Ahoy, Cap'n! These be some mighty fine perks, includin' a free cruise!
I won’t lie, there are so many different loyalty programs out there, each with a different number of tiers and rewards, that it can get hard to keep track of what is what. That’s why we are making these reviews: to focus on what’s important, rate the best programs, and try to select the top rewards, which are usually saved for the highest, most epic tiers. Now, does Celebrity Cruises treat you like a true movie star when it comes to their loyalty program, known as the Captain’s Club? Let’s find out.
Let’s just get one thing out of the way: the Captain’s Club is one of the best loyalty programs out there, and has some great rewards, much like what we find with Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. Celebrity Cruises is, in fact, part of Royal Caribbean’s family, and there is a Loyalty Status Match program amongst the three sister brands: Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Silversea. This is incredibly important, considering that there are so many tiers (six in fact) for the Captain’s Club, and reaching the top tiers can take a while.
The Celebrity Cruises Loyalty Program is divided into six different tiers:
- Preview (0 points)
- Classic (2-149 points)
- Select (150-299 points)
- Elite (300-749 points)
- Elite Plus (750-2999 points)
- Zenith (3000+ points)
Check out this link for a full list of rewards.
You earn points based on your room category and the number of sailing nights. An indoor cabin earns you 2 points per night, while a Penthouse Villa Suite awards 18 points per night, and the Iconic Suite gives you 24 points per night. Keep in mind that your points do not expire, and you retain your membership level even if you go several years without cruising with Celebrity.
What we like about the Captain’s Club
There’s a lot to like about being part of this crew. I have to say, having a status match program is already a pretty big deal. It’s rare to find loyalty programs with several tiers - and one of them offering a free cruise - that also include a status match program. Sure, it’s just between the sister brands, and there’s a good chance you’ll only take advantage of it if you’ve traveled with Royal Caribbean a lot, but at least it’s something.
The initial tiers don’t offer many great perks, but there are a few interesting benefits. At the Select tier, you get a 10% discount on Wi-Fi, two complimentary pressed items, and access to the Captain’s Club Welcome Party. The Elite level gives you a complimentary bag of laundry, bigger discounts on Wi-Fi and drink packages, and access to the Captain’s Club Elite Continental Breakfast, which is a dedicated venue on each ship where you can enjoy breakfast. This is great news, as the venue is usually much less crowded than other restaurants, offering a peaceful and quiet start to your morning.
Of course, the best perks are reserved for the Zenith tier, which you reach after 3,000 points, or a looot of nights traveling with Celebrity Cruises. You’ll enjoy unlimited laundry, priority boarding on embarkation day, 25% discounts on specialty restaurants, unlimited premium Wi-Fi, a free premium beverage package, and a free seven-night Caribbean or Bermuda cruise in a veranda stateroom. It's a lot, seriously, just check the link. These rewards rank among the best ever offered by a cruise line, even though it can take quite a while to reach Zenith status.
What we don’t like about the Captain’s Club
Well, we gave you a sneak peek of what we don’t like at the end of the paragraph above. The main problem is that it can take a while to reach the Zenith tier.
We are talking about 3000 points, and remember that you earn points based on nights sailed and your cabin category. If you stay in a standard inside cabin, you earn two points per night. This means that you’d need 1500 nights onboard Celebrity Cruises to reach the Zenith Status, or 4 years, 1 month, 1 week and 3 days living inside a cruise ship. If you only stay in a veranda cabin, you will earn 3 points per night, which still means a lot of nights “living” with Celebrity Cruises.
Still, we can confidently say that this is one of the best loyalty programs across all cruise lines. If you manage to reach Zenith, you'll save a lot of money on your future cruises. Free premium Wi-Fi, free laundry, and a free premium drink package are amazing benefits, and we’re not even mentioning the free cruise you get (plus, you get another free cruise with every additional 3,000 points). Reaching this level is tough, sure, but it might be worth it.
Captain’s Club FAQ
Does the Captain’s Club offer a status match program?
Yes! The status match only works between sister brands, so you can match your status between Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Silversea.
How do I earn points with the Captain’s Club?
You earn points with Celebrity Cruises' Captain’s Club based on the number of nights sailed and your cabin category.
Does the Captain’s Club offer a free cruise as a reward?
Yes! You earn a free seven-night cruise to the Caribbean or Bermuda after reaching the Zenith tier.
What are the Captain’s Club best rewards?
The best rewards are found at the top-level Zenith tier and include a free premium drink package, free premium Wi-Fi, free laundry, and a free seven-night cruise to the Caribbean or Bermuda.
