If you have ever been to a land-based casino, you will no doubt be very aware of the loyalty schemes that they run, encouraging people to spend their time in the same casino chain rather than taking their business elsewhere. What you might not be aware of is the fact that some cruise lines offer a similar thing, with the Club Royale being the name of the rewards programme offered by Royal Caribbean. If you have plans to head on one of their cruises, or you’re just debating whether or not to do so, you might want to know more about what the Club Royale offers you. If that’s the category you’re in, read on.
The Club Royale Rewards Program
Royal Carribbean in St Thomas (Sandra Foyt via Shutterstock)
First and foremost, it is worth offering a brief overview of what the Club Royale loyalty programme is all about. Every time you play, you’re earning points towards your Club Royale account. The more points you earn, the more perks you will get to enjoy. From offers to invitations to special events via VIP seating at shows and even complimentary cruises, there are a wealth of perks to make it worth your while signing up to the programme before you spend a single penny in the onboard casino. There are different tiers available, depending on how much you spend on your gambling whilst you sail on one of the company’s cruises.
Loyalty Scheme Levels
The levels of the loyalty scheme bear the following names:
- Choice
- Prime
- Signature
- Masters
Points Earned
In terms of how you go about earning Club Royale points, you need to ensure that you insert or tap your SeaPass card before you gamble. That is how you do it if you’re using a slot machine or other electronic gaming machine, whereas you need to hand your card to staff if you’re playing a table game, who will tap it for you. Here is how many points you’ll earn, depending on each activity:
- Slot Machines: 1 Reward Point for each $5 spend
- Video Poker: 1 Reward Point for each $10 spend
On table games, the exact Reward Point value that you’ll earn will depend on several factors, including the type of game that you’re playing, what your average bet is and how long you spend playing. Something to bear in mind is that you do not earn Reward Points or Tier Credit on certain entertainment games, including Coin Pusher, Texas Hold’em Poker or Key Master & Cash Crane.
The Tier System
Benjamin Clapp via Shutterstock
Having enjoyed an overview of what to expect, it is now worth taking a closer look at each of the tiers, including how much you’ll need to gamble in order to hit the various tiers and what you get once you’re on them:
Choice
Every new member of the Club Royale programme begins in the Choice tier, having the ability to earn points towards FreePlay in the casino, as well as other perks onboard. You will get special offers as well as access to exclusive events and promotions. You get $200 credit to be spent in the Regalia Fine Jewellery and Effy Boutique, too.
Prime
Passengers that get to 2,500 points are promoted into Prime status, which comes with associated perks. They include all of the perks that Choice members get, as well as a waived casino convenience fee and free drinks at Casino Royale. If you want to get a VOOM high-speed internet package, you’ll get it at a reduced rate, whilst future cruises will see you receive a complimentary interior stateroom once a year. The credit at Regalia Fine Jewellery and Effy Boutique goes up to $250, with a 10% discount at the Vitality Spa also added.
Signature
The moment that you hit 25,000 points, you become a member of the Signature level. Unsurprisingly, all of the Prime benefits are included here, with other things added on top. You will get free Wi-Fi onboard, $350 at Effy, plus a balcony stateroom on a cruise during the year. The Vitality Spa discount increases to 15%, whilst you also get one device access to VROOM surf and stream.
Masters
The top tier of the loyalty programme is achieved by hitting 100,000 tier credits. This sees you get all of the previous bonuses, plus some genuinely exclusive benefits. You will, for example, get a welcome lunch onboard, access to Coastal Kitchen and a complimentary Grand Suite on one cruise a year. You will also get onboard credit to use as you wish. The Effy boutique credit goes up to $550, whilst the Vitality Spa discount increases to 20% and you get to add two devices to the VROOM internet package. Priority entertainment access is included, as is the ability to book dining reservations as you wish.
The benefits don’t stop there for those on the Masters tier, though. You will also get a welcome lunch and a flexible departure, which includes an à la carte breakfast before you have to disembark.
What You Need to Think About
Royal Caribbean in the Bahamas (Luis F Ayerves via Shutterstock)
When it comes to the cruise credit that you accrue, it is worth bearing in mind that you will get your various benefits depending on the gaming activity that you engage in during your current sail. The Reward Points expire at the end of your sailing, so if you don’t redeem them, then they don’t get carried forward. The credit at Effy doesn’t include Cartier, Bvlgari, Messika or John Hardy Jewellery. Instead, it is valid on any white-tag items that are worth more than $2,000, so you can’t use it on a Best Buy or a promotional or discounted item.
Offers & Comps
Anyone who wants to take advantage of the priority dining access needs to speak to the Casino Host, whilst those looking to make use of the priority entertainment access have to arrive 15 minutes before the show starts. It is also not available in the Comedy Club or the Attic. It is also important to remember that the reason offers and comps are put forward is that they incentivise people to gamble more, which means that there is more of a chance that you will lose your money. Getting a free inside cabin sounds great, but if you lose more than it would’ve cost you to simply buy the cabin, then it probably isn’t worth it.
‘Free’ Cruises
Speaking of the ‘free’ cruises that you can earn depending on your tier level, the cruise is for two people. You do still need to pay the taxes and port fees on top of that, though, so it isn’t completely free. You can, though, pay an upgrade fee to be able to upgrade to a better cabin type, meaning that someone with a ‘free’ inside cabin could pay more to have a cabin with a balcony, which will cost less than buying said cabin outright. You also need to book your cruise within a certain time period, so don’t let that pass you by if you’re determined to take advantage of whatever free cruise reward you have been granted.