. In most cases, you will earn one "cruise day" credit for every night you're on a ship.

The only exception is for passengers staying in top accommodations. Customers staying in a suite or penthouse on a Holland America ship will get double cruise day credits. One caveat here is that you must have paid the normal fare for the suite or penthouse to get the double credits.

You won't get double credit if you're staying in a suite or penthouse due to a complimentary cabin upgrade.

Note that you will also get cruise day credits for the days you spend touring on land with Holland America cruisetours in Alaska. Holland America cruisetours in Alaska typically combine a seven-night Alaska cruise with a few days touring the state in motorcoaches or by train.

Related: The 4 classes of Holland America ships, explained

Additionally, there is an unusual bonus way to earn Mariner Society cruise day credits. You can earn one additional cruise day credit for every $300 you spend on board a ship — for things such as shore excursions and shop purchases (with a limit of one extra cruise day credit for every day you sail).

The extra credit is calculated based on the combined folio charges for all passengers on a single booking, regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill. Only the first two passengers on a booking will receive the bonus credit.

Some purchases — future cruise deposits, cash advances and casino charges — are excluded from the onboard purchase bonus. All other onboard purchases count — even the hotel service charges, beverage service charges and taxes that show up on final bills.

There are five tiers to the Mariner Society loyalty program:

• Star Mariner (after one cruise)
• 2-Star Mariner (30 to 74 cruise day credits)
• 3-Star Mariner (75 to 199 cruise day credits)
• 4-Star Mariner (200 to 499 cruise day credits)
• 5-Star Mariner (500-plus cruise day credits)

As with several other cruise line loyalty programs mentioned above, the first tier of the Mariner Society loyalty program (Star Mariner) doesn't come with too many valuable perks.

Star Mariners receive:

• Up to $400 per cabin onboard spending credit when booking a cruise within 90 days of a new season launch
• 15% discount at shophollandamerica.com
• A special welcome lunch
• An onboard gift
• A voucher for an onboard cocktail
• 50% off cruise fares for kids and extra guests in your cabin on select sailings

In addition to all the above, the big add-on for 2-Star Mariners is discounts on Holland America-branded items. Loyal Holland America cruisers at the 2-Star level will get a 10% discount on select Holland America clothing sold on ships. They also receive a complimentary photo of their ship.

The sweet spot in Holland America's program is the 4-Star Mariner status level. This is where you really start to see some great perks, including:

• Complimentary cruise fare for kids and extra guests staying in your cabin on select sailings
• A 50% discount on specialty restaurant surcharges and specialty coffees in dining venues, Sommelier Suites packages and all minibar purchases
• Complimentary laundry and pressing services
• Priority access to ship-to-shore tenders
• Priority check-in
• A complimentary James Suckling regional wine tasting
• A 15% discount on select Holland America Line logo clothing sold in onboard shops (may exclude already discounted merchandise)
• A 25% discount off the $49-per-person surcharge in Rudi's Sel De Mer eatery

We love that Holland America will let kids sail free on select journeys at this tier. The line isn't necessarily known as a family line, but if you have kids (or grandkids) and are a Holland America fan, this could save you a lot of money.

You'll also save a lot of money with the 50% off specialty restaurant perk at this level and the other 50% off discount options.

If you cruise with family or friends, we think the best perk in Holland America's program is the complimentary cruise fare for kids and extra guests staying in your cabin on select sailings. As noted above, this is a 4-Star Mariner perk that also carries over to 5-Star Mariners.

We should note that all Mariner Society members get discounts of some sort for the third and fourth passengers staying in their cabins. During the booking process, type in your Mariner ID to view your discount for this.

For more details on Holland America's Mariner Society, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Holland America's Mariner Society .

MSC Cruises: MSC Voyagers Club

The points-earning system for MSC Voyagers Club is a bit convoluted, as the number of points you earn on any given cruise depends on various factors.

For starters, you earn points based on the length of the cruise you take and which MSC Cruises "experience" you book for the cruise. As regular MSC Cruises customers know, there are five experiences available when cruising with the line, each with different inclusions and at different price points. Bella is the most basic and least expensive experience available. MSC Yacht Club is the top experience available. Experiences called Fantastica, Wellness and Aurea fall in between.

The chart below lays out your points earnings depending on cruise length and experience type:

Note that every person in your cabin will earn points for the cruise based on the chart above.

In addition to the above, you can earn points when spending money on MSC Cruises ships for extras or when booking extras before sailing. You'll earn 100 points for every $150 spent on prepaid and onboard expenses.

One caveat: Only the MSC Voyagers Club member who makes the final payment for onboard expenses will receive those points. Regarding expenses for prepaid services that apply to all cabin occupants (and not single occupants), points will be equally distributed among the cabin occupants.

For example, say the total amount of prepaid onboard services that apply to all cabin occupants before the cruise is $600. If there are four cabin occupants, the spending for the points calculation of each member will be $150, which is equal to 100 points.

Related: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises

The final way to earn points is by updating your contact details up to 72 hours before departure on your next cruise. This will earn you 100 points.

There are four tiers to the MSC Voyagers Club program:

• Classic (1 to 2,199 points)
• Silver (2,200 to 4,299 points)
• Gold (4,300 to 9,999 points)
• Diamond (10,000 or more points)

Again, the entry-level tier (Classic) doesn't bring many truly valuable rewards. By far, the most alluring benefit at this level is the 5% discount that members get when booking future sailings (but this discount is not valid on Tandem and MSC Grand Tours). That's real savings every time you book a cruise.

Classic members also recieve:

• An additional 5% discount on Voyagers Exclusives sailings made six to nine months before departure
• An MSC Voyagers Club e-newsletter
• MSC Voyagers Club personalized luggage tags for embarkation in the e-ticket
• An MSC Voyagers Club card
• An invitation to a "welcome back" cocktail party
• A dedicated number to call on board
• Discounts on many packages and amenities, including onboard pictures, digital accessories, Wi-Fi and spa and fitness offerings
• MSC Shops discount (for each $50 spent in any onboard shops, you will receive a $10 discount)

Note that the MSC Shops discount has a lot of fine print. You cannot combine this discount with promotions available on board, and it is not available for spending on tobacco products and electronics. It's also only valid on the first day of a cruise. That prompts us to downgrade the value of this perk considerably.

Upon reaching the second tier of the program, Silver, you get a couple more perks. The most notable to us is a $50 onboard credit per person, plus double MSC Voyagers Club points, for all bookings made more than 12 months before departure. (If you book nine to 12 months in advance, you get the $50 credit but not the double points.)

Being loyal to MSC Cruises starts paying off in a noticeable way once you reach the Gold level of the MSC Voyagers Club program. Even here, though, the rewards are still relatively modest.

The Gold level comes with one solid perk: priority disembarkation in ports where a tender boat is required. This can make a real difference in your cruising experience, as it means you can get off the ship much faster in some cases than the majority of other passengers. That will allow you to maximize your time in tender ports.

Gold status also brings:

• A complimentary one-hour thermal-area session once per cruise
• A complimentary gift
• A complimentary photo during the "welcome back" cocktail party
• A complimentary birthday cake when it's your birthday

Alas, there isn't one "wow" perk in the MSC Voyagers Club menu. As noted above, unlike some lines, MSC Cruises doesn't award top-tier members truly high-value perks such as a free cruise. Still, the MSC Voyagers Club's top Diamond status tier does come with a few enticing benefits.

Our favorite perk in the entire MSC Voyagers Club program is the complimentary dinner at a specialty restaurant that comes with Diamond-level status. That said, be warned that it's a complimentary dinner with a lot of fine print (so much fine print, in fact, that to us it verges on the ridiculous).

For more details on MSC Cruises' MSC Voyagers Club, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to MSC Cruises' MSC Voyagers Club .

Norwegian Cruise Line: Latitudes Rewards

Earning points in Norwegian Cruise Line 's Latitudes Rewards program is relatively straightforward. You will get:

• One point for every night you spend on a ship
• An additional one point per night when staying in a Concierge-level cabin, full-fare suite (not minisuites or Club Balcony suites) or The Haven rooms
• An additional one point per night when on a cruise booked via a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer. These are special offers for Latitudes Rewards members

Note that the extra point per night for suites only applies to stays in suites booked when a reservation is originally made. It doesn't apply to stays in suites that result from an upgrade.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line

There are seven tiers to the Latitudes Rewards program:

• Bronze (1 to 19 points)
• Silver (20 to 44 points)
• Gold (45 to 74 points)
• Platinum (75 to 149 points)
• Sapphire (150 to 349 points)
• Diamond (350 to 699 points)
• Ambassador (700 or more points)

The Latitudes Rewards program is one of the more robust cruise line loyalty programs, with some decent perks available to almost all members.

After just one cruise, as a newly minted Bronze member, you will receive a 30% discount on an unlimited open bar package — a perk that could save you a significant amount of money when cruising if you're a drinker. You'll also get early access to new product information and exclusive offers, a signature pin and a few other minor things.

Moving up to the Silver level of the Latitudes Rewards program will bring all the above plus:

• An invitation to a complimentary onboard cocktail party
• A 10% discount on shore excursions
• A 20% discount on photos
• A 15% discount on spa treatments performed when the ship is in port
• A higher 15% discount at onboard duty-free shops

The Gold level bumps up the discounts on photos and spa treatments to 25% and 20%, respectively. It also brings valuable perks such as a 50% discount on a bag of laundry, priority tender tickets (for applicable ports) and priority disembarkation (for U.S. citizens only).

Once you reach Platinum, you'll get everything in earlier tiers plus a 15% discount on internet packages, which is a great perk. Internet packages on Norwegian can be pricey.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian cruise

Another great perk at the Platinum level is free dinners at some of the top restaurants on Norwegian ships on every voyage of five nights or longer. Platinum members get a free dinner for two at either Cagney's, the line's signature steakhouse, or Le Bistro, its signature French restaurant — which includes a bottle of wine. They also get a free dinner for two at either churrascaria restaurant Moderno or Italian eatery La Cucina (on some ships, the restaurant offerings differ).

Platinum members also get:

• Priority check-in and embarkation
• Access to a concierge to help with dining, entertainment and shore excursion reservations
• Chocolate-covered strawberries delivered to their room
• A Wines Around the World tasting
• A behind-the-scenes ship tour
• A higher 30% discount on photos
• A higher 25% discount on spa treatments
• A dedicated pre-cruise service desk

The ultimate perk for Latitudes Rewards members comes upon reaching the top Ambassador tier. You'll get a one-time, complimentary seven-night cruise in a balcony cabin. You can pick any destination, but you can't select a holiday sailing (Christmas and New Year's).

The free cruise is for two people. You can bring a third and fourth guest, but you'll pay for their fares. You'll also pay for all taxes, fees and service charges (including gratuities). You have one year to take advantage of your free cruise after becoming an Ambassador elite member.

For more details on Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards program, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line's Latitudes Rewards program .

Princess Cruises: Captain's Circle

The points-earning system for the Captain's Circle program is a bit convoluted, as it involves two separate tracks — either of which will allow you to rise through its tiers.

For starters, members earn one "cruise credit" for each cruise. Also, members earn one "cruise day" for every night spent on a ship. So, on a typical seven-night cruise, you would earn seven cruise days and one cruise credit.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Just to make things a little bit more complicated, Princess Cruises also doubles your cruise credit earnings if you sail in a full suite (minisuites, Club-class suites and upgrades to suites are excluded) or if you sail solo. However, it doesn't double your cruise day count.

So, if you sail in a suite on a seven-night cruise, you will earn two cruise credits and seven cruise days.

While convoluted, this system actually works to your advantage, as you have two ways to reach higher tier levels. As we'll explain below, you can qualify for elite status either through your cruise credit count or your cruise day count, whichever number gets you to your goal first.

There are four tiers to the Captain's Circle program:

• Gold (after your first completed cruise)
• Ruby (from your fourth cruise credit, or 31 to 50 cruise days)
• Platinum (from your sixth to 15th cruise credit, or 51 to 150 cruise days)
• Elite (from your 16th cruise credit on, or 151-plus cruise days)

The entry-level tier (Gold) is very limited in what it brings. One of the most alluring benefits at this level is the Preferential Pricing Offer for select sailings that the line extends to Captain's Circle members. The early booking discounts, known as Captain's Circle Launch Savings, are also a plus.

