The Ultimate Loyalty Hack: How "Points Choice" Changes the Game
If you are a loyalty status chaser like me, today is a very good day.
The Royal Caribbean Group, which owns Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea, just announced a massive update to their loyalty programs. It is called Points Choice, and it is officially the biggest "Cheat Code" we have seen in years.
For a long time, we have had "Status Matching." This meant if you reached a high tier on Royal Caribbean, you got matched to a similar tier on Celebrity. But earning those points was a different story. You were climbing two different ladders. Sailing on Celebrity didn't help you reach that next tier on Royal.
As of January 30, 2026, that changes.
What is Points Choice?
In simple terms, you can now mix and match your loyalty points.
Starting January 30, 2026, when you sail on one of these three brands, you can choose where your loyalty points go.
Sailing on Celebrity? You can send those points to your Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor account.
Sailing on Royal Caribbean? You can send those points to your Silversea Venetian Society account.
You essentially get to pick a "Home Base" for your points and funnel everything into one bucket.
The Strategy: How to Power-Level Your Status
Why is this a big deal? Because it allows you to strategically "Power Level" one status.
Here is the strategy I am personally using:
I am currently chasing Diamond Plus status on Royal Caribbean. I also have a cruise booked on Celebrity departing January 30th.
Under the old rules, that Celebrity cruise would have earned me "Captain's Club" points. Those are nice, but they wouldn't help me get any closer to my goal on Royal.
With Points Choice, I can now take those Celebrity points and transfer them to Royal Caribbean.
By funneling all my points into Royal Caribbean, I will hit Diamond Plus faster. Here is the best part. Because of Status Matching, once I hit that higher tier on Royal, my Celebrity status will automatically level up to match it anyway!
The Takeaway: Stop splitting your efforts. Pick the one loyalty program you care about most and send all your points there.
The Fine Print (Read This!)
Before you start planning your world domination, here are the rules you need to know:
1. The Launch Date This program officially begins on January 30, 2026. If you are sailing on or after that date, you are eligible.
2. You Have to Request It This is not automatic. If you do nothing, your points will stay with the brand you sailed on. For example, Celebrity points stay with Celebrity. If you want to move them, you must log into your loyalty account on the website and submit a request.
Window: You can request the transfer anytime before sailing or up to 14 days after your cruise ends. Don't forget, or the points are stuck!
3. Exchange Rates Apply This is the big caveat. One point on Royal Caribbean does not necessarily equal one point on Silversea. There is a transfer ratio (exchange rate) between the brands.
Make sure you check the chart before you transfer to ensure the math makes sense for your goals.
Final Thoughts
This is a huge win for flexibility. It means you can try a different cruise line without feeling like you are "cheating" on your main loyalty program.
I will be testing this out personally on my January 30th Celebrity sailing, so stay tuned for a walkthrough of exactly how the transfer process looks!
Have questions about your status? Send me an email and let’s chat! sail@cruisechristina.com
