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Royal Caribbean’s Loyalty Program – Crown & Anchor Society [In-Depth]

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Royal Caribbean is one of the world’s largest cruise lines and a favorite among many cruise travelers, operating over 25 ships and sailing to over 300 destinations around the world.

One of the things Royal Caribbean is known for is its enormous mega-ships including Symphony of the Seas, which is the largest cruise ship in the world . This “floating city” can accommodate 6,680 passengers and 2,200 crew members! From pools and waterslides to dance classes, ice skating, and even zip-lining, Royal Caribbean ships are bursting with activities.

If you’re sailing in the Caribbean, you might make a stop at the cruise line’s private island, Coco Cay, located in the Bahamas. This island paradise boasts the largest pool in the Bahamas and the tallest waterslide in North America.

Royal Caribbean also loves rewarding loyal guests. After your first cruise, you’ll automatically be enrolled in the Crown & Anchor Society . You’ll earn points each night you spend at sea and will be rewarded with exclusive member benefits.

Here’s everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society including how to earn points and what you’ll get with each tier of membership.

Crown & Anchor Society

The Crown & Anchor Society is Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program. After cruising with Royal Caribbean once, you are automatically enrolled in the program.

Your membership level in the Crown & Anchor Society is based on a points system.

• You’ll earn 1 cruise point for each night you sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise in an interior, ocean view, or balcony stateroom
• You’ll earn 2 cruise points for each night you cruise with Royal Caribbean in a suite

You’ll be able to keep track of your Crown & Anchor Society points in your online account . In the top right corner, you’ll see your status level and total cruise points.

You can also see any upcoming cruises you have as well as a list of past cruises. Each past cruise will show the number of cruise points you earned for that cruise.

Crown & Anchor Society Membership Benefits [Program Levels]

Being a member of the Crown & Anchor Society has some great benefits. Your perks are based on your membership tier, which is determined by the number of points you have earned.

There are 6 levels of membership in the Crown & Anchor Society, and all benefits are cumulative.

Benefits and Savings on Land

• Crown & Anchor Society exclusive rates on select ships and sail dates
• Priority notice on Royal Caribbean news including new ships, new itineraries, and special offers
• Member newsletter: Crown & Anchor Society Exclusive
• Reduced rate upgrades (when available)
• Members-only area of the website
• Email offers

Onboard Benefits

• Special onboard offers
• Membership recognition on SeaPass Card
• Priority check-in
• Private departure lounge with continental breakfast
• Exclusive trivia
• Extra cruise point per night when you pay a single pricing type in a double occupancy stateroom

Youth Benefits

• Onboard offers on SeaPass Card
• Same member status as the parent after the child’s first cruise (except for Pinnacle Club status)
• Discounts on balcony and suite staterooms
• Status match to Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club and Azamara Club Cruises Le Club Voyage
• Exclusive top tier event
• Robes for onboard use
• Signature Crown & Anchor Society lapel pin
• Same as Gold level membership

Hot Tip: Crown & Anchor Society members earn cruise points based on the number of nights sailed and room category. These then determine the member’s tier level. These are different than MyCruise Reward points which are earned by using the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature ® Card.

• Same as Platinum level membership
• Welcome waters and a snack on embarkation day plus a drink of choice that must be selected ahead of time online
• Milestone recognition gift on the cruise where you reach 140 cruise points and on each additional 70 nights (gifts at 140 nights, 210 nights, 280 nights, etc.)
• Chef’s choice gift or amenity
• Priority waitlist for shore excursions and spa reservations
• Diamond club access on select ships
• Priority departure
• Exclusive nightly Diamond event which includes 3 nightly drink vouchers (on ships without a Diamond Club)
• Complimentary specialty coffees with breakfast in either the Diamond Club or dining room
• Behind the scenes entertainment tour
• Priority waitlist seating in the main dining room
• Commemorative gift

Hot Tip: The Diamond Club is open to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members and is available on select ships. When there is a Diamond Club onboard, there won’t be a nightly Diamond event and specialty coffees with breakfast won’t be available in the dining room. Friends and family of eligible members are not allowed in the Diamond Club.

