Royal Caribbean is undoubtedly one of the most popular cruise lines in Australia and is often regarded as one of the best in the world. If the name sounds familiar, you may have heard of it as the cruise company behind the epic Ultimate World Cruise.
The cruiseliner is renowned for its extravagant selection of onboard amenities and entertainment, including waterslides, zip lines, Broadway shows, golf simulators and even a skydiving simulator. Royal Caribbean’s fleet of mega-ships includes the Quantum of the Seas and the spectacular Ovation of the Seas, both of which sail from Australia. With regular departures from Sydney and Brisbane to destinations across New Zealand and the South Pacific, it’s easy to see why Royal Caribbean cruises are a firm favourite for Aussies seeking a blend of relaxation and adventure at sea.
In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program, Crown & Anchor Society, and how you can earn rewards on your next cruise.
How does Crown & Anchor Society work?
As a member of Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program, you’ll earn Cruise Points that determine your tier in the program. The earn rate is:
- One Cruise Point per night you sail with Royal Caribbean in a stateroom.
- Double Cruise Points when you book a Suite.
The program has six membership tiers, which are unlocked as you accumulate Cruise Points:
- Gold – 3 Cruise Points (US & Canadian guests are auto-enrolled after their first cruise.)
- Platinum – 30 Cruise Points.
- Emerald – 55 Cruise Points.
- Diamond – 80 Cruise Points.
- Diamond Plus – 175 Cruise Points.
- Pinnacle Club – 700 Cruise Points.
As you progress through the tiers, you’ll receive greater member benefits, including discounted beverages and dining, access to onboard events, in-room services, retail discounts and more.
Crown & Anchor Society member benefits
Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program offers dozens of member benefits, depending on your tier. While there are too many to list here, we’ve highlighted some member benefits below.
All members
- 50% off any glass of wine, beer or soda (two coupons per sailing).
- 50% off a Johnny Rockets milkshake (two coupons per sailing on select ships).
- Private departure lounge with continental breakfast.
- 10-25% discount on any glass of wine, beer or soda, depending on tier.
- 10-20% discount on select spa services, depending on tier.
- $2-$6 Casino Royale FreePlay credit, depending on tier.
Diamond and above
- Priority waitlist seating request in the Main Dining Room.
- Priority waitlist for Shore Excursions and select spa services.
- Crown Lounge access with nightly happy hour.
- Complimentary daily drinks, depending on tier.
Youth member benefits
Further cementing Royal Caribbean as a family-friendly cruise line, all Crown & Anchor Society members receive additional Youth Programme Benefits when travelling with children. These include, but are not limited to:
- 50% off one scoop of Ice Cream at the Ice Cream Parlor (on select ships).
- Buy one movie rental in your stateroom and receive the second free.
- Internet discount equal to parents’ benefit.
For the current full list of member benefits, visit the Royal Caribbean website.
How do I join Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program?
Residents of the US and Canada are automatically enrolled into Crown & Anchor Society after their first cruise. But for residents of other countries, including Australia, here’s how to become a Royal Caribbean member.
- Create an account on the Royal Caribbean website using a valid email address.
- Once you’ve created an account, visit your account dashboard. On the top right, click ‘enrol’ to generate your new Crown & Anchor Society member number. You only need to complete this step once – your member number, status and points will now appear on your account dashboard.
And that’s it! Remember, you need to actually cruise to earn Cruise Points – so why not book that relaxing escape you’ve been dreaming about?
Other ways to earn rewards when booking a Royal Caribbean cruise
In the US – where Royal Caribbean is headquartered – there are some credit cards that offer additional benefits when booking a Royal Caribbean cruise.
While such cards aren’t available to Australian residents, you can still earn rewards by using a points-earning credit card for your next cruise purchase.
And by leveraging a sign-up offer, like the one below, you could earn a generous stash of bonus points towards your next holiday. All you have to do is apply, be approved, and meet the minimum spend requirement. A cruise won’t be the only getaway you’ll have to look forward to! Here are some exciting Experiences you can have using points.
Featured image: Fernando Jorge, Unsplash
