Among the major cruise lines, Cunard has one of the most modest loyalty programs.
The Cunard World Club loyalty program does not offer its elite members loyalty benefits such as the free cruises that come with a higher level in the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program.
This program has only four categories, less than the programs offered by many of its competitors.
That said, compared to what it takes to access most awards on other brands, it’s not that hard to claim high-level bragging rights in the Cunard World Club loyalty program – not that the average Cunard passenger can brag. , of course.
Here, learn all about the categories, what they offer and how to access each one.
Ways to earn points
Cunard’s easy-to-navigate loyalty system upgrades you to one of four tiers based on the number of cruises you’ve completed with Cunard or the number of days you’ve flown on the line.
Your status will be determined by whichever of those milestones you reach first. For example, if you mainly book a short sailing trip, your status will be determined by the number of trips you have taken. Conversely, you can reach a high level by sailing a small number of ships if each is of sufficient length.
Related: Cunard cabins and suites guide: Everything you need to know
Program categories and benefits
The Cunard World Club loyalty program has four categories:
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- Silver: One trip
- Gold: Two cruises or 20 nights
- Platinum: Seven cruises or 70 nights
- A diamond: 15 cruises or 150 nights
All status changes occur after the ship has been accessed. No midsailing status or profit changes are allowed.
After just one cruise, regardless of length, cruisers are automatically enrolled in the Cunard World Club program and earn at least silver status.
Apart from occasional discounts – the same ones that every other Cunard passenger has access to – this level doesn’t offer much value, unfortunately.
Silver level benefits include:
- Member savings and specials
- Cunard World Club desk in all world offices
- Representing inner integrity
- Cunarder magazine
Thankfully, the longest Cunard passengers will spend at Silver level in the Cunard World Club program is one voyage, as they have risen to Gold status after their second voyage.
Since travelers can earn Gold status after 20 nights, it is possible to skip past Silver and start Gold if their first cruise was longer than that. (In some cases, if a passenger’s first trip is too long, such as a cross-country trip, they may even jump straight to Platinum or Diamond status on their second trip.)
Related: 5 best places to visit on a Cunard Line cruise
In addition to all the benefits awarded at the Silver level of the World Club loyalty program, reaching Gold status brings members:
- Gold membership pin
- $45 credit for in-room Wi-Fi plan
- Cunard World Club cocktail party invitation (on sailings of six nights or more)
Next up is Platinum status, which is achieved after seven cruises or a total of 70 cruise nights.
In addition to the benefits available to Silver- and Gold-level members, Platinum-level members of the Cunard World Club loyalty program receive:
- Platinum membership pin
- $80 credit boost on in-room Wi-Fi package
- 20% off fleet maintenance and dry cleaning services
- Priority check-in at terminals in New York and Southampton, England
- Complimentary wine tasting (on cruises of six nights or more)
- 10% discount on White Star luggage service
- Invitation to an executive party (for cruises of six nights or more)
The fourth level of the Cunard World Club loyalty program, Diamond level, is the pinnacle of loyalty at Cunard, and is reached after 15 cruises or 150 nights on board. That’s surprising, as some lines require several hundred nights and many cruises to reach the top level.
Diamond Rewards includes all the benefits offered to Silver, Gold and Platinum members of the World Club program, plus:
- Diamond membership pin
- $135 incremental credit toward the purchase of an in-room Wi-Fi package
- One complimentary meal at a restaurant for an additional fee (for cruises of six nights or more; choose from lunch at the Verandah or dinner at Kings Court or Lido)
- A dedicated Diamond member contact him at the World Club desk at the world offices
Elite quality that makes the difference
Gold is where passengers will start to see benefits that represent tangible value (pin) and monetary value (free Wi-Fi and free drinks at the cocktail party).
The biggest jump overall is from Gold to Platinum, where cruise passengers can take advantage of discounts on laundry and luggage services – assuming they actually use them. Of course, more value is added to the Diamond level in the form of free meals and complimentary Wi-Fi. However, the amount of sailing required to reach that level and the costs associated with taking those sails make the rewards less valuable.
The benefits of the Cunard World Club program aren’t much to write home about in the grand scheme of things, but there are still a few good incentives. What’s best for you depends and depends on what you value, how you choose to spend your time and how long your commute is.
For example, if you’re on a trip that’s more than a few weeks long, 20% off laundry services might be something you can spend less on. If you’re a professional, you might appreciate the value of discounted Wi-Fi on a cruise. Or, maybe there’s nothing you enjoy more than junk food at a fancy restaurant where you can order expensive meat and not pay for it. For others, the smallest time-saving touches – such as advance and drop-off – are the most sought after.
Related: An epic-the-world cruise that will check off all the destinations on your bucket list
Bottom line
Compared to other cruise lines’ loyalty programs – some of which offer free travel for access to higher levels – the Cunard World Club loyalty program is less attractive. It’s easier to get a higher rank faster with Cunard than with many other brands, but the benefits are not expensive once the passengers get there.
That said, Cunard’s demographic is generally made up of wealthy, sophisticated people who cruise because they enjoy it – not because they want to be recognized for doing so. That means they are less likely to worry about their Cunard status and what it brings them.
For more information, visit the Cunard World Club page on the Cunard Line website.
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