• Exclusive Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club call center staff members
• Single supplement cruise fare reduction for members who have over 340 cruise points
• Priority access for stateroom upgrades
• Choice of additional gifts (must be ordered pre-cruise)
• Behind the scenes tours of galley and bridge and enhanced entertainment tour with VIP theater experience on cruises of 5 nights or more
• Personalized gift or amenity (1 per household)
• Concierge Club access
• Priority seating in theater, ice show, and AquaTheater events
• Meal with an officer for members with over 340 cruise points
• Upgraded bathroom amenities for members with over 340 cruise points
• Bonus gift for members with over 340 cruise points or over 525 cruise points
• Same as Diamond level membership

Hot Tip: Concierge Club is available on select ships and is open to Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members. Friends and family of members are not allowed in the Concierge Club.

• Complimentary cruise (per household) once a member hits 700 cruise points and every additional 350 cruise points thereafter (see below for details)
• Personalized Pinnacle Club lapel pin
• Pinnacle Club SeaPass Card loaded with exclusive benefits

Pinnacle Club Free Cruises

A Pinnacle Club member will receive a free cruise certificate once he or she reaches 700 cruise points and will receive an additional cruise certificate for every additional 350 cruise points earned.

• The cruise certificates earned when the member hits 700 or 1,050 cruise points are good for a balcony stateroom on a 7-night Caribbean cruise or $2,400 towards the purchase of a different cruise.
• The cruise certificates earned when the member hits 1,400, 1,750, or 2,100 cruise points (and every 350 cruise points thereafter) are good for a junior suite stateroom on a 7-night Caribbean cruise or $3,200 towards the purchase of a different cruise.

The free cruise certificate does not cover taxes, fees, and any additional expenses like transportation to/from the cruise port or shore excursions. The certificate can’t be transferred and isn’t valid on holiday sailings or on any ship that is less than 1 year old.

Bottom Line: Royal Caribbean rewards loyal customers with the Crown & Anchor Society. As a member, you’ll earn points for each night you sail (plus bonus points when you book a suite). You’ll then be eligible for benefits and perks based on the number of points you have earned. 

Crown & Anchor Society Partners

As a member of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll have access to benefits at partner companies including Hertz and MGM Rewards.

Crown & Anchor Society members can now enjoy Hertz Gold Plus member benefits  including:

• Counter-free pickup at select locations
• Choice of any car from the Gold Plus area at select locations
• Earn Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points with every rental
• Mobile alert confirmations when your car is ready
• Fast returns and e-receipts

You’ll also be eligible for extra discounts and perks like an additional 10% off base rates through June 30, 2020.

As a Crown & Anchor Society member, you’re eligible for a tier status match to MGM Rewards .

MGM Rewards are valid at Las Vegas destinations as well as regional MGM Rewards locations:

• Beau Rivage
• Delano Las Vegas
• Gold Strike Tunica
• Mandalay Bay
• MGM Grand Detroit
• MGM National Harbor
• New York New York
• The Signature at MGM Grand

To activate your reciprocal MGM Rewards status, visit the MGM Rewards desk at any participating location.

When you receive MGM Rewards status through the tier match program, you are not eligible to receive MGM Rewards benefits onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise nor are you eligible for the complimentary cruise offered to Platinum and NOIR MGM Rewards members.

Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club members are also eligible for a tier status match to MGM Rewards.

Using the right credit card can give you so much value out of every purchase. So when you have a large purchase like a cruise , it’s smart to think twice about how you’re going to pay for it.

While you may be thinking that using the Royal Caribbean card would be the best option (since it’s got the same name as the cruise you’re booking), you’d be wrong . While this card can help you earn some points to use as onboard credit or on cruise discounts, there are better options out there.

With the Royal Caribbean card, you can earn 10,000 bonus points after making a purchase within 90 days. That’s only worth $100 in onboard credit .

Compare that to a card that earns flexible points like the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card . Not only does this card earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards Points which can be redeemed through the Chase Travel portal or can be transferred to the Chase transfer partners for even more value.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel SM .
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel SM , 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel SM . For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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Chase Ultimate Rewards

No matter what credit card you use, you can also get extra bonuses and perks like onboard credit or complimentary specialty dinners by booking your cruise through the right website.

Hot Tip: Be prepared! Take a look at our printable cruise packing list before you set sail.

Royal Caribbean is a popular cruise line for a reason. It offers huge mega-ships with incredible amenities and sails to fantastic destinations all over the world.

If you’ve cruised on Royal Caribbean in the past, you’re automatically a member of the Crown & Anchor Society. This means you’re eligible for extra perks and bonuses every time you sail with Royal Caribbean.