In addition, Gold members get:

• Invitations to members-only onboard events
• Access to a Captain's Circle onboard host
• A members-only magazine
• A recognition pin

Upon reaching the second tier of the program, Ruby, you get a few more perks. However, this tier is a bit ho-hum, too. In addition to the Gold-level rewards, you get a new recognition pin, access to a shoreside Captain's Circle Help Desk phone line, and an upgrade to Princess' Platinum Vacation Protection plan when you purchase a Princess travel insurance plan at the standard rate.

Being loyal to Princess finally starts paying off in a bigger way once you reach the Platinum level of the Captain's Circle program. Even here, though, the rewards are still relatively modest.

The Platinum level comes with five solid perks:

• Priority boarding
• 50% off MedallionNet internet packages
• 10% off spa treatments
• 10% off photo packages
• Early access to Dine My Way reservations

Priority boarding is a great perk as it means you don't have to wait with the hordes upon arriving at a ship and, in theory, can board more quickly — increasing the amount of time you have to enjoy the vessel's offerings on the first day. We're just a little surprised that Princess doesn't offer this perk until the third tier of its loyalty program.

Alas, there isn't a truly spectacular perk in the entire Captain's Circle menu. Still, the Captain's Circle's top Elite status tier does come with a few enticing benefits. Our favorite, by a hair, is the complimentary laundry service that comes with Elite-level status. This can come in handy (and save you a lot of money) on longer voyages.

For more details on Princess's Captain's Circle, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle program .

Royal Caribbean: Crown & Anchor Society

Earning points in Royal Caribbean 's Crown & Anchor Society program isn't too complicated. You will get:

• One additional point for every night you spend in a suite
• One additional point when cruising solo in a cabin meant for two

There are six tiers to the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society program:

• Gold (3-29 points)
• Platinum ( 30-54 points)
• Emerald (55-79 points)
• Diamond (80-174 points)
• Diamond Plus (175-699 points)
• Pinnacle Club (700 or more points)

The most alluring benefit at the entry-level Gold tier is the exclusive rates available to members for specific sailings of specific ships.

Additionally, Gold members get:

• Crown & Anchor Society onboard offers
• SeaPass card recognition
• Private departure lounge with continental breakfast
• Priority notice of special offers, new ships and itineraries
• Exclusive email offers
• Access to a Crown & Anchor phone line for membership inquiries
• A member newsletter

Upon reaching the second tier of the program, Platinum, you get a few more perks. The most notable, to us, is access to special member discounts on balcony cabins and suites. That can bring real savings. The Platinum tier also brings matching status in the loyalty program of Royal Caribbean's sister line, Celebrity Cruises.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries

In our view, the Diamond Plus level is where the Royal Caribbean loyalty program hits its stride.

Once you reach Diamond Plus, you'll get all the aforementioned benefits plus priority access and seating at main theater shows, ice shows and AquaTheater events, which is a great perk.

Diamond Plus status also brings a 50% reduction in the single-supplement charge for solo travelers — albeit only after your points total in the program hits 340 points. If you're a solo traveler, this is a big deal, as it will save you considerable money when sailing Royal Caribbean.

Diamond Plus members also get:

• Access to exclusive top-tier events
• A personalized gift/amenity (one per household)
• Exclusive access to Diamond Plus call center staff

Related: The 6 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

The ultimate perk for Crown & Anchor Society members comes upon reaching the top Pinnacle Club tier. You'll get a complimentary seven-night cruise to the Caribbean in a balcony cabin.

The free cruise is for two people. You can bring a third and fourth guest, but you'll pay for their fares. You'll also pay all taxes, fees and service charges (including gratuities). Look out for other restrictions as well.

After hitting the Pinnacle Club level, you'll get an additional free cruise every time you accumulate another 350 points. In other words, you'll get an initial free cruise after hitting 700 points and then additional cruises at 1,050 points, 1,400 points, 1,750 points, and so on.

The first two cruises are in a balcony cabin. After that, you qualify for a junior suite.

If you don't want to sail the Caribbean, you can request a cruise credit toward an itinerary elsewhere. Royal Caribbean will give you $2,400 toward the purchase of a cruise at 700 and 1,050 points; you'll get $3,200 toward the purchase of a cruise at 1,400 points and above.

For more details on Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society .

Viking: Viking Explorer Society

While Viking has a cruise loyalty program, the Viking Explorer Society, it isn't a loyalty program in the traditional sense. Passengers don't earn points every time they travel with the brand and progress through multiple tiers that bring an ever-expanding array of perks.

Instead, the Viking loyalty program offers just a few basic perks available to anyone who has taken at least one voyage with the line.

The Viking Explorer Society loyalty program's main perk is a travel credit of up to $200 that you can get every time you book a new Viking ocean, river or expedition cruise within two years of sailing with the line. Note that travel credits are different from onboard credits. You can only use a Viking Explorer Society credit to pay for a cruise, not for onboard spending.

Viking also offers a referral program that can get you additional travel credits.

For more details on the Viking Explorer Society loyalty program, see TPG's ultimate guide to the Viking Explorer Society loyalty program .

Windstar: Yacht Club

The Yacht Club point-earning system is relatively straightforward. In most cases, members earn 1 point for every day they sail on a Windstar Cruises vessel.

The only exception is for passengers staying in top suites. Customers staying in Wind Class suites or Deluxe suites on Star Plus Class ships will get 1.5 points for every day they sail. Those staying in Owner's suites and Classic suites on Star Plus Class vessels will get 2 points for every day they sail, as will passengers staying in the Bridge Suite on the Wind Surf.

There are four tiers to the Yacht Club program:

• One Star (1 to 19 points)
• Two Star (20 to 39 points)
• Three Star (40 to 89 points)
• Four Sta r (90 or more points)

Even at the lowest One Star level, the perks are fairly robust, at least as compared to loyalty programs of many of Windstar's small-ship cruise line competitors.

Yacht Club members at all four tiers get a 5% discount on fares when booking a cruise. That's a great perk, as it amounts to real money in your pocket. But it gets even better if you book a cruise while on board a Windstar ship or within 60 days of departing one. In such cases, Yacht Club members will get an additional 5% discount on fares — bringing the total savings to 10%.

In select cases, Yacht Club members will be rewarded for their loyalty with even bigger discounts. As part of the program, members can snag an even heftier 20% discount on select Yacht Club member sailings. One caveat: You cannot combine the 20% discount with other offers.

Additionally, all Yacht Club members get:

• Advanced notification of new deployments
• Advanced notification of sales events
• Members-only private sales
• A $100 shipboard credit when referring a new customer to Windstar. The customer also will receive a $100 onboard credit
• Exclusive members-only cocktail party with ship officers
• Exclusive onboard tote
• Additional discounts at sister Xanterra Travel Collection brands

Plus, starting at the One Star level, customers get a 5% discount on laundry service, Wi-Fi and Windstar merchandise whenever they sail with the line. Note that the Wi-Fi discount only applies to Wi-Fi purchased individually and not as part of the line's All-Inclusive Fares.

At the Two Star level, customers get all the above plus a 5% discount on shore excursions and beverage packages (again, the latter discount does not apply to the line's All-Inclusive Fares). They also get a $50 per person onboard credit for every cruise they take.

Related: The 2 classes of Windstar ships, explained

We start to get excited with the Three Star tier. It bumps the discounts for laundry service, Wi-Fi, shore excursions and Windstar merchandise to 10%. If you're the kind of cruiser who does a shore excursion in every port and regularly uses onboard services, such as laundry and Wi-Fi, this could save you $100 or more on a typical seven-night cruise.

The Three Star tier also comes with an onboard credit of $75 per person for every cruise you take. That's more real money in your pocket.

At the top Four Star tier level of the Yacht Club program, passengers get free laundry service and free Wi-Fi on every sailing, both valuable perks. But the most generous perk may be the 15% discount on shore excursions. That's assuming you are a cruiser who signs up for many cruise line-organized shore excursions. If you spend $1,000 a week on excursions, that perk alone is worth $150 per seven-night cruise.

At the Four Star level, members also get a 15% credit on Windstar merchandise and a 10% discount on beverage packages. The onboard credit increases to $100 per person for every cruise you take.

For more details on Windstar's Yacht Club loyalty program, see TPG's ultimate guide to the Windstar Yacht Club loyalty program .

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Comparing the Loyalty Programs of Different Cruise Lines

As a travel enthusiast, achieving the VIP status in a cruise line’s loyalty program can lead to a variety of benefits, from exclusive access to amenities and priority boarding to special discounts and comped trips. In this article, we’ll explore and compare the loyalty programs of different cruise lines, aiming to help you make a well-informed decision about which one offers the best rewards for your cruising style. So get ready to navigate these waters with a critical eye to discover where your loyalty can bring you the best value.

Table of Contents

Understanding Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

When it comes to exploring the deep blue seas and the beautiful world beyond your backyard, cruise travel offers an unparalleled experience. They are brimming with luxuries, excitement, adventures, and a myriad of exquisite destinations. But did you know that they also offer fantastic loyalty programs? Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty to better understand what these programs are all about.

Definition of a loyalty program

First things first, what exactly is a loyalty program? Well, picture this. You’ve been cruising with a particular cruise line repeatedly and they want to appreciate your loyalty. So, they craft a program that lets you earn points for every cruise you take. These points then prop you up to higher tiers that come with more fabulous benefits and privileges. That, in the simplest terms, is what a cruise line loyalty program is.

Importance of a loyalty program to both the cruise line and the passenger

Now, why should you, as a passenger, be interested in a loyalty program? Why should cruise lines care about crafting enticing loyalty programs? Let’s tackle it from your point of view first. The beauty of a loyalty program lies in the sweet perks and privileges that enhance your cruising experience. Picture early boarding, priority check-ins, discounts, free internet, spa credits, and even complimentary voyages for loyal cruisers. Sounds terrific, right?

As for the cruise lines, loyalty programs give them a golden opportunity to appreciate their faithful clientele and stick out in the increasingly competitive cruise industry. More than that, such programs aid the companies to foster customer retention and promote greater brand loyalty.

General Features of Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

Since you now have a basic understanding of what a cruise line loyalty program is, let’s delve deeper and explore the defining features of these programs.

Point accumulation system

Fundamentally, the point accumulation system acts as the engine that drives the loyalty program. Typically, you earn more points the more you cruise. Some programs award points based on the duration of your voyage, while others consider the type of stateroom you choose. Regardless of the specifics, these points lay the groundwork for your status and benefits within the loyalty program.

Levels or tiers in the programs

Speaking of status, loyalty programs are generally structured around levels or tiers. As you accumulate more points, you rise to a higher tier. Each escalation comes with an upgraded suite of benefits and perks that tend to increase on the wow-factor scale as you reach the upper levels.

Benefits and privileges associated with each tier

Now, this is where things get exciting! The benefits and privileges are the shiny prizes you get from a loyalty program. This could range from complimentary specialty dining and onboard credits to exclusive events, priority check-ins, cabin upgrades, laundry services, and even free cruises at the highest tiers. The specific benefits vary amongst cruise lines, but they’re sure to make your cruise even more memorable.

Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP Club

One of the popular cruise line loyalty programs is the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club by Carnival Cruise Line. This program is designed to recognize and reward their loyal cruisers in a fun and exhilarating way, aligning with their vibrant and colorful cruise vibe.

Overview of the VIFP Club

Carnival’s VIFP Club has five tiers: Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Everyone starts at the Blue tier and then climbs up the ladder based on the number of days you’ve cruised with Carnival.

How to earn points in VIFP Club

In the VIFP Club, the point accumulation system is simple. You earn one point for every day you cruise. So, the more days you spend cruising with Carnival, the more points you accumulate, and the faster you ascend to a higher VIFP tier.

Benefits of VIFP Club membership

The VIFP Club comes with enticing benefits. With every step up, your perks get better. They include members-only deals, priority check-in, and boarding, complimentary beverages, exclusive parties, special gifts, and a host of other benefits exclusive to Platinum and Diamond members.

Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society

Next on our list is the Crown & Anchor Society by Royal Caribbean. With a name that evokes nautical prestige, you can already guess this program is designed to make you feel like cruising royalty.

Overview of the Crown & Anchor Society

The Crown & Anchor Society centers around six tiers: Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club. As in most loyalty programs, you start from the bottom – the Gold tier.

