Fancy VIP status? Do discounts, freebies and free cruises sound enticing? All that and more can be yours through your cruise line loyalty program. If the upper echelons seem unattainable, The Points Guy can help.

Because people generally cruise less than they fly or stay in hotels, it may take longer for customers to reach the higher levels of cruise programs than it may take for them to become a high-level elite with an airline or hotel group. But the great thing about almost all cruise line programs is that you have status for life. When you reach each level, you stay there until you move to the next. Unlike many airline and hotel rewards, cruise loyalty programs do not reset to zero each year.

With that in mind, The Points Guy has some advice to help you get there cruise loyalty program milestones faster.

First, you need to find out how loyalty status is determined on your favorite cruise line. Some lines count the number of nights you sail, while others operate on a points system, with points earned based on the number of nights cruised or dollars spent.

Once you have that information, plan your strategy accordingly, using our recommendations below. After all, VIP status and all its perks may be within reach.

Book a more luxurious cabin

Most cruise line loyalty programs give extra points or nights towards your status when you book more expensive accommodation, such as suites.

For example, Holland America Linepp Mariners Society The program gives cruisers one point per night they sail, but it rewards passengers with double points if they stay in penthouses or suites. If you book a 10-night sailing in any of these categories, you’ll get 20 points instead of 10, which will push you up the ladder faster.

Suites cost more than standard accommodations, so you’ll need to weigh your budget and the perks you want to see if the extra price is worth it to you. Mini suites and junior suites do not count; you need an actual suite booking to get the extra points.

You can’t game the system either. You will not receive additional points for staying in a suite as a result of one free or discounted upgrade.

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If your choice line uses the number of nights you sail to give you status — like Carnival Cruise Line do with his The VIFP club — Your main concern should be to either book longer cruises or take a larger number of short ones. If you are on a budget and want to do this in the cheapest way possible, book an inside cabin. That way, you’ll spend the least amount possible on these status-earning cruises, allowing you to take more of them.

Keep in mind that this strategy won’t work if the loyalty program uses a points system because the lowest level rooms get the fewest points.

Take advantage of loyalty campaigns

Some lines provide extra points per night if you take advantage of special offers extended to loyalty members. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line gives an extra point per night to passengers who reserve cabins through the line Latitude’s Rewards Insider offers. This means you can progress to the next level faster, even in the cheapest cabins.

Additional discounts include those for seniors and members of the military. Also watch out for sales during annual discount periods, such as “wave season,” Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday. You may also want to sign up for price alerts through your cruise line, travel agent, or one of several price apps, which ping you when prices drop.

Use a cruise line credit card

Seven of the eight most popular cruise lines offer co-branded credit cards. While you won’t instantly gain higher status by booking with them, they allow you to accumulate points that you can earn for bank statements to offset the cost of your sailing. Some cards also allow you to exchange your points for cruise line gift cards, which you can use to book even more trips, helping you improve your loyalty level faster.

If all else fails, some cards entitle you to special benefits and amenities — such as discounts and onboard credits — that mimic those offered at the line’s higher loyalty tiers.

However, it is important to note that the point redemption values ​​are not as favorable with cruise line cards as they are with more general travel cards. You’ll likely get a better return on your investment using something like this Platinum Card® from American Expresswhich offers bonus points on sailings booked through Amex and up to $300 in onboard credit with select cruise lines; the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Cardearning a minimum of 2 miles per dollar on every purchase including cruises (which cannot be booked through the Capital One Travel portal); or the one Chase Sapphire Reserve®which offers up to $300 in annual statements on travel purchases through Chase Travel℠, including cruises.

For example, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity cruises and Silversea Cruises — all operated by the Royal Caribbean Group — offer reciprocity through their respective Crown & Anchor Society, The Captain’s Club and Venetian Society program. This means that if you have a high level with one of the lines, it will be honored when you cruise with the others.

For status matches across the board, check out MSC Cruises‘ Voyagers Clubwhich has the most extensive matching options of any cruise line. In addition to cruise line matches, it will also match the loyalty status of most hotel programs and those of a handful of airlines.

In addition, Virgin Voyages offers status matches for their sailing club loyalty program.

Look for other ways to earn

As part of it Power Up Points program allows Celebrity Cruises loyalty members to earn points outside of cruising by participating in a variety of qualifying activities, including completing online surveys, participating in social media and booking special trips. For every 10 Power Up Points you earn, you get 1 point towards your Celebrity Loyalty status, helping you progress to the next level.

Because the line awards points based on both cruise length and cabin type booked, the thresholds for each tier are higher than they are for rewards programs that have simpler “one point per night” earning systems. Earning extra points for non-cruising activities can speed up your climb through the loyalty ranks.

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