For each night you spend onboard, you’ll earn cruise points. Those points determine your Crown & Anchor Society status level. With each new level, the benefits get bigger and better.

Whether it’s your first time cruising with Royal Caribbean or your 101st, make sure you know which Crown & Anchor Society benefits you’re entitled to so you can make the most of each day at sea.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of crown & anchor society membership.

Once you’re a member of the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll receive a variety of benefits based on your level of membership. These benefits can range from cruise discounts and priority boarding to behind the scenes tours and even a free cruise!

How many points do you get for each cruise on Royal Caribbean?

The number of cruise points you’ll earn for each cruise is determined by the length of the cruise and your stateroom level. You’ll earn 1 point per night for each cruise in an interior, oceanview, or balcony stateroom. You’ll earn 2 points per night in a suite. So, a 7-night cruise in an interior room will earn 7 cruise points and a 7-night cruise in a suite will earn 14 points.

How do I find my Crown & Anchor number?

Your Crown & Anchor number is available in your online account — just look in the upper, right-hand corner. If you can’t get into your account or don’t have one, you can submit an online form to request that your number be sent to you.

What are the loyalty levels on Royal Caribbean?

There are 6 levels of membership in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society:

• Gold: 3-29 cruise points
• Platinum: 30-54 cruise points
• Emerald: 55-79 cruise points
• Diamond: 80-174 cruise points
• Diamond Plus: 175-699 cruise points
• Pinnacle Club: 700+ cruise points

Are Crown & Anchor Society cruise points the same as MyCruise Rewards points?

No, they are 2 different types of points. Crown & Anchor Society members earn cruise points that determine their level of membership. Royal Caribbean cardholders earn MyCruise® Rewards points that they can redeem for onboard credit and cruise discounts.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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Full Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society (Benefits, How it Works, and More)

Are you someone who is “loyal to Royal”? If so, then you are likely already a member of the cruise line’s Crown & Anchor Society.

While it sounds like some secret club at a private college, Crown & Anchor is Royal Caribbean’s loyalty rewards program. Anyone can be a member and earn points for taking cruises. The more points you earn, the higher your status on the ship, which leads to more benefits and rewards.

Put simply, if you like to sail with Royal Caribbean, then the program can grant you all sorts of freebies like special gifts, discounts, and even free cruises.

Still, there is much more to know about the ins and outs of the program, including questions that many people have about how it works.

For more details on the Crown & Anchor Society and answers to frequently-asked questions, we have you covered below…

In This Article...

What Is the Crown & Anchor Society?

Crown & Anchor is the name of Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program for its cruise guests. With each cruise taken, passengers earn points with the program. The more points earned, the higher the status level within Crown & Anchor.

Earn high enough status and you can receive a number of freebies, rewards, and benefits. The perks can include everything from special discounts and rates on cruises to invites to member-only functions to free drinks, free cruises, and more.

Why Should I Join the Program? How Do I Sign Up?

Frankly, there is no reason not to sign up for Crown & Anchor. There is no cost to enroll, and you have the ability to earn a number of perks without doing anything extra. After all, if you’re going to be taking a cruise anyway, then you may as well be rewarded for doing so.

If you want to sign up, you actually don’t even have to do anything. New U.S. guests are automatically enrolled after their first cruise with Royal Caribbean. If you have sailed before on Royal Caribbean but aren’t a member, then you can call the company at 1-800-526-9723 (outside the U.S./Canada: 541-285-9723).

As well, you can visit the Loyalty Ambassador on your cruise to sign up. Just ask Guest Services for the location once onboard.

How Do I Earn Points?

It’s extremely simple to earn points toward status. All you have to do is take cruises. Members are awarded one point for every night sailed. So if you sail a seven-night cruise, then you earn seven points. A three-night trip is worth three points.

There is one tweak to know — you earn double points if you sail in suite accommodations. So book a suite on a week-long cruise and you’ll earn 14 points instead of just seven.

In addition, we have seen promotions from Royal Caribbean from time to time that award double points for any sailing as an incentive to book.

Do Points Expire or Does Status Level Fall?

No. There is no mention of points expiring or losing status due to not sailing the cruise line for an extended period. In fact, we personally have points going back nearly a decade from past cruises.

Obviously it can take years to build up enough points to earn the higher status levels. Having points that expire would make this incredibly difficult to do. Thankfully, it’s not something members have to worry about.