How to accumulate points in Crown & Anchor Society

In this program, you earn one point for every night you cruise, with extra points awarded for suite reservations. This means that each time you choose to cruise with Royal Caribbean, you have a shot at accumulating more points, which in turn propels you to a higher Crown & Anchor Society tier.

Benefits of Crown & Anchor Society membership

Members of the Crown & Anchor Society enjoy a wealth of luxurious benefits. These perquisites include exclusive rates, priority check-ins, access to exclusive lounges, balcony room discounts, and higher tiers come with complimentary internet, concierge services, and more special privileges.

Princess Cruise’s Captain’s Circle

Right up there with the best cruise line loyalty programs is the Captain’s Circle program by Princess Cruises. This program is all about honoring their loyal passengers with a royal treatment at sea.

Overview of the Captain’s Circle

The Captain’s Circle has four tiers: Gold, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite. As always, you start at the Gold level and work your way up the Circle as you accumulate more points.

Point accumulation in Captain’s Circle

The point system here is straightforward – you earn one cruising credit for every voyage you take with Princess Cruises. For longer cruises (15 nights or more) or if you book a suite or mini-suite, you earn additional credits, which means a faster rise through the levels.

Benefits of Captain’s Circle membership

Being in the Captain’s Circle comes with the exciting privilege of courtesy upgrades, access to preferred disembarkation, dedicated Captain’s Circle phone line, access to members-only onboard events, preferential pricing offers, and at the highest level, complimentary laundry services, priority tender service, and free mini-bar set up.

Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club

If you’re a fan of all things Disney, their Castaway Club loyalty program is a thrilling way to add an extra touch of magic to your voyages. Let’s see what this enchanted program has in store for you.

Introduction to the Castaway Club

Disney’s Castaway Club is structured into three levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum, each happening after your first, fifth, and tenth cruise, respectively.

Earning points in Castaway Club

Earning points in this program is pretty straightforward – you earn a point for each night of your cruise. Additionally, you’ll be granted additional points for staying in their concierge rooms and suites, helping you to advance to higher levels even quicker.

Privileges of Castaway Club membership

Club membership offers benefits such as early booking for itineraries, exclusive on-board gifts, and dedicated phone lines to Disney experts. Higher tiers enjoy benefits including, priority boarding, exclusive meet-and-greets, complimentary dinner at specialty restaurant Palo, and more.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards

Not to be left behind, Norwegian Cruise Line also offers a rewarding loyalty program, the Latitudes Rewards, that keeps their cruisers coming back for more.

Overview of Latitudes Rewards program

The Latitudes Rewards program is split into six tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Ambassador. You start at the Bronze level and move your way up the ladder as you cruise more with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Methods of earning points in Latitudes Rewards

Like many loyalty programs, Latitudes Rewards allows you to earn points based on the nights you cruise – one night equals one point. But here’s the twist – you earn double points when you book a suite or The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line cruises, which means reaching higher tiers is much quicker when you choose the finer accommodations.

Benefits offered by Latitudes Rewards program

Benefits for members range from complimentary bottles of champagne, dedicated check-ins, discounts at duty-free shops, and priority disembarkation to complementary dinners in specialty restaurants, priority restaurant and entertainment seating, and special behind-the-scenes ship tours for those in the higher tiers.

Celebrity Cruise’s Captain’s Club

For those who savor sophistication and modern luxury at sea, Celebrity Cruises offers an aptly named loyalty program – the Captain’s Club.

Introduction to the Captain’s Club

The Captain’s Club has six tiers, each named to mirror the theme of prestige: Classic, Select, Elite, Elite Plus, Zenith, and Luminae.

Point accumulation in Captain’s Club

Points in the Captain’s Club are accrued based on the length of your cruise and the category of your stateroom. Essentially, the longer you cruise and the more luxurious your room is, the more Club Points you earn.

Benefits of Captain’s Club membership

Club benefits range from exclusive pre-cruise destination seminars and an exclusive newsletter to priority embarkation, premium on-board discounts, complimentary trivia, exclusive events, personal butler service, and a complimentary seven-night cruise for members who reach the zenith of the Captain’s Club.

Comparison of Different Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

Now that we’ve delved into several cruise line loyalty programs, let’s put them side-by-side and see how they stack up.

Comparison of point accumulation system

Honestly, the point accumulation systems across various cruise line loyalty programs are comparatively similar, with the majority offering one point for each night you cruise. However, some cruise lines add a dollop of zest to their programs by awarding extra points for suite reservations or longer voyages.

Comparison of level or tier benefits

In terms of benefits, each program offers a unique blend of perks that reflect the specific cruise line’s brand, character, and style. But in general, the benefits climb the opulence ladder as you go up the tiers, with the higher levels gracing you with more luxury, exclusivity, and convenience.

Comparison of ease of attaining higher levels or tiers

When it comes to ascending the tiers, it seems the cruise lines have balanced the scales quite evenly. In most cases, more cruising equals more points, and therefore, a faster rise in levels. However, cruise lines that offer additional points for suite bookings or extended stays provide a quicker path to their upper levels.

Conclusion: The Impact of Loyalty Programs on Cruise Line Customer Retention

The role of loyalty programs in customer retention.

The impact of loyalty programs in the cruise industry, specifically in customer retention, cannot be understated. These programs offer exciting incentives for the passengers to stay loyal to a particular cruise line. And as if the thrilling voyage experiences aren’t enough, loyalty programs present enticing reasons to keep coming back for more cruising adventures, hence fostering customer retention.

Passenger’s perspective on the value of loyalty programs

From the passenger’s perspective, loyalty programs add immense value to cruising experiences. It’s not just about the discounts or the freebies; it’s about feeling appreciated and being awarded exclusive privileges that take the cruise adventure to a whole new level.

Future trends in cruise line loyalty programs

As for the future trends, it appears that cruise line loyalty programs will continue escalating their game. Given the crucial role these programs play in customer retention, cruise lines will undoubtedly keep refining and expanding their programs to offer greater value and enhanced experiences to their loyal cruisers, proving once again that loyalty does, indeed, have its rewards. So, keep cruising and keep enjoying the bountiful benefits that come with your loyalty to the high seas!

• Cruise Advice

Best Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

Doug Parker

• October 4, 2020

Ask anyone who has been on more than one cruise or even researched cruising, and they’ve probably come across something referred to as a cruise line loyalty program.

Just like those offered by nearly every modern grocery store, credit card company, and hotel chain, cruise lines offer programs that reward their loyal passengers.

What follows is a rundown that will give you the basics of each line’s loyalty program.

Carnival Cruise Line | Celebrity Cruises | Disney Cruise Line | Holland America Line | MSC Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line | Princess Cruises | Regent | Royal Caribbean | Viking Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line: VIFP Club 

Carnival offers a cruise points-based loyalty program that is relatively straightforward. For every day you sail, you earn a point. 4-day cruise? Four points. 10-day sailing? You just earned 10 points.

As your points accumulate, you move into different tiers. Blue is the base level for your first sailing, red for your second cruise, and from there the tiers are based on the number of points accumulated with “diamond” level status being the highest at 200+ points.

It is important to note that you can enroll in the club and begin receiving perks before even taking your first cruise. Many other programs require that you sail before you are eligible to enroll. This means that even before you book your first cruise, you can receive information about deals on upcoming sailings.

At the platinum level is where you’ll begin to see the perks roll in, with serious benefits like priority check-in and boarding, priority debarkation, spa reservations and more.

Things get even better at the Diamond level, at which point perks include things like the third and fourth guest sail free, unlimited free laundry service and even a one-time complimentary meal for two at one of the onboard specialty restaurants. 

More details on the VIFP Club can be found here .

Celebrity Cruises: Captain’s Club 

Celebrity’s cruise line loyalty program is known as the Captain’s Club. You can earn points nightly, but the number of points increases with higher cabin category bookings.

Standard interior and ocean view cruisers earn 2 points a night, veranda cabins earn 3, and so on. Categories like Reflection, Penthouse and Iconic suites earn 18 points a night at the top of the ranking.

Helpful Tip: Make sure to subscribe to Celebrity’s email list that will keep you informed on their “Power-up Points” and various ways to earn those.

Power-Up Points can be earned in between your sailings in various ways, such as sharing things on social media. Since 10 Power-Up Points are equal to one Captain’s Club point, you can rack up perks even before you set foot on the ship. 

There are six levels in this program beginning at the Preview level, which grants access to their newsletter and Loyalty Desk, and goes all the way up to the Zenith level for those who earn over 3,000 points.

Those who reach the highest levels enjoy everything from complimentary Wi-Fi to the luxury of staying on board longer on disembarkation day, making it much easier to relax on that final morning.

Disney Cruise Line: Castaway Club

To become a member of the Castaway Club you must sail on at least one Disney Cruise at which point you become a Silver member. After that, rather than points for each day you sail, Castaway Club’s three levels are achieved based on how many cruises you take.

After your 5th cruise, you become a Gold member and following your 10th cruise you hit Platinum Castaway. The length of the sailing has no impact on your tier level, as it is based entirely on the number of cruises completed. 

Upon taking your second cruise, you receive benefits like a “Welcome Back” gift and members-only boarding. At the Gold and Platinum level, perks include onboard receptions, special discounts, priority check-in and even — at the Platinum level — complimentary dinners at their specialty restaurant, Palo.

Another major perk received by Castaway Club members is early access to new itineraries when they are reached, making it easier to book popular sailings before they are released to the general public. 

Holland America Line: Mariner Society 

Holland America Line automatically enrolls you in their Mariner Society program, and you can earn points not only for each day spent sailing, but also on purchases made onboard.

Enrollment is automatic after your first cruise with Holland America, however, if you’ve sailed with any ship under the Carnival Corporate umbrella (Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and more) you are also automatically enrolled. Those who book a suite often earn additional points. 

There are five tiers in The Mariner Society from Star Mariner to 5-star Mariner. Even at the lowest level, members receive special offers and the ability to save 50 percent off the fare paid by third and fourth guests in the same cabin.

As one moves up the five-tier ladder, perks include such things as discounts in the onboard shops (beginning at the Two-Star Mariner level), onboard receptions (for those at the Three-Star and above level) and complimentary cooking studio classes at the Five-Star level. Perks extend to the home, with those who’ve reached the highest two levels eligible for a free subscription to either Food & Wine or Travel & Leisure magazines. 

MSC Cruises: Voyagers Club 

MSC Voyagers Club members earn cruise points in a few different ways. This program is a bit of a departure from how others are structured. Points are earned not only based on the length of your cruise, but what “experience” you book for your sailing.

MSC Cruises offers cruisers a variety of “experience” levels to choose from. Depending on which one a guest opts for it’ll dictate various aspects of their trip, including dining options and drink packages. 

 The Voyager’s Club is comprised of five levels: Welcome, Classic, Silver, Gold and Diamond. Some notable benefits are a free “Welcome Back” cocktail (available at all levels), a one-hour thermal session in the ship’s spa (available at the Gold level), $50 onboard credit and priority tender access at the Gold and Diamond levels (this is a great perk for those 5,000 passenger capacity ships). 

Don’t Miss This: MSC Cruise Line offers a one-of-a-kind “status match” program. This means that if you’ve earned a certain level in another cruise line’s club, they will do a one-time match which allows you to enjoy MSC’s perks at a similar level.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Latitudes Rewards 

All cruisers are automatically registered for Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes program, with benefits beginning on your second sailing. Points are earned on a one-point-per-day-sailed basis, although the line often offers additional ways to earn points.

For example, during some promotions, they will offer two points for each day sailed. Extra points can also be earned when booking an “Insider Offer” as promoted to members. 

This program offers six levels ranging from Bronze to Ambassador level. Unlike some programs, Norwegian’s offers some pretty decent perks right from the start. Bronze level members receive discounts in the onboard shops, free internet minutes with a package purchase and a bottle of sparkling wine.

Things really kick in at the Platinum level, at which point guests receive a free bag of laundry service, two complimentary meals for two in a specialty restaurant and a behind-the-scenes ship tour. Make it to the Ambassador level, and you even get a one-time-only free cruise. 

Princess Cruises: Captain’s Circle  

Become a Gold level member of the Captain’s Circle after your first cruise and begin earning your way through their four levels, ending with “Elite” status. Points are earned by either days cruised or the number of sailings, whichever comes first.

One nice perk of the program is that those who sail solo can receive double points under many circumstances. 

While Gold level status gets you some small perks and invites to members-only onboard events, upper levels like Platinum and Elite are where some nicer benefits can be found.

