After some details of its new Points Loyalty program emerged on social media in recent weeks, Royal Caribbean Group’s new loyalty program, which extends across the company’s three brands, was officially announced.

Points Choice will take effect with cruise departures on and after January 30, 2026, enabling guests sailing on ships operated by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises to earn loyalty points and apply them to any of the three brands. The parent company hinted that changes were coming in a statement in October 2025, prompting plenty of speculation by guests.

Currently, guests can apply their existing loyalty tier level to any of the brands under the Status Match program, which rolled out in 2024. But Points Choice takes the concept to a new, more lucrative level for guests, according to the company’s January 15, 2026, statement.

With the soon-to-launch plan, guests who are members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club, and Silversea’s Venetian Society can assign their earned loyalty points to whichever club or society they prefer.

“Points Choice is designed with our guests at the center,” said Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. 

“Our guests are exploring more of our brands than ever before, and we believe our loyalty experience should grow with them. Points Choice gives every guest the power to direct their loyalty points within our family of brands where they will have the biggest impact for them,” Liberty added.

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Loyalty points will continue to be based on the number of nights booked, with different cabin categories determining the number of points per night. An exchange chart has appeared on social media platforms in recent weeks, as word of the loyalty club changes began to surface.

For example, according to the chart, guests booking Sunset, Owner, Aqua-Theater, or Oceanview Panoramic suite categories would earn two points per night in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, eight points per night in Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club, or one point per night in Silversea’s Venetian Society.

The chart shows 10 category levels, from inside staterooms to the most opulent suites across the three brands.

User-Friendly Process Offers Choices For Guests

Taken together, the tier-equivalent aspect of Status Match and the cross-brand sharing of points in Points Choice arguably make Royal Caribbean Group’s loyalty system the most advantageous in the industry.

The mechanics of the enhanced program appear to be user-friendly: Guests have 14 days following their sailing to decide where to apply their points, using a Points Choice Request form found on the Royal Caribbean app or on the line’s website.

The whole process can be done online, and those who do not wish to apply their points to a different brand will take no action — points will automatically be applied to their existing club.

Points Choice is expected to be a welcome upgrade to Royal Caribbean Group’s brands, unlike what competitor Carnival Cruise Line experienced when it announced it would replace its VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) program with Carnival Rewards.

In that case, the line will base loyalty points on guest spending as well as frequency of travel — a concept that drew considerable backlash from guests. The new plan is slated to take effect on September 1, 2026.

Royal Caribbean Group owns the Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea brands and has a 50% stake in TUI Cruises, operator of Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd. Status Match and Points Choice do not extend to those two brands.

Royal Caribbean Reveals Points Choice and It Could Change Loyalty Forever