msc cruise line loyalty program

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BECOME A MEMBER

Register for free in the MSC Voyagers Club

to enter a world of privileges

MSC Voyagers Club

Being an MSC Voyagers Club member means entering a world of privileges that will continue to grow the more you cruise with us. This is our way of saying thank you to loyal guests who share our passion for discovery and keep joining us, year after year. Register and you will receive exclusive privileges, including a 5% discount on your cruise fare.

If you have sailed with us since 2006 or have a confirmed booking, apply now. It's free

Have you traveled or booked with MSC?

There are five membership levels to progress through: Welcome , Classic , Silver , Gold and Diamond . Each time you cruise with us, you will earn points and as your points grow, so do your privileges and status. Don’t forget to provide your membership number at the time of booking to ensure you receive your benefits! MSC Voyagers Club membership is subject to a minimum of one cruise every three years. If no cruise has been completed in three years after the enrollment date or your last disembarkation date, your membership will expire. Should your membership expire, you must subscribe again: you will be assigned the Classic status and a new Club identification number. Log in  to your personal area to check out your points and membership expiry date.

MSC Voyagers Club T&Cs

MSC Voyagers Club FAQ

HOW TO COLLECT POINTS

Each time you cruise with us, you will earn points to upgrade your membership level. You can collect points based on the type of MSC Experience purchased, onboard services prepaid before the cruise and onboard expenses. Points are credited at the end of the cruise, approximately ten days after the disembarkation date. Take a look at more details below. 

MSC Experience purchased

Onboard services prepaid before the cruise : you earn 100 points every 150 €/$ on expenses made before the cruise on MSC packages and services included in the cruise booked*.  Onboard expenses: you earn 100 points for every 150 €/$ spent on board, excluding casino expenses. Points for onboard expenses (including pre-boarding purchased shipboard credit) will only be assigned to the MSC Voyagers Club cardholder making the final payment.

*For currencies other than € euro, the currency conversion on purchase day will apply.

Starting from July 28, 2017, members also have the opportunity to collect bonus points.  Members with an upcoming confirmed booking with MSC will receive 100 bonus points if they update or confirm their contact details (email, phone, address) up to 72 hours before sailing. Members can update or confirm the contact details in the MSC Voyagers Club online personal area or through the Web Check-in .  100 bonus points also apply to non-members with an upcoming confirmed booking with MSC who join the MSC Voyagers up to 72 hours before sailing.

BOOK AN MSC WORLD CRUISE AND EARN TRIPLE POINTS!

For such a unique voyage, we will credit triple membership points for the type of Experience chosen at the time of booking, allowing MSC Voyagers Club members to enjoy all the added privileges right away! Also, your Voyagers Club membership expiry date will be automatically extended by three years when booking your MSC World Cruise. 

This exclusive privilege is valid only for Classic , Silver , Gold and Diamond  members who purchase an entire MSC World Cruise. Discover MSC World Cruise !

Voyagers Exclusives

Book in advance and get the best from your MSC Voyagers Club membership: on all cruise departures*, at MSC Cruises we offer exclusive discounts for members only. -- Book 12+ months before departure and receive a 5% + 5% Discount + Double Points .** (Silver, Gold and Diamond members will also receive a €/ $50 Onboard Credit per person ) -- Book 9 to12 months before departure and receive a 5% + 5% Discount . (Silver, Gold and Diamond members will also receive a €/$50 Onboard Credit per person ) -- Book 6 to 9 months before departure and receive a 5% + 5% Discount . -- Book less than 6 months before departure and receive a 5% Discount.

For more info visit our dedicated page . *World Cruises excluded **Points will be assigned at the end of the cruise

STATUS MATCH PROGRAM Are you a loyalty member of Hotels, Cruise lines or Tour Operators?

Join msc cruises' loyalty program for free via the status match program and sail with all the privileges you're used to, thank you for visiting msc cruises.

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Status Match Program

What is the status match program, how does the msc voyagers club differ from other cruise lines, if i’m a high-level member in my other loyalty program, what status will i receive with msc, how do i apply for the status match program, is there a limit on how many times i can request a status match, how long will it take for my status match to be completed, can my children apply for status match, my children are under 18 and cannot apply to status match. will they receive the same status and benefits as me, i received gold membership level with the status match program. i have two additional cabins traveling with me who are not members of another cruise line or hotel. can i extend my benefits to them, thank you for visiting msc cruises.

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 FAQ - MSC VOYAGERS CLUB

What is the msc voyagers club.

how-to-collect-points? 

How to collect points? 

Thank you for visiting msc cruises.

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MSC Cruises

MSC Status Match Program – How to match your loyalty status from other cruise lines (with Forms & Match Chart)

So many people don’t realize that some cruise lines actually match loyalty rewards from other cruise lines and in MSC Cruises’ case, they even have an MSC Cruises status match from hotel programs! By being a loyalty member or frequent flyer on some airlines, you can increase your loyalty level on the MSC Voyagers Club program and receive discounts on future bookings.

How does MSC Status Match Work?

MSC Cruises makes it easy to status match with any qualified program. Just go to their status match form on their website and submit your information with a screenshot of your matching loyalty program. Some cruisers say they’ve received status matching within hours, with our status match on MSC (From NCL Platinum), it took MSC two months to confirm our GOLD status.

What loyalty programs does MSC match with?

There are a surprising number of loyalty programs that MSC Cruises recognizes loyalty with. By far, this is the most generous matching program in the cruise industry. Here are the programs (cruises & hotels) that MSC recognizes to match with their Voyagers Club reward program:

Cruise Lines:

• Azamara Cruises
• Carnival Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• Royal Caribbean
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Celebrity Cruises
• Cunard Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Holland America
• P&O Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line
• Ponant Yacht Cruises
• Aida Cruises
• Crystal Cruise
• Oceania Cruises
• Star Cruises

Hotels & Booking Companies:

• Club Med ITA
• Club Med FRA
• Club Med DEU
• Ritz Carlton
• Hyatt Hotels
• Accor Hotels
• Melia Hotels
• Best Western
• Club Carlson
• Othon Hotels
• International Hotel Group
• Centara Hotel Resort
• Steigenberger Hotel Group
• RIU Hotels and Resorts
• Wyndham Hotels
• MGM Resorts
• China Eastern
• China Southern
• Jin Jiang Hotels
• Club Med US & CAN
• Mohegan Sun

MSC Voyagers Club Status Match Forms

Msc has a unique status match application form for each country.

If you’re status or loyalty matching from outside of the USA, be sure to use the status match application form for your country.