At Platinum, for example, you’ll receive 50 percent off MedallionNet wifi and access to a disembarkation lounge where you can grab a drink and light breakfast while you wait to debark.

At the Elite level, you can even ask to have afternoon tea served in your stateroom, free of charge. 

Regent Cruises: Seven Seas Society 

After completing your first cruise you are automatically enrolled in Regent Cruises’ Seven Seas Society and begin earning points based on nights sailed. With five levels from Bronze to Titanium, a range of rewards await you. 

As with most other programs mentioned in this article, as you move up the scale you get to keep the previously-earned rewards while adding new ones.

Some perks worth noting are priority debarkation (Gold level), exclusive onboard and ashore activities (Gold level and up), free unlimited laundry service (Platinum) and free private transfers from and to the airport for those who reach the Titanium level. In addition, savings are offered on a variety of cruises and destinations.

Good To Know: Upon becoming enrolled in the program, you automatically receive a $200 Future Cruise Credit if a guest you refer books and sails. 

Royal Caribbean: Crown & Anchor Society 

Much like the other programs, Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society members earn one point for each night at sea, and bonus points for booking a suite. Passengers are automatically enrolled in this 6-tiered program, beginning at the “Gold” level and working their way up to — appropriately enough — the “Pinnacle” level.

All members receive special onboard offers and priority check-in, but special onboard events, discounts on staterooms and the better perks kick in as you move up the tiers.

Some standout benefits for Crown and Anchor Society members who reach the highest levels are priority seating at entertainment events, which can be pretty valuable on a crowded sailing, access to the Concierge Club and more.

Best of all? Reach the Pinnacle level and you’ll receive a free 7-night cruise in a balcony cabin, and the opportunity to earn additional cruises as you continue to rack up points. 

Viking Cruises: Viking Explorer Society 

Unlike the other programs detailed here, the Viking Explorer Society has no tiers, no points to achieve and is fairly straightforward. This program offers credits to past customers as an incentive to book another cruise 1-2 years after their last one.

Helpful Hint : Viking offers a referral program that gives you $100 off the cost of a cruise for each person you refer to them. If you refer a couple who books a cruise, you receive a $200 credit.

Refer 13 people, and you earn a free cruise. In addition, each person you refer who books a cruise, also   receives $100 off the cost of their trip.  

By becoming a member you are also invited to a members-only cocktail party, with one free drink, and receive early alerts on special deals and discounts. 

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7 of the best cruise ship loyalty programs to join

• Major companies like Disney , Norwegian, Carnival, and Celebrity offer member loyalty programs.
• Joining the programs can help you earn perks such as discounts on future cruises and onboard credits.
• Membership levels are determined by the number of sailings a guest has taken with a certain cruise company.
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

Before you hit the high seas, it would behoove you to explore what cruise ship loyalty programs are available to you. 

Many cruise line companies like Norwegian , Carnival , and Celebrity offer complimentary perks to guests through loyalty programs. These plans can be especially valuable to those travelers who frequently sail with a particular cruise company time after time. 

Even if it's your first cruise, however, signing up for loyalty programs can reap many benefits like onboard credits and perhaps even discounts on a future cruise. 

Ready to sign up? Here are the top seven cruise ship loyalty programs you should join.

Latitudes Rewards Loyalty Program — Norwegian Cruise Line 

Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards Loyalty Program offers six tiers of member-only benefits to qualifying passengers. Make sure to enter your Latitude Rewards number when you book your next cruise on Norwegian. This step is required to link your existing account to your Latitude Rewards points. 

As a member, you will be privy to insider offers like one additional Latitudes point per night and up to $100 in onboard spending credits. Depending on your membership level, you can get priority check-in at the pier, one bottle of sparkling wine per stateroom, free internet access, and other exclusive perks.

Castaway Club — Disney Cruise Line

If you've ever sailed on a Disney Cruise before, then you're probably already a member of the Castaway Club, Disney's version of a cruise ship loyalty program . 

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According to Disney Cruise Line, guests who have previously sailed with the company are enrolled in the Castaway Club. Disney's Castaway Club is made up of three levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Guests will immediately be bumped to the Silver level after completing their first cruise, followed by Gold after five completed sailings, and, finally, Platinum after 10 total cruises. 

The benefits vary by level, but the Castaway Club offers certain perks on land at sea. For example, the at-home home benefits include early booking, advanced activity planning, and prompt access to select port arrival times. Onboard the ship, depending on your membership level, you will be given a "welcome back aboard gift," special discounts and events, and even an upscale dinner on the house.

Captain's Club Cruise Rewards — Celebrity Cruises

Enrolling in Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club will earn you exclusive offers, deals, and more. To start enjoying the benefits, you'll need to create an account and link it to your existing Captain's Club number — or sign up as a new member. 

Like other cruise loyalty programs, the more trips you take, the more points you will earn to advance to the next level. Members can save up to $1,000 on cruises to destinations like the Galapagos Islands, exclusive cruises, and discounts on-land at places like MGM Resorts and Hertz. 

Crown & Anchor Society — Royal Caribbean

Guests aboard Royal Caribbean will be automatically enrolled in the company's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program after their first cruise is complete. Sailors will earn one point for each night they sail with Royal Caribbean and twice the number of points when booking a suite. 

There are six membership levels starting with Gold and ending with Royal Caribbean's prestigious Pinnacle Club. While each tier offers different perks, enrollees can expect invites to exclusive events, onboard discounts, special rates, and more.

VIFP — Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival's VIFP loyalty program isn't just for a very important person — it's for a very important fun person. 

You can sign up for the VIFP program on Carnival's website. The perks are open to past and present cruisers, as well as those who haven't set sail for the first time just yet. Similar to other cruise ship loyalty programs, Carnival's includes five membership levels. The most basic level is "Blue" for your first sail. 

Upon your second voyage, you will be bumped to the "Red" category and can work your way up to "Diamond" after accruing 200 points, which is the top tier. Once you get to the "Red" category, you can expect perks like a free liter of water, priority check-in and boarding, collectible pins, and more depending on your status.

Princess Cruises — Captain's Circle 

Though Princess Cruises is technically owned by Carniva l, the loyalty programs are completely separate. 

Princess Cruises introduced the Captain's Circle loyalty program and it includes four different membership levels: Gold, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite. Depending on your status, the Captain's Circle program offers big perks such as members-only events, a special concierge service to help you book excursions, complimentary internet package, and even free access to your stateroom minibar. 

Viking Explorer Society — Viking Cruises

Depending on your status, the captain's circle program offers big perks such as members-only events, a special concierge service to help you book excursions, complimentary internet package, and even free access to your stateroom minibar. svein ove ekornesvaag/contributor/getty images  .

You don't have to sign up for the Viking Explorer Society , as you be automatically enrolled after your first voyage. The membership program can help you earn travel credits for your next cruise and an invitation to a members-only cocktail party. 

In addition, you will also be the first to know about Viking's new ships and itineraries and have access to limited-time deals and offers.

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Travel Codex

Your Resource for Better Travel

The Complete Guide to Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

Most travel nerds know the basics of airline and hotel loyalty programs; this site, among others, regularly discusses the ins and outs of the programs.  But did you know the major cruise lines have loyalty programs of their own?  In this post, I’ll discuss the basics of the loyalty programs of the major cruise lines.  These are Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Disney, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean.

Cruise Line Loyalty Programs – The Basics

The basic structure of cruise loyalty programs is relatively straightforward:

• Earn points generally equal to one point per cruise night.
• Attain status levels by completing a fixed number of cruises or a set number of nights, or a combination thereof.
• Earn an escalating collection of perks as you move up the status ladder, just like with other reward programs.

Unfortunately, one notably absent benefit is the ability to earn free cruises, unlike airline or hotel programs.  Most programs either don’t offer the benefit at all, or at such a high cruise credits threshold to make them effectively useless.

Like airline and hotel programs, joining a cruise loyalty program costs nothing.  However, all lines I have sailed with (Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Celebrity) require that you complete at least one cruise before signing up for the program.  Generally, the cruise line automatically assigns a loyalty program number once you complete one cruise; you can find your number on the direct mailers or marketing e-mails that you receive from time to time.

Cruise Line Loyalty Programs – Basics of Elite Benefits

In general, benefits typically include:

• Reduced deposits and preferred pricing on future cruises
• Special “elite only” events on board, usually a welcome party on the first day of the cruise
• Free trinkets like a lapel pin or collectible stamp
• Priority embarkation and disembarkation (usually mid-level elites and up)
• Onboard merchandise discounts
• Free onboard internet minutes and laundry for higher tiers

Most cruise line loyalty programs offer a simple earnings structure – one credit or point per night, with some exceptions.

Also, when I discuss elite tiers below, cruise line loyalty programs work quite different from airline and hotel programs.  You qualify based on cumulative cruise credits to date, NOT annual activity.  In other words, your loyalty level does not reset each year.  In addition, cruise credits never expire, best as I can tell.  From my personal experience, I went 14 years between Royal Caribbean cruises and 8 years between Princess cruises.  In both cases, all of my (ancient) past activity remained in my profile.  So, don’t panic if you cruise infrequently.  In general, cruise lines skew rewards to those who take longer cruises, not necessarily more expensive ones.

A Note About Cruise Line Co-Branded Credit Cards

Although most cruise lines offer co-branded credit cards, I won’t talk about them much here.  Why?  Unlike airlines and hotels, the cards aren’t integrated into the loyalty programs.  Just know that the cards generally aren’t worth applying for.  They work like cash back cards, except the cash back can only be used on the cruise line.  For that, you’re FAR better off with a standard cash back card like the Chase Freedom.  Just apply the statement credit to your cruise fare at a penny per point.  It’s the same rate as the cruise line cards, and you can take advantage of quarterly bonuses and offers.

With the basics out of the way, let’s examine the specifics of each major cruise line loyalty program.

Carnival Cruises – VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club

Talk about a cheesy name, but then again, I guess I should expect that from Carnival.

Earnings Structure

The VIFP Club provides one point per cruise day, regardless of stateroom category.

Elite Levels

The VIFP club has 5 tiers:

• Blue Level (first cruise)
• Red Level (2nd cruise through 24 points earned)
• Gold Level (25-74 points)
• Platinum Level (75-199 points)
• Diamond Level (>200 points)

You can find a full list of benefits by level here .  In addition, independent of the VIFP program, Carnival offers a “ Milestone Rewards Program ” with discounts for completing a set number of cruises.  At 25, 50, and 75 cruises, passengers receive an on-board credit equal to 25, 50, or 75 percent of the cruise fare, respectively.  On a passenger’s 100th cruise, they receive a free cruise, with limitations.  The free cruise includes any 8-day or shorter itinerary to the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, or Australia; this includes staterooms up to the Ocean Suite category.

Unique Benefits

Carnival provides all passengers at the Red level or higher a complimentary 1-liter bottle of water per stateroom.  This might seem dumb, but cruise ships put crazy markups on bottled water.  Plus, no other program offers this benefit.  Also, Carnival’s Milestone Rewards Program probably offers the best discount program for frequent cruisers.  (Granted, that’s not saying much.)  A 25% onboard credit at 25 cruises at least potentially provides enough for free shore excursions or something.

Also, on all Carnival family cruise lines, Carnival Corporation shareholders owning at least 100 shares receive onboard credits.  Credits range from $50 to $250 depending on cruise length; you can combine them with other special offers.

Program Drawbacks

Carnival provides no meaningful benefits until the Platinum level.  That means until you complete 11 7-night cruises, at most you receive – a bottle of water and one free drink.  Not even priority boarding.  That’s really chintzy, if you ask me.  The VIFP club also seems to offer the smallest variety of on-board discounts.

Celebrity Cruises – Captain’s Club

Unlike most other cruise line loyalty programs, Celebrity offers a varying earnings structure based on stateroom category:

• 2 points per night for Inside and standard Oceanview staterooms
• 3 points per night for Veranda and “Infinite Veranda” staterooms
• 5 points per night for Concierge Class and Aqua Class staterooms
• 8 points per night for Sky Suite staterooms
• 12 points per night for Celebrity, Signature, Royal Suite, and Edge Villa staterooms
• 18 points per night for Reflection, Penthouse, and Iconic Suite staterooms

Celebrity’s Captain’s Club offers six elite tiers as follows:

• Preview (first cruise)
• Classic (2-149 points)
• Select (150-299 points)
• Elite (300-749 points)
• Elite Plus (750-2,999 points)
• Zenith (3,000-99,999 points)

No word on what happens if you somehow exceed 99,999 lifetime points…

You can find full details of program benefits here .  Elite members of the Captain’s Club receive reciprocal benefits with sister companies Azamara Club Cruises and Royal Caribbean.

