This is not about turning cruising into a points game. It’s about removing the awkward “separate bucket” feeling when you love more than one kind of cruise, especially across brands that sit under the same parent company. With a single change, travellers who bounce between different cruise styles can now plan with more flexibility, without feeling like they’re leaving loyalty value behind.
Royal Caribbean Group has launched Points Choice for Crown & Anchor members, allowing them to earn and redeem loyalty points across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. Members can also allocate newly earned loyalty points to their preferred Royal Caribbean Group loyalty program, regardless of which brand they sail. The update supports travellers who mix short 2–5 night getaways with longer adventures such as Alaska sailings, and it highlights how loyalty milestones, including Pinnacle status and member events, can add a personal layer to cruising.
Loyalty programs are most valuable when they match how people actually travel. This update is designed for travellers who don’t stick to one cruise “lane”, whether that means switching brands for different destinations or choosing different onboard atmospheres depending on the trip.
The core shift is that members can earn and redeem loyalty points across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. That matters because these brands are often chosen for different reasons, and travellers frequently move between them as their preferences evolve. A shorter cruise might be about ease and fun, while a longer trip might be about ports, pacing, and a quieter onboard feel.
From a planning point of view, the benefit is continuity. Your loyalty becomes something you can build over time, even if you change cruise styles, instead of feeling like you’re collecting separate points that never quite add up to the tier or benefits you want.
The most practical part of Points Choice is the option to allocate newly earned loyalty points to the program you prefer, no matter how you travel within the group. That’s a genuine improvement because it lets you steer your loyalty value toward the benefits you actually want to unlock. Instead of points landing wherever the system decides, you can plan your loyalty growth with intent.
This is especially useful if you already know what you’re aiming for. Some travellers care about reaching a higher status in one program, while others want to keep their options open across multiple brands, and allocation gives you a way to shape that path.
Many travellers aren’t loyal to one type of cruise; they’re loyal to the feeling they want from a holiday. Sometimes you want short, simple, and easy to organise. Sometimes you want scenic, slower, and more destination-focused. Sometimes you want a very premium experience for a milestone trip. A system that accepts that reality is easier to use and more likely to feel fair.
It also supports group travel. When one person in your party prefers one cruise style and another person prefers a different one, a connected points structure can make it easier to say yes to the trip that works for the group, without worrying that your loyalty “progress” is getting scattered.
The newsletter’s “Best Weekend Ever” idea focuses on short cruises, and that’s not random. Short sailings can be a great fit when life is busy, and you still want a proper break that feels like travel, not a staycation.
A 2 to 5-night cruise can be the easiest way to hit reset without burning a large amount of annual leave. It’s also a good option for first-timers who want to test whether cruising suits them, because you get the full experience, stateroom comfort, dining, sea views, and a port stop, without a longer commitment.
For international travellers, it can also be a smart add-on. A short sailing can sit neatly alongside a city break, turning one flight into a more varied holiday, especially if you plan a couple of nights pre-cruise and keep your return routing simple.
Short cruises work best when you treat them like a holiday from the start, not something you squeeze in. That might mean arriving the day before embarkation if flights are involved, choosing a stateroom that supports rest, and planning your onshore day so it feels enjoyable rather than rushed. It also means being realistic about your pace; you don’t need to do everything onboard to have a great time.
This is where loyalty and planning connect. If you take a few short cruises over a year, it can build momentum toward a bigger trip later, especially when you can guide your points using Points Choice.
Short sailings often encourage people to experiment. You might try a quick cruise on one brand, then later decide you want a different vibe for a longer holiday. With points that can be earned and redeemed across the group, those experiments can still build toward future value, rather than feeling like separate travel decisions that do not connect.
It’s a subtle shift, but it can change behaviour. Travellers may feel more confident trying a different brand for a new itinerary because they know their loyalty can follow them.
The newsletter also highlights Alaska, and it’s easy to see why. Alaska cruising tends to feel like a true destination journey, with wildlife and scenery that often becomes the highlight of someone’s travel year.
