What Do Cruise Line Loyalty Programs Get You?

If you've consistently cruised with only one cruise line, then you are likely enrolled in a loyalty program and have been accruing points that can get you some benefits. Depending on your cruise line of preference, you may not be getting much in return for sticking with with just one. In fact, the level of cruise line loyalty program benefits vary greatly as do the required number of cruises or days cruised to achieve higher levels in the program. Comparison of Cruise Line Loyalty Programs Let's compare the loyalty program levels from the three largest cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Line - VIFP Club With Carnival Cruise Line's VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) loyalty program, you will earn points based on the length of your cruise (1 Day = 1 Point) Example: 5-Day cruise will earn you 5 VIFP Points. Level Points Required Major Benefits Blue First Cruise Member offers Red Second Cruise 1 Liter bottled water Gold 25-74 Points Free drink, Gold pin Platinum 75-199 Points Priority boarding, Logo gift, VIFP Party Diamond 200+ Points Free cabin upgrade, Captain event, Specialty dinner for two Special Features: Carnival Cruise Line will usually move you up to the next tier before or during the cruise where you actually reach the required points instead of waiting for your next cruise. For a full list of VIFP benefits, please visit carnival.com Royal Caribbean - Crown & Anchor Society Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor loyalty program rewards points based on the length of the cruise (1 Night = 1 Point) . Level Points Required Major Benefits Gold 3 Points Priority check-in Platinum 30 Points Exclusive event, Signature lapel pin Emerald 55 Points Welcome gift, Balcony discount Diamond 80 Points Diamond lounge access, 3 nightly drink vouchers, Entertainment tour Diamond Plus 175 Points Behind the scenes tour, Personalized gift, Concierge lounge access, Priority show seating Club Pinnacle 700 Points Pinnacle club gold card, Cruise certificate for 7 night cruise, Personalized lapel pin Special Features: Members will earn double the points if they book a suite Membership levels extend to spouse and children living in the same household Reciprocal membership benefits on sister cruise lines, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises Download a full list of Crown & Anchor Society benefits Norwegian Cruise Line - Latitudes Rewards Norwegian Cruise Line's Latitudes Rewards loyalty program rewards points based on the length of the cruise (1 Night = 1 Point) . Level Points Required Main Benefits Bronze 1-29 Points Priority check-in, Bottle of sparkling wine Silver 30-54 Points Exclusive cocktail party, Onboard discounts Gold 55-79 Points 1 Bottle of water, Priority tender tickets, Priority departure Platinum 80-174 Points Priority embarkation, Specialty dinner for two, 30 Free internet minutes Platinum Plus 175-699 Points Concierge service, Dinner with officers, Priority restaurant & entertainment seating Ambassador 700+ Points Complimentary 7 night cruise, 100 Free internet minutes, Free bag of laundry Special Features: Members will earn one additional point per night if they book a suite or The Haven Members will earn one additional point per night if they book an Latitudes Insider offer For a full list of Latitudes Rewards benefits, please visit ncl.com When is it time to move on? Most cruise line loyalty programs make it quite easy to move up 2 or 3 levels after just a few cruises. There will come a point however, where the next level seems unattainable and it may very well be. So what do you do at this point? There are really only three choices. Increase your frequency of cruises to try to get to the next level quicker. Find opportunities to get additional or bonus points. Start cruising on a new cruise line where you can earn a higher return on every cruise. Now, we are not suggesting to cruise with a particular cruise line or switch from your favorite just to get better benefits. By alternating between a few different cruise lines, you can ex