What Status Levels Are There in the Crown & Anchor Society?

In total, there are six levels within Crown & Anchor. Each level comes with more benefits. All members start out at Gold level, with the highest rank being the Pinnacle Club.

• Gold (3 Points) : The first level of the Crown & Anchor program, which is awarded after sailing three nights.
• Platinum (30 Points) : Sail 30 nights — or 15 in a suite — and reach Platinum status aboard the ship.
• Emerald (55 Points) : It takes 55 points to reach Emerald status, or nearly two months on the ship in a typical cabin.
• Diamond (80 Points) : After 80 points you reach Diamond status, which is where the benefits really begin to ramp up.
• Diamond Plus (175 Points) : Spend nearly six months on a Royal Caribbean ship and you’ll reach Diamond Plus. Here, you get early access to theaters, personalized gifts, and more.
• Pinnacle Club (700 Points) : The highest level in the Crown & Anchor Society is the Pinnacle Club. It takes “only” about two years of sailing in a balcony cabin to reach this level.

What Are the Crown & Anchor Society Benefits?

No matter what level you reach, there are some benefits awarded to your status. Obviously, the higher your level, the more perks and rewards that you will see.

For instance, members who are Diamond level and above now receive drink vouchers for daily drinks at bars around the ship. Pinnacle Club members receive certificates for free cruises. And Platinum level and above receive robes to use on the ship.

Below is a list of benefits by status level. Keep in mind that benefits may change from time to time. 

Note: As of August 24, 2021 Royal Caribbean also offers free drinks for Diamond members and above:

“We’re excited to now offer our Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members beverage vouchers for drinks up to $13. Each day of the cruise, Diamond members receive four vouchers, Diamond Plus members receive five vouchers, and Pinnacle Club members receive six vouchers. These can be used at any bar, at any time, in the Diamond Lounge during Happy Hour or in our private destinations. Consider it happy hour all day long!”

Do I Get Special Fares for Being a Member?

Yes. One of the perks listed is “Crown & Anchor Exclusive Rates” for cruises. This applies to all members from Gold through Pinnacle Club. This does not mean you’ll get a discount off of every cruise. The terms and conditions says it applies only to “specific ship and sail dates.”

In addition, Platinum level and above can see discounts on balcony and suite cabins as a benefit of being a member.

What if I Reach a New Status During a Cruise?

So say you have 25 points in the Crown & Anchor Society and are booked on a seven-day sailing. At the end of the trip, you’ll have 32 points, putting you in the Platinum category. How does that work regarding your benefits and status? Do you get them mid-trip?

Royal Caribbean is clear that “next tier benefits will be applied on the following sailing after points status has been earned.”

In other words, you only get the benefits of being in a higher status tier on your next sailing.

Do I Earn Points for Booked Cruises?

Have several cruises booked and hope that it bumps up your status level? That’s not the case. With the Crown & Anchor Society, points are earned after the sailing is completed.

“Cruise Points are awarded to the guest whose name is entered into the reservation at the time of booking and completes the sailing.”

So if you have enough trips booked to be in a higher status but have yet to actually sail the days, then you won’t earn points for the trips just yet.

What if I Have a Past Cruise Without Points?

Have you sailed with Royal Caribbean in the past, yet don’t have the points showing in your Crown & Anchor membership? In that case, it’s a good idea to contact the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean’s website said that “requests to add missing cruise points may be submitted up to 12 months after the debarkation date of your sailing.”

Even if you have a past trip that’s beyond one year ago, it certainly doesn’t hurt to contact the cruise line and ask about receiving credit.

How Do I Contact the Crown & Anchor Society?

Have a question about the program? You can contact Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program via the following channels:

• Phone (U.S./Canada): 1-800-526-9723
• Phone (Outside U.S./Canada): 541-285-9723
• Email: [email protected]

Does Status Apply to Other Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines like Celebrity?

Royal Caribbean is a sister line to other cruise lines owned by its parent company, namely Celebrity Cruises.

One nice perk is that your status can extend to the other cruise lines . So your status earned on Royal Caribbean also applies to Celebrity. And the status earned on Celebrity can move over to Royal. You’ll want to call the cruise line for details on how to attain your status.

Note that points earned on Celebrity won’t translate over to Royal Caribbean. So if you have 50 points on Royal Caribbean and sail for a week on a Celebrity cruise, you won’t then have 57 points on Royal Caribbean after the trip.

