People often ask me about Royal Caribbean’s casino loyalty program, Club Royale. When it comes to casino programs at sea, this is the one I’m most familiar with. It’s also widely considered one of the best in the cruise industry. I’ve spent years researching and experiencing it firsthand through trial and error. While everyone’s experience can vary, understanding how the program works can make a big difference – so let’s break it down.
This article was updated in May 2026 for all the recent Royal Caribbean Casino Program changes!
In This Article I Will Discuss:
- 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 during that time, you keep that status for the rest of the current casino year plus the entire following casino year. To keep your status beyond that, you’ll need to earn it again during the following casino year – otherwise, you’ll drop back to Choice.
Example: If you reach Prime on August 30, 2026, you’ll keep that status through March 31, 2028. To keep Prime beyond that, you’ll need to earn it again between April 1, 2027 and March 31, 2028.
How to Earn Points
Be sure to insert (or tap on some ships) your SeaPass card when you play slots, video poker, and other electronic games. 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 or tapping your card means the machine “knows” and you won’t win. This simply isn’t true. These are two completely different systems built into the game. Inserting/tapping your card simply sends your play to the tracking system so that Royal Caribbean knows your play and that will determine the comps and offers you receive.
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 or tap your card when you play. Your SeaPass card is linked to your Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor number, which is how the casino tracks you as a player.
Point Earning Structure
- 1 point for every $5 cycled through a slot machine
- 1 point for every $15 cycled through a video poker or keno machine
- Table games depend on the table limits, your average bet, and time at the table
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 $2.50 per spin, after two spins you’ll have 1 point. On the second spin, you win $20, bringing your total to $30 in the machine. You continue to spin and win more. By the time you cycle all that money through, your point total has grown significantly. Even though you only invested $20 initially, the wins kept you playing, cycling more money through the machine.
Table Games Point Earning
Table games work 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 table limits, your average bet, the time you spend at the table, and the average hands/spins/rolls per hour that game typically has. This system can vary depending on factors like staff and how busy the casino is. In my experience, earning points at table games can be inconsistent.
Note: 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. These are run by the most popular dealer school in Las Vegas, and their archives include videos on video Keno and other games. If you’re a fan of craps or interested in learning how to play, 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.
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 a $3 transaction fee for every time you room charge to a slot machine. This is also removed if you are Prime or above.
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.
For Prime, you’ll notice it includes a complimentary interior room. Signature offers a complimentary balcony, and Masters includes a complimentary Grand Suite. This benefit applies specifically to the annual tier cruises. Beyond this, there are many more complimentary cruise opportunities available.
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 while the ship is still in port – the free drink perk won’t apply until the casino officially opens.
NextCruise Instant Reward Certificates
While onboard, you’ll see something posted at the casino host desk showing different reward tiers based on points accumulated during your sailing.
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. However, these stateroom deliveries can be delayed, so you may qualify for a better reward than what is delivered. Use your current sailing points and line them up with what is on the chart at the host desk. Use the QR code to see the full list of sailings for the tier you have reached.
Pro tip: Sometimes making a $200 next cruise deposit will get you extra perks. I urge you to speak to the host if you have any additional questions.
After your cruise, you can also check your offers by logging into royalcaribbean.com/club-royale-offers. You will have an offer in there based on the tier you hit for that specific sailing. Use the QR code to view a list of all sailings and staterooms available for the amount of points you have earned. Make a Next Cruise deposit if there is an extra perk for doing so.
Club Royale Website
The Club Royale website is your best friend for comps and other offers. You can log in using your Royal Caribbean login (email and password). 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: Updates can take up to two weeks after your sailing. If after two weeks you still don’t see your points updated or no offers showing, you can email ClubRoyale@rccl.com.
Right below your tier and point total, you’ll find a list of offers.
Breaking Down an Offer
Let’s look at an example offer you might see:
- Offer Name: Hot Hot July
- Offer Code: 26JUL107 (this is what you will need if redeeming this offer)
- Offer Type: Includes a fully comped room for two, or a room comped for 1 and a discounted rate for your guest
Click on “View Sailings” to see the available ships and dates for this offer.
