Royal Caribbean brand quietly makes a key loyalty program change

The cruise line now matches loyalty program status across its fleet, but it has also made another change that passengers are happy with.

Jun 23, 2024 - 19:30

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When you reach the top loyalty tiers on Royal Caribbean, the cruise line offers some significant benefits, but each of its lines has its own set of perks. Members of the Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruise's Captain's Club, and Silversea's Venetian Society all enjoy status matching.

That means whichever Royal Caribbean (RCL) brand you have earned the highest loyalty program level with, you are recognized as the comparable level on the other two brands. You only earn status points on the cruise line you're actually sailing with. The points have not merged, you are recognized on each brand at the equivalent level to the highest one you have earned.

Perks and benefits vary quite a bit between all three brands. They're most noticeable between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean since those cruise lines offer fairly similar products, while Silversea is a luxury cruise line.

One of the key perks offered to higher-tier loyalty program members on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are beverage benefits. Royal Caribbean gives Diamond members four drink vouchers (good for any beverage up to $14) each day, while Diamond Plus members get 5 each day, and Pinnacle members gets 6.

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That's a key benefit that was introduced during the Covid pandemic while Celebrity Cruises has the same beverage perks for top-tier members it offered before the pandemic.

Celebrity offers a limited menu in many, but not all, on-ship bars during happy hour.
Image source: Daniel Kline/Come Cruise With Me

Here's how Celebrity Cruise does free loyalty drinks

Before the Covid pandemic Royal Caribbean hosted nightly happy hours in what is now called its Crown Lounge. Formerly known as the Diamond Lounge, these are dedicated spaces on Royal Caribbean ships only available to Diamond and higher Crown and Anchor members.

In the old days, it was an all-you-can-drink happy hour that lasted from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. That was changed to the drink vouchers, which can be used at any time of day, at any bar onboard, and even at the cruise line's Perfect Day at CocoCay private island for social distancing reasons.

Royal Caribbean did not want passengers all congregating in the Crown Lounge which would have been a health risk. It has kept the voucher system post-pandemic even though it does offer appetizers, snacks, and drink service during the old happy hour period.

Now, however, passengers have to either use vouchers, a drink package, or pay for their beverages during the period.

Celebrity Cruises still uses a version of the traditional happy hour. Since it does not have an onboard loyalty lounge, the cruise line offers Elite and higher Captain's Club members a nightly all-you-can-drink happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at most bars onboard. The cruise line, however, has recently made an important change to that offer without any fanfare.

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Celebrity Cruises offers more free drinks

Until recently, Celebrity's happy hour for top-tier Captain's Club members took place every night except the first night of the cruise. That's a policy it quietly changed and it now offers the happy hour each night.

"Elite and above members will continue to enjoy complimentary drinks from the Captain’s Club menu daily from 5-7 p.m. — or choose All Included and enjoy 10%-15% (depending on tier) off the upgrade from Classic to Premium (increased from 5% - 10%) if purchased pre-cruise. Zenith members enjoy complimentary Premium Beverage Packages," the cruise line shared on its website.

It's a small change, but it puts the Celebrity program more in line with what Royal Caribbean offers. The vouchers offered by Royal Caribbean start on day one and are offered for every day of the cruise.

Many passengers prefer the voucher system because they can have their drinks whenever they want rather than cramming in drinks during a two-hour period. Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor beverages vouchers, which are not literal vouchers but are tracked electronically, can also be shared.

That means someone who does not drink alcohol could give them to a traveling companion (although the person with the vouchers must present to share their room card for scanning). The vouchers can be used on any beverage under $15.

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