Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises announce new reward benefits
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises announce new reward benefits originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me.
Everyone loves a good reward program, and the cruise industry knows this.
Cruisers may choose one cruise line over another depending on the selection of rewards they can earn, and particular reward programs may be more appealing based on cruisers' preferences.
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For example, one may decide to sail with a cruise line if their status will get them happy hour (free drinks from 5-7 p.m. at most bars) or if they can access a dedicated lounge and concierge. Celebrity and Royal Caribbean offer these perks through their Captain's Club (Elite status) and the Crown and Anchor Society (Diamond status), respectively.
Passengers enrolled in these programs earn points every night they sail.
Most major cruise lines have casinos with respective reward programs.
Royal Caribbean's casino Club Royale and Celebrity Cruises' casino Blue Chip Club offer free cruise certificates and other benefits as you climb the tiers. As players earn points at the casino, they become eligible to receive bigger rewards.
Players can earn instant cruise certificates during each sailing if they reach a certain point level, which varies across casinos. Players can also earn tier benefits based on yearly play, with perks such as annual cruise certificates, free drinks while playing at casino, and discounts off internet packages and more.Now, cruisers have the potential to earn additional benefits with the cruise line they are sailing. Cruisers can now also score rewards with the cruise lines' expanded partnership with a land-based casino.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have announced their enhanced partnership with MGM resorts and casino.
Through this rewards program, players onboard can now rack up MGM Rewards Points, slot dollars, and tier credits through the points they earn with Club Royale and Blue Chip Club.
Players must play with their SeaPass card onboard to ensure gaming play is tracked and points are earned as you play.
Players at MGM casinos are eligible to receive rewards with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises — and more than previously, since its partnership began in 2012.
"We are elevating our rewards program and creating more ways than ever to earn and enjoy benefits across the world and at sea," said MGM Vice President of Loyalty Marketing Anil Mansukhani. "MGM Rewards' next evolution of enhancements unlocks new benefits for members at every tier."
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Annual cruise benefits include a selection of sailings or trade-in value for a cruise of your choice and other benefits such as onboard credit and onboard free play.
For example, if you are at the Gold tier with the MGM Rewards program, the new benefit offered is the annual cruise benefit in an Oceanview Stateroom up to 5 nights (trade-in value up to $750), while prior to this enhanced program, Gold tier members did not receive any annual cruise benefit.
If you are at the Platinum tier level with MGM Rewards, you are now eligible for an annual cruise benefit of a Balcony Stateroom up to 7 nights (with a $1500 trade-in value). This is an upgrade from the original 5-night cruise annual benefit. Essentially, the tiers got a major upgrade in eligible benefits.
The partnerships between the cruise industry and land-based casinos is not exclusive to MGM.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have a partnership with Hard Rock International, which offers similar rewards through its casino programs.Hard Rock Casinos' Unity loyalty program is offering discounts on cruises with Celebrity and Royal Caribbean for certain tiers. The X card tier is eligible for annual cruise certificates with up to a $2,500 trade-in value. Other tiers are also eligible to receive invite-only cruise certificates.
Royal Caribbean's Club Royale and Celebrity Cruises' Blue Chip Club currently offer up to 3-night stays at participating Hard Rock casinos and may include Comp Dollars and FreePlay to eligible casino players through partnership with Hard Rock International and its casino Unity Program.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
, or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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