Best Cruise Line Loyalty Programs
Free Cruises and Free Benefits for Repeat Cruise Guests
Nov 11, 2009
The more you cruise, the better the benefits are. Some repeat cruise guests can take advantage of free cruises, complimentary internet, free wine tasting and free specialty dining. Here’s a breakdown of the best cruise line loyalty programs that have free perks for past passengers.
How Cruise Line Loyalty Benefits Works
Traditionally, cruise lines have only kept track of the number of cruises taken by repeat passengers. But today, some cruise lines use a variety of methods to calculate cruise brand loyalty. Alternative programs may include points or credits for nights cruised, booking suites, taking longer cruises or spending money onboard.
Celebrity Cruises – Captain’s Club members earn one ‘tier credit’ per cruise, plus an extra credit for booking a suite or if the cruise is 12 nights or longer.
Holland America – HAL’s Mariner Society members earn one ‘cruise day credit’ for each day cruised and double credits if a suite is booked. In addition for every $300 spent, one extra credit is awarded.
MSC Cruises – The MSC Club members accumulate one point for every night cruised plus one point for every $200 spent onboard.
Royal Caribbean – The Crown & Anchor Society members are awarded a cruise credit for each completed cruise. One cruise credit is also awarded to those that book a suite and another cruise credit can be awarded if the cruise is 12 nights or longer.
Free Cruises for Members
- Carnival Cruise Lines – Repeat passengers are given a free cruise after 100 paid cruises.
- Crystal Cruises – Frequent cruisers are awarded a free cruise at the milestones of 30, 50, 70 and 100 cruises taken.
- Holland America – Mariner Society members that have reached the 4-Star Mariner status, are entitled to have their 3rd and 4th guest travel for free with them in the same room.
- Silversea Cruises – After cruising for a total of 350 days, repeat guests are given a free 7-day cruise.
- Yachts of Seabourn – After a total of 140 days of cruising has been accumulated, club members are entitled to a free 7-day cruise.
Free Benefits for Repeat Cruise Guests
Free Wine Tasting – Celebrity Cruises invites passengers that have 5 ‘tier credits’ to a complimentary wine seminar. Cunard Line passengers must have cruised 7 times to be entitled to free wine tasting. Holland America Line also offers free wine tasting to their 4-Star Mariners (after 200 cruise day credits). And Princess Cruises offers free wine tasting for Captain Circle members that have 15 cruise credits.
Free Specialty Dining – MSC Cruises gives a complimentary dinner for two in a themed restaurant for MSC Club members that have reached ‘silver’ status (22 points). NCL gives a complimentary dinner in Le Bistro that includes a bottle of wine after members have cruised 14 times. Cunard World Club Members need to reach 15 cruises to enjoy a free lunch at specialty restaurant, Todd English.
Free Internet – Princess Cruises’ Captain’s Circle members with only five cruises under their belt get a free 150 minute internet package. Celebrity Cruises gives 90 minutes of free internet to Captain’s Club members that have 10 or more tier credits. And Regent Seven Seas Cruises gives their Society members unlimited free internet if they’ve cruised 21 nights or more.
For most cruise lines, passengers become members after completing their first cruise. But it is up to the member to keep track of cruises, cruise credits and points, as well. A loyalty program manager is available on each ship for questions about enrolment and benefits.
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