Club Royal and Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor loyalty perks are genuinely valuable — but the program has well-documented pitfalls around drink package discounts, OBC stacking rules, and benefit eligibility that catch loyal cruisers off guard. Here's exactly what to expect and how to protect yourself.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean's loyalty program sounds like a reward. Sometimes it is. But Club Royal casino comps and Crown & Anchor perks collide in ways that can cost you real money if you don't know the rules — and the forums are full of frustrated repeat cruisers who found out the hard way.
What Club Royal Actually Costs (and Saves) You
Club Royal is Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program, separate from Crown & Anchor's tier-based perks. The confusion starts because both programs offer benefits — drink packages, OBC, discounts — but they don't always stack, and in some cases, accepting one benefit blocks another.
Here's where real money is on the table:
| Benefit Type | Club Royal Offer | Crown & Anchor Offer | Can They Stack? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drink Package Discount | Free or heavily discounted | 10–30% off Cruise Planner | Usually not — taking one voids the other |
| Onboard Credit | $50–$500 depending on tier | $25–$200 depending on tier | Sometimes — check booking confirmation |
| Deluxe Beverage Package (pre-cruise rate) | Comped for high-tier players | $75–$95/person/day | Comp beats the discount every time |
| WiFi Package | Occasionally included | Discounted for Diamond+ | Separate — can stack |
| Specialty Dining Discount | Rare comp or discount | $5–$10/person off | Separate — can stack |
| Gratuities on Package | 20% service charge still applies | No relief | Neither program waives this |
The 20% service charge is the silent killer. Even if Club Royal comps your beverage package, Royal Caribbean charges an 18–20% gratuity on the package's retail value. On a 7-night sailing, that's roughly $100–$130 per person in fees on a "free" package. This surprises nearly everyone the first time.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The Key Factors That Drive Loyalty Confusion and Extra Costs
1. Booking Channel Determines Everything If you book through a travel agent, your Club Royal comp offer may not transfer cleanly, and OBC from multiple sources can conflict. Book directly on Royal's site using your Club Royal offer code, then verify in the Cruise Planner that your Crown & Anchor benefits are also reflected.
2. Drink Package Discounts Are Mutually Exclusive This is the most-reported pain point. If Club Royal is offering you a free or discounted Deluxe Beverage Package, and you also have a Crown & Anchor discount loaded in your account, the system typically applies only the better single discount — not both. Confirm with Royal directly before purchasing anything in the Cruise Planner.
3. OBC Has Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Tiers Club Royal OBC is typically non-refundable (use it onboard or lose it). Crown & Anchor OBC may also be non-refundable depending on how it was issued. Stack non-refundable OBC from both programs and you may be scrambling to spend $400 on spa treatments you didn't want.
4. Tier Matching Is Not Automatic If you've cruised on Celebrity (also under Royal Caribbean Group), your Elite status doesn't auto-transfer to Crown & Anchor at the equivalent Diamond tier without requesting a points match. Same applies in reverse. This is a free benefit people routinely miss.
5. Casino Comps Are Invitation-Based Club Royal's best offers — free cruises, comped packages — are issued to players who hit casino spend thresholds. These are not published, and they change. If your offers seemed better last year, they may have quietly been adjusted based on your play level.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
How to Protect Your Loyalty Benefits and Avoid Getting Burned
Before Booking:
- Call Club Royal directly at 888-561-2234 to confirm your current offers before booking online. Screenshot everything.
- Ask specifically: "Does accepting this offer block any Crown & Anchor OBC or discounts?"
- If you have a travel agent, ensure they are familiar with Club Royal comps — not all agents are equipped to handle these bookings correctly.
Before Purchasing Anything in the Cruise Planner:
- Log in and verify your Crown & Anchor discount is showing on the Deluxe Beverage Package
- If you have a Club Royal comp for a beverage package, do not buy one in the Cruise Planner — wait for it to appear on your booking or call to confirm it's applied
- Check your OBC balance under "My Cruises" > "Onboard Credit" and note which credits are refundable vs. not
Onboard:
- Visit Guest Services on Day 1 and ask for a printed breakdown of all OBC on your account, noting which is refundable
- Casino OBC typically cannot be used in the casino itself — know where you can spend it
- The 20% gratuity on any comped beverage package will be charged to your onboard account — budget for it
After Your Cruise:
- If you feel Club Royal misrepresented your offer, escalate in writing. Their offers are often issued without clear terms, and complaints do sometimes result in OBC on a future sailing.
Which Loyalty Tier Actually Makes Club Royal Worth It
| Crown & Anchor Tier | Points Required | Most Relevant Benefit | Club Royal Interaction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 3–11 | Priority boarding | Minimal conflict |
| Platinum | 12–29 | $100 OBC (7-night) | Start watching for stacking issues |
| Emerald | 30–54 | 20% spa discount | Low conflict |
| Diamond | 55–79 | 4 free drinks/day at Diamond Lounge | High conflict — these are separate from Club Royal comps |
| Diamond Plus | 80–174 | 5 free drinks/day + balcony discount | High conflict — coordinate carefully |
| Pinnacle | 175+ | Complimentary specialty dining, suite upgrade priority | Maximum conflict complexity — call, don't assume |
Diamond is the tier where this gets expensive if you're not careful. Your 4 daily Diamond Lounge drinks are a separate benefit from Club Royal — but if you've accepted a comped beverage package from Club Royal, you may not realize you're double-paying for drinks elsewhere without thinking it through. At Diamond, the math often favors skipping the beverage package entirely and using the lounge drinks plus selective bar purchases.
For Diamond Plus and Pinnacle cruisers with active Club Royal status, get on the phone with both departments and map out every benefit in writing before you sail. The savings can be significant — or the conflicts can cost you hundreds.
Before your next Royal Caribbean sailing, use CruiseMutiny to model exactly what your onboard spending will look like — factoring in your loyalty tier, any Club Royal comps, and the real cost of that "free" beverage package after gratuities.