Royal Caribbean reveals details of new Points Choice loyalty perk
At a time when many travel loyalty programs are becoming less rewarding , Royal Caribbean Group is taking a different approach in an effort to keep travelers choosing cruise vacations with its three cruise lines — Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.
Building upon its existing loyalty status match program, Royal Caribbean Group is launching Points Choice, a first-of-its-kind program designed to offer loyalty flexibility across its cruise lines, expanding choice in how passengers earn loyalty status.
Designed to make loyalty more rewarding and connected across its brands, Points Choice will enable vacationers to build their loyalty status with their preferred Royal Caribbean Group cruise line while sailing with another line within the family of brands.
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Royal Caribbean's new Points Choice program will make it more rewarding to sail with both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock.com
Royal Caribbean's new Points Choice program launches Jan. 30
Available for sailings departing on or after Jan. 30, 2026, Points Choice will allow vacationers sailing on a Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, or Silversea cruise to choose to apply the loyalty points they earn for their sailing to the loyalty program of their choice — Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club, or Silversea's Venetian Society.
For example, if you have status in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society and sail with Celebrity Cruises, you can choose to apply the points earned for your Celebrity cruise to your Crown & Anchor Society account instead of Celebrity's Captain's Club.
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Recognizing that vacationers' preferences may change over time, Royal Caribbean is using Points Choice as a way to encourage passengers to keep cruising with their brands as they seek new experiences. Points Choice supports the growth of long-term loyalty relationships by adapting loyalty to the varied vacation needs of multigenerational travelers — like those who want to sail with their family on Royal Caribbean, but also want to take a couples' cruise on Celebrity from time to time.
"Points Choice is designed with our guests at the center," Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said in a press release . "Our guests are exploring more of our brands than ever before, and we believe our loyalty experience should grow with them. Points Choice gives every guest the power to direct their loyalty points within our family of brands where they will have the biggest impact for them."
How will Royal Caribbean's Points Choice program work?
Members of each of the loyalty programs will continue earning points as they always have — based on their stateroom category and nights sailed, with the added option to move points to another loyalty program. Requests to move points can be made up to 14 days after their sailing and can be submitted through the cruise line app or website.
If you don't request to move your points, they'll remain with the loyalty program for the cruise line you sailed on.
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The exchange rate for points varies by loyalty program and stateroom category. Exchange rates will be published annually on each cruise line's website.
2026 Points Choice Exchange Rates:
In addition to Points Choice, vacationers sailing with Royal Caribbean Group brands can continue to take advantage of the company's Status Match program, which unlocks more benefits by allowing loyalty members to enjoy equivalent loyalty tier status across all three cruise brands.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
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This story was originally published by TravelHost on Jan 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