How to apply for the MSC Voyagers Club status match program :

USA form to complete for MSC loyalty match / status match

Canadian Status Match Program for MSC

MSC Cruises UK status match form

Netherlands (Dutch) MSC Status Match form

Belgium Status Match MSC Voyagers Club

Italy MSC Voyagers Club Status Match form

Spain MSC Voyagers Club Status Match

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Voyagers Club Levels & Benefits

The benefits of the MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program are relatively limited compared to other cruise lines, however, the discount alone makes it worth being a member of the program or status matching to get the discounts.

The real benefits of each level:

Voyagers club classic:.

5% discount on all bookings up to an additional 5% off for bookings made 9 months or more out. A welcome cocktail (which we’ve never received, for what it’s worth) Shop discount of $10 for every $50 spent.

Voyagers Club Silver:

All of the above + $50 onboard credit per person Double points for bookings more than 12 months out Additional $50 onboard credit for cruises booked 12 months out

Voyagers Club Gold:

All of the above + One hour of thermal area access per cruise A “Gift” (no clue what this is, will give details from our upcoming cruise) Priority disembarkation for tender ports Free Photo Free Birthday Cake

MSC Voyagers Club Diamond:

All of the above + Priority boarding/embarkation Complimentary specialty dining/restaurant tasting menu (excluding drinks) Bathrobe + Slippers Dancing class (wth?! but ok) Diamond Party Late checkout and disembarkation Chocolates

** We’ll be testing our newly minted Diamond status on MSC with our next cruise and will let you know how it really ends up.

MSC Status Match Chart With Match Levels (Updated October 2023)

This is an example of MSC loyalty status match programs and how they’ve been reported by fellow travelers.

It’s worth noting: MSC Cruises does sometimes change the program by adding or removing matching hotels and airlines. Additionally, we’ve heard reports that some cruisers will submit the same status level in the same program (i.e. Carnival) and the MSC rep will match to a different level. For example, speaking with a Carnival passenger with a Carnival Diamond level status, they were matched to GOLD on MSC Cruises, however, a different passenger with the same Diamond status on Carnival was Matched to SILVER on MSC. There seems to be no official chart on the MSC Website at this time.

Do you have an experience status matching that is different or more recent than above?

Let us know and we’ll update this chart! Submit a comment below!

How the MSC status match works, and what to expect

The process to match is simple once you locate the correct form to submit (above). A simple screenshot of the program you are matching with is all it took. However, there was no correspondence after submitting the request, so it felt like the request went into a black hole. I didn’t think much of it until a couple of months later, I received the notification (below) of the approval and status match to Gold (from Norwegian Platinum).

Many passengers report that they get their status match email within a few days if not the same day as the submission. This wasn’t my experience, nor was it the experience of one of my travel companions who did a status match from Hilton Gold to MSC Gold. The same couple of months passed to get the confirmation.

So don’t expect any real communication from the moment you submit your form.

Getting notified of your approved loyalty / status match

It took longer than most passengers have reported to get our status match. Perhaps it’s because our situation is a bit more complicated being an American ex-pat in Europe with an MSC account that has been used in different locations (this is just speculation). But this is what you should receive when you get your match approved:

Dear Phil, Thank you for your status match request. On behalf of MSC, I can and am pleased to welcome you to the MSC Voyagers Club. At MSC Cruises we have a passion for the sea and discovery. The MSC Voyagers Club is our way of rewarding those who share our passion. It’s an exclusive world full of privileges, discounts, offers and extras to spoil you the way only MSC Cruises can. In short, the MSC Voyagers CLub rewards your passion for travel. We are pleased to confirm that you are a Gold member of the MSC Voyagers Club and can immediately enjoy all the benefits with the following club number xxxxxxxx. When you make a booking on our website, I recommend that you always enter your club number. In this way, any discounts are calculated immediately. If this does not work or if you have already made a booking, please provide us or your travel agent with your booking number and we will be happy to include your club number in your booking. We trust that we have informed you sufficiently and would like to welcome you on board one of our ships. Yours sincerely, Jan P Personal Vacation Consultant MSC Cruises BV

There is so much to know about MSC Cruises and we’ve put together information about everything you need to know about MSC and what to expect from an MSC Cruise .

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

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We would like request for the status match application for Taiwan.

We have China airline gold card, can you please advise if this can be process the status match.

Thanks a lots.

Hello Yi – I do not think there is a status match form for Taiwan or China 🙁

BUT! If you call MSC, they will still do a status match internally or send you a form that is not country specific.

Is there a status match form for Belgium? Thank you

Bonjour Maurits – The Belgian status match can be found here: https://www.msccruises.be/fr/ma-reservation/msc-voyagers-club/status-match . Enjoy your cruise!

If you status match to MSC Gold, how many points do you need to get to Diamond? Do they just credit you the minimum 4300 points required for Gold, so that you would need 5700 more for Diamond? Thanks!

Good question! So what MSC originally did for me is just advanced me to 4300 point level (Gold). My assumption was if you were lower than 4300 points, regardless of where you were on the scale, they just set the counter to 4300 (Gold). (When I applied I had 3200 points). But! I just logged in and it looks like some how I have 4300 ADDED to the balance and now I am closer to Diamond than I thought (10,000 points is Diamond). But remember, this is MSC Cruises we’re talking about. The rules change, the way they apply credits and points on EVERYTHING seems to change regularly. So from my experience just recently, it looks that they’ve ADDED 4300 points in addition to my previously earned points, but don’t expect that. Expect that you’ll be put at the 4300 point level and have to earn up to Diamond.

Is there a status match form for Canada? Thank you

Here is a link for the Canadian MSC status match program !

Thanks for asking, we’ve added it to the list in the article as well.

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BECOME A MEMBER

Register for free in the MSC Voyagers Club

to enter a world of privileges

MSC VOYAGERS CLUB

Being an MSC Voyagers Club member means entering a world of privileges that will continue to grow the more you cruise with us. This is our way of saying thank you to loyal guests who share our passion for discovery and keep joining us, year after year. Register and you will receive exclusive privileges, including a 5% discount on your cruise fare.

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

How to collect points

Each time you cruise with us, you will earn points to upgrade your membership level. You can collect points based on the type of MSC Experience purchased, onboard services prepaid before the cruise and onboard expenses. Points are credited at the end of the cruise, approximately ten days after the disembarkation date. Take a look at more details below. 

MSC Experience purchased

As of May 27 2019, members who book a Voyages Selection departure will be credited double membership points for the type of Experience chosen. Points will be assigned at the end of the cruise.

Onboard services prepaid before the cruise : you earn 100 points every 150 €/$ on expenses made before the cruise on MSC packages and services included in the cruise booked*.  Onboard expenses: you earn 100 points for every 150 €/$ spent on board, excluding casino expenses. Points for onboard expenses (including pre-boarding purchased shipboard credit) will only be assigned to the MSC Voyagers Club cardholder making the final payment.

*For currencies other than € euro, the currency conversion on purchase day will apply.