Compared to other programs, the Captain’s Club offers a fairly decent grab bag of benefits.  Among those are special “member’s only” cruises, complimentary espresso drinks for Elite Plus and Zenith members, and discounts on wine bottles and spa treatments.  Members also receive a free 7-night Bermuda or Caribbean cruise upon reaching the Zenith level, with additional free cruises every 6,000 points thereafter.  While 3,000 points is a high bar to reach, at least Celebrity offers a tangible incentive to keep cruising after that.

Celebrity also offers partner discounts for members, including discounts at MGM Resorts and on movie tickets.

Finally, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean International, RCCL shareholders owning at least 100 shares receive on-board credits ranging from $50-250, depending on cruise length.

The Captain’s Club is perhaps the most revenue-based cruise line loyalty program, which has both advantages and drawbacks.  On the one hand, if you usually book higher-class staterooms, you can move up tiers much faster.  On the other hand, if you stick to short cruises in the cheap seats, prepare to spend a LONG time at sea for that free cruise.  For example, it takes 214 (!) 7-night cruises in an interior stateroom to reach the Zenith level.

Cunard Cruises – Cunard World Club

Cunard does not award “points” towards loyalty status.  Rather, membership tiers are based on cruises completed/nights sailed.

The Cunard World Club offers four elite levels:

• Silver – complete one cruise
• Gold – two cruises or 20 nights
• Platinum – seven cruises or 70 nights
• Diamond – 15 voyages or 150 nights

You can find full details of program benefits here .

Cunard offers one of the “easiest” paths to top-tier status.  I consider 15 cruises more achievable than, say, 200 points at a point per night.  If internet is important to you, Cunard offers the best free internet benefit among the major lines.  Gold members (just two cruises) receive two hours free, with 8 hours for Diamond members.  Finally, Platinum members receive a free wine tasting.

In addition, as a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, CCL shareholders receive on-board credits as noted in the Carnival section.

For an upscale line, Cunard offers very little, even for a cruise line loyalty program.  Considering that Cunard is Carnival’s answer to Celebrity, they fall short here.  For example, no path at all to free cruises, lacking basic benefits like free espresso drinks, etc.

Disney Cruise Line – Castaway Club

Disney does not award “points” towards loyalty status.  Rather, membership tiers are based on cruises completed.

Disney’s Castaway Club features three elite levels:

• Silver – one cruise
• Gold – five cruises
• Platinum – 10 cruises

Disney doesn’t offer all that much, but what they do offer looks pretty innovative.  The program looks a lot like a “Fastpass” program at sea.  It offers early booking windows for Castaway Club members, as well as first priority to book onboard activities such as character greetings.  I’ve not sailed on a Disney Cruise yet – perhaps next year – but I imagine those sell out quickly.  Perhaps the best benefit is the ability to select a specific check-in time for Gold and above members.  Cruise check-in can take a while, with long lines often out in the heat.  The ability to skip those is huge.

As mentioned above, there’s just not much there there.  What I described above is pretty much what you get.  Not even a few minutes of free internet for frequent guests.

Holland America Line – Mariner Society

Mariner Society members earn one “cruise credit” per cruise day, or two per day in suites and penthouses.  In addition, members earn an additional credit for every $300 in onboard purchases, with a maximum bonus equal to the length of the cruise.  In other words, on a 7-day cruise, you can earn 7 bonus credits, even if you spend more than $2,100.

The Mariner Society features five elite tiers:

• Star Mariner – 1-29 cruise credits
• 2-Star Mariner – 30-74 cruise credits
• 3-Star Mariner – 75-199 cruise credits
• 4-Star Mariner – 200-499 cruise credits
• 5-Star Mariner – 500 or more cruise credits

On select sailings, Holland America offers half off the 3rd/4th guest fee for all members.  Or, for 4- and 5-Star Mariners, 3rd and 4th guests sail free on those sailings.  That’s a big benefit, assuming the “select sailings” fit your schedule.  (The list of eligible itineraries actually is pretty extensive.) Also, given the bonus credits for on-board spend, it’s easier to reach mid-tier status than other cruise line loyalty programs.  (Trust me, with a family, it’s easy to run up a $1,000 bill without even trying very hard.)

The Mariners Club provides no opportunities for free cruises, even at the top elite level.

MSC Cruises – MSC Voyagers Club

The MSC Voyagers Club features the most complex earnings structure of the major cruise line loyalty programs.  Part of that stems from MSC’s different pricing structure, where you choose a stateroom and “experience” level.  Point earnings vary by experience level and cruise length:

In addition, MSC awards additional points for on-board and prepaid spend (100 points per $150).  You can even earn 100 points just for updating your profile at least 72 hours before sailing.  Certain cruises also qualify for double points.

The MSC Voyagers Club offers five elite tiers:

• Welcome – one confirmed booking
• Classic – 1 to 2,199 points
• Silver – 2,200 – 4,299 points
• Gold – 4,300 – 9,999 points
• Black – 10,000 or more points

You can find full details of program benefits here (click on the “Membership Benefits” tab).

All Classic and above members receive an automatic 5% discount off cruise fare.  In addition, all Classic members and above receive one free welcome aboard cocktail.  Black-level members receive a couple of unique benefits, such as a free dance class and a free spumante.  Also, thanks to the earnings structure, it’s theoretically possible to jump straight to Gold after one cruise.

It’s a big one – unlike other cruise line loyalty programs, Voyagers Club points expire after three years.  Unless you’re a very frequent cruiser, that’s a tough requirement.  I cruise a fair amount, but even then, usually only every 2-3 years.  I’d say for the average cruise fan, that means remaining exclusively loyal to MSC.

Norwegian Cruise Line – Latitudes Rewards Program

Most cruises and staterooms earn a flat 1 point per night.  Latitudes awards 2 points per night for Concierge, Suite, and Haven level staterooms.  In addition, those booking a “Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer” earn 1 additional point per night.  The drawback to that – you might receive better pricing and on-board credits through a travel agent.

The Latitudes Rewards Program includes 6 elite tiers:

• Bronze – 1-29 points
• Silver – 30-54 points
• Gold – 55-79 points
• Platinum – 80-174 points
• Platinum Plus – 175-699 points
• Ambassador – 700 or more points

All members, regardless of level, receive a free bottle of sparkling wine, along with bonus minutes on internet package purchases.  Platinum Plus and Ambassador members also receive a dinner with the ship’s officers.  That’s kind of cool.  Finally, members receive a complimentary 7-night cruise upon reaching the Ambassador level.

NCL also partners with Caesar’s Entertainment, offering members discounts at Caesar’s properties throughout the US.  Finally, like Carnival and RCCL, NCL offers shareholders owning more than 100 shares on-board credits ranging from $50 to $250.

Comparatively speaking, it takes a long time to reach the 2nd tier.  You need five 7-night cruises in non-suite staterooms.  That compares to 4 in the Carnival or Princess programs.

Princess Cruises – Captain’s Circle

The Captain’s Circle awards elite status based on cruises completed and nights sailed, rather than awarding points.  However, when booking in a full suite, or for solo travelers paying the full cabin fare, members receive credit for 2 sailings, rather than one.

The Captain’s Circle is relatively simple, with only four elite levels:

• Gold – one completed cruise
• Ruby – 4 completed cruises, or 31-50 nights
• Platinum – 6 completed cruises, or 51-150 nights
• Elite – 16 completed cruises, or 151+ nights

If internet is important, Princess offers the best free internet packages for high-level elites.  Platinum and above members receive 150-500 free minutes, depending on cruise length.  Elite members receive one complimentary in-room minibar setup, including alcoholic drinks (actually a big value).  Also, something to file under odd – Elite members receive upgraded bath amenities.

As a subsidiary of Carnival, Princess passengers receive the same shareholder benefits described earlier in this post.

For a full-service, mass market line, Princess offers very little in the way of frequent cruiser benefits.  It’s relatively easy to reach the top tier, but the only real high value offering is the free mini-bar setup.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line – Crown & Anchor Society

Crown & Anchor Society members earn 1 point per cruise night.  Passengers receive 2 points per night when booking suites, or when paying full cabin fare when traveling solo.

The Crown & Anchor Society features six elite tiers:

• Gold – 3-29 points
• Platinum – 30-54 points
• Emerald – 55-79 points
• Diamond – 80-174 points
• Diamond Plus – 175-699 points
• Pinnacle Club – 700 or more points

You can find full details of program benefits here .  Note that Platinum and above members receive reciprocal status in the Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises loyalty programs.

RCCL offers perhaps the most lucrative free cruise opportunities for a cruise line loyalty program.  It takes a lot of time out at sea to earn, one, though – 700 points for a 7-night cruise in a balcony stateroom.  However, beyond that, members receive a free cruise certificate every 350 points thereafter.  After reaching 1,400 points, you even receive the free cruise in a Mini-Suite.  Granted, that’s still a ton of sailing.  350 points equates to 50 seven night cruises.  But still, I suppose a free cruise per 7 paid ones provides a pretty good perk to remain loyal.

Also, the Crown & Anchor Society is the only line to officially provide priority boarding to even lowest level elites.  Finally, RCCL shareholders receive on-board credits as described in the Celebrity Cruises section above.

RCCL sneaks in a lot of exclusions to its perks.  For example, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members receive half off the “single supplement” when traveling solo.  That’s a huge price break – but RCCL excludes holiday sailings and the entire months of July and August from the discount.  This is one program where you need to read the fine print closely.

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About Sriram Srinivasan

Sriram is an aficionado of all modes of travel, by land, air, and sea. A recovering frequent business traveler, he shows how to make the most of your vacation time, even without status.

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What Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs

Published: December 16, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Ailina Whittemore

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• Travel Guide
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Cruising is a popular vacation choice for many travelers, offering a unique combination of relaxation, entertainment, and exploration. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or planning your first voyage, loyalty programs offered by cruise lines can add an extra layer of benefits and perks to your experience.

These loyalty programs are designed to reward and recognize repeat customers, encouraging brand loyalty and providing incentives to keep coming back for more. Each cruise line offers its own loyalty program, with varying levels and benefits. In this article, we will explore some of the top cruise lines and their loyalty programs to help you determine which one best matches your travel preferences and interests.

From Carnival Cruise Line to Disney Cruise Line, these programs offer a range of rewards such as complimentary Wi-Fi, priority boarding, onboard credits, discounted fares, room upgrades, and even exclusive access to events and experiences. By joining a loyalty program, you not only get to enjoy these benefits but also become part of a community of like-minded travelers who share your passion for cruising.

Whether you’re a frequent cruiser or someone looking to embark on your first cruise, choosing a loyalty program that aligns with your preferences can enhance your overall cruise experience. The program’s offerings can vary, but most operate on a tier basis, rewarding travelers based on their loyalty status.

Some programs may require you to accumulate points or cruise credits, while others may offer tier status based on the number of cruises you have taken. As you move up the loyalty ladder, you unlock additional benefits and perks.

In the following sections, we will delve into the loyalty programs offered by some of the top cruise lines, highlighting their unique features and benefits. Whether you’re seeking the family-friendly atmosphere of Disney Cruise Line or the luxury and sophistication of Celebrity Cruises, there is a loyalty program out there that can match your cruising preferences and provide you with an unforgettable vacation experience.

Carnival Cruise Line Loyalty Program

Carnival Cruise Line offers the Carnival Players Club as its loyalty program, designed to reward guests for their continued loyalty and support. The program operates on a tier system, with three membership levels: Blue, Gold, and Platinum.

As a member of the Carnival Players Club, you will earn points based on your level of play in the ship’s casino. The more you play, the more points you earn, and the higher your membership level becomes. This allows you to unlock a variety of exclusive perks and benefits.

The Blue level is the starting point for all new members, offering benefits such as free drinks in the casino and discounted entry into slot and blackjack tournaments. As you accumulate more points, you will progress to the Gold level, where you will enjoy additional benefits like priority check-in, a complimentary beverage at the casino bar, and priority debarkation at the end of your cruise.