With this offer, you might book an Interior Guarantee (GTY) for 2. Guarantee, or GTY, means Royal will assign you a room at a later date. If you look under offer type, it tells you if it’s for one or two guests.
Another offer type you might see is “Cruise Fare for 1 Guest.” This is typically referred to as a BOGO (Buy One Get One) offer. The way this works is the offer holder is comped, and you have to pay whatever the going rate is for the second guest. Since all rooms are based on double occupancy, even if traveling solo you still have to pay for the second guest. On the “Interior for Two” sailings, you can sail solo or with someone and the room will be comped, you just pay taxes, fees, and gratuities.
A note on the website design: Right now you cannot see the ship or departure port unless you click on “View Details,” which can be annoying. Royal has been working on lots of updates on their casino page, so I’m sure this will get better at a later date.
Expired Offers
A question I see a lot is: “My offer expired, will they still honor it?” Unfortunately, the answer is “no.” But it isn’t because they don’t want to – the expiration dates are set in the system with no override. Once the offer expires and is out of your account, the booking agents are not able to see it to apply it.
However, if the offer expiration has passed but the offer is still sitting in your account, they may be able to apply it. I have actually booked an offer that should have been expired – it was a day or two later, but the offer was still in the account so they were able to honor it. Just keep in mind that this may not always be the case.
Partner Casino Accounts
On the Royal Caribbean Club Royale website, you can easily tab through the offers, tier benefits, and view your win/loss statement from the previous year by going to the tab labeled “More.”
One of the biggest benefits of the Club Royale website is the ability to attach land-based casino perks to your account. Directly underneath the banner page with your current point level, you’ll see a “My Offers” section. In that section, you can click on “My Partner Accounts.”
In this page, you can link land-based casinos that are partnered with Royal Caribbean. Your land play will help you generate more offers on your Club Royale account. You can also check with each partnering casino to see how your play at sea or Crown and Anchor loyalty may benefit you at that specific property. For example, MGM has been known to offer Gold status if you are Emerald or higher in Crown & Anchor. Read the fine print, as some perks may not be available unless you also have the tier points to go with it (such as the $100 dining credit).
The $100 Booking Fee
You might notice in the “My Offers” section something that says “A booking fee per stateroom may be required at time of booking.” This is relatively new, so not all the details are finalized yet. I do know other cruise lines have something similar where the money goes back on your account as onboard credit and can be used towards beverage packages, dining, or onboard spending. I’m not 100% sure how Royal Caribbean is handling this long-term, but I have heard they used to have a booking fee years ago and they did return the money as onboard credit. I’ll assume this is how they are handling it again.
If an offer includes the booking fee, you’ll see it listed as in the example above, which also includes a bonus of $50 in freeplay. If you click on “Offer Details,” it’s also listed under the “Terms and Conditions.” I don’t know if they will continue to add the $100 Booking Fee line on the offers themselves, so always check the offer details.
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 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.
- Cash Balance: This could reflect your casino line of credit (if you’ve applied for one).
- 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.
- Freeplay: Prompts you to enter how much of your available freeplay balance you want to transfer to the game.
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 Club Royale website 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
- For all bookings or questions related to Club Royale offers, you can reach out to Royal Caribbean directly through your online account or contact the main reservation line for casino-related bookings.
- 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, contact 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, they remove them from the 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 and have a wealth of educational content.
- Holy Roll(R): Focuses on “playing craps to get a free cruise” with Royal Caribbean.
- Club Royale Website
- 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.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful! My goal was to provide accurate, practical advice for making the most of Club Royale. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, so I’ve tried to address common myths and clarify how the program actually works.
One last note: I’ve deliberately avoided calling these “free” cruises. They are comp cruises, earned based on your play. That distinction matters!
Enjoy your time onboard, and good luck in the casino!