BONUS POINTS:

Starting from 28 July 2017, members also have the opportunity to collect bonus points. Members with an upcoming confirmed booking with MSC will receive 100 bonus points if they update or confirm their contact details (email, phone, address) up to 72 hours before sailing. Members can update or confirm the contact details in the MSC Voyagers Club online personal area or through the Web Check-in . 100 bonus points also apply to non-members with an upcoming confirmed booking with MSC who join the MSC Voyagers up to 72 hours before sailing.

Bonus points are not retroactive and are always assigned approximately 10 days after the end of the cruise. A bonus point by calendar year is provided to each client.

Book an MSC World Cruise and earn triple points!

For such a unique voyage, we will credit triple membership points for the type of Experience chosen at the time of booking, allowing MSC Voyagers Club members to enjoy all the added privileges right away! In addition, your Voyagers Club membership expiry date will be automatically extended by three years when booking your MSC World Cruise. 

This exclusive privilege is valid only for Classic , Silver , Gold and Diamond  members who purchase an entire MSC World Cruise. Discover MSC World Cruise !

Voyagers Exclusives

Book in advance and get the best from your MSC Voyagers Club membership: on all cruise departures*, at MSC Cruises we offer exclusive discounts for members only. Book more than 12 months before departure to get an extra +5% discount + double points** Book more than 6 months before departure for an extra +5% discount Only for Silver, Gold or Diamond member, receive additional €50 onboard credit***  per person when you book more than 9 months in advance. For more info visit our dedicated page . *World Cruises excluded **Points will be assigned at the end of the cruise

Are you a loyalty member of Hotels, Cruise lines or Tour Operators?

Register to msc status match and cruise with msc with all the privileges you are used to, thank you for visiting msc cruises.

Your browser may be out of date or not compatible with our new site and may not be secure.

For a better experience and to continue your booking with MSC, please update your browser by downloading the latest version below.

Thank you for visiting our site and we look forward to seeing you on board soon!

MSC Cruises

A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs

Editor's Note

If you show loyalty to a specific cruise line, you can earn some wonderful rewards.

While entry-level tiers of cruise line loyalty programs usually don't offer much in terms of valuable perks, mid-level tiers can bring everything from spa discounts to free meals at extra-charge restaurants on the ship. The perks only get better from there.

At the very top tier of some cruise line loyalty programs — such as Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society and Norwegian Cruise Line's Latitudes Rewards — you can even get what we at TPG consider one of the truly great loyalty perks: a free cruise for two.

Perhaps the greatest thing about cruise line loyalty programs is that unlike most airline or hotel loyalty programs, they don't usually require customers to requalify for status every year.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Members of most cruise line loyalty programs keep their points at the end of each year and continue to accrue points indefinitely. That means that someone who hits the top tier in a cruise line loyalty program will remain there forever (or until the line makes a change to the program).

Still, not all cruise line loyalty programs are created equal. Some are very robust with lots of great perks even at low-tier levels. Others only are modest in what they get you.

Here is TPG's guide to the cruise line loyalty programs at 10 of the most popular cruise brands, with an overview of their main attributes. For more detailed information on each of the programs, click on the links in the text below that will take you to our main loyalty guide for each of the brands.

Related: The ultimate guide to picking a cruise line

Carnival Cruise Line: VIFP Club

Ways to earn points

The VIFP Club points-earning system is super simple. You earn one point for every day you cruise on a Carnival Cruise Line ship. If you take a three-night cruise, you'll get three points. If you take a seven-night cruise, you'll get seven points. You don't have to worry about different earning levels for different cabin categories or different types of bookings, as is the case with some lines.

Note that certain charter sailings and nonrevenue fares do not get you any points.

Insider tip: After sailing on one of Carnival's ships in Australia, you won't automatically get points for the trip deposited in your account. You'll need to log in to your account online, click on "Missing a Cruise?" and request the VIFP points be awarded for the days you earned on that voyage.

Program tiers and benefits

There are five tiers to the VIFP Club program:

• Blue (your first sailing)
• Red (second sailing to 24 points)
• Gold (25 to 74 points)
• Platinum (75 to 199 points)
• Diamond (200 or more points)

One of the nice little surprises of Carnival's loyalty program is that you hit the first tier level, Blue, the moment you board your first cruise with the brand. Unlike many lines, you don't have to complete a cruise to reach the first level. In fact, you can get to the Blue tier even before taking a cruise. All you have to do is sign up in advance.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships

That said, the Blue tier of the program brings almost no perks. There are only two: You are eligible for members-only cruise offers, and you'll receive a members-only electronic newsletter.

The next two tiers in the program are almost as stingy when it comes to perks. The second tier, Red, offers the same two perks as the Blue tier with just one additional perk: a complimentary, 1-liter bottle of water delivered to your cabin during sailings. (Don't go drinking it all at once.) Gold adds a complimentary appreciation drink, but only if your cruise is more than five days long.

The elite level that makes a difference

The Platinum level of the VIFP Club is where your loyalty to Carnival finally starts paying off.

Many of the perks that kick in at this level offer priority access of some kind, including:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority spa reservations
• Priority water shuttle boarding (ship-to-shore only)
• Priority line at onboard Guest Services desk and priority assistance by phone
• Priority debarkation
• Priority reservations at the Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

In short, once you're at the Platinum level, you'll suddenly find yourself bumped to the front of the line from the moment you arrive at a ship until the moment you leave. This is no small thing. Priority boarding means you'll get on the ship more quickly than other passengers, giving you more time on your first day to enjoy its offerings. Priority access to restaurant reservations means you'll get the best table times.

Best elite perk

Even at the highest Diamond level of its VIFP Club program, Carnival is still a little stingy with the perks. Unlike Royal Caribbean and some other lines, it doesn't give members a free cruise upon reaching this pinnacle of loyalty status. That said, Diamond status does bring a few nice privileges.

We definitely appreciate the free cabin upgrade (or third-and-fourth-passengers-sail-free offer) that comes when you first reach Diamond status; however, we're disappointed this is a one-time-only benefit. Another good but one-time-only perk of Diamond status is a complimentary meal for two at a specialty restaurant of your choice.

In our eyes, the best elite perk of the VIFP Club program is the unlimited wash-and-fold laundry service that comes with Diamond status. Unlike the above two perks, you'll get this every time you sail once you reach Diamond level.

For more details on Carnival's VIFP Club, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to the Carnival Cruise Line VIFP Club .

Celebrity Cruises: Captain's Club

The number of Captain's Club points you earn for Celebrity cruises will vary depending on both the length of the sailing and the type of cabin you book.

When staying in the most basic cabins, such as windowless "inside" cabins, you'll earn 2 points for each day you sail. When staying in a top suite, you can earn as many as 18 to 24 points per day.

