Royal Caribbean Upgrades Crown & Anchor Society

[mercedes]

Royal Caribbean International today announced new enhancements to its Crown & Anchor Society guest loyalty program. According to the cruise company, the updated program better recognizes the cruise line's valued loyal guests and includes a migration from cruise credits to Cruise Points, creating a new way to earn membership status; two new member tiers, which include additional benefits; and a more personalized member section on the website. The enhancements to the Crown & Anchor Society take effect for sailings on or after January 21, 2011, and are the second part to the program's evolution, which first introduced additional benefits in June 2010."These latest enhancements to the Crown & Anchor Society will further help recognize our loyal guests when they sail with us," said Betsy O'Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. "We continuously listen and respond to our members' feedback and have updated our loyalty program to provide a more equitable way for our members to advance to the next level. This program evolution is part of the Royal Advantage, our dedication to innovate our amazing ships and unprecedented programs to offer guests the best cruise vacation. It's important to understand that Crown & Anchor Society members will continue to enjoy all of their current program benefits and status, plus having the opportunity now to advance to the next tier even faster than before. For this one-time conversion, we have grandfathered everyone's status in the program."

The program's first enhancement is the transition from 'cruise credits' to 'Cruise Points.' The new system to earn tier status when sailing with Royal Caribbean International is based on one cruise point for every night spent aboard one of the cruise line's ships. The more nights members spend onboard, the more points they can earn. Additionally, Crown & Anchor Society members can earn double points when they pay for suite accommodations.

Furthermore, two new status levels are being introduced as part of the enhancements to the program: Emerald tier, between the current Platinum and Diamond status levels, and Pinnacle Club, the new top tier. The new progression of Crown & Anchor Society member status is Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club. The newly introduced Emerald status level will provide all the Platinum level benefits, in addition to some new benefits on their way to Diamond status, such as higher member savings for balcony and suite category staterooms and a personalized welcome gift on every cruise. Pinnacle Club members will be honored for their incredible loyalty to Royal Caribbean International and will be further recognized with all the benefits of the entire program and complimentary cruises at certain cruise-points milestones. Guests who have a minimum of 100 cruise credits before January 21, 2011 will be the first to be invited to join the new top Crown & Anchor Society member tier. Moving forward, Pinnacle Club status can be achieved with 700 Cruise Points, equivalent to 100 seven-night cruises – or less cruises if members choose to sail in suite category staterooms or on longer itineraries.

Additionally, the Crown & Anchor Society website (www.RoyalCaribbean.com/CrownandAnchor) is being re-launched to engage members and offer greater personalization. Each member will now enjoy a website experience that provides information that is relevant to them as soon as they log into their account. Members can now easily keep abreast of the latest news and offers that are available to them according to their status level and messages that are exclusively for them. Additionally, members can establish custom settings for items such as automatic upgrades for when a higher category stateroom becomes available. Emerald- and higher-level members with a booked sailing also can use the new member site to select new program benefits, such as a choice of beverages as part of their new Welcome Aboard gift basket.

Member guests will continue to enjoy the many Crown & Anchor Society benefits, such as the exclusive privilege to book their next Royal Caribbean cruise onboard and enjoy an Onboard Booking Bonus of up to $200 onboard credit. For further value, members can use their Onboard Booking Bonus with their Crown & Anchor Society Savings Certificate or, for Platinum members and above, their Balcony and Suite savings benefit. Members who have registered their email address also will receive priority notification of special offers, news and itinerary updates.

[GottaCruz]

Great info, Carmen. Thanks for posting this. Will be checking out the Royal website.

[Orrymain]

Great info, Carmen. Thanks for posting this. Will be checking out the Royal website.

Sounds like some good enhancements. I am not really familiar with what has been done in the past but I am for anything that benefits cruise goers.

[LynnS13]

It looks like this change will benefit me, as we tend to take longer cruises and stay in suites. You get double points when you stay in a suite!! Not sure if this includes Jr Suites or not....so did a 9-day last year and doing an 11-day next year= 40 points right there....

[ametrinel]

It seems like they took away some of the "perks" for the lower levels.