Cruise line loyalty programs

[RooFlyer]

Article in the Oz online about cruise line loyaty programs:

Unlocking the best cruise loyalty perks: free cruises, upgrades and more may be paywalled, so a snippet

Less aggressively marketed than frequent flyer programs, cruise lines’ loyalty clubs range from laughable to valuable. The first tier trickles modest benefits such as small discounts for on-board spending, while mid-level members might get a free bag of laundry. Reach the top status with the right cruise line and you could score a complimentary cruise (excluding fees and taxes).

Among the lines dangling this carrot are Seabourn, Silversea, Oceania, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, while Azamara awards two to 10 free nights as passengers rise up the ranks of membership. In some cases, the free cruises keep flowing if you continue earning the required number of points.

On-board credit (OBC) may be applied to a frequent cruiser’s account to spend on alcohol, excursions, spa treatments or shopping in the ship’s stores. Depending on your membership status, it could be $US50 ($80) or $US1000 credited every time you cruise. For more loyalty programs, passengers are automatically enrolled after their first voyage. Progress is made with every cruise, generally earning one point for every day of sailing. Some lines give bonus points for booking the more expensive suites, paying a single supplement, or making extra purchases on board and pre-cruise.

Goes on summarise various lines' loyalty benefits (the what accuracy I can't tell).

My preferred cruise line is Ponant, (not covered in the article) mainly because they have over 200 cruises with a no single supplement (and NOT usually at the cough-end of seasons) and their destinations for them and pricing suits me.

This is the Ponant loyalty schedule; I'm at Admiral and about to book my 5th cruise with them. The 7.5% discount is a material benefit, then for me onboard credit and ... laundry! are useful! Unsure of how often upgrades get offered.



How are others on the loyalty schemes of various lines, and how do you view the benefits (worthwhile etc).

 

[Pushka]

Article in the Oz online about cruise line loyaty programs:

Unlocking the best cruise loyalty perks: free cruises, upgrades and more may be paywalled, so a snippet



Goes on summarise various lines' loyalty benefits (the what accuracy I can't tell).

My preferred cruise line is Ponant, (not covered in the article) mainly because they have over 200 cruises with a no single supplement (and NOT usually at the cough-end of seasons) and their destinations for them and pricing suits me.

This is the Ponant loyalty schedule; I'm at Admiral and about to book my 5th cruise with them. The 7.5% discount is a material benefit, then for me onboard credit and ... laundry! are useful! Unsure of how often upgrades get offered.

View attachment 432296

How are others on the loyalty schemes of various lines, and how do you view the benefits (worthwhile etc).

I've travelled on so many different cruise lines I don't bother. The highest level I have is on Cunard which is Gold and received a pin. Yeah .

 

[love_the_life]

I've travelled on so many different cruise lines I don't bother. The highest level I have is on Cunard which is Gold and received a pin. Yeah .

Don't sell them short - Gold also gives some free internet

 

[moa999]

I take it they are all 'lifetime' programs unlike the annual basis of most airline and hotel programs.

 

[love_the_life]

And there are some loyalty programs that are linked - so that your loyalty level will carry across.
For example - Royal Caribbean is linked with Celebrity and Sliversea now (as they own the whole lot)
Princess Cruises has always been pretty easy to accrue loyalty on - 16 cruises get you Elite level.

 

[SYD]

And there are some loyalty programs that are linked - so that your loyalty level will carry across.
For example - Royal Caribbean is linked with Celebrity and Sliversea now (as they own the whole lot)

The catch is you need to work up through one brand to really benefit across all three. You can’t mix and match across all three brands to reach a level.


I’m one cruise away (later this year) from reaching Celebrity “Elite” where some decent benefits kick in:

https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/Captains-Club-Benefit-Brochure-V30.-1-23-25.pdf

As well as automatic Diamond with RCCL (also some decent benefits kick in).

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/crown-and-anchor-society-benefit-grid.pdf

and 250 VS Days - I haven’t been on a Silverseas ship yet but hope to. Given the more all inclusive nature, I’m not sure how the VS status plays during the cruise anyway.

For me, moving further up the RCCL family status tree might require living on board a ship or two for a while…

Despite Virgin Voyages departing Oz waters, they still do the “Sailing Club” Status Match. Anyone with a decent cruise status or more importantly VA status can apply if they have a future booking in the system.

I matched to “Blue Extras” from VA Gold which has a couple of ok benefits (free laundry and a coffee). But Deep Blue extras comes with a free bar tab credit. I believe the earlier SMs jumped straight to Deep Blue, alas I’ve been told I’ll get that “after” my next (3rd) cruise with them…

 

[RooFlyer]

Ponant has a status match:

Benefit from the Status Match

au.ponant.com

 

[SYD]

Ponant has a status match:

Benefit from the Status Match

au.ponant.com

Interesting / curious match for VS v Celebrity and RCCL!

