Similar to airlines, cruise liners offer rewards programs for their most loyal passengers. Though unlike flying, which can be done for both work and leisure, a cruise holiday is more of a “once in a while” activity for many.
Still, if a holiday at sea is on the horizon, you can pocket extra perks as a member of the cruise line’s loyalty program. Most programs have tiers, which are similar to the status tiers of an airline frequent flyer program. So, the higher your status within the cruise line’s loyalty program, the more benefits you’ll enjoy – both onshore and at sea!
In this guide, we’ll cover what you can generally expect when joining a cruise loyalty program in Australia.
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What cruise loyalty programs can I join?
Many major local and international cruise liners have their own loyalty program. Some examples of cruise companies that sail to Australia are:
- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)’s Latitudes Rewards
- Carnival’s VIFP Club
- Princess Cruises’ Captain’s Circle
- Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society
- Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club
- Holland America Line’s Mariner Society
- Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club
- Seabourn’s Seabourn Club
- Coral Expeditions’ Xplorers Club
You probably recognise a few brands on this list, and may have even sailed with some of them before! The good thing is, no matter how long your itinerary is – whether it’s a quick two-night getaway or a month-long multi-country voyage – each night you spend onboard gets you closer to rewards.
What sort of rewards do cruise line loyalty programs offer?
The benefits differ across programs, so you’ll want to refer to the cruise line’s website for full details. But as a general guide, here are some common rewards and perks members of cruise loyalty programs can enjoy:
Entry-level tiers
Some cruise reward programs let you sign up before your first voyage, while others award you with automatic membership after your first cruise.
At the entry-level tier, you can usually expect benefits like:
- Exclusive offers and discounts
- Early access when booking cruises
- Complimentary bottle of wine or drink vouchers
- Access to member-only events on board
Not all cruise lines are generous when it comes to entry-level tier rewards. That’s not to say they’re all bad – discounts and freebies are always appreciated, when available. But generally speaking, the real perks kick in at the mid-level membership tiers…
Mid-level tiers
Once you’ve completed a few itineraries with your chosen cruise liner, you may progress to a higher tier of its rewards program. Here, you could expect to enjoy:
- Discounts on spa treatments, specialty restaurants, or onboard shopping
- Exclusive onboard events or tours
- Discounts on photo packages or shore excursions
- Priority embarkation
- Complimentary laundry or clothes pressing
High-tier members
High-frequency passengers that sail with the same cruise line (think a couple of times per year or over several years) could reach elite status with its loyalty program. Cruise lines usually offer their most generous rewards to these members, including:
- Complimentary upgrades to better staterooms or suites
- Complimentary speciality dinners or spa experiences, or credit towards dining or treatments
- Credits or complimentary nights on subsequent cruises
- Free bottle of Champagne or onboard wine tastings
- Access to private onboard lounges for elite members
Note that the benefits above aren’t applicable to every cruise loyalty program. Rather, they’re a guide as to what you may expect as an entry-level, mid-level or high-tier member.
Are cruise loyalty programs free to join?
Generally, it’s free to become a member of a cruise line loyalty program. I’m yet to come across one that charges a joining fee (if you have – please let us know in the comments!)
However, not all cruise loyalty programs will let you sign up before your first voyage. Many require you to have completed a voyage, or a number of eligible nights at sea, before granting you automatic membership. As there aren’t too many other ways for Australians to earn “cruise points” other than sailing (unlike airline loyalty programs, where you can earn points on the ground), this is a reasonable requirement.
Can I earn frequent flyer points from cruises?
There are currently no cruise lines that allow Australians to directly earn frequent flyer points from actually sailing on a cruise.
But, there are ways to earn frequent flyer points when you book a cruise, and you can double-dip with the cruise liner’s own loyalty program, or even triple-dip with a points-earning credit card!
Great Credit Cards for Earning Qantas Points
- Card Name
- Qantas Premier Platinum
- Earn
- 1
- Signup Bonus
-
Up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points*
- Annual Fee
- $349 for the first year and $399 p.a. ongoing
- Read more
- View Offer
on everyday purchases
- Card Name
- Qantas American Express Ultimate
- Earn
- 1.25
- Signup Bonus
-
50,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
Apply by 1st Jul 2025
- Annual Fee
- $450 p.a.
- Read more
- View Offer
on everyday purchases
If your cruise itinerary includes overseas destinations, you may also want to consider a credit card with no international transaction fees to use abroad.
How to earn Qantas points on cruise bookings
Qantas has its own cruise arm, Qantas Cruises, where you can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points on cruise bookings. The earn rate is 1 Qantas Point per $1 (in AUD) spent on any cruises booked via Qantas Cruises.
On Qantas Cruises, you can search for and book itineraries with several major cruise liners. Handily, there’s also the ability to “compare” up to four cruises to help you find a cruise to meet your needs.
You can also filter your search by date, departure port, destination, cruise line, number of nights, specific ships, and price.
How to earn Velocity points on cruise bookings
If you’d rather earn Velocity points from cruises, you can do so thanks to its partnership with Cruisepilot. The number of Velocity points you’ll earn from cruises depends on your Velocity status tier:
- Red – 3 Velocity points per $1 spent
- Silver – additional 50% of the base Velocity points
- Gold – additional 75% of the base Velocity points
- Platinum – additional 100% of the base Velocity points
You can search for and book cruises on the Cruisepilot website.
So, is it worth joining a cruise line rewards program?
Most cruise loyalty programs are free to join, and some allow members to access discounts on their first cruise booking. Other programs only allow you to join after you’ve taken your first cruise, so the benefits won’t apply until your next voyage.
Like airline frequent flyer programs, you need to be a member first before you can earn rewards. So, in short, there aren’t too many reasons not to join a cruise line loyalty program – whether its your first or fifteenth time sailing.
Are you a member of any cruise loyalty programs? What are some benefits you’ve enjoyed? Let us know and join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do cruise lines have a rewards program?
Much like airlines, many cruise lines have their own loyalty programs. These programs are often free to join, but eligibility differs – some allow you to join before your first cruise, while others require you to complete a voyage before granting you automatic membership.
Which cruise line has the best loyalty program?
This is subjective, and, ultimately, the best loyalty program is one you’ll use! If you sail regularly with a certain cruise liner, or have a preferred brand, it’s worth joining its loyalty program to enjoy perks on future voyages.
You can read which programs AFF members prefer on our forum.
What are the benefits of cruise loyalty programs?
Depending on your tier, cruise rewards programs offer perks like priority embarkation, complimentary drinks, discounts on dining or spa treatments, complimentary laundry or clothes pressing, access to exclusive onboard events, discounts on future cruises, upgrades to premium staterooms, and more.
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