For those who reach the Platinum level, the rewards become even more enticing. Platinum members enjoy benefits such as priority access to spa treatments, complimentary laundry service, and a free beverage tray in their stateroom. They also receive a special invitation to the Captain’s Cocktail Party.

In addition to these tier-based perks, all members of the Carnival Players Club can take advantage of benefits like discounted rates on future cruises, exclusive invites to onboard events, and even a dedicated toll-free number for priority assistance. The club also offers special promotions and giveaways throughout the year, giving members more opportunities to earn rewards.

If you’re a frequent cruiser with Carnival Cruise Line, the Carnival Players Club loyalty program can provide you with a range of exclusive benefits and rewards. Whether you’re a casual gambler or a high roller, the program allows you to earn points and progress through the tiers, unlocking new levels of excitement and perks along the way.

So, if you enjoy the thrill of the casino and love cruising with Carnival, be sure to sign up for the Carnival Players Club loyalty program. It’s a fantastic way to enhance your cruise experience and enjoy the perks and privileges that come with being a valued member.

Royal Caribbean Loyalty Program

Royal Caribbean offers one of the most comprehensive loyalty programs in the cruise industry, known as the Crown & Anchor Society. This program aims to reward guests for their loyalty and provide them with a range of exclusive benefits and perks.

The Crown & Anchor Society operates on a tier system, with six membership levels: Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle. As you cruise with Royal Caribbean, you accumulate points that determine your membership level. The more points you earn, the higher your tier and the greater the rewards.

Starting at the Gold level, which is achieved after your first cruise, you will enjoy benefits such as priority check-in, exclusive onboard offers, and access to a dedicated call center for personalized assistance. As you progress to higher tiers, the perks become even more enticing.

At the Platinum level, you will receive benefits like a dedicated seating area in the main dining room, priority access to the spa and fitness center, and a welcome amenity delivered to your stateroom. As you reach the Emerald level, you gain access to exclusive events and special discounts on Royal Caribbean merchandise.

For the Diamond level and above, the benefits become even more impressive. Diamond members receive a nightly cocktail hour with complimentary drinks, priority seating for shows and entertainment, and access to the concierge lounge. Diamond Plus members enjoy additional perks such as a commemorative gift, access to the suites lounge and a private breakfast venue.

Finally, the Pinnacle level is reserved for the most loyal and frequent cruisers. Pinnacle members enjoy all the benefits of the previous levels, as well as exclusive perks like priority access to shore excursions, personalized signature gifts, and an annual complimentary cruise.

In addition to these tier-based benefits, all members of the Crown & Anchor Society have access to benefits like discounts on spa treatments, free internet minutes, and savings on specialty dining. They also receive a subscription to the Crown & Anchor magazine, where they can stay informed about the latest news and offers.

With its tiered structure and a wide range of benefits, the Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program is a fantastic way to enhance your Royal Caribbean cruise experience. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, this program rewards you for your loyalty and ensures that each cruise with Royal Caribbean is even more enjoyable than the last.

Norwegian Cruise Line Loyalty Program

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a loyalty program called the Latitudes Rewards program, designed to recognize and reward loyal guests. This program allows cruisers to earn points for each night spent onboard, with additional points available for booking a suite or sailing in a higher category stateroom.

The Latitudes Rewards program operates on a tier system, with seven membership levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, Ambassadors, and Concierge. Each tier offers its own set of benefits and perks, with the rewards becoming more enticing as you move up the loyalty ladder.

At the Bronze level, which is the starting point for all new members, you will enjoy benefits like priority check-in, onboard discounts, and a subscription to the Latitudes Rewards magazine. As you accumulate more points, you will progress to the Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels, unlocking additional perks such as priority tender service, complimentary internet minutes, and an onboard cocktail party.

For those who reach the Platinum Plus level, the rewards become even more impressive. Platinum Plus members enjoy benefits such as a complimentary dinner for two at a specialty restaurant, priority disembarkation, and a behind-the-scenes ship tour. Ambassadors and Concierge, the highest tiers in the program, receive exclusive benefits like a complimentary balcony stateroom when sailing in a suite, a complimentary seven-day cruise, and a dedicated concierge service.

In addition to tier status perks, all members of the Latitudes Rewards program have access to benefits such as discounted or free laundry service, priority restaurant reservations, and onboard discounts at duty-free shops. They also earn additional points for referring friends and family to sail with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Another unique feature of the Latitudes Rewards program is the ability to earn extra points through cruise rewards partners. By booking with select hotels, car rental companies, and other loyalty programs, you can earn bonus points that can be redeemed for onboard amenities and discounts.

Overall, the Latitudes Rewards program offers a range of benefits and perks to enhance your Norwegian Cruise Line experience. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, this loyalty program provides a way to earn rewards and enjoy exclusive privileges that make your cruise even more memorable.

MSC Cruises Loyalty Program

MSC Cruises offers a loyalty program known as the MSC Voyagers Club, which is designed to reward guests for their loyalty and provide them with a range of exclusive benefits and privileges. The program offers various membership levels, each offering its own set of perks and rewards.

The MSC Voyagers Club operates on a tier system, with five membership levels: Welcome, Classic, Silver, Gold, and Black. As a member of the program, you earn points based on the experience type, stateroom category, and length of your cruise. The more points you accumulate, the higher your membership level becomes, unlocking greater benefits.

Starting at the Welcome level, all members enjoy a variety of perks, including a personalized membership card, access to the Voyagers Club online platform, and exclusive offers and discounts. As you progress to the Classic, Silver, Gold, and Black levels, the rewards become even more enticing.

Classic members receive benefits such as a complimentary birthday cake, dedicated check-in counters, and the opportunity to participate in the MSC Voyagers Club photo contest. Silver members enjoy additional perks like a complimentary cocktail, priority disembarkation, and a welcome back gift.

For Gold members, the rewards become even more impressive. Gold members enjoy access to the Top Sail Lounge, which provides a private space to relax and unwind. They also receive a complimentary spa consultation, priority restaurant reservations, and a special gift on their birthday.

Finally, the Black level is reserved for the most loyal and frequent cruisers. Black members receive exclusive benefits such as a dedicated 24-hour concierge service, priority boarding, and disembarkation, and invitations to exclusive events and parties. They also receive a complimentary meal at a specialty restaurant and a premium welcome gift upon embarking.

In addition to these tier-based benefits, all members of the MSC Voyagers Club have access to perks such as a 5% discount on their next cruise when booked onboard, priority access to complimentary room upgrades when available, and the opportunity to earn points and benefits with MSC Cruises’ partner airlines, hotels, and car rental companies.

Overall, the MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program provides a range of benefits and rewards to enhance the MSC Cruises experience. Regardless of your membership level, you’ll enjoy personalized service, exclusive discounts, and special privileges that make your cruise even more memorable.

Princess Cruises Loyalty Program

Princess Cruises offers a loyalty program called the Captain’s Circle, which is designed to reward guests for their loyalty and provide them with a range of exclusive benefits and perks. The program offers four membership levels, each offering its own set of rewards and privileges.

The Captain’s Circle operates on a tier system, with four membership levels: Gold, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite. Membership is based on the number of cruise days or cruises completed. As you accumulate more cruise days, you progress to higher levels, unlocking additional benefits and rewards.

As a Gold member, which is the entry level, you will receive benefits such as a subscription to the Princess Cruises magazine, access to onboard events, and a members-only onboard savings booklet. Ruby members enjoy additional perks such as a dedicated shore excursion phone line and a milestone recognition pin.

For Platinum members, the rewards become even more enticing. Platinum members receive benefits like priority embarkation and disembarkation, access to a private disembarkation lounge, and complimentary internet minutes. They also receive a special invitation to the Captain’s Circle Cocktail Party.

Finally, the Elite level is reserved for the most loyal and frequent cruisers. Elite members enjoy exclusive benefits such as priority tender disembarkation, complimentary laundry and dry-cleaning services, and access to the Elite Lounge, which provides a private space to relax and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

In addition to these tier-based benefits, all members of the Captain’s Circle have access to perks such as a 10% discount on select Princess Cruises logo merchandise, a complimentary mini-bar setup in their stateroom, and preferential reservations for specialty restaurants and spa treatments.

Princess Cruises also offers a special Captain’s Circle Exclusive program, where members can participate in unique cruises and events that are exclusively available to Captain’s Circle members. These exclusive sailings provide extra perks and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the most dedicated Princess Cruises guests.

Overall, the Captain’s Circle loyalty program provides a range of benefits and rewards to enhance the Princess Cruises experience. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, this program ensures that each voyage with Princess Cruises is even more enjoyable, offering special privileges and recognition to loyal guests.

Celebrity Cruises Loyalty Program

Celebrity Cruises offers a loyalty program called Captain’s Club, designed to recognize and reward loyal guests for their continued support. The program offers a tiered membership structure with four different levels: Preview, Classic, Select, and Elite.

As a member of the Captain’s Club, you start at the Preview level, enjoying benefits such as access to Captain’s Club newsletter, a one-time complimentary internet package, and members-only onboard savings. As you cruise more with Celebrity Cruises, you progress to higher levels, unlocking greater rewards along the way.

At the Classic level, which is reached after your first cruise, you gain additional perks such as priority embarkation, access to the Captain’s Club cocktail party, and a 10% discount on onboard purchases. As you move up to the Select level, benefits like a complimentary wine seminar, priority waitlist status, and access to the Loyalty Desk for personalized assistance are added.

For those who reach the Elite level, the rewards become even more impressive. Elite members enjoy priority tender service, access to the Captain’s Club lounge, and access to the onboard Persian Garden spa lounge. They also receive complimentary laundry services and access to a private departure lounge with a complimentary continental breakfast on the last day of their cruise.

In addition to tier-based benefits, all Captain’s Club members receive access to benefits such as priority access to specialty dining reservations, a dedicated phone line for customer support, and invitations to exclusive Captain’s Club events and parties. Members can also earn extra benefits through the Future Cruise Rewards program, which offers discounts and savings on future cruises.

Celebrity Cruises also offers a unique program called the Captain’s Club Zenith tier, which is the highest level of the loyalty program. Membership in the Zenith tier is specifically designed for the most loyal and frequent cruisers, providing them with an array of additional benefits and exclusive experiences.

Some of the exclusive perks that Zenith members enjoy include access to the private Michael’s Club lounge, unlimited internet access, complimentary beverage package, and a complimentary seven-night cruise in a veranda stateroom. Additionally, Zenith members receive recognition through personalized attention and priority access to various services throughout their cruise.

The Captain’s Club loyalty program is a fantastic way for guests to enjoy exclusive benefits and rewards while sailing with Celebrity Cruises. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a loyal Celebrity guest, joining the Captain’s Club ensures a memorable and enhanced cruise experience, with a wide range of perks tailored to your loyalty level.

Holland America Line Loyalty Program

Holland America Line offers a loyalty program called the Mariner Society, designed to reward and recognize repeat guests for their loyalty. The program provides a range of exclusive benefits and privileges to enhance the Holland America Line cruising experience.

The Mariner Society operates on a tier system, with six membership levels: Star Mariner, 2-Star Mariner, 3-Star Mariner, 4-Star Mariner, 5-Star Mariner, and the prestigious Presidents Club. Membership levels are based on the number of cruise days you have accumulated with Holland America Line.

As a member of the Mariner Society, even at the entry-level, Star Mariner, you can enjoy benefits like preferential savings offers, exclusive onboard events, and complimentary subscription to the Mariner Magazine. The higher your membership level, the more perks and privileges you unlock.

At the 2-Star Mariner level, guests receive benefits such as a 50% discount on wine packages, priority embarkation, and complimentary laundry and pressing services. Moving up to the 3-Star Mariner level, additional perks like an onboard credit for specialty dining, priority tender service, and a complimentary one-time wine tasting are added.

For those who reach the 4-Star Mariner level, the rewards become even more enticing. 4-Star Mariner members enjoy amenities such as a complimentary Pinnacle Grill dinner, priority disembarkation, and access to the exclusive 4-Star Mariner Lounge. At the 5-Star Mariner level, additional perks like a complimentary day pass to the Greenhouse Spa and a complimentary bag of laundry or pressing on every cruise are added.

The highest level of the Mariner Society is the Presidents Club, achieved at 500 or more cruise days. Presidents Club members receive exclusive benefits such as complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing services throughout their voyage. They also enjoy priority access to dining and entertainment venues, a dedicated concierge hotline, and invitations to special events hosted by the ship’s officers.