You can read more about the Crown & Anchor Society here .

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How to book a cruise using points and miles

If you're eager to embark on a cruise and have accumulated points, you might not have to pay for your next trip.

In this guide, we will explore strategies to help you optimize your points and miles to reduce the cost of your cruise vacation. We'll discuss leveraging your existing loyalty programs and the best ways to unlock savings on your cruise fare.

Here are the top ways to use your points and miles for a cruise.

Should you book a cruise with points and miles?

While various options are available for redeeming your points and miles toward a cruise, it is important to note that the value you receive may not always be optimal (i.e., less than TPG's valuations ). In the realm of travel rewards, there are often more lucrative opportunities to leverage your points and miles for flights or hotel stays, where the value and flexibility tend to be higher.

If you have American Express, Capital One, Chase or Citi points, you might be able to get a redemption value of 1 to 1.5 cents per point for cruises. In this case, you'd get $100 or $150 off your cruise fare by redeeming 10,000 points. While this may seem high, it falls short compared to the value some travelers get when redeeming points for luxury hotels or first-class flights.

Some cruise lines have their own credit cards, but a few have formed partnerships with other brands. For example, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points on Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruises . These partner options are often limited, though, and may require loyalty to a specific travel brand.

You can always use points to reduce travel expenses for any cruise vacation. For example, you can use American Express Membership Rewards points , Bilt Rewards points , Capital One miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Citi ThankYou points to cover costs associated with airfare, hotels or rental cars for your cruise. This often proves to be a better use of your rewards.

However, if you really want to use your accumulated points to reduce your cruise costs, here are various options for booking a cruise with points and miles.

Book a cruise with credit card points

You can use certain credit card points to book a cruise. Typically, you will be required to make the reservation through the portal provided by your credit card issuer, but some require calling a booking center. You may also be able to charge the cruise to your card and then redeem your rewards for a statement credit against some (or all) of that purchase.

Here's how you can book a cruise on points with several major credit card companies.

Amex Travel Pay with Points

If you have an eligible American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points , you can use those points to cover the cost of your cruise through the Pay with Points program . With this program, you can redeem Membership Rewards points at a value of 0.5 to 0.7 cents per point for most travel purchases. However, we value each Membership Rewards point at 2 cents when you maximize the program's transfer partners, so you would be using them at a lower value.

The Amex Travel portal has a user-friendly search feature that allows you to explore different cruises based on specific filters such as date, destination, cruise line and trip duration even before you log in.

To book a cruise using Pay with Points, log in to the travel portal and do the following:

• Select your preferred cruise itinerary and cabin.
• Enter your passenger information.
• When it's time to check out, enter your Membership Rewards-enrolled American Express card information and select "Yes" to determine how many Membership Rewards points your account has.
• You can pay for the entire cruise using Pay with Points or erase a portion of the cost and pay the rest with cash.

Alternatively, you can look up the cruise you want and call 800-297-5627 to book directly with the Amex Travel team over the phone.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal is similar to Amex Travel, but the redemption value is higher.

Points from the $95 per year Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are worth 1.25 cents each toward travel booked through Chase, while points from the $550 per year Chase Sapphire Reserve are worth 1.5 cents.

Unfortunately, Chase's booking system doesn't let you book cruises directly through Chase's online Ultimate Rewards portal. You'll have to call the Ultimate Rewards booking hotline and talk to someone in the cruise reservations department instead.

To book a cruise and pay with Chase Ultimate Rewards points:

• Find the cruise itinerary and availability you want directly through the cruise line's website . If you have a specific cabin in mind, have that information handy. Unfortunately, reports indicate that you cannot book Disney Cruise Line sailings with Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Call a Chase travel specialist directly at 855-234-2542, and be prepared to walk the adviser through the cruise line booking page on their end so they can find and book the cabin and options you want. Cruise advisers are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
• Your cruise adviser will set up the itinerary for you and, upon checkout, will ask you how many points you want to apply against your final balance.

Citi ThankYou Rewards

The Citi ThankYou portal allows cardholders to use their ThankYou points as credit toward a cruise. Some cardholders can redeem points at a value of 1 cent apiece.

Finding your cruise within the Citi ThankYou portal can be frustrating because the search functionality isn't very robust. Travelers can only search for cruises by destination or cruise line, not by available dates.