Staying in balcony cabins, which the line calls Veranda cabins, will get you 3 points a day.

Here is a breakdown of the point structure:

As you can see, you'll earn far more points by staying in a suite than by staying in a less pricey regular cabin. The Captain's Club program is designed to reward Celebrity's biggest-spending customers the most.

There's one more way to earn Captain's Club points. In 2020, Celebrity launched a new program called Power Up Points that allows Captain's Club members to earn bonus points by filling out online surveys, participating on social media or booking specific promotions.

Related: The ultimate guide to Celebrity Cruises

Taking part in such activities will get you Power Up Points, which then can be converted into Captain's Club points at a ratio of 10 to 1. For every 10 Power Up Points you earn, you'll receive 1 additional Captain's Club point.

There are six tiers to the Captain's Club program:

• Preview (0 points)
• Classic (2 to 149 points)
• Select (150 to 299 points)
• Elite (300 to 749 points)
• Elite Plus (750 to 2,999 points)
• Zenith (3,000 points or more)

The good news here is that you'll qualify for the program's first tier (Preview) before you even take a single cruise. All you have to do is sign up for the program. At the Preview level, you can access the online Captain's Club newsletter and the Loyalty Desk. You also can book Captain's Club promotions once you're on board your first cruise.

The next level up, Classic, brings:

• Pre-sailing specialty restaurant reservations through the loyalty desk
• Exclusive captain's club offers
• One pre-cruise category upgrade to AquaClass (based on availability)
• Access to exclusive events on specialty sailings (like the President's Sailing)
• An invitation to a Captain's Club welcome party
• One complimentary specialty coffee when you dine at a specialty restaurant
• One free scoop of gelato
• 10% discount on any bottle of wine
• 10% discount on a Premium Drink Package upgrade when purchased pre-cruise only
• 10% discount on a Drink Package when purchased pre-cruise
• 10% discount on Wi-Fi packages and upgrades and complimentary premium minutes
• 25% discount on any digital or print photo package
• 10% discount on The Studio photo package
• 10% off one-time use laundry service
• 10% discount at the spa
• various casino perks
• 5% discount on small group discovery shore excursions
• 5% discount on Hollywood Hot Glass

The Select tier adds bigger discounts on internet and photo packages (25% and 30% off, respectively). You'll also get an invitation to a wine tasting and a backstage tour on the ship; a discounted price for one standard bag of laundry (wash, dry and fold) if your cruise is 12 nights or longer; and two complimentary pressed items.

Being loyal to Celebrity really starts paying off when you reach the Elite and Elite Plus levels.

One of the great perks of Elite status is gaining access to the Captain's Club Coffee Lounge, where you can enjoy a coffeehouse-style breakfast each morning. This is a particularly big deal on shore excursion days, as it means you have a relatively quiet and uncrowded place to grab a quick breakfast before heading out for a tour.

Related: The 4 types of Celebrity Cruises ships, explained

Elites also get unlimited free drinks from the Captain's Club menu each day except embarkation day between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at most bars and lounges on the ship. All you have to do is present your Sea Pass card. This isn't quite the perk it used to be, though, since a basic drinks package now comes with all bookings as part of the line's new Always Included fare structure.

If you're sailing on a Solstice-class or Millennium-class vessel, reaching the Elite tier will get you free access to the Persian Garden spa zones — home to steam rooms, saunas and heated loungers — on one port day of your choice.

Elite level also brings:

• Priority tender service, where available
• Access to a private lounge on departure day serving continental breakfast
• An invitation to a senior officer party
• An invitation to a Create & Pour event on Edge-class ships
• An invitation to a Music & Mixology event
• A higher 20% discount on a bottle of wine
• A higher 30% discount on Wi-Fi packages and upgrades, plus 90 complimentary stream minutes
• A higher 15% discount on drinks packages
• A higher 40% discount on a digital or print photo package
• A higher 20% discount on The Studio photo packages
• One complimentary dry clean item
• One bag of complimentary laundry
• A higher 15% discount at the ship's spa

Elite Plus kicks things up by offering many of these same benefits plus another free bag of laundry, additional discounts for onboard services (including a 15% discount on specialty dining cover charges) and free cappuccinos, lattes, espressos and teas throughout your sailing.

The ultimate perk for Captain's Club members comes when you reach the top Zenith tier. You'll get a free seven-night Bermuda or Caribbean cruise in a balcony cabin. Yep, that's right: a free cruise.

Of course, you'll need 3,000 points to reach the Zenith tier — a number so high it's out of reach for most cruisers. For someone who always stays in balcony cabins and prefers seven-night sailings, it would take an almost inconceivable 143 cruises to reach the Zenith tier. Put another way, you'd have to spend 1,000 days at sea with Celebrity to hit the Zenith mark.

Related: Everything to know about Celebrity cabins and suites

Still, for those who always stay in top suites, getting to Zenith after just a few years of heavy cruising is not out of the question. For those travelers in Penthouse and Reflection suites, it would require 167 days at sea. Take a few long sailings of 20 or 30 days, and you'll be well on your way.

Once you hit the Zenith level, you'll get another free Bermuda or Caribbean cruise after every 3,000 points you accumulate. Plus, there's an added twist for your second free cruise and any others you accrue after that: The additional free sailings will be in an upgraded AquaClass cabin.

For more details on Celebrity's Captain's Club, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to the Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club .

Disney Cruise Line: Castaway Club

Earning status in Disney Cruise Line 's Castaway Club loyalty program is about as simple as can be — even after a recent upgrade that brought an all-new tier . You get a credit for every cruise you take, whether it's three nights long or 10 nights long. That's it. No muss, no fuss. Your status, as we'll explain below, depends entirely on how many cruises you take.

There are four tiers to the Castaway Club program:

• Silver (after one cruise)
• Gold (after five cruises)
• Platinum (after 10 cruises)
• Pearl (after 25 cruises)

Once you reach the first tier of the program (Silver), you will be entitled to exactly six perks. Perhaps the most notable is the ability to make advance bookings for onboard cruise activities such as ticket-only character greetings and specialty restaurant dinners up to 90 days before sailings. This is a big deal in the world of Disney cruises, where some of the hottest activities on ships sell out quickly.

Related: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line

Silver members can also book new Disney cruise itineraries one day ahead of the general public. That may not seem like much of a head start, but it can be a real advantage when trying to snag the perfect cabin on a hot new itinerary. Disney fans are known to snap up the best cabins — if not all the cabins — on unique new sailings very quickly.

