How Do the Major Cruise Lines’ Loyalty Schemes Compare?

Note: This blog was originally published on 02.11.2015, and updated on 28.09.2017.

Cruise lines love loyalty. Since repeat cruisers make up two-thirds of any given cruise, dedicated cruisers stand to gain quite hefty rewards by joining cruise loyalty clubs. From suite upgrades, exclusive dining options, butler services and more, having a favourite cruise line (or two) with whom you holiday regularly can pay off handsomely.

Sometimes, these rewards add up with the number of days on the water, other times the number of cruises you’ve been on dictates your gifts. Here, we explore the major cruise lines’ loyalty clubs to help you decide where your cruising allegiances lie.

Alternatively, if your loyalties are split – this guide could help you decide which cruise line deserves your love and continued custom.

Azamara Club Cruises – Le Club Voyage

Azamara Club Cruises differ slightly to most major cruise lines due to their dedication to smaller, more intimate ships. However, they still operate a five-tiered loyalty scheme wherein passengers can earn points based upon the number of days they spend at sea and their stateroom category; the longer your stay and the more lavish your stateroom, the more points you’ll earn.

Ranging from Adventurer to Discoverer Platinum, their perks include:

• Shore Excursion Advance Booking
• Pre-sailing Dining Reservations
• Dedicated Hosts
• Free Internet
• Le Club Voyage Party Invites
• Spa Discounts of up to 25%
• Free Nights at Sea
• Discounted Deals
• Complimentary Nights

Complimentary nights can be redeemed on cruises which are seven nights or longer. These are available when joining the scheme or progressing to a new level, and must be booked within 12 months of joining the scheme or a new level.

Carnival Cruises – Very Important Fun Person Club

For when VIP isn’t enough, Carnival Cruises have gone a step further with the Very Important Fun Person Club. Made to make their loyalty schemes fun and inclusive, the Very Important Fun Person Club can be joined by anyone – even if they have never sailed with Carnival Cruises before. Carnival Cruises’ loyalty scheme is tiered and works by accruing points with every day you spend on the seas – so even if you’re just lounging by the pool, you’re racking up some points just for getting a tan.

Ranging from blue to gold tier, Carnival’s perks include:

• Free Bottle of Water
• Priority Check-In
• Restaurant and Spa Reservations
• VIFP Parties
• Member Pins
• Laundry Services
• Casino Discounts
• Complimentary Meals in Specialty Restaurants
• Cabin Upgrades
• Charity Donations on Your Behalf

Additionally, loyal cruise fans can enjoy 25%, 50% and 75% discounts on their 25^th, 50^th and 75^th sailings respectively. Naturally, the milestone 100^th cruise is completely free.

Celebrity Cruises – Captain’s Club

With Celebrity Cruises, lavish extravagance is the order of the day. Their Captain’s Club loyalty scheme has some of the most impressively-named tiers on the seas, and the opulence inferred by their titles is just a taste of the luxury they afford you. Earn 3,000 points and you’ll be elevated to the Zenith class – a perk that includes a complimentary 7-night cruise of the Caribbean just for being part of it.

Perks:

• Newsletter Membership
• Advanced Speciality Restaurant Reservations
• On-board Discount Booklet
• Free Gelato Scoop
• Free Internet
• Access to Captain’s Club Lounge
• Dining Discounts up to 25%
• Free Laundry
• Upgraded Bath Amenities
• Priority Theatre Seating
• Complimentary Extended Stay

As with many on this list, it’s a tiered system that works by earning points with every night you spend onboard, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly that happens!

Cunard – Cunard World Club

Many of the perks of the Cunard Line loyalty scheme are reliably and enjoyably old-fashioned – very much in line with the company’s ethos of old-world sophistication. Passengers earn points with every voyage or night spent at sea, and range from commemorative pins and discount laundry, to complimentary meals in the ship’s alternative dining venues.

Perks:

• Telephone Assistance
• Free Internet
• Cocktail Party Invitations
• Preferential Restaurant Invitations
• Priority Check-In
• Free Wine Tastings

The highest tier of the scheme, Diamond, can be reached after 15 cruises or 150 nights at sea. Members of the Cunard World Club are also offered exclusive rates on selected sailings.

