People often ask me about Royal Caribbean’s casino loyalty program, Club Royale. This is the casino loyalty program I am most familiar with when it comes to cruise lines. From everything I have read about other cruise lines’ programs, it is more similar to a land-based casino loyalty program than any other cruise line’s program. Let’s jump into it!
In this article you will learn about:
- Tier Levels. Point Accumulation and How to earn points
- Tier Perks
- Instant Reward Certificates
- ClubRoyaleOffers.com
- Checking Account Details
- Freeplay
- Misc. Tips and Info
Tier Levels, Point Accumulation, and How to Earn Points
Club Royale consists of 4 levels:
- Choice (1 – 2,499 points)
- Prime (2,500 – 24,999 points)
- Signature (25,000 – 99.999 points)
- Masters (100.000+ points)
Points accumulate over the course of Royal Caribbean’s casino year, which runs from April 1 to March 31. If you reach Prime, Signature, or Masters status within that time period, you retain that status for the remainder of the casino year plus the entire following casino year.
For example: If you reach Prime, Signature, or Masters on August 30, 2024, you will keep your Prime status until April 1, 2026. Your tier status will only reset to Choice on April 1, 2026, if you don’t reach Prime, Signature, or Masters again between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
When you play slots, video poker, or any other electronic casino game (such as roulette or craps), be sure to insert your SeaPass card. Make sure the card is properly read by the machine—I’ve made this mistake plenty of times and missed out on points! There’s a myth that inserting your card means the machine “knows” and you won’t win. This simply isn’t true.
If you have questions about slot myths, I recommend watching Cowboy Slots and Gamble Smart on YouTube. Slot machines don’t care who you are, so always insert your card when you play. Your SeaPass card is linked to your Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor number, which is how the casino tracks your play.
Every $5 cycled through a slot machine and every $10 cycled in video poker earns you 1 point. I believe other electronic games, like roulette and craps, also require $10 per point, though I haven’t been on a ship that offers these yet.
What is a dollar cycled? This refers to the total amount of money wagered on each spin, regardless of whether you win or lose. Every time you hit the spin button, whatever you bet counts as the amount cycled for that spin. For example, if you are betting $2.50 per spin, two spins would total $5 cycled, which equals 1 point. It’s important to note that money cycled is NOT the same as the amount you spend out of pocket. If you put $20 into a machine, you likely won’t end up with just 4 points.
Every win that keeps you playing adds to the total amount cycled. For instance, if you start with $20 and are betting $5 per spin, after two spins you’ll have 2 points. On the second spin, you win $20, bringing your total to $30 in the machine. You continue to spin three more times and win $50. Now you have 5 points and $65 in the machine. If you cycle that $65 without additional wins, you will end up with 18 points. Even though you only invested $20 initially, the wins kept you playing, cycling more money through the machine. Using the same example on video poker, you’d earn 9 points instead.
The difference between cycled credits and your initial investment can be confusing, especially for new gamblers. For example, I was once cruising with friends, and while meeting up at the bar, a non-gambling friend asked how I was doing in the casino. I told him I had about 800 points. He immediately assumed I had spent $4,000 of my own money, but that wasn’t the case. I had just been getting small wins here and there, keeping my sessions going and building up points.
Table games work a bit differently for earning points. When you sit down at a table, you give your SeaPass card to the dealer, who enters you into the system. Points are calculated using an algorithm based on the average number of hands, spins, or rolls per hour and your average bet. I’m not 100% sure how this works for all table games, but it seems to vary and depends on factors like staff and how busy the casino is. In my experience, earning points at table games can be inconsistent.
From Royal Caribbean’s website:
Note: I know table games have the potential to earn big points. There are even roulette strategies designed specifically for maximizing comps. For those interested, CEG Dealer School and Casino Quest are excellent YouTube channels to explore for roulette and craps strategies. Their archives also include videos on video Keno and other games.
If you’re a fan of craps, check out Holy Roll(R) on YouTube—a channel dedicated to earning Royal Caribbean comps through craps play.
Tier Perks
Now that we know the tiers, the points needed to reach each tier, and how to earn points, let’s talk about what each tier offers. Here’s a quick breakdown, directly from Royal Caribbean’s website:
Highlights of the Tiers
Once you hit Prime, convenience fees are waived. These fees apply to room charges at table games. For example, you can use your SeaPass card to buy chips at table games with a 5% fee, but once you’re Prime, this fee is waived. For slot machines, there’s no fee to use your SeaPass card to buy credits, regardless of your tier.
However, if you use your SeaPass card to room charge at a slot machine, the money must be cycled through that machine. Otherwise, your onboard account may get locked, requiring a trip to Guest Services. This policy was introduced to prevent people from using slot machines as a free ATM or from exploiting credit card reward systems without actually spending money. The change came after viral videos revealed this loophole.