In addition to these tier-based benefits, all members of the Mariner Society have access to exclusive onboard events, priority notification of special offers, and savings on future cruises. Members can also earn additional rewards like complimentary specialty dining and onboard credit through the Mariner Society Rewards program.

Joining the Mariner Society is a wonderful way to enhance your Holland America Line cruise experience. Whether you’re a loyal Holland America Line guest or considering your first voyage, the Mariner Society loyalty program provides a range of benefits and rewards that make each cruise even more enjoyable and memorable.

Disney Cruise Line Loyalty Program

Disney Cruise Line offers a loyalty program called the Castaway Club, designed to recognize and reward guests for their loyalty and repeat bookings. The program allows guests to earn benefits and perks based on the number of cruises taken with Disney Cruise Line.

The Castaway Club operates on a tier system, with three membership levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. All members of the Castaway Club, regardless of their tier, enjoy a variety of benefits and perks that enhance their Disney Cruise Line experience.

As a Silver member, which is the starting level, you will receive benefits such as early access to online reservations, a personalized Castaway Club newsletter, and access to a special Castaway Club Help Desk. Once you have completed five cruises, you progress to the Gold level, unlocking additional perks such as a welcome back gift, priority check-in, and early access to onboard activities and entertainment.

For the most loyal Disney Cruise Line guests, the Platinum level offers an array of exclusive benefits. Platinum members enjoy priority access to onboard services like dining reservations, spa treatments, and character meet-and-greets. They also receive complimentary onboard WiFi, laundry service, and an exclusive keepsake gift.

In addition to these tier-based benefits, all members of the Castaway Club have access to perks such as a dedicated check-in line at the port, onboard and shore excursion discounts, and exclusive onboard events and activities. Members can also receive early access to booking future cruises and access to special offers and discounts.

One of the unique aspects of the Castaway Club is the ability for members to participate in a special sail-away celebration. Castaway Club members are invited to enjoy a private party on the ship’s top deck before the ship sets sail, complete with entertainment, music, and Disney characters.

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a frequent guest of Disney Cruise Line, joining the Castaway Club loyalty program is a fantastic way to enhance your Disney cruise experience. The program rewards you for your loyalty and provides a range of exclusive benefits and privileges that make each cruise even more magical.

Disney Cruise Line strives to create unforgettable experiences for guests, and the Castaway Club loyalty program is just one way they ensure that every cruiser feels like a cherished member of the Disney family.

Costa Cruises Loyalty Program

Costa Cruises offers a loyalty program known as the CostaClub, which is designed to recognize and reward their loyal guests. The program allows members to earn points and enjoy a range of exclusive benefits and privileges while sailing with Costa Cruises.

The CostaClub operates on a tier system, with four membership levels: Aquamarine, Coral, Pearl, and Diamond. As a member of the CostaClub, you start at the Aquamarine level, and as you accumulate more cruise days, you progress to higher membership levels, unlocking greater rewards.

At the entry-level Aquamarine, members enjoy benefits such as priority check-in, a dedicated CostaClub area on the ship, and access to exclusive onboard events. As you move up to the Coral level, additional perks like a welcome gift, exclusive shore excursion discounts, and complimentary cabin upgrades become available.

For those who reach the Pearl level, the rewards become even more enticing. Pearl members enjoy benefits such as priority disembarkation at ports of call, a complimentary fruit basket in their cabin, and a reserved table for dinner in the main dining room. Pearl members also receive a complimentary photo voucher to capture their memories onboard.

Finally, the highest membership level, Diamond, offers exclusive perks such as priority embarkation and debarkation, a complimentary specialty dining experience, and access to the private Diamond Club lounge. Diamond members also receive a special gift in their cabin and a dedicated onboard assistant for personalized service and assistance.

In addition to these tier-based benefits, all members of the CostaClub enjoy access to perks such as onboard discounts at shops, beauty and wellness treatments, and access to exclusive offers and promotions. Members also have the opportunity to attend CostaClub events and parties tailored exclusively for them.

Costa Cruises also offers the CostaClub Ambassador program, which rewards members who have completed at least 226 cruise days. Ambassadors receive additional perks like a dedicated phone line for customer service, a complimentary cruise of up to six days for two people, and exclusive invitations to prestigious events.

Joining the CostaClub loyalty program provides a range of benefits and rewards to enhance your Costa Cruises experience. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a frequent guest, the program ensures that each voyage with Costa Cruises is even more enjoyable, rewarding your loyalty with exclusive privileges and unforgettable experiences.

Choosing the right cruise line loyalty program can greatly enhance your vacation experience. Whether you’re a frequent cruiser or planning your first voyage, loyalty programs offer a range of exclusive benefits and perks that reward your loyalty and provide you with unforgettable memories.

From the Carnival Players Club to the Captain’s Circle, the Mariner Society to the CostaClub, each loyalty program offers its own unique advantages and rewards. By joining these programs, you can enjoy benefits such as priority check-in, complimentary upgrades, access to exclusive events, and even free cruises.

It’s important to consider your cruising preferences and travel habits when selecting a loyalty program. If you enjoy the thrill of the casino, the Carnival Players Club may be perfect for you. If you value luxury and personalized service, the Captain’s Circle offered by Princess Cruises or the Elite levels of the MSC Voyagers Club might be more appealing.

No matter which loyalty program you choose, it’s important to take advantage of the benefits and rewards offered. By earning points, accruing cruise credits, or reaching higher membership tiers, you unlock additional perks that can make your cruise even more enjoyable and memorable.

Whether you’re a fan of family-friendly Disney Cruise Line, the elegance of Holland America Line, or the renowned entertainment on Royal Caribbean, each loyalty program is designed to provide you with a personalized and rewarding experience.

In conclusion, cruising is a fantastic way to explore the world while enjoying luxurious amenities and entertainment. Loyalty programs offered by cruise lines add an extra layer of benefits and perks, allowing you to maximize your cruise experience. From exclusive discounts to priority boarding, these loyalty programs ensure that your loyalty is recognized and rewarded.

So, as you plan your next cruise, be sure to consider the loyalty programs available. Joining a loyalty program can enhance your journey, providing you with a host of exclusive benefits and privileges. Start earning rewards and enjoy a lifetime of amazing cruises with your preferred cruise line loyalty program.

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WELCOME TO CROWN & ANCHOR ® SOCIETY The greatest loyalty program at sea!

Whether you’ve just joined the family or have been with the program from the start, this is your home away from home. Here you’ll find the latest news and updates on our award-winning loyalty program, rewarding Royal Caribbean® guests for 25 bold years and counting.  Not a member? Join today to max out vacation memories with the Best Cruise Line Overall for 21 years running by Travel Weekly readers. You’ll enjoy incredible benefits and wow-worthy experiences — like exclusive offers, onboard amenities, priority access to events — and that’s just the beginning. Plus, the more you cruise, the more perks you score!

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The Crown & Anchor® Society is our way of recognizing and rewarding our most loyal guests. All you have to do is come aboard — you’ll be automatically enrolled into our loyalty program once you complete your first sailing. * You’ll earn one Cruise Point for every night you sail with us, and double points when you book a Suite. Points add up to perks you can enjoy both on board and on land. And as your points grow, so do your benefits and status. Ready to join the club?

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Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

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Repeat customers on upscale and expedition cruises can take advantage of exclusive events and cocktail parties, cabin upgrades, reduced fares and other perks.

Loyalty programs for upscale cruise lines

Part 2: rewards from luxury, premium & expedition cruise lines.

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CruiseClout score: 95.0

After looking at mainstream cruise line loyalty programs , it’s time for a breakdown of the loyalty programs of other ocean-going cruise lines: luxury, premium and expedition (or adventure) cruise lines.

With upmarket cruise lines, return passengers often receive cruise fare savings that can run into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. So once you find the right fit, it can pay to remain true to your favorite brand.

Here is a rundown of the current loyalty programs for:

• Luxury cruise lines: Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea
• Premium cruise lines: Azamara, Cunard, Oceania, Paul Gauguin, SeaDream, Viking Ocean Cruises, Windstar 
• Expedition cruise lines: Hurtigruten, Lindblad Expeditions, UnCruise Adventures

In our Loyalty Program series

This is Part 2 of our series on cruise lines' loyalty programs. Also see:

• Part 1: Mainstream cruise lines‘ loyalty programs
• Part 2: Luxury, premium & expedition cruise lines (this article)
• Part 3: River cruise lines‘ loyalty programs

Luxury cruise lines‘ loyalty programs

Crystal Cruises: Crystal Society 

You automatically become a member of the Crystal Cruises Crystal Society when you complete your first full-revenue Crystal cruise of seven days or longer. Once you get home from your cruise, expect to see a membership package that includes your Crystal Society membership card and number. Some of the benefits to look forward to include:

• Special offers on Crystal Society Savings on every voyage in every category
• As You Wish shipboard credits that can be used for almost everything available on the ships
• Hosted cocktail party on every voyage
• First free cruise can be redeemed at Milestone 25, the fastest free-cruise reward of all luxury lines
• Penthouse upgrades for various milestones
• Special Recognition dinners and celebrations at various milestones

Regent Seven Seas: Seven Seas Society

Upon completing your first voyage, you are automatically entered into the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Society . Membership tiers are based on how many nights you sail. 

Benefits include priority online shore excursion and dining reservations, free garment pressing and Wi-Fi, and a $100  shipboard credit  per guest ($200 maximum per booking) when a new guest that you refer sails with you on their first Regent voyage with Regent. Members also receive access to a cocktail reception on board, priority disembarkation in select ports (gold tier and up), 10% discount on Regent Choice Shore Excursions, Hotel and Land Programs (platinum tier and up) and free private transfers from your home to the ship and back (titanium tier). 

Seabourn Cruise Line: Seabourn Club

Seabourn Club benefits have always been among the most valuable in the cruise industry, and Seabourn recently introduced additional rewards for Club members. Members receive Milestone Awards based on how many days you've sailed with Seabourn as well as Club Points earned through sailing days, suite bookings and Seabourn Journey reservations.

There are six Club levels or tiers. Benefits include special events and receptions on board and 5% savings on cruise fares (all levels), 10% savings on shore excursions, one massage, 2 hours of Internet (Silver level), and a complimentary seven-night Caribbean cruise after sailing 140 days.

Silversea Cruises: Venetian Society

When you complete your first Silversea voyage, you become part of the the  Silversea Cruises Venetian Society . Rewards are based on number of sailing days. Membership perks include onboard recognition and private parties, up to 5% additional savings on select voyages and ship visitation privileges. When bringing aboard first-time Silversea guests, you'll receive a $250 shipboard credit  on select voyages and a reward of double cruise days. 

When you sail 100 days or more, your loyalty is rewarded as follows:

• After 100 days: receive up to 5% additional savings and complimentary laundry service (excludes dry cleaning and press only)
• After 250 days: receive up to 10% additional savings
• After 350 days: receive a complimentary seven-day voyage
• After 500 days: receive a complimentary 14-day voyage
• After the 500-day milestone, receive a complimentary seven-day voyage for each 150 days sailed.

Premium cruise lines' loyalty programs

Azamara Club Cruises: Le Club Voyage

Azamara Club Cruises rewards returning guests with points and five levels of status in its Le Club Voyage program. Points are earned according to the cabin or suite category you select for your sailing. 

Benefits include a 10% savings for select cruises,$398 per cabin category upgrades, an invite to special club cruises, ambassador and onboard hostess access, and an onboard Le Club party. Reaching certain member plateaus entitles you to 50% reduced deposits, $200 in shipboard credits, free Internet minutes, discounts on spa treatments and onboard shopping, and more.

Azamara is part of the Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited family, so Azamara guests enjoy reciprocal benefits when cruising on Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean ships.

Cunard Line: Cunard World Club

Cunard Line's World Club program offers four different membership levels: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. After your first Cunard cruise, you're automatically enrolled. Benefits are based on number of voyages or nights sailed.

Members who reach Gold status (2 cruises or 20 nights) receive a free two hour internet package and an invitation to a Cunard World Club cocktail party. At Platinum (7 cruises or 70 nights), guests get an extra two hours of free Internet time, plus bonus priority check-in at New York and Southampton, a private disembarkation lounge, free wine tasting, a 10% discount off White Star luggage service and access to the senior officers’ party. At the Diamond level (15 cruises or 150 nights), you receive an additional four hour internet package, priority disembarkation and a free meal at an alternative restaurant.

