Get ready to revolutionize your cruise loyalty experience! Royal Caribbean Group is shaking up the game with its upcoming Points Choice program, and it’s a game-changer for travelers. But here’s where it gets controversial—will this flexibility truly benefit loyal cruisers, or could it dilute the value of hard-earned points? Let’s dive in.
Royal Caribbean Group has finally unveiled the details of its highly anticipated Points Choice loyalty program, set to launch on January 30, 2026. This innovative system allows members of its three flagship brands—Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and the luxurious Silversea Cruises—to seamlessly transfer their loyalty points across programs. Announced in late 2025, this move builds on the company’s 2024 Status Match initiative, which already enabled guests to align their loyalty tier levels across brands. But this time, it’s all about the points.
Here’s the kicker: Under Points Choice, if you’re a Crown & Anchor Society member sailing with Celebrity Cruises for the first time, you can choose to apply your earned points to either program. This flexibility aims to empower guests while encouraging them to explore all three brands. But is this a win-win, or could it complicate the loyalty landscape? We’ll let you decide.
How Points Choice Works
The program kicks in for cruises departing on or after January 30, 2026. To participate, guests can request a Points Choice form via the Royal Caribbean app or website after their cruise. They’ll have 14 days post-disembarkation to submit their choice, provided they’re already enrolled in the desired loyalty program. The earning criteria remain unchanged—points are still based on cabin category and nights sailed. However, if you want to transfer points to a different brand, you’ll need to consult the points exchange table, which outlines conversion rates between Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea.
For example, booking a Sunset, Owner, or Aqua-Theater Suite on Royal Caribbean earns you 2 points in Crown & Anchor, but those same points could translate to 8 in Celebrity’s Captain’s Club or 1 in Silversea’s Venetian Society. And this is the part most people miss: The exchange rates could significantly impact the value of your points, depending on how you choose to use them. Is this added complexity worth the flexibility? Let us know in the comments.
Why Loyalty Programs Matter
Across the cruise industry, loyalty programs are a big deal. They offer perks like early check-in, priority reservations, and exclusive access to new itineraries. Members often enjoy private events, free amenities, and more. Cruise lines rely on these programs to foster repeat bookings, but changes can sometimes backfire. Take Carnival Cruise Line’s switch from its VIFP program to Carnival Rewards, which sparked outrage by prioritizing guest spending over nights sailed. The fallout was so intense that the cruise line’s president had to address it publicly.
So, what do you think? Will Royal Caribbean’s Points Choice program enhance the loyalty experience, or is it a risky move? Share your thoughts below—we’re eager to hear your take on this bold new approach to cruise rewards.
