Are cruise loyalty programs worth it anymore?

Question
1

I’m in my 30s and getting back into cruising. Over the next five years, I want to work my way up to the top loyalty status with a cruise line. I’m hoping loyalty programs will improve over the next decade, especially with all the changes happening in travel right now.

It would be great to have high status by the time I might have kids in my life. But let’s be real, inflation and travel demand have made things pretty rough out there.

Do you think loyalty programs will ever go back to offering discounts and freebies? Which cruise line used to have the best rewards, and which one do you think could have the best loyalty perks by 2034?

2

Here’s what the original post said for reference:

I’m in my 30s and getting back into cruising. Over the next five years, I want to work my way up to the top loyalty status with a cruise line. I’m hoping loyalty programs will improve over the next decade, especially with all the changes happening in travel right now.

It would be great to have high status by the time I might have kids in my life. But let’s be real, inflation and travel demand have made things pretty rough out there.

Do you think loyalty programs will ever go back to offering discounts and freebies? Which cruise line used to have the best rewards, and which one do you think could have the best loyalty perks by 2034?

This comment was auto-generated. Contact forum admins if needed.

3

Cruise loyalty programs have two paths they can take.

  1. They keep cutting back on perks every few years, like requiring more points to unlock the same benefits.
  2. They make points expire unless you keep cruising regularly.

There’s also a third option where cruise lines hand out too many perks and lose money, but let’s be real—that’s not happening.

It’s just how it goes. When too many people gain status, it’s less special, and companies adjust. With more folks cruising often, it’s getting harder to stand out.

4

I think Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program is the best. You get benefits across sister brands, which is a big plus. Carnival’s higher statuses give you small perks like tote bags, and Holland America offers discounts for extra passengers in your cabin.

But Holland America doesn’t share perks with Carnival’s loyalty program, even though they’re part of the same group. Every program is kept separate, which is kind of annoying.

5

I agree with Royal being a top choice. I cruise solo and love that they give a solo traveler discount. Plus, solo travelers earn extra points—two per night, or three if you’re in a suite. Just avoid solo cabins because those only give you one point per night.

It’s pretty quick to reach Diamond status with Royal (80 points), and the perks are solid. Longer cruises are the way to rack up points faster. I’m Diamond with Carnival too, but I think their perks aren’t as good.

After a 25-night trip on Panorama, I feel more at home with Royal. And the shared status with Celebrity is a great bonus once you hit certain levels.

6

@Yan
Thanks for the advice! I’m leaning towards Royal but just booked my first trip with Princess because they offer access to Glacier Bay in Alaska.

I’ll probably stick with Royal for the next several years. They seem family-friendly, and if I don’t have kids by the time I hit top loyalty, I can still use the points with Celebrity.

7

I think loyalty programs are fading away. Ships are running full these days, so cruise lines are focusing on maximizing profits. They’d rather sell upgrades or rely on casino rewards than give away discounts.

There’s just no need to attract high-loyalty passengers when they can make more money offering perks to others. Casino rewards especially seem to be where the big money is coming from now.

8

I think loyalty programs, like airlines, will keep getting worse over time.

Disney already requires recent cruises to keep your status, and I wouldn’t be surprised if other cruise lines follow.

Celebrity’s program is great at the top tier, but getting there is tough unless you stay in their highest-end suites.

9

@Leighton
Hi! I see you’re a travel agent from your flair.

Do you think there’s any chance cruises and airlines might outsource their loyalty programs to a third party that works across multiple brands?

Sorry if that’s a dumb question. I’m just starting to travel again and want to make sure I’m earning points for future trips.

10

@Sidney
I don’t think so. The whole point is to keep you loyal to one brand. The best you’ll see is reciprocity among sister companies, like Royal does with Celebrity and Silversea.

11

@Sidney
I agree. Loyalty programs are tied to the perks offered directly on the ships, not outside benefits like lounges or merchandise.

And with so many people climbing to high tiers, it’s only natural for cruise lines to water down the perks and maybe even create super-exclusive new tiers.

12

@Leighton
Disney’s been doing this with all their products, not just cruises. I don’t think it’s specific to this industry.

13

I’ve been cruising with Holland America since 1985, and they’ve made a lot of changes. It takes more days to move up a level now, and the perks aren’t as good as they used to be.

If you want to reach the top tiers, be ready to compromise. You’ll need to cruise more often than you might plan, and even then, they might keep raising the requirements.