The newsletter references Alaska voyages on Ovation, Anthem, Voyager, and Serenade of the Seas. Even without diving into ship-by-ship detail, the key point is that there are different onboard styles available, which can matter a lot for Alaska. Some travellers want plenty happening onboard after a long day ashore, while others want calmer evenings and a more relaxed flow.
For travellers coming from further away, including Australia, Asia, Europe, or elsewhere, the ability to choose the right ship and sailing month can shape the entire experience. Alaska isn’t a destination most people do on a whim, so having clear inspiration helps people start planning.
The newsletter’s examples of Alaska shore experiences are classic “tell your friends about it” moments, including dog sledding on Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching off Icy Strait Point, and exploring Denali National Park on a guided Cruisetour. These experiences highlight what makes Alaska special, it’s not only scenic, it’s active, wild, and genuinely different from many other cruise regions.
The key planning tip is balance. Alaska days can be full, so pairing one big excursion with a gentler day can make the trip feel more enjoyable and less tiring, especially if you’re travelling with a mix of ages and energy levels.
Denali Cruisetours are often appealing because they add the interior of Alaska to the coastal cruising story. It changes the trip from “we saw Alaska from the ship” to “we experienced Alaska across different landscapes.” For travellers who want a deeper sense of scale, that extra layer can be the piece that makes the holiday feel complete.
It also fits the loyalty story. Many people do a short getaway one year, then plan a bigger destination like Alaska the next, and a points structure that supports long-term planning can make that progression feel smoother.
Points are practical, but loyalty becomes memorable when it feels personal. The newsletter’s Pinnacle story is a good reminder that cruising often becomes a long-term habit for families and frequent travellers, with milestones along the way.
The newsletter highlights Aydin Derakhshan, who became the youngest Royal Caribbean guest to reach Pinnacle status, doing so only four weeks after his fifth birthday aboard Star of the Seas. Whether or not you’re chasing top-tier status, it’s a fun reminder that cruising can become a tradition, with repeat sailings that build into a personal travel story.
It also shows that loyalty programs are partly about celebration. When members feel seen, not just counted, loyalty can feel more like belonging than transaction.
The story includes examples like an exclusive Top Tier event, a behind-the-scenes bridge tour, and a special keepsake signed by the Captain. Those details matter because they show what loyalty can unlock beyond the basics. Behind-the-scenes access can be meaningful for travellers who love the “how it all works” side of cruising, and it creates a memory that feels unique to the voyage.
For many travellers, the best perks are the ones that feel like experiences rather than discounts. Recognition moments often land in that category.
What Points Choice suggests is that loyalty is becoming more adaptable. If your travel style changes over time, or you want to try a different kind of cruise without losing momentum, a more connected system can help your loyalty keep pace with your life. That can be particularly appealing for travellers who alternate between short breaks, family trips, and milestone sailings.
It also helps international travellers who plan further in advance. When you’re coordinating flights and leave time, knowing that your loyalty strategy can support multiple trip types can make planning feel more coherent.
If you want to compare short getaways, Alaska voyages, and different cruise styles across the Royal Caribbean Group family, a quick browse can help you see what fits your dates and your preferred onboard atmosphere. Cruise Finder is a helpful place to start
And if you’re thinking about how to balance one quick break now with a bigger destination trip later, Cruise Finder browsing makes it easier to map out a realistic travel calendar, especially when you’re coordinating flights and holiday windows.
This update is a practical win for travellers who want freedom. Points Choice acknowledges that you might love different cruise styles at different times, and it gives you more control over where your loyalty value goes within the Royal Caribbean Group. Whether you’re planning a short 2 to 5-night reset, a bigger Alaska adventure, or a future premium sailing, the ability to earn, redeem, and allocate points across brands can make your next few trips easier to plan and more rewarding over time.
If you’d like help turning this flexibility into a clear plan, including which sailings match your calendar and how to think about stateroom choices for your preferred pace, you can message us at S.W. Black Travel, and we’ll help you align the right itinerary with your travel goals