Holland America Line – Mariner Society

Touted as “the most generous rewards programme at sea”, Holland America Line’s Mariner Society accumulates Cruise Day credits for every day you cruise and every purchase you make on board, allowing you to partake in some superb rewards. With every meal you eat, glass you clink and spa session you treat yourself to, racking up the points in the process makes them even sweeter.

Ranging from Star Mariner to 2-Star Mariner, perks include:

• Invitation to Mariner Embarkation Lunch
• Complimentary Champagne Brunch
• Discounted Logo Clothing
• Internet Packages
• Wine Packages
• Minibar Packages
• Free Wine Tastings
• Free Laundry Services
• Complimentary Spa Passes
• Free Dining at Pinnacle Grill

MSC Cruises – MSC Voyagers Club

For those with a love of travel and passion for discovery, MSC Voyagers Club is a treat for experienced adventurers looking to get more out of their seafaring. A tiered system that earns points the more you cruise with the line, you can join the club just for booking with MSC for the first time.

From their Welcome Membership to the Black Membership, perks include:

• Invitation to Cocktail Reception
• Discounted Minibar
• Discounted Spa Treatments
• Discounted Speciality Restaurant Reservations
• Discounted Internet Packages
• Free Fruit Baskets
• Free Bottles of Champagne
• Complimentary Spa Sessions.

Members also have exclusive access to a 5% discount on early-booking rates.

Norwegian Cruise Line – Latitudes

Every night at sea counts towards an extra point for members of Norwegian Cruise Line’s tiered loyalty scheme, Latitudes. Built to broaden the horizons of their most loyal customers, they recently updated the programme with two new, exclusive tier levels, Platinum Plus and Ambassador, recognising elite explorers with some seriously lavish rewards.

From Bronze to Ambassador, their perks include:

• Priority Check-In
• On-Board Discounts
• Cocktail Receptions
• In-Cabin Chocolates
• Priority Disembarkation
• Concierge Service
• Free Dinner and Wine in Le Bistro
• Behind-the-Scenes Tour
• Dinner with Officers
• Complimentary 7-Day Cruise

Members also receive discounted rates on selected sailings.

P&O Cruises – Peninsular Club

After 15 nights on board a P&O Cruises ship, you’ll become a member of their Peninsular Club. So, while you’re having the time of your life, laughing, dining and relaxing, you’re earning points to use at a later date. With tiers that go up to the elite Ligurian, they’ve got some seriously special rewards coming your way.

From the Pacific Tier all the way to their Ligurian tier, perks include:

• Priority Restaurant Bookings
• Invitation to On-Board Cocktail Party
• P&O Insurance Discount
• Priority Cabin Access
• Half-Price Laundry
• Annual Gift
• Senior Officer-Hosted Fine Dining

Members of the highest levels of the Peninsular Club can move down a level if they do not maintain their 80-nights-within-three-years minimum.

Princess Cruises – Captain’s Circle

Princess Cruises’ passengers are afforded the royal treatment as part of the Captain’s Circle loyalty scheme. After one cruise, you’ll be part of the club, lavished with rewards even from the first stage, with the Elite tier affording you everything from afternoon tea and wine-tasting to priority disembarkation.

From Gold to Elite tier, perks include:

• On-Board Cocktail Party
• Free Internet Credit
• Exclusive Lounge Access
• Free Dry Cleaning
• Free Laundry
• Priority Disembarkation
• Free Wine Tasting
• Complimentary Minibar
• Upgraded Bathroom Amenities
• Shoe Polishing Service

Elite members are also granted access to exclusive prices on selected cruises.

Royal Caribbean – Crown & Anchor

Every night sailed onboard a Royal Caribbean ship grants Crown & Anchor members an extra point as they move through the tiers. Your points double when you book a suite, with special offers on last-minute sailings, exclusive rates on Balcony rooms and much, much more!

From Gold to Pinnacle tier, their perks include:

• Access to Cocktail Receptions
• Access to Private Departure Lounge with Breakfast
• Invite to Welcome Back Party
• Welcome Gifts
• Special Breakfasts
• Priority Departure
• Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Different tiers of the loyalty scheme are also granted access to different exclusive lounges.

If these perks have piqued your interest or won your loyalty, visit our homepage for a full range of fantastic deals, or call our dedicated team on 0808 2746 777.

Images sourced via RCCL Library, Royal Caribbean Press Center, Princess Cruises Library