Oceania Cruises: Oceania Club

Oceania Cruises' Oceania Club loyalty program offers members seven levels of benefits and amenities. You earn cruise credits of one to 15 points based on the length of your voyage.

Benefits range from a $200 shipboard credit and 20% saving on Internet (Bronze level and up) to complimentary gratuities (Silver levels and up — you'll note that Oceania is not all-inclusive) to two complimentary Canyon Ranch spa treatments (Gold level and up) to a free cruise (Platinum level and up) to the top Presidents' Circle, with complimentary unlimited Internet and beverage package.

Paul Gauguin Cruises: Paul Gauguin Society

Past cruise passengers on Paul Gauguin Cruises can earn savings of 5 to 15% on select voyages when they reserve their next sailing aboard the Paul Gauguin or Tere Moana as part of the Paul Gauguin Society .

Ponant Cruises: Reward Points

The Reward Points program from Ponant, whose ships can be classified as premium (Le Ponant) or expedition (Le Boreal), offers rewards based on a host of actions that you can take. Points can be redeemed toward cruise fares or for products or services on the ship.

Rewards can currently be earned for the following actions:

• Registering on the site
• Making a purchase
• Subscribing to a newsletter for the first time
• Sending invitations to your friends to join the site
• Submitting a review

We're not sure about the status of this program, which replaced its more traditional Ponant Yacht Club, but we like the idea. 

SeaDream Yacht Club: SeaDream Club

Enjoy a wide range of perks as a member of the SeaDream Club , which all new passengers become enrolled in. Benefits include:

• Savings of $500 per stateroom on select voyages and 10-15% off future fares
• 15% savings on one spa treatment as well as on Wine Cellar purchases
• Advance look at new itineraries
• Invitation to a special cocktail party hosted by the captain and chief officers.

Also, bring guests who are new to SeaDream on a voyage with you in a separate stateroom and each stateroom will receive $100 off.

Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Explorer Society

Whether vacationing by ocean or by river, Viking Cruises guests are automatically enrolled in the Viking Explorer Society program upon taking their first cruise. (Viking now has Viking Star , Viking Sea and Viking Sky  with Viking Sun and Viking Spirit on the way.) That means perks are reciprocal between Viking Ocean Cruises and Viking River Cruises.

Benefits include a complimentary cocktail reception and travel credits of $100 to $200. The most robust benefits are saved for Viking’s referral program: You'll get a $100 credit per referred person ($200 per couple) if used within a year of issue, and referred travelers enjoy a $100 per person savings themselves off their first cruise. The referral fees apply up to 12 people, and if a 13th person is referred and booked within a calendar year, you receive a free river cruise up to $3,300 in value.

Windstar Cruises: Windstar Yacht Club

Windstar guests are automatically enrolled in the Windstar Yacht Club program upon completion of their first Windstar cruise. Benefits include:

• 5% savings on most cruise fares
• Additional 5% Welcome Home discount on select cruises when you book within 60 days of disembarkation from a qualifying cruise 
• Complimentary one-category standard stateroom or suite upgrade at check-in
• Private onboard member cocktail reception
• Invitation to dine with the captain or ship’s officers
• Exclusive onboard gift
• $100 referral gift for you and each referred friend

Expedition cruise lines' loyalty programs

Hurtigruten: 1893 Ambassador Program

The 1893 Ambassador Program is open to guests who have traveled with Hurtigruten on a voyage lasting more than three consecutive nights. Membership is free, but enrollment is not automatic so you must click here to register . Benefits include:

• 5% savings on your next Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Voyage or Explorer Voyage
• 5% discount on selected excursions if booked on board Norwegian coastal voyages

Lindblad Expeditions: Lifelong Explorer Program

If you've taken three National Geographic Expeditions with Lindblad Expeditions, you're eligible to enroll in The Lifelong Explorer Program . From then on, you'll receive savings on the expedition cost on all subsequent National Geographic Expeditions, plus many more benefits. See full details.  Benefits include:

• 10% per-person discount on any National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions small-ship voyage
• 10% per-person discount on any National Geographic Photography Workshop
• 5% per-person discount on all National Geographic Journeys
• $250 per-person savings off all other domestic National Geographic Expeditions and Private Expeditions
• $500 per-person savings off all other international National Geographic Expeditions and Private Expeditions
• $250 per-person savings off all National Geographic Adventures
• Invitations to join special trips not available to the public
• Invitations to special National Geographic events and lectures around the country

UnCruise Adventures: Endless Discoveries

Receive exclusive offers and benefits that include onboard savings and discounts as a member of the UnCruise Adventures Endless Discoveries program. UnCruise offers a host of benefits:

• Future bookings: When you return for another cruise, you save $200 on your second cruise, $350 on your third cruise, $500 on your fourth cruise and $700 on your fifth cruise (all savings are per person). 
• Referrals: When you refer a friend who’s new to UnCruise Adventures, both you and your booked friend receive $200 apiece.

How about you? Do you belong to a cruise line's loyalty program? Love the perks? Tell us below.

See anything wrong? What did we overlook? Be a co-creator!

Related guides

• Part 3: River cruise lines' loyalty programs
• Super Guide to Booking a Cruise
• Complete guide to cruise ship drink packages

Guide to all-inclusive pricing on cruise ships

• Guide to VIP enclaves on cruise ships 
• Consumer guide to duty-free shopping

JD Lasica I'm Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of Cruiseable. Follow your cruise bliss to any land where it may lead. Let's connect! I'm @jdlasica on Twitter.

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Princess Cruises Membership Benefits

Set sail with Princess® and get rewarded with our cruise loyalty program, the Princess Captain’s Circle℠ . Depending on the number of cruises and types of staterooms you’ve booked, you’ll reach one of four tiers: Gold, Ruby, Platinum or Elite. While most cruise line loyalty programs offer some perks for frequent travelers, Princess offers an extensive list of benefits — even for first-time guests. Learn about each membership tier and discover what makes the Captain’s Circle one of the best cruise line loyalty programs.

Gold Membership Benefits

Whether you sail to the glaciers of Alaska or the palaces of Russia, relish in the benefits of our Gold Membership after your first cruise with Princess. Once you return from your trip, receive curated recommendations for future cruises based on your cruising history, so that you can embark on another unforgettable journey. Book early and relish in savings, like a discounted fare for the first two guests in your stateroom. While on board subsequent cruises, you can even attend members-only events and meet other like-minded adventurers. As you continue to sail with Princess and reach new membership tiers, you can always enjoy these Gold-level benefits.

Ruby Membership Benefits

Ruby status can be achieved after sailing on three Princess cruises. You may also reach this tier even sooner if you book as single occupancy or a full suite*, which earns you double cruise credits in our loyalty program. In addition to all Gold-level benefits, you can also enjoy exclusive shoreside access to the Captain’s Circle Help Desk phone line. This means you can experience an expedited phone process when contacting the Membership Desk with any questions related to Captain's Circle. Those who purchase the standard Princess Vacation Protection will also receive a complimentary upgrade to the Platinum plan, which grants you even more coverage.

*Excludes mini-suites,Reserve Collection suites and paid upgrades to a full suite.

Platinum Membership Benefits

A lot of travel deserves a lot of benefits. Level up your perks after completing 5 cruises or 50 cruise days with Princess. In addition to all of the benefits at the Gold and Ruby levels, enjoy priority boarding in the cruise terminal, so you can experience your MedallionClass® vacation even quicker. When it’s time to head home, get the same deluxe treatment with access to our Disembarkation Lounge. Enjoy fresh-baked pastries and a soothing cup of tea or coffee with members of your travel party before you make your onward journey home. During your time on board, you’ll enjoy discounts off Lotus Spa® treatments and the professional photo offerings in the Photo Gallery. You’ll also be able to connect with loved ones at home with the best Wi-Fi at sea, our fast and reliable MedallionNet® internet, as Platinum members of the Captain’s Circle enjoy 50% off our MedallionNet packages. Whether you want to video chat with your family and friends, share photos on social media, or even stream your favorite shows, Princess makes it easy for our valued guests.

Elite Membership Benefits

The best of the best in benefits — meet Elite status, reserved for our most loyal guests and adventure enthusiasts. Reach our top-tier membership after completing 15 Princess cruises or sailing 150 days. In addition to all Gold, Ruby and Platinum perks, you’ll also receive benefits like early access to booking our newest itineraries and even more discounts on board, including shore excursions and in The Shops of Princess. Enjoy a complimentary mini-bar set up and on formal nights, indulge in deluxe canapés created by our talented chefs on board. Our most loyal guests also receive complimentary laundry services and shoe polishing.

Between the savings and services our guests enjoy, it’s no wonder why the Captain’s Circle is one of the best cruise loyalty programs. Set sail on your first cruise with Princess and begin your journey to Elite status today.

This cruise line will match your hotel and airline loyalty status – for 3 days only

A re you a sucker for a status match? If free coffee, a cocktail reception and free laundry service sound like perks you'd enjoy on your next vacation, listen up. For three days only, Virgin Voyages will extend its existing status match offer to include airline and hotel loyalty status matches.

Members of Virgin Voyages' Sailing Club loyalty program have been able to match with other cruise lines' loyalty programs for a while. However, if you have airline or hotel status, now could be the time to book that voyage you've been considering.

Here's all you need to know to take advantage of this offer.

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What's the deal?

Book one of several select cruises with Virgin Voyages from Wednesday to Friday, submit proof of your loyalty status on Virgin Voyages' website by Friday, and you'll be automatically moved to Blue Extras, the second tier of Virgin Voyages' three-tier Sailing Club program. You'll be awarded the corresponding perks, starting on your first cruise following the match. (Rates start at $149 per person, per night for four-night sailings.)

Perks include one free bag of laundry to be sent out and returned to your cabin, one free specialty coffee per day and a cocktail reception.

Which brands will Virgin Voyages match?

This promotion will take loyalty status match requests into account for the following major airline and hotel brands:

• United Airlines MileagePlus
• American Airlines AAdvantage
• Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• Frontier Airlines Miles
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• World of Hyatt
• Choice Privileges
• IHG One Rewards
• Wyndham Rewards
• Radisson Rewards
• Best Western Rewards

Virgin Voyages will also match your status if you are a loyal repeat traveler with another cruise line, but that offer is ongoing. The cruise line will continue to consider cruise line status matches after this deal ends.

What's the catch?

The obvious caveat is that you must book a cruise for your hotel or airline match to be considered.

You also can't be at the lowest tier within your airline's or hotel's loyalty program. Entry-level tiers don't qualify for the match. It's not enough to just be enrolled in a loyalty program. You must have earned some status within it first.

Additionally, this isn't a traditional type of match. Regardless of the level you've reached with your airline or hotel, you will only be awarded middle-tier status — Blue Extras — with Virgin Voyages. This promotion won't earn you the perks of Deep Blue Extras — the highest tier — no matter how elite you are elsewhere.

Which other cruise lines offer status matches?

Status matches are not common in the world of cruising. The only line that offers matches to cruise lines, hotels and airlines is MSC Cruises. MSC's matching program awards passengers status based on the loyalty level they submit for consideration. The drawbacks are that major U.S. airlines aren't yet part of the program, and if you don't cruise within three years of obtaining your status match, you'll lose it.

The only other megaship cruise lines that allow status matches are Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises — but only with one another since they're sister brands. If you have status with one, you can submit a request to have it matched with the other.

Bottom line

Virgin Voyages prides itself on being a bit of an outlier in the cruise industry. The line has refreshingly managed to turn cruising on its head by eliminating buffets, hiring a resident drag queen and installing tattoo parlors on its ships.

Its current Sailing Club loyalty program hotel and airline status match is a great way to earn status and perks with a cruise line that offers a different way to cruise.

Want to learn more about Virgin Voyages? We've got you covered:

• Here's what it's like to sail Virgin Voyages
• A guide to Virgin Voyages cabins and suites
• We tried every single one of Virgin Voyages' bars
• Virgin Voyages drink packages
• All you need to know about Virgin Voyages entertainment
• I just got a tattoo on a cruise ship!
• Where you can sail on Virgin Voyages ships
• Do Virgin Voyages ships have buffets?
• Order Champagne on these ships by shaking your phone
• What are Virgin Voyages' fitness classes like?
• Here's how Virgin Voyages will make you feel like a kid again
• Scarlet Lady ship review
• A first look at Valiant Lady
• Resilient Lady ship review

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.