Additionally, Silver members get:

• Select port arrival time and complete online check-in 33 days in advance of departure
• Exclusive cruise terminal check-in where available
• A members-only direct phone line to call for information and assistance
• A welcome-back-aboard gift

Upon reaching the Gold level, members get all the above perks with three notable upgrades. For starters, they can make advance bookings for onboard cruise activities up to 105 days before sailings. That's 15 days earlier than Silver members. They can also book new Disney cruise itineraries two days before the general public.

Plus, they can complete check-in 35 days in advance.

The third tier of the program, the Platinum level, extends the pre-booking windows even further. Platinum members can make advance bookings for onboard cruise activities up to 120 days before sailings. That's 15 days earlier than Gold members and 30 days earlier than Silver members. They can also book new Disney cruise itineraries three days before the general public.

For Platinum members, check-in opens 38 days in advance of departures.

Platinum-level members are also entitled to a free dinner at Palo , the upscale, adults-only Italian eatery on Disney ships.

The perks really get interesting once you hit the new Pearl level of the Castaway Club. The big perk at this level is booking new itineraries earlier than everyone else. You also have the earliest possible access to reserve onboard activities.

Specifically, you can make reservations for newly announced itineraries four days before the general public. You can also book activities up to 123 days in advance of sailing.

In the world of Disney, this is a very big deal. As mentioned above, Disney fans are known to snag all the good cabins for a popular sailing the moment a trip goes on sale. Ditto for onboard activities.

Additionally, Pearl status also lets you check in for your cruise 40 days in advance of sailing.

Unlike some lines, Disney offers no truly over-the-top elite perks, such as the free cruise that top-tier members of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society get. It's also skimpy on handing out big discounts on shore excursions, spa treatments and other cruise line-sold services to elite members — something some other lines do. However, a few perks get us at least modestly excited.

The most enticing offering, in our view, is the free dinner at Palo that comes with Platinum status.

The invitation extends to the elite member and any other adult passenger staying in the same cabin. Assuming there are two of you, that's a $100 value. Palo normally costs $50 per person.

You can use the perk at either the Palo eateries on Disney's four older ships or the Palo Steakhouse eatery on the line's new Disney Wish .

For more details on Disney's Castaway Club, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Club .

Holland America Line: Mariner Society

Holland America 's Mariner Society points-earning system is also a relatively simple one. In most cases, you will earn one "cruise day" credit for every night you're on a ship.

The only exception is for passengers staying in top accommodations. Customers staying in a suite or penthouse on a Holland America ship will get double cruise day credits. One caveat here is that you must have paid the normal fare for the suite or penthouse to get the double credits.

You won't get double credit if you're staying in a suite or penthouse due to a complimentary cabin upgrade.

Note that you will also get cruise day credits for the days you spend touring on land with Holland America cruisetours in Alaska. Holland America cruisetours in Alaska typically combine a seven-night Alaska cruise with a few days touring the state in motorcoaches or by train.

Related: The 4 classes of Holland America ships, explained

Additionally, there is an unusual bonus way to earn Mariner Society cruise day credits. You can earn one additional cruise day credit for every $300 you spend on board a ship — for things such as shore excursions and shop purchases (with a limit of one extra cruise day credit for every day you sail).

The extra credit is calculated based on the combined folio charges for all passengers on a single booking, regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill. Only the first two passengers on a booking will receive the bonus credit.

Some purchases — future cruise deposits, cash advances and casino charges — are excluded from the onboard purchase bonus. All other onboard purchases count — even the hotel service charges, beverage service charges and taxes that show up on final bills.

There are five tiers to the Mariner Society loyalty program:

• Star Mariner (after one cruise)
• 2-Star Mariner (30 to 74 cruise day credits)
• 3-Star Mariner (75 to 199 cruise day credits)
• 4-Star Mariner (200 to 499 cruise day credits)
• 5-Star Mariner (500-plus cruise day credits)

As with several other cruise line loyalty programs mentioned above, the first tier of the Mariner Society loyalty program (Star Mariner) doesn't come with too many valuable perks.

Star Mariners receive:

• Up to $400 per cabin onboard spending credit when booking a cruise within 90 days of a new season launch
• 15% discount at shophollandamerica.com
• A special welcome lunch
• An onboard gift
• A voucher for an onboard cocktail
• 50% off cruise fares for kids and extra guests in your cabin on select sailings

In addition to all the above, the big add-on for 2-Star Mariners is discounts on Holland America-branded items. Loyal Holland America cruisers at the 2-Star level will get a 10% discount on select Holland America clothing sold on ships. They also receive a complimentary photo of their ship.

The sweet spot in Holland America's program is the 4-Star Mariner status level. This is where you really start to see some great perks, including:

• Complimentary cruise fare for kids and extra guests staying in your cabin on select sailings
• A 50% discount on specialty restaurant surcharges and specialty coffees in dining venues, Sommelier Suites packages and all minibar purchases
• Complimentary laundry and pressing services
• Priority access to ship-to-shore tenders
• Priority check-in
• A complimentary James Suckling regional wine tasting
• A 15% discount on select Holland America Line logo clothing sold in onboard shops (may exclude already discounted merchandise)
• A 25% discount off the $49-per-person surcharge in Rudi's Sel De Mer eatery

We love that Holland America will let kids sail free on select journeys at this tier. The line isn't necessarily known as a family line, but if you have kids (or grandkids) and are a Holland America fan, this could save you a lot of money.

You'll also save a lot of money with the 50% off specialty restaurant perk at this level and the other 50% off discount options.

If you cruise with family or friends, we think the best perk in Holland America's program is the complimentary cruise fare for kids and extra guests staying in your cabin on select sailings. As noted above, this is a 4-Star Mariner perk that also carries over to 5-Star Mariners.

We should note that all Mariner Society members get discounts of some sort for the third and fourth passengers staying in their cabins. During the booking process, type in your Mariner ID to view your discount for this.

For more details on Holland America's Mariner Society, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Holland America's Mariner Society .

MSC Cruises: MSC Voyagers Club

The points-earning system for MSC Voyagers Club is a bit convoluted, as the number of points you earn on any given cruise depends on various factors.

For starters, you earn points based on the length of the cruise you take and which MSC Cruises "experience" you book for the cruise. As regular MSC Cruises customers know, there are five experiences available when cruising with the line, each with different inclusions and at different price points. Bella is the most basic and least expensive experience available. MSC Yacht Club is the top experience available. Experiences called Fantastica, Wellness and Aurea fall in between.

The chart below lays out your points earnings depending on cruise length and experience type:

Note that every person in your cabin will earn points for the cruise based on the chart above.

In addition to the above, you can earn points when spending money on MSC Cruises ships for extras or when booking extras before sailing. You'll earn 100 points for every $150 spent on prepaid and onboard expenses.

One caveat: Only the MSC Voyagers Club member who makes the final payment for onboard expenses will receive those points. Regarding expenses for prepaid services that apply to all cabin occupants (and not single occupants), points will be equally distributed among the cabin occupants.

