Royal Caribbean Group has officially announced a major overhaul of its loyalty offering, confirming that a new points-based system spanning all three of its cruise brands will launch early next year.
The new programme, called Points Choice, will apply to sailings departing on or after 30th January 2026 and will allow guests to earn loyalty points across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises, then choose where those points are applied. The announcement follows weeks of speculation after details of the programme began circulating on social media.
The parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, first hinted that loyalty changes were on the way in October 2025, prompting widespread discussion among frequent cruisers about how the new system might work.
How Points Choice Will Work Across Brands
Under Points Choice, members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club and Silversea’s Venetian Society will continue to earn points based on the number of nights they sail, with cabin category determining the points earned per night. However, guests will now have the flexibility to decide which brand’s loyalty programme receives those points.
After each sailing, guests will have 14 days to allocate their points using a Points Choice Request form available through the Royal Caribbean app or the company’s website. If no action is taken, points will automatically be credited to the guest’s existing loyalty programme.
The structure builds on the Status Match initiative introduced in 2024, which allowed guests to carry their loyalty tier across brands. Points Choice goes further by letting guests strategically direct their points to maximise benefits with their preferred brand.
In a statement released on 15th January 2026, Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Jason Liberty said: “Points Choice is designed with our guests at the center.”
“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,” Liberty added.
Points Earning Rates And Cabin Categories
There are now charts for each cruise line, showing the exchange rates depending on your chosen stateroom or suite.
According to those charts, suite categories such as Sunset, Owner, Aqua-Theater or Oceanview Panoramic suites would earn two points per night with Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, eight points per night with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club, or one point per night with Silversea’s Venetian Society.
The Celebrity Cruises comparison chart isn’t too dissimilar to that of Royal Caribbean in terms of the value of nights.
The Silversea chart shows that even staying in an entry level suite can help you climb the rankings for Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean faster. However if you’re planning on cruising with Silversea once to boost your Crown & Anchor level, it’s worth noting that all suites, regardless of category, count for the same number of points.
How It Compares With Rival Cruise Lines
The announcement stands in contrast to recent loyalty changes unveiled by Carnival Cruise Line, which confirmed it will replace its long-running VIFP programme with Carnival Rewards. That new scheme will factor in onboard spending as well as sailing frequency, a move that sparked significant backlash among loyal guests.
Carnival Rewards is scheduled to launch on 1st September 2026, and early reaction suggests many cruisers prefer Royal Caribbean Group’s approach, which continues to reward nights sailed rather than expenditure.
Royal Caribbean Group owns Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises outright and also holds a 50 per cent stake in TUI Cruises, operator of Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Neither Status Match nor Points Choice will apply to those brands.
With Points Choice now confirmed, Royal Caribbean Group appears to be betting that flexibility and transparency will strengthen loyalty across its portfolio as more guests sail with multiple brands under the same corporate umbrella.
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