Crown & Anchor Society Review

A loyalty program fit for kings and queens

Let's get one thing out of the way: Royal Caribbean has one of the best loyalty programs among all cruise lines. Alongside Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal has knocked it out of the park with a program that's easy to understand and offers amazing perks. Sure, there are six different tiers and so many benefits that it's hard to keep track of them all, but what you need to focus on is that the top, most elite perks are truly great. We're talking about a free cruise, priority seating at shows, free bags of laundry, and more.

The Crown & Anchor Society is divided into six different tiers. You earn one point by night sailed, and suites give you double the amount of points. These are the six different tiers:

Gold (3-29 points)
Platinum (30-54 points)
Emerald (55-79 points)
Diamond (80-174 points)
Diamond Plus (175-699 points)
Pinnacle Club (700+ points)

Here is a list of the rewards you can get.

You can reach Gold status after just a single three-night cruise. Easy! Reaching Platinum takes a bit more time, but you can get there after five seven-night cruises. To reach the Pinnacle Club, you’ll need one hundred seven-night cruises! That’s a lot, of course, but you can shorten that time significantly by booking a suite. Royal Caribbean also occasionally offers special promotions that can award you extra points.

What we like about the Crown & Anchor Society

Oh, man, there's a lot to like. First off, there's a status match program available across all Royal Caribbean sister brands: Celebrity Cruises, Silversea, and Royal Caribbean. This is something we rarely see in loyalty programs as robust as this one, which offers perks like a free cruise and free Wi-Fi. It's definitely a great way to boost your status into the higher tiers and get closer to the Pinnacle Club, especially since reaching 700 points isn’t easy.

As expected from a loyalty program, there aren’t any mind-blowing perks in the early tiers, but you can still save some money, even as a Gold Member. For instance, Gold Members can save 10% on glasses of wine, beer, and soda onboard, and 25% on any coffee beverage (excluding Starbucks). In addition to all of this, you receive two special coupons per sailing that offer a 50% discount on any glass of wine, beer, or soda. Plus, you get 10% off internet packages, spa services, and some onboard purchases. It’s a lot to keep track of, but it’s great to save money on some pretty nice stuff.

Port Royal Caribbean 2.webp

Perks keep improving as you move up the tiers. Diamond members receive four complimentary daily drinks, up to $14 each, and Diamond Plus members get a complimentary add-on spa treatment. There are plenty of perks, so it's best to check the rewards table for details.

The best perks, as expected, are in the Pinnacle tier. You get a complimentary seven-night Caribbean cruise for two in a balcony cabin. Plus, for every 350 points you accumulate after reaching Pinnacle, you earn another free cruise, which is pretty great. Instead of needing 100 seven-night cruises for a free trip, you now 'only' need fifty, and even fewer if you book a suite. That’s not bad at all! Pinnacle members also enjoy a free unlimited Surf and Stream internet package, daily breakfast at a specialty restaurant (locations vary by ship), a 40% discount on a Deluxe Beverage Package, and more.

However, Priority Boarding/Disembarkation is not included with Crown & Anchor Society membership. This is a perk that is exclusive to suite guests. Pinnacle Club members do get Flexible Arrival, though. According to Royal Caribbean, “with Flexible Arrival, members can arrive at the cruise terminal one hour before or after their pre-selected check-in time”.

What we don’t like about the Crown & Anchor Society

Royal Caribbean activity nightlife.webp — Royal Caribbean©

Honestly, there’s not much to dislike about this loyalty program. While there are many tiers, which can be a bit confusing to keep track of, each one offers something genuinely useful. Even as a Gold member, you can save money on drinks… and saving money is definitely better than just receiving a newsletter or a commemorative pin, right?

I do wish priority embarkation and disembarkation were perks for Pinnacle Club members, but I understand why Royal Caribbean reserves that for suite guests. Similarly, it would be nice if a drink package were included for Pinnacle members, but a 40% discount isn’t bad at all.

All things considered, it’s clear that Royal Caribbean has one of the best loyalty programs out there. What’s even better is that Royal is the largest cruise line in the world, and many passengers exclusively sail with them, making it easier to reach the top tiers. With great ships and itineraries that cater to almost every age and taste, that’s definitely a big plus.