For Prime, you’ll notice it includes a complimentary interior room, Signature offers a complimentary balcony, and Masters includes a complimentary Grand Suite. However, this benefit applies specifically to the annual tier cruises. Beyond this, there are many more complimentary cruise opportunities available, which I’ll cover later.
Free Drinks in the Casino
One of the biggest perks of reaching Prime is free drinks in the casino. The best part? You don’t need to be actively gambling to enjoy this benefit. The only requirement is that the casino must be open. If the casino bar is open but the casino itself is not—such as during the brief period after leaving a port—the free drink perk won’t apply until the casino officially opens.
Perks Chart
Here’s the full chart of perks for each tier, sourced directly from Royal Caribbean’s website:
NextCruise Instant Reward Certificates
While onboard, you’ll typically see something like this posted at the casino host desk:
As you accumulate points during a single sailing, you’ll begin unlocking various offers. Usually, you’ll receive a letter delivered to your stateroom once you reach an instant reward tier, letting you know about the reward you’ve earned.
After your cruise, you can also check your offers by logging into ClubRoyaleOffers.com.
ClubRoyaleOffers.com
The Club Royale website is your best friend for comps and other offers. You can log in using your last name and Crown & Anchor number. Once logged in, you’ll see your current tier, your current point total, and how many points you need to reach the next tier. Keep in mind that updates can take up to a week after your sailing.
Offers Overview
Right below your tier and point total, you’ll find a list of offers. In my experience, new offers usually appear on Sunday night or Monday morning, though additional offers may pop up throughout the week. Here’s an example of what the offers look like:
Breaking Down an Offer
Let’s focus on a highlighted offer as an example:
- Offer Name: 2024 December Monthly Mix Offer
- Offer Type: Interior or Interior GTY + $25 Freeplay.
This means the available sailings for this offer will be for an interior or interior GTY cabin, based on double occupancy. As long as you book the offer as listed, you’ll receive $25 in freeplay. However, if you upgrade or alter the offer, you’ll typically lose the freeplay benefit. - Expiration Date: The last date you can use the offer before it is removed from your list.
- Offer Code: The code you’ll need to provide to the Club Royale representative when booking.
- Trade-In Value: The dollar amount you can apply toward a different sailing not listed in the offers.
- View Itinerary: A link to a PDF file showing the available sailings for that specific offer.
Understanding Double Occupancy
Most offers are based on double occupancy. You can confirm this by viewing the itinerary or by checking the offer type. For example, if an offer states, Cruise fare for 1 guest in a double occupancy cabin, it means you’ll pay for one guest while the other is comped.
Solo Cruisers and Offers
If you’re cruising solo, you’ll still need to pay the second-guest rate if the offer is for a single guest in double occupancy. Based on my experience, the pricing for solo cruisers is calculated as follows:
- The total price for two guests is halved to account for the “free” guest.
- The remaining amount is typically discounted by about 50%.
This isn’t an exact formula and your mileage may vary, but solo cruisers often receive an additional discount applied to the second-guest rate.
Other Website Features
The dropdown menu in the top-left corner of the site provides additional helpful resources, including:
- A list of all current casino hosts on each ship.
- A form to fill out if you aren’t receiving offers but believe you should be.
- A tool to look up offer codes.
How to Check Your Account Details
When playing onboard, you can insert your SeaPass card into a slot or video poker machine to access account details. The main screen will display your information, allowing you to track your points in real-time as you play.
Accessing the Casino Menu
To access your account for the first time, you’ll need your PIN. The default PIN is your two-digit birth month and two-digit birth date (e.g., January 23 would be 0123). Once you enter this for the first time during your sailing, you’ll be prompted to select a new PIN.
Navigating the Account Settings
In the Account settings, you can choose between Account Balance and Personal Banker:
Personal Banker Options
When you select Personal Banker, you’ll have two main options:
- View Rewards Total
- Make a Transfer
View Rewards Total
Selecting this will show your account balances, including:
- Point Balance: The total number of points you’ve earned.
- Cash Value of Points: The amount your points can be converted into for freeplay (more on this later).
- Cash Balance: This could reflect your casino line of credit (if you’ve applied for one), though I’m not entirely sure.
- Promo Balance: The amount of promotional freeplay you have. This includes:
- Crown and Anchor freeplay (a small amount given to everyone based on your Crown & Anchor level).
- Promotional freeplay associated with your booking.
Make a Transfer
When you select Transfers, you’ll see two main options:
- Room Charge: Allows you to charge your play directly to your room. Be cautious with this option!
- Transfer to Game: This provides two additional choices:
- Convert Points to Freeplay: Converts your accumulated points into freeplay credits. (I’ll explain this in detail in the freeplay section.)
- Freeplay: Prompts you to enter how much of your available freeplay balance you want to transfer to the game.
The casino interface makes it easy to watch your points increase in real-time while you play. This transparency helps you keep track of your progress toward rewards and promotions during your sailing.