To book a cruise using Citi ThankYou points:

• Log in to the travel portal by navigating through your Citi account (or directly at thankyou.com) and clicking on "Cruises" on the travel booking page.
• Then, filter by cruise line or destination. (Note that you can't search for cruises by a specific date.)
• Once you've identified the cruise you wish to book, call 800-842-6596 to speak directly with a Citi ThankYou travel specialist, who will allow you to apply Citi ThankYou points toward the final cost at checkout.

You can also use Citi ThankYou points to book a Disney cruise if you desire.

Capital One miles

Capital One offers more flexibility and a more straightforward redemption process than Amex, Chase and Citi. Unless you transfer your miles to an airline or hotel partner , each mile is worth a flat 1 cent toward travel.

Redeeming points doesn't require booking through a portal , thus freeing you up to book your cruise directly with the company or via a travel agent to get extra perks. This option also lets you pursue promotional package rates or discounts that might not be available through the Amex, Chase or Citi portals.

The award redemption process is straightforward: Use the card when paying for your cruise package, then log in to your account and use the "cover your travel purchases" option to apply your mileage balance as a credit toward the total amount you owe on your credit card statement.

You can earn Capital One miles with cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . Each has varying features, so do some research to decide which card is best for you.

Related: Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X: Worth the extra $300 in annual fees?

Book a cruise with airline miles

You can also book cruises using airline miles. However, like other options, the value of your travel rewards is often underwhelming. The following travel providers offer cruise portals that allow you to redeem rewards:

• American Airlines Cruises
• Delta Cruises
• United Cruises

For example, in the United Cruises portal, this seven-night Disney cruise out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, costs 151,571 United MileagePlus miles per person for an interior cabin — worth $2,198 by TPG's current valuation for United miles.

In contrast, the same room and sailing dates cost just $1,061 per person when paid for with cash — clearly a better value than paying with United miles.

Use cruise cobranded credit card points to book

With cruise line cobranded credit cards , you can earn points for purchases that you can then use to offset the cost of your cruise booking. However, this might not be your best option for earning and redeeming points.

Here, you'll want to be sure you can use your points toward the cruise fare instead of only onboard purchases. For example, the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® Card offers a welcome bonus of 25,000 MyCruise Rewards points after spending $1,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of card membership to use on your next cruise. Your redemption choices vary.

For instance, you can redeem 25,000 points toward your companion's cruise fare on a three- or four-night Royal Caribbean cruise (certain conditions apply, i.e., minimum available ocean-view cabin and may not exceed $500 in value). Or, you can redeem 30,000 points for a $300 discount on a Celebrity Cruises voyage. To learn more about how to redeem MyCruise Rewards points, check out this PDF .

The information for the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Redeem Marriott Bonvoy points

In 2021, Marriott announced that The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection would participate in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Members can redeem points on Ritz-Carlton cruises and enjoy elite status perks on voyages. However, the redemption rates aren't great.

You can redeem a minimum of 180,000 points toward a flat $1,000 savings on the cruise fare. After that, you can redeem increments of 90,000 points toward $500 in savings, up to the entire cruise fare. This redemption rate equates to about 0.56 cents per Marriott point, well below TPG's valuation of 0.84 cents per point.

Related: 17 ways to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points

Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy's Cruise with Points program allows you to cash in Marriott points for credit toward any cruise that's bookable on the Cruise with Points website.

You can redeem points in the following denominations, all valued at 0.4 cents per point:

• 63,000 points for $250 off your cruise fare
• 125,000 points for $500 off
• 250,000 points for $1,000 off
• 625,000 points for $2,500 off
• 1,250,000 points for $5,000 off

To redeem Marriott points for a cruise, call 1 800-596-0452.

Use points and miles for pre-cruise hotels and flights

You might make better use of your points and miles by redeeming them for flights to your departure port and for pre- and post-cruise hotel stays instead of for the cruise fare itself. With flights and hotels, you can often get more than 1 or 1.5 cents per point, unlike cruises, which generally provide lackluster redemption rates.

For example, you could transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus and get 3 cents per mile by booking a flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Miami International Airport (MIA). If you're an elite member or have a United credit card , you might even have access to special member award pricing .

Or, you could use 12,000 to 18,000 World of Hyatt points or an annual Category 1-4 award from the World of Hyatt Credit Card to pay for a room at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport in Florida before heading to Port Canaveral the next day.

By using points on this given one-night stay, you're getting 2.5 cents per point.

