The world's largest cruise ship arrives in Italy, all the secrets of the Crown & Anchor Society

Crown & Anchor Society is the name of the loyalty program of Royal Caribbean, the largest cruise line on Earth and the owner of the world's top 4 largest cruise ships.

We are talking about the Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. The only four ships in the world with a gross tonnage of over 225k tons (to have a comparison Costa Smeralda, which is fifth in this special ranking has a tonnage of "only" 185k tons).

After the blockade through 2020, the company confirmed plans for the 2021 summer season, which will include placing two vessels in the Mediterranean Sea: Harmony and Odyssey.

How the Crown & Anchor works

Royal Caribbean's loyalty program is super simple to understand and clear in the benefits it recognizes for its customers. It is probably the best among all the cruise lines currently sailing.

Six levels are provided:

Gold: 3 points cruise
Platinum: 30 cruise points
Emerald: 55 cruise points
Diamond: 80 cruise points
Diamond Plus: 175 cruise points
Pinnacle Club: 700 cruise points

Earning cruise points is simple: you accumulate 1 point each day of navigation, two if you chose to stay in a suite. Points are "lifetime" that is, they accumulate and never expire, so there is no need to take cruises every year to renew status or prevent privileges from disappearing, the points will always remain valid.

While all it takes to become Gold is a 3-night mini-cruise, to get to the highest level, i.e., the Pinnacle Club, one must have spent nearly two years sailing or just under one if one always travels in a suite.

N.B. Children also accumulate points, from their first cruise and those points will be valid for life. As long as a minor travels with parents/caregivers they will be able to take advantage of the higher tier than their own, once they turn 18 instead they will travel with their own tier.

What are the benefits of the club

The list of benefits for frequent cruisers is very long, some of course are minimal perks, but as you move up the ranks you can get free cruises and lots of privileges on board and during excursions, such as access to reserved areas on private islands in the Caribbean

Membership is free and in fact, after the first cruise, all passengers become Gold.

The lowest level, predictably, offers few privileges, and to see significant benefits one must reach the Diamond level. From this status you get access to dedicated lounges on board, where you can drink all you want, including alcohol, without paying, reserved seats in the most prized rows for shows, onboard experiences, and more.

Starting from the platinum level, you also receive a commemorative pin at home; on board, the most loyal passengers will always wear it as a distinctive sign.

There are also benefits even before you leave: discounts on fares, elimination of on-board surcharges, free cruises and more.

The company has launched an important promotion valid throughout next year. All cruises taken during 2021 will allow you to accumulate twice as many points, means you can become platinum with just one cruise, from at least 8 nights, in a suite or even better get the diamond level with just 6 one-week cruises.

The status match that gets free stays in Las Vegas

One of the advantages of this loyalty program is the possibility of getting the status match with MGM Group's MLife program., namely Caesar Palace and other facilities from Las Vegas to Macau.

This partnership offers an important benefit for casino-going passengers: with MLife's Gold level you get 125$ of credit to spend on board, credit that rises to 300$ for Platinum status holders.

Ships in the Mediterranean

Next summer there will be two itineraries with stopovers at major Italian ports.

Harmony of the seas will leave for week-long itineraries to tour the western Mediterranean, while Odyssey Of The Seas will depart from Civitavecchia bound for Greece on 9-night cruises.

• royal caribbean
• Status Match