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.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
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.
How to Earn Cruise Points
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
Keep Track of Your Points
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.
Gold: 3-29 Cruise Points
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)
Platinum: 30-54 Cruise Points
Benefits and Savings on Land
- Discounts on balcony and suite staterooms
- Status match to Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club and Azamara Club Cruises Le Club Voyage
Onboard Benefits
- Exclusive top tier event
- Robes for onboard use
- Signature Crown & Anchor Society lapel pin
Youth Benefits
- 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.
Emerald: 55-79 Cruise Points
Benefits and Savings on Land
- Same as Platinum level membership
Onboard Benefits
- Welcome waters and a snack on embarkation day plus a drink of choice that must be selected ahead of time online
Youth Benefits
- Same as Gold level membership
Diamond: 80-174 Cruise Points
Benefits and Savings on Land
- Same as Platinum level membership
Onboard Benefits
- 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
Youth Benefits
- 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.
Diamond Plus: 175-699 Cruise Points
Benefits and Savings on Land
- Exclusive Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club call center staff members
- Single supplement cruise fare reduction for members who have over 340 cruise points
Onboard Benefits
- 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
Youth Benefits
- 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.
Pinnacle Club: 700+ Cruise Points
Benefits and Savings on Land
- Complimentary cruise (per household) once a member hits 700 cruise points and every additional 350 cruise points thereafter (see below for details)
Onboard Benefits
- Personalized Pinnacle Club lapel pin
- Pinnacle Club SeaPass Card loaded with exclusive benefits
Youth Benefits
- Onboard offers on SeaPass Card
- Commemorative gift
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 M life Rewards.
Hertz Gold Plus 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.
M life Rewards
As a Crown & Anchor Society member, you’re eligible for a tier status match to M life Rewards.
| Crown & Anchor Society Tier Level | M life Rewards Matching Tier Level |
| Gold | Sapphire |
| Platinum | Pearl |
| Emerald | Gold |
| Diamond | |
| Diamond Plus | Platinum |
| Pinnacle Club |
M life Rewards are valid at Las Vegas destinations as well as regional M life Rewards locations:
- ARIA
- Beau Rivage
- Bellagio
- Borgata
- Delano Las Vegas
- Excalibur
- Gold Strike Tunica
- Luxor
- Mandalay Bay
- MGM Grand
- MGM Grand Detroit
- MGM National Harbor
- New York New York
- Park MGM
- The Mirage
- The Signature at MGM Grand
- Vdara
To activate your reciprocal M Life Rewards status, visit the M Life Rewards desk at any participating location.
When you receive M Life Rewards status through the tier match program, you are not eligible to receive M Life Rewards benefits onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise nor are you eligible for the complimentary cruise offered to Platinum and NOIR M life Rewards members.
Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club members are also eligible for a tier status match to M Life Rewards.
Book Your Royal Caribbean Cruise
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 Ultimate Rewards travel portal or can be transferred to hotel and airline partners for even more value.
| Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Apply Now (at Chase's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Chase Sapphire Preferred, see our thoughts on its benefits, travel insurance coverage, and credit score requirements. Take a look here for our full review. |
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.
Final Thoughts
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.
If you and your spouse are both members do you both earn points? So should that be double the points on a cruise?
Hi Mary,
No, only the first person on the reservation would earn points on a cruise. So, if you and your husband booked 1 room, only one of you would earn points.
Katie,
Can you please advise if you book two rooms for the same cruise, do you earn points for each room?
Hi Dawn,
The cruise points are awarded to the guest/s on the reservation, not to who pays for the room. So, you wouldn’t be able to earn double points. You can earn points for the room that you stay in and the guests staying in the second room would earn the cruise points for their room. Hope that clarifies it for you.