Ah, loyalty programs. There is nothing quite like the feeling of walking onto a ship and knowing your morning latte is on the house, or that you’ve got a private lounge waiting for you away from the crowds.

For years, the Royal Caribbean Group—which includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea—kept their loyalty programs in relatively separate silos. But that all changed in 2024 with the "Status Match," and now, as of January 30, 2026, they’ve taken it a massive step further with the launch of Points Choice.

If you’re confused about whether you should be "matching" or "choosing," don't worry. I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit staring at deck plans and point charts, and I’m here to break down exactly how these two programs work together to get you the best perks at sea.

What is Royal Caribbean Points Choice?

Think of Points Choice as the ultimate flexibility tool for your cruise status. Before this program, if you sailed on Royal Caribbean, you earned Crown & Anchor points. Period. If you tried a Celebrity cruise for a change of pace, those points lived in your Captain’s Club account, separate from your Royal status.

Points Choice changes the game by allowing you to take the points you earn on any of the three brands and apply them to the loyalty program of your choice.

How It Works

1. Sail on any brand: Whether it’s an Icon-class mega-ship or a boutique Silversea expedition, you earn points.
2. Decide where they go: Within 14 days of your cruise ending (or even before you sail), you can submit a request via the app or website to "bank" those points into a different brand’s program.
3. Use the Exchange Rate: Since the programs don't all use the same math, Royal Caribbean has established a 2026 exchange rate. For example:
• Inside/Ocean View on Royal: Earns 1 Crown & Anchor point, or 2 Captain’s Club points.
• Balcony on Royal: Earns 1 Crown & Anchor point, or 3 Captain’s Club points.
• Suites: Often earn double, and you can choose which "bucket" those double points fill.

If you do nothing, your points will default to the brand you actually sailed on. You only need to use the Points Choice form if you want to apply your points to a different brand.

So how is this different from the Loyalty Match Program?

While Points Choice is about earning points, the Loyalty Match program is about recognition across brands.

Launched in mid-2024, this program ensures that if you are a Diamond member on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity will treat you like an Elite member from the moment you step on board. It’s a one-for-one tier match across all three brands.

• Who it’s for: Travelers who have already put in the work to reach a high tier on one line and want to sail on a sister brand without starting at the bottom.
• The Catch: While you get the onboard perks (like free coffees or laundry), you don't actually get the points. A Diamond member matched to Celebrity Elite still has 0 "raw" points in their Celebrity account until they actually sail and earn them.

Side-by-Side: Points Choice vs. Loyalty Match

Feature	Points Choice	Loyalty Match
Primary Goal	Building long-term status where you want it.	Instant perks on a sister brand.
Action Required	Must request within 14 days of sailing.	Automatic once accounts are linked.
Long-term Value	High—helps you hit milestones like Pinnacle or Zenith.	Immediate—gets you into the lounge today.
Flexibility	You choose which brand gets the credit.	You get matched status on all three brands.

Expert Strategy: When to Use Which?

The most common question I get is: "If they match my status anyway, why do I care where the points go?" Here is where the Ports and Pensions strategy comes in. The most important thing to remember is that milestone rewards (like the legendary free cruise at 700 points in Crown & Anchor) are only awarded based on earned points, not matched status.

Scenario A: Loyal To Royal

If your dream is to reach the Pinnacle Club (700 points) on Royal Caribbean, but you want to take a 7-night Alaskan cruise on Celebrity, you should use Points Choice. Apply those Celebrity points to your Royal Caribbean account to keep your momentum toward that Pinnacle milestone.

Scenario B: Try Another Brand

If you love both Royal and Celebrity equally, use Loyalty Match to enjoy the perks on both, but use Points Choice to funnel all your points into whichever line has the rewards you value most. For many, this is Royal Caribbean because of the valuable balcony discounts and the sheer number of ships in the fleet.

Scenario C: The Silversea Step-Up

Thinking of moving into the ultra-luxury world? Silversea’s Venetian Society has some of the best long-term rewards in the industry (including free cruises after 250 days). If you sail Royal but want to retire on Silversea, funneling your points into "VS Days" via Points Choice may be something to look into.

Final Thoughts

Royal Caribbean Group is effectively telling us that "loyalty is loyalty," regardless of which ship you're on. By combining Loyalty Match with Points Choice, you have more power than ever to customize your vacation rewards.

Just remember: Watch that 14-day window! There is nothing worse than getting home from a dream vacation, forgetting to fill out the form, and realizing your points landed in the "wrong" account.