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A quiet but meaningful shift is about to happen in cruise loyalty, and it starts January 30, 2026.
From that date onward, Royal Caribbean Group will activate a new system called Points Choice, designed to give frequent cruisers far more control over how — and where — their loyalty points count.
Instead of loyalty being locked to a single cruise brand, guests will finally be able to earn points on one brand and apply them to another within the Royal Caribbean family.
One Cruise Company, Three Brands, One Pool of Loyalty Power
Royal Caribbean Group operates three distinct cruise lines, each with its own loyalty program:
- Royal Caribbean International → Crown & Anchor Society
- Celebrity Cruises → Captain’s Club
- Silversea → Venetian Society
Until now, points earned on one brand stayed there. With Points Choice, that wall comes down.
Guests can cruise on any of the three lines and decide which loyalty program receives the credit.
This is a major change for travelers who enjoy switching between mainstream, premium, and luxury ships.
Why Royal Caribbean Is Making This Move
Royal Caribbean Group has openly acknowledged that modern cruisers don’t stay loyal to just one brand anymore.
Guests might sail Royal Caribbean one year, Celebrity the next, and Silversea for a milestone trip.
CEO Jason Liberty summed it up simply: guests want their loyalty to work across the entire family, not reset every time they try something new.
Points Choice is meant to reflect how people actually cruise today.
How the New Points Choice System Works
Nothing changes while you’re onboard. Points are still earned the same way — based on nights sailed, stateroom type, and the cruise line you’re on.
The difference happens after the cruise ends.
Here’s the process in plain terms:
- After each sailing, guests have 14 days to request a points transfer
- If no request is made, points stay with the brand you sailed with
- Transfers must be requested for each individual sailing
- Points can only be transferred one time
- Points cannot be moved between different guest accounts
Royal Caribbean Group will publish brand-specific conversion rates once per year, which determine how points convert between programs.
A Preference Tool Is Coming Later
For cruisers who don’t want to submit transfer requests every time, Royal Caribbean Group plans to roll out a Points Choice preference center later in 2026.
Once active, guests will be able to:
- Select a default loyalty program
- Automatically send future points there without manual requests
Until that tool launches, transfers will need to be handled sail by sail.
Solo Travelers May See the Biggest Advantage
Points Choice introduces an interesting opportunity for solo cruisers, because each brand rewards solo travel differently.
Here’s how solo earning currently works:
| Cruise Brand | Solo Earning Policy |
|---|---|
| Celebrity Cruises | Double points |
| Royal Caribbean | 1 extra point per night |
| Silversea | No solo bonus |
Because of differing conversion rates, solo travelers can potentially multiply their earnings.
For example:
- A 7-night solo balcony cruise on Royal Caribbean earns 14 Crown & Anchor points
- Those same points could convert into 42 Captain’s Club points if transferred to Celebrity
For guests chasing higher loyalty tiers, that difference is substantial.
This Builds on an Earlier Loyalty Change
Points Choice is not Royal Caribbean Group’s first step toward unified loyalty. In 2025, the company introduced full status matching across its three brands.
That update allowed guests to:
- Earn status on one line
- Receive equivalent tier benefits on the others
Points Choice now adds flexibility on the earning side, creating a more seamless multi-brand experience.
What Is Staying Exactly the Same
Royal Caribbean Group has been clear that this update does not change core loyalty rules:
- No changes to how points are earned onboard
- No removal of existing perks
- No changes to current tier benefits
Points Choice simply adds choice, not complexity.
Why This Matters for Frequent Cruisers
For travelers who value perks like priority boarding, lounges, complimentary laundry, or suite-level benefits, this update introduces strategy into cruise planning.
Instead of asking, “Which ship do I want?” guests can now also ask, “Which sailing helps me reach my next status tier faster?”
That shift makes loyalty more flexible, more personalized, and far more valuable for cruisers who move between brands.
The Bottom Line
Starting January 30, 2026, Royal Caribbean Group will give guests something they’ve never had before: control over where their loyalty grows.
For cruisers who sail Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Silversea — or any combination of the three — Points Choice turns loyalty into a tool you can actively manage, not just passively collect.
If you care about cruise perks, status, or long-term value, this is a change worth paying attention to before your next booking.
