.jpg)
When you reach the highest levels of loyalty at Royal Caribbean, the cruise line offers some important 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 enjoy status matching.
That means any Royal Caribbean (kick) The brand you have the highest loyalty program level with, you will be recognized as the comparable level of the other two brands. You will only earn status points on the cruise line you actually sail on. Points are not combined, you will be recognized in each brand at a level equivalent to your highest point score.
RELATED: Carnival Cruise joins Royal Caribbean in major weather-related move
Perks and benefits vary slightly between the three brands. It’s more pronounced between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean since these cruise lines offer fairly similar products, while Silversea is a luxury cruise line.
One of the main perks offered to higher-tier loyalty program members on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises is beverage benefits. Royal Caribbean gives Diamond members four drink vouchers (valid for any drink up to $14) each day, while Diamond Plus members get 5 vouchers each day, and Pinnacle members get 6.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or first) cruise.
This is a key benefit introduced during the Covid pandemic while Celebrity Cruises has the same drink privileges for upper tier members that it offered before the pandemic.
Image source&col; Daniel Klein/Come Cruise With Me
Here’s how Celebrity Cruise offers free loyalty drinks
Before the Covid pandemic, Royal Caribbean hosted nightly happy hours in what is now called the Crown Lounge. Formerly known as the Diamond Lounge, these are designated spaces on Royal Caribbean ships available only to Diamond, Higher Crown and Anchor members.
In the past, this was an all-you-can-drink happy hour that ran from 5pm to 7pm, and was then changed to drink vouchers, which can be used at any time of the day, at any bar on board, and even On the perfect day for the cruise line to be on CocoCay’s private island for social distancing reasons.
Royal Caribbean did not want all passengers to congregate in the Crown Lounge, which could pose a health risk. It has maintained its coupon system after the pandemic although it does offer appetizers, snacks and drink service during the old happy hour period.
However, passengers will now have to either use the vouchers or beverage package or pay for their drinks during this period.
Celebrity Cruises still uses a version of the traditional happy hour. Since it doesn’t have a loyalty lounge on board, the cruise line offers Elite members and above the Captain’s Club an all-you-can-drink nightly happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. at most bars on the ship. However, the cruise line recently made a significant change to this offering without any fanfare.
Want the latest cruise news and offers? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.
Celebrity Cruises offers more free drinks
Until recently, Celebrity’s happy hour for first-class Captain’s Club members took place every night except the first night of the cruise. This is the policy that has quietly changed and they now offer happy hour every night.
Elite members and above will continue to enjoy complimentary beverages from the Captain’s Club menu daily from 5-7pm – or choose All Included and enjoy a 10%-15% discount (depending on tier) on an upgrade from Classic to Premium (increased from 5% – 10%) if purchased prior to the cruise, Zenith members will enjoy complimentary premium beverage packages,” the cruise line shared on its website.
It’s a small change, but it brings Celebrity more in line with what Royal Caribbean offers. Royal Caribbean vouchers start on day one and are offered every day of the cruise.
Many passengers prefer the voucher system because they can have their drinks whenever they want rather than cramming drinks into a two-hour period. Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor drink vouchers can also be shared, which are not physical vouchers but are tracked electronically.
This means that a person who does not drink alcohol can give it to a travel companion (although the person holding the vouchers must be present to share their room card to be scanned). Coupons can be used on any drink under $15.
RELATED: Get the best cruise tips, deals and news from our expert cruisers