For example, say the total amount of prepaid onboard services that apply to all cabin occupants before the cruise is $600. If there are four cabin occupants, the spending for the points calculation of each member will be $150, which is equal to 100 points.

Related: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises

The final way to earn points is by updating your contact details up to 72 hours before departure on your next cruise. This will earn you 100 points.

There are four tiers to the MSC Voyagers Club program:

• Classic (1 to 2,199 points)
• Silver (2,200 to 4,299 points)
• Gold (4,300 to 9,999 points)
• Diamond (10,000 or more points)

Again, the entry-level tier (Classic) doesn't bring many truly valuable rewards. By far, the most alluring benefit at this level is the 5% discount that members get when booking future sailings (but this discount is not valid on Tandem and MSC Grand Tours). That's real savings every time you book a cruise.

Classic members also recieve:

• An additional 5% discount on Voyagers Exclusives sailings made six to nine months before departure
• An MSC Voyagers Club e-newsletter
• MSC Voyagers Club personalized luggage tags for embarkation in the e-ticket
• An MSC Voyagers Club card
• An invitation to a "welcome back" cocktail party
• A dedicated number to call on board
• Discounts on many packages and amenities, including onboard pictures, digital accessories, Wi-Fi and spa and fitness offerings
• MSC Shops discount (for each $50 spent in any onboard shops, you will receive a $10 discount)

Note that the MSC Shops discount has a lot of fine print. You cannot combine this discount with promotions available on board, and it is not available for spending on tobacco products and electronics. It's also only valid on the first day of a cruise. That prompts us to downgrade the value of this perk considerably.

Upon reaching the second tier of the program, Silver, you get a couple more perks. The most notable to us is a $50 onboard credit per person, plus double MSC Voyagers Club points, for all bookings made more than 12 months before departure. (If you book nine to 12 months in advance, you get the $50 credit but not the double points.)

Being loyal to MSC Cruises starts paying off in a noticeable way once you reach the Gold level of the MSC Voyagers Club program. Even here, though, the rewards are still relatively modest.

The Gold level comes with one solid perk: priority disembarkation in ports where a tender boat is required. This can make a real difference in your cruising experience, as it means you can get off the ship much faster in some cases than the majority of other passengers. That will allow you to maximize your time in tender ports.

Gold status also brings:

• A complimentary one-hour thermal-area session once per cruise
• A complimentary gift
• A complimentary photo during the "welcome back" cocktail party
• A complimentary birthday cake when it's your birthday

Alas, there isn't one "wow" perk in the MSC Voyagers Club menu. As noted above, unlike some lines, MSC Cruises doesn't award top-tier members truly high-value perks such as a free cruise. Still, the MSC Voyagers Club's top Diamond status tier does come with a few enticing benefits.

Our favorite perk in the entire MSC Voyagers Club program is the complimentary dinner at a specialty restaurant that comes with Diamond-level status. That said, be warned that it's a complimentary dinner with a lot of fine print (so much fine print, in fact, that to us it verges on the ridiculous).

For more details on MSC Cruises' MSC Voyagers Club, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to MSC Cruises' MSC Voyagers Club .

Norwegian Cruise Line: Latitudes Rewards

Earning points in Norwegian Cruise Line 's Latitudes Rewards program is relatively straightforward. You will get:

• One point for every night you spend on a ship
• An additional one point per night when staying in a Concierge-level cabin, full-fare suite (not minisuites or Club Balcony suites) or The Haven rooms
• An additional one point per night when on a cruise booked via a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer. These are special offers for Latitudes Rewards members

Note that the extra point per night for suites only applies to stays in suites booked when a reservation is originally made. It doesn't apply to stays in suites that result from an upgrade.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line

There are seven tiers to the Latitudes Rewards program:

• Bronze (1 to 19 points)
• Silver (20 to 44 points)
• Gold (45 to 74 points)
• Platinum (75 to 149 points)
• Sapphire (150 to 349 points)
• Diamond (350 to 699 points)
• Ambassador (700 or more points)

The Latitudes Rewards program is one of the more robust cruise line loyalty programs, with some decent perks available to almost all members.

After just one cruise, as a newly minted Bronze member, you will receive a 30% discount on an unlimited open bar package — a perk that could save you a significant amount of money when cruising if you're a drinker. You'll also get early access to new product information and exclusive offers, a signature pin and a few other minor things.

Moving up to the Silver level of the Latitudes Rewards program will bring all the above plus:

• An invitation to a complimentary onboard cocktail party
• A 10% discount on shore excursions
• A 20% discount on photos
• A 15% discount on spa treatments performed when the ship is in port
• A higher 15% discount at onboard duty-free shops

The Gold level bumps up the discounts on photos and spa treatments to 25% and 20%, respectively. It also brings valuable perks such as a 50% discount on a bag of laundry, priority tender tickets (for applicable ports) and priority disembarkation (for U.S. citizens only).

Once you reach Platinum, you'll get everything in earlier tiers plus a 15% discount on internet packages, which is a great perk. Internet packages on Norwegian can be pricey.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian cruise

Another great perk at the Platinum level is free dinners at some of the top restaurants on Norwegian ships on every voyage of five nights or longer. Platinum members get a free dinner for two at either Cagney's, the line's signature steakhouse, or Le Bistro, its signature French restaurant — which includes a bottle of wine. They also get a free dinner for two at either churrascaria restaurant Moderno or Italian eatery La Cucina (on some ships, the restaurant offerings differ).

Platinum members also get:

• Priority check-in and embarkation
• Access to a concierge to help with dining, entertainment and shore excursion reservations
• Chocolate-covered strawberries delivered to their room
• A Wines Around the World tasting
• A behind-the-scenes ship tour
• A higher 30% discount on photos
• A higher 25% discount on spa treatments
• A dedicated pre-cruise service desk

The ultimate perk for Latitudes Rewards members comes upon reaching the top Ambassador tier. You'll get a one-time, complimentary seven-night cruise in a balcony cabin. You can pick any destination, but you can't select a holiday sailing (Christmas and New Year's).

The free cruise is for two people. You can bring a third and fourth guest, but you'll pay for their fares. You'll also pay for all taxes, fees and service charges (including gratuities). You have one year to take advantage of your free cruise after becoming an Ambassador elite member.

For more details on Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards program, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line's Latitudes Rewards program .

Princess Cruises: Captain's Circle

The points-earning system for the Captain's Circle program is a bit convoluted, as it involves two separate tracks — either of which will allow you to rise through its tiers.

For starters, members earn one "cruise credit" for each cruise. Also, members earn one "cruise day" for every night spent on a ship. So, on a typical seven-night cruise, you would earn seven cruise days and one cruise credit.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Just to make things a little bit more complicated, Princess Cruises also doubles your cruise credit earnings if you sail in a full suite (minisuites, Club-class suites and upgrades to suites are excluded) or if you sail solo. However, it doesn't double your cruise day count.