 

[odysseus]

I take it they are all 'lifetime' programs unlike the annual basis of most airline and hotel programs.

Not all. Some terminate entirely without activity, and for others status is only gained with recent cruises. But a fair number have lifetime status.

 

[zig]

Ponant has a status match:

Benefit from the Status Match

au.ponant.com

I used my Silversea status to apply for the Ponant status match. I was matched to Grand Admiral. I'm not sure that I will cruise with Ponant again, but thought it prudent to take the SM whilst it was on offer.

The benefits I appreciate with Silversea is free laundry and the additional discount on cruise bookings.

 

[SYD]

The benefits I appreciate with Silversea is free laundry and the additional discount on cruise bookings.

And better champagne? Not to mention a free cruise! (350 VS and 500 VS)

Venetian Society Programme - Cruise Loyalty Programme

Join our international group of travellers! A special circle of friends, exclusive privileges and luxury cruise rewards.

www.silversea.com

I alluded to earlier what would appear as marginal benefits under Silversea Venetian Society (VS). Probably like flying business class - airline status is less important?

Interesting also that you still need to rack up 250 VS sailing on Silversea ships anyway to receive some additional benefits even though somone who has only sailed on RCCL or CC can automatically SM to 350 VS and 500 VS and have never set foot on SS ships.

I’ve noticed recently that all three of my accounts now show coughulative days sailed on each line. I’m wondering if they might be applying similar logic across all three programs ie only get a free cruise on the ships you’ve sailed sufficient days? For me, that problem is in the same category as earning QF LTP!

If the Pondant SM is still running, I’ll apply in due course - should be equivalent to “Grand Admiral” also. Could be useful to have status on two small ship lines.

 

[drron]

The free cruise on SS is only if you have done the time on SS. Number of nights on other lines that you have used to Status match doesn’t count.

 

[SYD]

The free cruise on SS is only if you have done the time on SS. Number of nights on other lines that you have used to Status match doesn’t count.

Yes, that’s what I said earlier. The “extra” benefits from 250 VS and up only kick in if you’ve done the requisite sea-time on SS metal.

Venetian Society Programme - Cruise Loyalty Programme

Join our international group of travellers! A special circle of friends, exclusive privileges and luxury cruise rewards.

www.silversea.com

“^Complimentary Cruises and Upgraded Champagne Welcome are excluded from the Loyalty Status Match programme, and can only be earned with days sailed on Silversea. …”

So someone who’s gets to RCCL “Pinnacle Club” relatively cheaply (but still a shedload of sea-time) gets a free RCCL cruise credit but not on SS. I’m not sure what they get under Celebrity Captains Club “Zenith” via the auto SM? The RCCL <–> CC SM has been in play for years, so it’s probably captured somewhere.

So anyone (like me) who’s done time mainly on CC or RCCL get the laundry and 10% discount only at 250 VS and up via SM until they catch up doing SS cruises.

Does SS credit sea days 1:1 or is it function of cabin type?

RCCL is 1 pt per night or 2 pts in suites.

Celebrity earn starts at 2 pts per day (steerage) through to 24 pts per day in Iconic suites. Booking one of several suite types with multiple bedrooms can be a Fastrack to status if sharing with friends. Can be cheaper than individual cabins but everyone gets the higher earn!

 

[drron]

SS stil is 1 for 1 on all suite types. Those who cruise in higher cabins complain and SS has done a couple of surveys asking if the higher suites should get more than 1 to 1. First I am sure was pre covid but after RCCL takeover.

 

[Fifa]

I have 32 nights on Royal Caribbean so am Crown and Anchor Platinum.

The loyalty match gave me Venetian Society VS 100 Days. It was perfectly timed for me as I went on a 20 night Silversea Antarctica cruise in Nov/Dec 2024 so I received free laundry (wash and iron) which was a fantastic benefit!

I have another Silversea expedition cruise coming up in May… 23 days Fiji to Darwin via Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and PNG.

 

[sanne]

I used my Silversea status to apply for the Ponant status match. I was matched to Grand Admiral. I'm not sure that I will cruise with Ponant again, but thought it prudent to take the SM whilst it was on offer.

The benefits I appreciate with Silversea is free laundry and the additional discount on cruise bookings.

Did they apply the status match now to your Ponant membership ? Even though you’re not making a booking at the moment? How did you prove your status with Silversea? Screen shot? Thanks.