Royal Caribbean Group is about to make loyalty feel more flexible. The company has announced Points Choice, an enhancement that lets you earn points on one brand and apply them to another within the Group, so your time at sea keeps building toward meaningful perks even when you switch ships or styles for your next holiday.
Rolling out early next year, Points Choice extends cross-brand loyalty within Royal Caribbean Group. Travellers can continue earning with their chosen line and then apply points across Crown & Anchor Society, Captain’s Club, and Venetian Society. This follows last year’s status match initiative. Exact exchange rates, eligibility, and program rules will be published closer to launch, with examples already confirming brand-to-brand point application.
A loyalty program only works when it keeps pace with how people actually travel. Many cruisers move between big-ship fun, modern premium escapes, and once-in-a-lifetime expeditions over a few years. Points Choice recognises that pattern, letting your points follow your strategy rather than trapping them in brand silos.
At its core, Points Choice means points earned on one cruise can be directed to the program where you want to grow. If your preferred program is Crown & Anchor Society, yet you are sailing on Celebrity next school holidays, the points you earn on that trip can be applied to Royal Caribbean to keep your status climb intact. The same logic should extend across all three programs once rules are published.
Last year’s status match ensured your tier recognition travelled with you across Royal Caribbean Group. That was step one. Step two, Points Choice, addresses how you keep moving up the ladder in the first place. Instead of losing momentum when you try a different brand, you can use the sailing that suits you now to power the status you want later.
Most travellers do not cruise one brand exclusively. A New Zealand summer loop from Sydney, a Mediterranean spring out of Rome, then an expedition with Silversea is a common three-year arc. The new flexibility allows that mix without sacrificing loyalty goals, which means your holiday calendar can lead and your benefits can follow.
The formal exchange tables and fine print are still to come. Even so, the announced framework gives enough clarity to start planning scenarios that match your habits, your homeport, and your long-term perks wish list.
Royal Caribbean’s example is clear. Sail Celebrity, earn Captain’s Club points, then apply them to Crown & Anchor Society if Royal is your priority. That lets you choose the right ship for a given trip, while keeping your eye on a specific tier that unlocks the perks you value, such as priority services or laundry benefits.
Do not assume one-to-one transfers. Programs tend to weight nights, categories, and sail types differently, so conversion scales will likely balance the playing field. Once the exchange rates are published, we can model options for you, comparing the impact of an extra sea night or a balcony upgrade on your path to the next tier.
If you aim to tip into a higher tier before a milestone voyage, a slightly longer itinerary or a move from oceanview to balcony might help, subject to the final earning logic. Planning two shorter runs around one longer overseas cruise can also keep momentum steady through the year.
Australians and regional guests often stitch together close-to-home summers with longer overseas adventures. Points Choice permits you to plan that way while keeping your loyalty strategy tidy.
Royal Caribbean’s Sydney and Brisbane seasons suit families and friend groups who want big-ship variety and South Pacific sunshine. If Crown & Anchor Society is your anchor program, you can still try a different brand during the year without slowing your climb. The points from that other sailing can be channelled back to Crown & Anchor when the new rules go live.
Celebrity’s Captain’s Club is a comfortable fit for couples and food-curious travellers. You might do a two-week Mediterranean journey during our winter, then a short Royal Caribbean school-holiday cruise from home. Points Choice will let you place those Europe points where they make the most sense, whether that is keeping them with Celebrity or adding them to Royal Caribbean.
When you finally say yes to Antarctica or the Arctic, Venetian Society points become part of the equation. If your long-term plan focuses on Captain’s Club or Crown & Anchor Society, Points Choice turns that expedition into momentum elsewhere. If you are building toward Silversea milestones, keep the points in Venetian Society and climb faster.
A smart plan waits for the numbers. Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed timing and capability, and now the details will determine the best path for your household’s mix of holidays.
Conversion scales may vary by brand, category, and night count, and there could be caps to keep things balanced. Expedition sectors or deep-discount fares might earn differently. Understanding these rules early will help us position your bookings to achieve the tier bumps you want.
How quickly points post, and how far back you can claim, matters if you are targeting a status change for a special sailing. We will help you build buffer time into your plan so you do not miss out on benefits due to timing.
If you travel with adult children or book multiple staterooms, watch for guidance on how points from different bookings can be directed. Clarity here can influence who is named on which cabin and how you split a group across decks.
A flexible system is only useful when it connects to a real calendar. Our role is to align ships, seasons, and perks so every sailing does double duty: a great holiday now and a stronger status position next time.
Start by deciding which program’s benefits you value most. Crown & Anchor Society tends to shine for big-ship convenience, Captain’s Club resonates with modern, premium couples’ trips, and Venetian Society offers the tone many expedition lovers prefer. We will map your next few cruises to reinforce that choice.
Use a short South Pacific or Tasman run to bridge the gap to a longer overseas voyage, keeping points flowing. If there is a milestone birthday, consider a suite for that sailing, both for the experience and, depending on rules, for potential earning leverage.
Popular weeks and unique itineraries move quickly. We can place holds while you confirm leave and airfare, then lock everything once the loyalty maths works in your favour. When Points Choice goes live, we will also confirm that each booking credits to the program you intend.
Planning is easier when you can see what is actually sailing and when. Use our Cruise Finder to compare Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea side by side, filter by month and length, and earmark departures that fit your calendar.
If you are coordinating friends or family across different cities or countries, the Cruise Finder helps you find windows that work for everyone. Shortlist a few options, then we will refine cabins, flights, and pre- or post-stays together.
A Group-wide system that lets points follow your plans is a meaningful win for frequent cruisers. Whether your next booking is a Sydney round-trip, a European summer, or a high-latitude expedition, we will shape the itinerary and staterooms around your loyalty goals, then keep the moving parts tidy so the holiday feels simple. When you are ready to align your next year of cruising with your benefits strategy, message our cruise specialist at S.W. Black Travel, and we will build a personalised plan around Points Choice.