So, if you sail in a suite on a seven-night cruise, you will earn two cruise credits and seven cruise days.

While convoluted, this system actually works to your advantage, as you have two ways to reach higher tier levels. As we'll explain below, you can qualify for elite status either through your cruise credit count or your cruise day count, whichever number gets you to your goal first.

There are four tiers to the Captain's Circle program:

• Gold (after your first completed cruise)
• Ruby (from your fourth cruise credit, or 31 to 50 cruise days)
• Platinum (from your sixth to 15th cruise credit, or 51 to 150 cruise days)
• Elite (from your 16th cruise credit on, or 151-plus cruise days)

The entry-level tier (Gold) is very limited in what it brings. One of the most alluring benefits at this level is the Preferential Pricing Offer for select sailings that the line extends to Captain's Circle members. The early booking discounts, known as Captain's Circle Launch Savings, are also a plus.

In addition, Gold members get:

• Invitations to members-only onboard events
• Access to a Captain's Circle onboard host
• A members-only magazine
• A recognition pin

Upon reaching the second tier of the program, Ruby, you get a few more perks. However, this tier is a bit ho-hum, too. In addition to the Gold-level rewards, you get a new recognition pin, access to a shoreside Captain's Circle Help Desk phone line, and an upgrade to Princess' Platinum Vacation Protection plan when you purchase a Princess travel insurance plan at the standard rate.

Being loyal to Princess finally starts paying off in a bigger way once you reach the Platinum level of the Captain's Circle program. Even here, though, the rewards are still relatively modest.

The Platinum level comes with five solid perks:

• Priority boarding
• 50% off MedallionNet internet packages
• 10% off spa treatments
• 10% off photo packages
• Early access to Dine My Way reservations

Priority boarding is a great perk as it means you don't have to wait with the hordes upon arriving at a ship and, in theory, can board more quickly — increasing the amount of time you have to enjoy the vessel's offerings on the first day. We're just a little surprised that Princess doesn't offer this perk until the third tier of its loyalty program.

Alas, there isn't a truly spectacular perk in the entire Captain's Circle menu. Still, the Captain's Circle's top Elite status tier does come with a few enticing benefits. Our favorite, by a hair, is the complimentary laundry service that comes with Elite-level status. This can come in handy (and save you a lot of money) on longer voyages.

For more details on Princess's Captain's Circle, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle program .

Royal Caribbean: Crown & Anchor Society

Earning points in Royal Caribbean 's Crown & Anchor Society program isn't too complicated. You will get:

• One additional point for every night you spend in a suite
• One additional point when cruising solo in a cabin meant for two

There are six tiers to the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society program:

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

The most alluring benefit at the entry-level Gold tier is the exclusive rates available to members for specific sailings of specific ships.

Additionally, Gold members get:

• Crown & Anchor Society onboard offers
• SeaPass card recognition
• Private departure lounge with continental breakfast
• Priority notice of special offers, new ships and itineraries
• Exclusive email offers
• Access to a Crown & Anchor phone line for membership inquiries
• A member newsletter

Upon reaching the second tier of the program, Platinum, you get a few more perks. The most notable, to us, is access to special member discounts on balcony cabins and suites. That can bring real savings. The Platinum tier also brings matching status in the loyalty program of Royal Caribbean's sister line, Celebrity Cruises.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries

In our view, the Diamond Plus level is where the Royal Caribbean loyalty program hits its stride.

Once you reach Diamond Plus, you'll get all the aforementioned benefits plus priority access and seating at main theater shows, ice shows and AquaTheater events, which is a great perk.

Diamond Plus status also brings a 50% reduction in the single-supplement charge for solo travelers — albeit only after your points total in the program hits 340 points. If you're a solo traveler, this is a big deal, as it will save you considerable money when sailing Royal Caribbean.

Diamond Plus members also get:

• Access to exclusive top-tier events
• A personalized gift/amenity (one per household)
• Exclusive access to Diamond Plus call center staff

Related: The 6 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

The ultimate perk for Crown & Anchor Society members comes upon reaching the top Pinnacle Club tier. You'll get a complimentary seven-night cruise to the Caribbean in a balcony cabin.

The free cruise is for two people. You can bring a third and fourth guest, but you'll pay for their fares. You'll also pay all taxes, fees and service charges (including gratuities). Look out for other restrictions as well.

After hitting the Pinnacle Club level, you'll get an additional free cruise every time you accumulate another 350 points. In other words, you'll get an initial free cruise after hitting 700 points and then additional cruises at 1,050 points, 1,400 points, 1,750 points, and so on.

The first two cruises are in a balcony cabin. After that, you qualify for a junior suite.

If you don't want to sail the Caribbean, you can request a cruise credit toward an itinerary elsewhere. Royal Caribbean will give you $2,400 toward the purchase of a cruise at 700 and 1,050 points; you'll get $3,200 toward the purchase of a cruise at 1,400 points and above.

For more details on Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, including a full list of benefits at every tier, see TPG's ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society .

Viking: Viking Explorer Society

While Viking has a cruise loyalty program, the Viking Explorer Society, it isn't a loyalty program in the traditional sense. Passengers don't earn points every time they travel with the brand and progress through multiple tiers that bring an ever-expanding array of perks.

Instead, the Viking loyalty program offers just a few basic perks available to anyone who has taken at least one voyage with the line.

The Viking Explorer Society loyalty program's main perk is a travel credit of up to $200 that you can get every time you book a new Viking ocean, river or expedition cruise within two years of sailing with the line. Note that travel credits are different from onboard credits. You can only use a Viking Explorer Society credit to pay for a cruise, not for onboard spending.

Viking also offers a referral program that can get you additional travel credits.

For more details on the Viking Explorer Society loyalty program, see TPG's ultimate guide to the Viking Explorer Society loyalty program .

Windstar: Yacht Club

The Yacht Club point-earning system is relatively straightforward. In most cases, members earn 1 point for every day they sail on a Windstar Cruises vessel.

The only exception is for passengers staying in top suites. Customers staying in Wind Class suites or Deluxe suites on Star Plus Class ships will get 1.5 points for every day they sail. Those staying in Owner's suites and Classic suites on Star Plus Class vessels will get 2 points for every day they sail, as will passengers staying in the Bridge Suite on the Wind Surf.

There are four tiers to the Yacht Club program:

• One Star (1 to 19 points)
• Two Star (20 to 39 points)
• Three Star (40 to 89 points)
• Four Sta r (90 or more points)

Even at the lowest One Star level, the perks are fairly robust, at least as compared to loyalty programs of many of Windstar's small-ship cruise line competitors.

