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Rewards for Frequent Cruisers

By Steve Read

NEARLY all of the major cruise lines have loyalty schemes - rewards for frequent cruisers, aimed at encouraging them to stick with their ships.

On most, you're enrolled after your first cruise, usually giving you a different-coloured key card so that waiters - and other passengers - know you've cruised with them before.

The more you cruise, the further up the scale you go, with extra treats and bonuses all the way up to, in a couple of cases, a free cruise.

Like frequent flier miles, you usually have to do a lot of cruises before they bring in the big benefits.

Here we take a look at what the various loyalty schemes bring you...

Steve's Favourite Loyalty Scheme: Oceania Cruises

Luxury line Oceania Cruises has the best, in my view - instead of the odd bottle of wine or a party they give you what really matters ... money!

On every cruise after your fourth you get $200 per cabin, riding to $400 on your tenth and $500 on your 15th.

They also pay your tips on every cruise after your tenth, and from your 15th you get two free spa treatments.

Once you've done 20 cruises, on top of everything else your 21st is free! And they throw in a couple of shore excursions, too.

At each five-cruise stage you get a different lapel pin - bronze, silver, gold and platinum - so crew know you're a regular.

Join the Captain's Circle on Princess Cruises

Coming a close second is the Captain's Circle on Princess Cruises - you become a Gold member after two cruises, Platinum after six (or 50 days at sea), and Elite after 15 cruises or 150 days at sea.

The Caribbean Princess
Caribbean Princess

Gold membership brings you a members-only cocktail party, but it's Platinum where the benefits really start piling in.

VIP check-in and disembarkation, free laundry and dry cleaning, even a shoeshine service are among the perks, which also include priority for the tenders.

You also get free internet access - 150 minutes for a week's cruise, rising to 250 minutes for longer voyages.

Elite members get a free minibar, posh smellies in the bathroom, and ten per cent off onboard shopping.

→ Page 2: Find out what P&O, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises offer

 

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