Do you have any clients who frequently cruise with a particular line, but are considering trying another? If so, there’s good news to share with them: several cruise companies will now match a traveler’s loyalty status on one cruise line with an equivalent tier in their own program.
Some brands, such as MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages, will match status levels with competitors, while some opportunities exist within a single corporation, such as Royal Caribbean Group’s brands. Here are a few more details to know.
Royal Caribbean Group
This past May, Royal Caribbean Group updated its loyalty status reciprocity program to cover Royal Caribbean (RC sans International now), Celebrity Cruises and Silversea. That means customers who have reached status with one of those three lines can enjoy comparable benefits onboard any of the other two. The resulting Royal Caribbean Group Loyalty Status Match program permits shared perks across Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club and Silversea’s Venetian Society (VS).
This seamless status recognition and tier matching, which is tallied across the portfolio within 7 days of program enrollment, makes expanding to other brands easy. Additionally, it may entice a client to try a new line knowing they will have the same perks they’ve enjoyed elsewhere.
For instance, Royal Caribbean Pinnacle Club members are considered Zenith on Celebrity and 500 VS days on Silversea. Descending from there, respectively, are Diamond Plus, Elite Plus and 350 VS days; Diamond, Elite and 250 VS days; Platinum and Emerald, Select (Platinum benefits on RC) and 100 VS days (also Platinum benefits on RC); and Gold, Classic and 1 VS day.
It also happens that Royal Caribbean will match spouses’ statuses, if one of them is at a level that the other is not. I experienced this personally when, ahead of recent sailing on Utopia of the Seas, the line was able to fast track my wife to the Diamond Plus tier on par with my existing level. All we had to do was call in and provide proof of our shared address.
MSC World Europa in Doha, Qatar
Credit: 2024 MSC CruisesMSC Cruises
MSC Cruises syncs up status levels even more broadly. In an effort to lure loyalists not only from competing cruise lines, but hotels and tour operators as well, MSC offers a status-match program form on its website. Travelers can apply for status matching there, and MSC will follow up once a client is approved and moved to a comparable — or better — loyalty tier.
New loyalty program members will instantly qualify for a 5% rebate on future MSC Cruises voyages and receive special benefits, including photo, Wi-Fi and spa services discounts, as well as free gifts and other savings. As to which status level applicants will receive, MSC’s website reads, “We compare and match you as closely as possible to your current level of benefits. Once matched, you will receive the full benefits offered by the matched tier, including booking discounts.”
To make it even more convenient for the traveler, advisors can enroll clients in MSC Voyagers Club matching on their behalf at MSC Book.
Virgin Voyages offers myriad perks to cruisers who have loyalty status with other lines, then register and sail with Virgin.
Credit: 2024 Virgin VoyagesVirgin Voyages
Like MSC, Virgin Voyages also offers a far-reaching Sailing Club status match, though the line mentions it is available for a limited time to those coming over to Virgin from most other cruise loyalty programs. A form is available online to register, and perks can become available as soon as the first sailing.
The process simply requires booking a new Virgin voyage, registering for the matching program, enrolling in the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club and then sailing with the line’s Blue Extras. Clients might take advantage of members-only offers even prior to sailing.
“Once your registration details confirm your loyalty status and eligible booking details, you'll gain immediate membership and unlock the first bundle of perks, Blue Extras,” according to the line. “You’ll continue to receive Blue Extras until you unlock Deep Blue Extras, our top-tier bundle of perks, on your fifth voyage — in line with the standard Sailing Club program requirements.”
Competing and sister programs that are eligible for matching, per Virgin, extend to Azamara Circle, Carnival VIFP Club, Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club, Disney Castaway, Holland America Mariner Society, Norwegian Cruise Line Latitudes Rewards, Oceania Club, P&O Peninsular Club, Princess Captain's Circle, Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer and Windstar Yacht Club.