Yacht Club members at all four tiers get a 5% discount on fares when booking a cruise. That's a great perk, as it amounts to real money in your pocket. But it gets even better if you book a cruise while on board a Windstar ship or within 60 days of departing one. In such cases, Yacht Club members will get an additional 5% discount on fares — bringing the total savings to 10%.

In select cases, Yacht Club members will be rewarded for their loyalty with even bigger discounts. As part of the program, members can snag an even heftier 20% discount on select Yacht Club member sailings. One caveat: You cannot combine the 20% discount with other offers.

Additionally, all Yacht Club members get:

• Advanced notification of new deployments
• Advanced notification of sales events
• Members-only private sales
• A $100 shipboard credit when referring a new customer to Windstar. The customer also will receive a $100 onboard credit
• Exclusive members-only cocktail party with ship officers
• Exclusive onboard tote
• Additional discounts at sister Xanterra Travel Collection brands

Plus, starting at the One Star level, customers get a 5% discount on laundry service, Wi-Fi and Windstar merchandise whenever they sail with the line. Note that the Wi-Fi discount only applies to Wi-Fi purchased individually and not as part of the line's All-Inclusive Fares.

At the Two Star level, customers get all the above plus a 5% discount on shore excursions and beverage packages (again, the latter discount does not apply to the line's All-Inclusive Fares). They also get a $50 per person onboard credit for every cruise they take.

Related: The 2 classes of Windstar ships, explained

We start to get excited with the Three Star tier. It bumps the discounts for laundry service, Wi-Fi, shore excursions and Windstar merchandise to 10%. If you're the kind of cruiser who does a shore excursion in every port and regularly uses onboard services, such as laundry and Wi-Fi, this could save you $100 or more on a typical seven-night cruise.

The Three Star tier also comes with an onboard credit of $75 per person for every cruise you take. That's more real money in your pocket.

At the top Four Star tier level of the Yacht Club program, passengers get free laundry service and free Wi-Fi on every sailing, both valuable perks. But the most generous perk may be the 15% discount on shore excursions. That's assuming you are a cruiser who signs up for many cruise line-organized shore excursions. If you spend $1,000 a week on excursions, that perk alone is worth $150 per seven-night cruise.

At the Four Star level, members also get a 15% credit on Windstar merchandise and a 10% discount on beverage packages. The onboard credit increases to $100 per person for every cruise you take.

For more details on Windstar's Yacht Club loyalty program, see TPG's ultimate guide to the Windstar Yacht Club loyalty program .

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

This cruise line will match your hotel and airline loyalty status – for 3 days only

A re you a sucker for a status match? If free coffee, a cocktail reception and free laundry service sound like perks you'd enjoy on your next vacation, listen up. For three days only, Virgin Voyages will extend its existing status match offer to include airline and hotel loyalty status matches.

Members of Virgin Voyages' Sailing Club loyalty program have been able to match with other cruise lines' loyalty programs for a while. However, if you have airline or hotel status, now could be the time to book that voyage you've been considering.

Here's all you need to know to take advantage of this offer.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

What's the deal?

Book one of several select cruises with Virgin Voyages from Wednesday to Friday, submit proof of your loyalty status on Virgin Voyages' website by Friday, and you'll be automatically moved to Blue Extras, the second tier of Virgin Voyages' three-tier Sailing Club program. You'll be awarded the corresponding perks, starting on your first cruise following the match. (Rates start at $149 per person, per night for four-night sailings.)

Perks include one free bag of laundry to be sent out and returned to your cabin, one free specialty coffee per day and a cocktail reception.

Which brands will Virgin Voyages match?

This promotion will take loyalty status match requests into account for the following major airline and hotel brands:

• United Airlines MileagePlus
• American Airlines AAdvantage
• Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• Frontier Airlines Miles
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• World of Hyatt
• Choice Privileges
• IHG One Rewards
• Wyndham Rewards
• Radisson Rewards
• Best Western Rewards

Virgin Voyages will also match your status if you are a loyal repeat traveler with another cruise line, but that offer is ongoing. The cruise line will continue to consider cruise line status matches after this deal ends.

What's the catch?

The obvious caveat is that you must book a cruise for your hotel or airline match to be considered.

You also can't be at the lowest tier within your airline's or hotel's loyalty program. Entry-level tiers don't qualify for the match. It's not enough to just be enrolled in a loyalty program. You must have earned some status within it first.

Additionally, this isn't a traditional type of match. Regardless of the level you've reached with your airline or hotel, you will only be awarded middle-tier status — Blue Extras — with Virgin Voyages. This promotion won't earn you the perks of Deep Blue Extras — the highest tier — no matter how elite you are elsewhere.

Which other cruise lines offer status matches?

Status matches are not common in the world of cruising. The only line that offers matches to cruise lines, hotels and airlines is MSC Cruises. MSC's matching program awards passengers status based on the loyalty level they submit for consideration. The drawbacks are that major U.S. airlines aren't yet part of the program, and if you don't cruise within three years of obtaining your status match, you'll lose it.

The only other megaship cruise lines that allow status matches are Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises — but only with one another since they're sister brands. If you have status with one, you can submit a request to have it matched with the other.

Bottom line

Virgin Voyages prides itself on being a bit of an outlier in the cruise industry. The line has refreshingly managed to turn cruising on its head by eliminating buffets, hiring a resident drag queen and installing tattoo parlors on its ships.

Its current Sailing Club loyalty program hotel and airline status match is a great way to earn status and perks with a cruise line that offers a different way to cruise.

Want to learn more about Virgin Voyages? We've got you covered:

• Here's what it's like to sail Virgin Voyages
• A guide to Virgin Voyages cabins and suites
• We tried every single one of Virgin Voyages' bars
• Virgin Voyages drink packages
• All you need to know about Virgin Voyages entertainment
• I just got a tattoo on a cruise ship!
• Where you can sail on Virgin Voyages ships
• Do Virgin Voyages ships have buffets?
• Order Champagne on these ships by shaking your phone
• What are Virgin Voyages' fitness classes like?
• Here's how Virgin Voyages will make you feel like a kid again
• Scarlet Lady ship review
• A first look at Valiant Lady
• Resilient Lady ship review

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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We are finalising our guest loyalty programme and taking note of any guests who are members of the MSC Voyager loyalty programme at the time of booking in order to advise you of our new programme.

We are finalising our guest loyalty programme and will communicate the programme to you as soon as it is ready.

Yes, members of other cruise lines and hotel loyalty programs are eligible for the Exclusive Welcome Match, subject to certain terms and conditions. 

Please contact one of our Ambassadors at the Explora Experience Centre via phone or email for any questions you may have, or to apply – they will be happy to assist you. 

[email protected]

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