Freeplay
We all love free money to gamble with! Let’s explore the different ways you can get freeplay onboard:
Booking Promo Freeplay
As mentioned earlier in the ClubRoyaleOffers.com section, some offers include freeplay. The specific amount and conditions will vary depending on the promotion, but it’s a great way to start your trip with extra funds to gamble.
Crown & Anchor Status Freeplay
Not everyone knows this, but everyone gets freeplay based on their Crown & Anchor Society status!
- Gold: $2
- Platinum: $4
- Emerald and Above: $6
This information is directly from Royal Caribbean’s website. While it’s not a huge amount, it’s free money you can use in the casino. Keep in mind that Crown & Anchor freeplay can only be used on slot machines or video poker, not at table games.
Converting Points into Freeplay
As you play and earn points, you’re also earning freeplay! You can convert your points into freeplay or onboard credit (OBC). Here’s how it works:
- When you convert your points, the selected amount will be deducted from the point total displayed on your player account screen.
- However, you’re not trading in your points; they continue to accumulate normally.
- To keep track, remember how many points you’ve converted so you can add it to the points shown on your account screen. If you forget, simply ask the casino host to verify your total.
Using Freeplay
- Slot Machines and Video Poker: Both Crown & Anchor and booking promo freeplay can be used.
- Table Games: While Crown & Anchor freeplay cannot be used at table games, you can use booking promo freeplay. To do this, visit the casino cage, where they’ll provide you with special freeplay chips for the tables.
Important Note
You won’t earn points on freeplay—only on the money you cycle through from your own funds. Even so, freeplay is a great way to extend your playtime and potentially win without risking your own money.
Tips, Tricks, and Info for Royal Caribbean’s Club Royale Program
In no particular order, here are some helpful tips, tricks, and information to enhance your Club Royale experience:
- Gamble Responsibly
Always keep your play within your means and enjoy responsibly. - Booking Through Club Royale
- The regular reservation line cannot assist with casino bookings. For all bookings or questions related to Club Royale offers, call their dedicated line at 888-561-2234.
- Club Royale cannot help with beverage packages—you’ll need to contact the regular booking line for those.
- Comps Are NOT Transferable
- If you book a comp cruise, you must show up for the sailing. The primary guest on the reservation cannot be changed.
- The second guest can be changed, but the primary guest must still attend. If the primary guest can’t go, the reservation is void unless the second guest pays the full price for the room.
- Cancellation Policy
- If you cancel within two days of sailing or don’t show up, you may be required to pay a $200 deposit on all future comp offers. If something happens, call Club Royale as soon as possible to discuss your options.
- Play to Keep Your Comps
- Booking a comp cruise and not playing can result in losing future offers. Your current offers may also be removed entirely. Play enough to maintain your status and eligibility for comps.
- Book Offers ASAP
- Comps are limited per sailing. If you see an offer you’re interested in, book it immediately. If comps for a sailing run out, the date may disappear or show a strikethrough in your offers list.
- Check for Upgrade Opportunities
- Before booking, compare prices on RoyalCaribbean.com. For example, if your comp is for an interior cabin but ocean views are cheaper, you might be able to book an ocean view instead.
- After booking, you can also inquire about upgrades. Typically, you’ll pay the difference between the current rates for the cabins.
- Taxes, Fees, and Gratuities Are Required
- Even on comp sailings, you’ll need to pay taxes, fees, and gratuities.
- Tip Your Dealers
- Don’t forget to show appreciation. It’s also fun to play hands for the dealer during table games.
- YouTube Resources
- Chris Wong Vlogs: Great videos about Royal Caribbean casinos and reward programs from an actual Royal Caribbean casino host!
- Cowboy Slots and Gamble Smart: Excellent channels for slot tips, machine selection, and bankroll strategies.
- CEG Dealer School and Casino Quest: Learn betting strategies for craps, roulette, poker, and more. These channels also test roulette strategies daily and have a wealth of educational content.
- Holy Roll(R): Focuses on “playing craps to get a free cruise” with Royal Caribbean.
- ClubRoyaleOffers.com
- This is your go-to website for all your offers. Check it often for updates.
- Casino Hosts Are Your Allies
- Onboard, the casino host can answer your questions and assist with anything related to your casino experience.
- Take Advantage of “Learn to Play” Activities
- Usually held a couple of hours before the table games open, these sessions are a great way to learn new games. Check the Daily Planner in the app for times.
- Watch for Prize Drawings
- Keep an eye on the casino activities schedule for prize drawings. You must be in the casino and playing to qualify.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful! If I missed anything, I apologize. My goal was to provide accurate, practical advice for making the most of Club Royale. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, like the myth that “you need 2,500 points to get a free cruise”—that’s simply not true. Also, note that I’ve deliberately avoided calling these “free” cruises. They are comp cruises, earned based on your play.
Enjoy your time onboard, and good luck in the casino!