Bottom line

It isn't always easy to get great value for your points and miles when you use them toward cruise redemptions — at least, not the way you can for first-class flights. However, redeeming your points for free or discounted cruise travel is possible.

That said, you should steer clear of using airline miles or hotel points for cruises if you want to redeem your rewards for maximum value. Those are better used on flights and overnight stays.

It's a similar story for credit card currencies. Capital One offers the most flexibility of all the major issuers because you can book your cruise directly or through a travel agent . With multiple booking options, you can take advantage of additional perks and access promotional rates from travel agents and online retailers that aren't available through credit card portals. You could even stack those deals for additional savings by booking via an airline portal to earn miles.

Once booked, the Capital One award redemption process is straightforward; simply apply your mileage balance as a credit toward your total credit card statement. Each mile is worth a flat 1 cent toward travel, so you always know the value for comparison purposes.

If you ask me, that's how I'd book a cruise with points and miles to get the best value.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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How do I earn and redeem Royal Caribbean MyCruise® Rewards?

You can earn 2 points for every USD 1 spent on qualifying purchases with Royal Caribbean®, Celebrity Cruises® and Azamara Club Cruises® and 1 point for every USD 1 spent on all other purchases. 

Enrol in Bank of America online banking to access the rewards redemption site. You'll be able to view your MyCruise® Points balance and choose from dozens of cruise rewards.

You'll need to redeem them at least seven days prior to sailing, and mention your reward when you call Royal Caribbean®, Celebrity Cruises® or Azamara Club Cruises® to book your reservation.

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Royal Caribbean cuts back a popular loyalty program benefit

S tatus matters on cruise ships. Many passengers sail regularly on one cruise line in order to earn better perks in its loyalty program.

Royal Caribbean arguably has the best loyalty benefits of any cruise line through its Crown and Anchor Society. Passengers earn one point for every night sailed with the cruise line, two if they sail solo or in a suite, and three if they sail solo in a suite.

Related: Royal Caribbean has a new gift for loyalty program members

There are multiple tiers to the program, but the real benefits kick in when you earn 80 points and achieve "Diamond" status. That gives you onde day of free internet access per cruise, four free drink vouchers per day that can be redeemed for any drink up to $14, and access to the Crown Lounge.

The Crown Lounge, formerly known as the Diamond Lounge, offers pastries at breakfast, a coffee machine that makes fancy espresso drinks, and a concierge who can help with dining or show reservations. It also hosts a happy hour from 5-8 p.m. where drinks are served and a small buffet or hot and cold appetizers are offered.

Before the pandemic, Royal Caribbean did not offer Diamond members the drink vouchers and drinks were unlimited during the happy hour period in the lounge. Now, the vouchers are accepter all day at every bar on the ship as well as at its private islands, and the happy hour drinks require a voucher, a drink package, or they are charged for.

Royal Caribbean offered big loyalty perks

During its return to sailing after the pandemic, Royal Caribbean enticed people to take a cruise by offering double points. If you sailed solo, you actually got four points per night while sailing solo in a suite earned you six.

That helped a lot of passengers climb the ranks of the loyalty program with many achieving Diamond much faster than would have otherwise. The cruise line also saw an increase in the number of people who reached Diamond Plus (175 points) and the revered Pinnacle (700 points) status.

During the double points period, a solo traveler in a regular room would earn 28 points on a single sailing as would two people sailing in a suite. If you sailed solo in a suite, you would have earned 42 points for a single week-long sailing.

The promotion was a great success as it enticed people to book cruises, but it had some unexpected side effects. Royal Caribbean now has a lot more Diamond or higher passengers and that sometimes causes problems. 

Royal Caribbean has a capacity problem

On some recent sailings, Royal Caribbean has been forced to limit access to the Crown Lounge during the Happy Hour period. In these cases, Diamond members are not allowed in. That's in the fine print on the cruise line's loyalty program page, but the impacted passengers see it as losing a perk they had earned.

"Royal Caribbean may limit or remove access to the Crown Lounge as needed toaccommodate special sailings including, but not limited to: Charters, Crossings,Repositionings, Inaugurals, Trade Events, and President’s Cruises," the cruise line posted in small type on its website.

The problem is that certain cruises attract customers more likely to have top-tier status. Longer cruises including transatlantic generally attract an older clientele because people who are retired are more likely to be able to go on sailings that can be two weeks or longer.

It has generally been a fairly rare situation when Royal Caribbean has been forced to limit Crown Lounge access. In the cases where it has happened, Diamond members can still use the lounge outside of the 5-8 p.m. happy hour.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship.

• Royal Caribbean invited me to spend three complimentary nights on its new Icon of the Seas  in January.
• My eight favorite amenities included the waterpark and jazz bar.
• I've yet to see most of the amenities on my list on other cruise ships.

There's a reason Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship is only operating seven-night sailings .

The 1,196-foot-long, 20-deck Icon of the Seas is packed with bars, restaurants, and things to do. Any shorter of an itinerary, and you might not have time to experience all it has to offer.

If you're a frequent cruiser — especially with Royal Caribbean — amenities like the mini-golf course and water playground may not seem exciting.

But of all the activities the new world's largest cruise ship has to offer, my eight favorites are, for the most part, ones I've yet to see on another vessel.

Take a look at what made the cut.

1. The six-slide waterpark

It wouldn't be a roundup of Icon of the Seas' best amenities without a mention of its waterpark.

Plenty of family-friendly cruise ships have waterslides, but few have six — or even one that requires a multi-person raft.

However, if you don't like the feeling of your stomach dropping, I'd advise skipping the 46-foot-tall drop slide.

2. The adult-only suspended infinity pool

The 7,600-guest Icon of the Seas has seven pools and nine hot tubs. As a kid-fearing adult, I loved the grown-ups-only suspended infinity pool.

I spent my time there perched at one of its in-water loungers, contently splashing my legs around the water, wondering if I actually hated cruises.

While I would've preferred a quieter atmosphere (the DJ did not, in fact, play smooth jazz), the pool's views, day beds, and lack of screaming children were hard to beat.

3. The Crown’s Edge thrill 'ride'

There's no need to grab coffee before harnessing up for the part-zipling, part-agility Crown's Edge course. You'll be jolted awake when the floor drops from beneath your feet, leaving you dangling 154 feet above the ocean before the zipline kicks in.

Unfortunately, it comes with two costs: $49 and a spike of anxiety.

4. The 'Wizard of Oz' and 'Aqua Action!' shows

If you hate cruise shows, Icon of the Seas could make you change your mind.

The ship's riff on Broadway-approved "Wizard of Oz" — 16-piece live orchestra and flying bed included — delighted me, a hater of most musicals.

For something less traditional, the semi-circle AquaDome theater hosts a compelling multi-disciplinary swim, dive, and aerial show reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil.

It's the first show-at-sea I've seen with a waterfall and nine-foot-tall robotic arms, and so far, it's one of my favorites.

5. The live jazz bar

Ya like jazz? So do I.

Icon of the Seas has plenty of live music venues — including rowdy karaoke and dueling pianos bars, if that counts. But if you're a jazz fan or looking for a peaceful nightcap, none of these options will top the live music at Lou's Jazz 'n Blues.

6. The customizable Mediterranean-style wrap at the five-stall food hall

The mega-ship's food hall wasn't nearly as diverse or exciting as the one on Norwegian Prima .

But compared to the rest of my mediocre meals on Icon of the Seas — including dinner at a specialty restaurant — my complimentary pork pita wrap from the food hall's Mediterranean-inspired stall was admittedly pretty decent.

The Cava -like meal was balanced, succulent, and filling. Ending it with a strawberry nutella crepe from one of the vendors didn't hurt either.

7. The Pearl Café with sweeping ocean views

Everyone takes a picture inside the Pearl . But few people know that the best part about the glittering structure isn't what's inside it — it's what's behind it: the Pearl Café.

Admittedly, the food wasn't standout.

But it's 2024. In this era, we don't dine for food. We dine for vibes . And the Pearl Café was definitely "serving" (even with its mediocre sandwiches).

At first glance, I had snubbed the dining and lounge area as a rip-off of a generic airport coffee shop. But during my three days on Icon, I returned to the centrally located space more often than expected. It turns out it's a great place to get some work done.

8. The lounging pods that tower above passerbys

Speaking of vibes, if you're looking for a secluded place to drink (as in, not the swim-up pool bar), few will top the Overlook Pods, perched just behind the AquaDome.

If you want to feel like you're drinking in a nest atop a tree, bring your coffee-infused cocktail from nearby Rye and Bean to one of the elevated pods. .

Just don't drink too much. What goes up must come down. And to get down from the pods, you'll have to take the stairs.

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