Guide to Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Circle loyalty program
Like most cruise lines, Azamara Cruises has a branded loyalty program, Azamara Circle, which allows frequent cruisers to maximize their travel investment by earning points for each night they sail with the brand. As passengers earn points, they move up the ranks of five loyalty tiers, earning additional perks and amenities — including onboard discounts, free cruise nights and access to exclusive parties.
This article breaks down the program, from earning points to what each loyalty level offers and which cabin category bookings will allow you to punch above your weight in terms of perks.
Ways to earn points
Azamara’s points-earning system is fairly straightforward. The line has eight cabin categories, each of which earns passengers a certain number of points per night they cruise.
- Club Interior (2 points)
- Club Oceanview (3 points)
- Club Veranda (5 points)
- Club Veranda Plus (6 points)
- Club Continent Suites (8 points)
- Club Spa (18 points)
- Club Ocean (18 points)
- Club World Owner’s Suites (18 points)
Note that the number of points you’ll receive depends on the cabin category you booked rather than the category you end up with. If you’re upgraded to a higher-level cabin, you won’t receive a higher number of points.
Because Azamara’s ships do not have accommodations for solo cruisers, anyone traveling alone must pay two cruise fares, as all cabins are designed for double occupancy. Therefore, all solo passengers will receive double points for each night of their voyage.
Program tiers and benefits
There are five tiers in the Azamara Circle loyalty program:
- Adventurer (1-149 points)
- Explorer (150-299 points)
- Discoverer (300-749 points)
- Discoverer Plus (750-2,999)
- Discoverer Platinum (3,000-plus points)
Adventurer is the easiest level to obtain, as you reach it after just one sailing, meaning your benefits will kick in on your second voyage. (To enroll, you must create an account with Azamara.)
All loyalty tiers receive 10% off select voyages once per quarter, free internet minutes based on tier level, discounts and upgrades on Hertz car rentals, the services of a loyalty ambassador and onboard host, a members-only happy hour on each sailing, exclusive email updates, future cruise credits of $300 per cabin for each referral who books with the line and beverage package discounts. Additional perks and specifics for each tier are below.
Unlike the first level of most other cruise lines’ loyalty programs, cruisers at the Adventurer level earn some valuable savings in addition to the ones already mentioned:
- 5% off future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future voyages in the form of up to $300 in onboard credit (when you book future cruises on board during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% reduced deposit
- 30 free minutes of Wi-Fi or 20% off an unlimited internet package (more if staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart below)
- 10% off signature spa treatments
- 5% discount on the line’s Ultimate Beverage Package
Many other cruise lines reward passengers with free cruises only after they have reached the highest loyalty tier. However, Azamara begins awarding free cruise nights to passengers when they hit the Explorer level and each subsequent level thereafter. That means passengers can enjoy further savings on top of percentage discounts when they book cruises from Explorer level onward.
Cruisers can reach Explorer level in as few as nine nights (or five nights if traveling solo) if they stay in one of the three top-level cabin types. Explorer perks include:
- Two free cruise nights (must redeem within 12 months on sailings of seven nights or longer)
- 5% off future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future voyages in the form of up to $300 in onboard credit (when you book future cruises on board during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% reduced deposit
- 60 free minutes of Wi-Fi or 35% off an unlimited internet package (more if staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart below)
- Free laundry service for one bag of items per cabin per seven-night sailing (two bags if booked in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart below)
- 15% off signature spa treatments
- 10% discount on the line’s Ultimate Beverage Package
You can attain the Discoverer tier after 17 nights (or nine nights if traveling solo) in one of the three highest-level cabins. Discoverer-level cruisers receive:
- Four free cruise nights (must redeem within 12 months on sailings of seven nights or longer)
- 6% off future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future voyages in the form of up to $300 in onboard credit (when you book future cruises on board during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% reduced deposit
- 90 free minutes of Wi-Fi or 50% off an unlimited internet package (more if staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart below)
- Free laundry service for one bag of items per cabin per seven-night sailing (two bags if booked in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart below)
- 20% off signature spa treatments
- 15% discount on the line’s Ultimate Beverage Package
- Priority check-in at select ports
- Exclusive onboard get-together
Each level of the loyalty program is entitled to free Wi-Fi minutes, depending on tier level. However, those staying in Club Veranda Plus cabins or higher will receive more, based on a combination of cabin type and loyalty level, according to the following chart — even if they’ve only reached Adventurer status.
Additionally, passengers at Explorer level or higher will receive two bags of complimentary laundry service if booked in any of the cabin categories listed on the chart below.
Royal Caribbean Group sold Azamara to Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm based in New York, in early 2021. Effective Feb. 1, 2023, the line’s loyalty program is no longer reciprocal with those of former sister brands Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.
The elite level that makes a difference
The Discoverer Plus level is one that spans the largest number of points, making it the first level at which cruisers can earn enough to take a weeklong sailing almost completely free. Six nights are awarded when this level is first reached, along with three additional nights at 1,500 points and another three at 2,250 points.
Azamara Circle members at this level are entitled to:
- Six free cruise nights, plus three additional nights at 1,500 points and 2,250 points (must redeem within 12 months on sailings of seven nights or longer)
- 7% off future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future voyages in the form of up to $300 in onboard credit (when you book future cruises on board during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% reduced deposit
- 120 free minutes of Wi-Fi or 75% off an unlimited internet package (more if staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart above)
- Free laundry service for one bag of items per cabin per seven-night sailing (two bags if booked in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart above)
- 25% off signature spa treatments
- 20% discount on the line’s Ultimate Beverage Package
- Priority check-in at select ports
- Exclusive onboard get-together
Best elite perk
Discoverer Platinum is Azamara Circle’s highest level of loyalty. It’s the only tier that, when reached, rewards cruisers with enough nights for a completely complimentary sailing of at least a week in length. However, apart from the initial four additional free cruise nights, free Wi-Fi and an extra 5% discount on the Ultimate Beverage Package, this tier doesn’t offer much that’s different from what you’ll receive at the Discoverer Plus level.
Discoverer Platinum amenities are:
- 10 free cruise nights, plus three additional nights every 750 points after reaching Discoverer Platinum status (must redeem within 12 months on sailings of seven nights or longer)
- 10% off future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future voyages in the form of up to $300 in onboard credit (when you book future cruises on board during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% reduced deposit
- 150 free minutes of Wi-Fi or a free unlimited internet package (more if staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart above)
- Free laundry service for one bag of items per cabin per seven-night sailing (two bags if booked in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see chart above)
- 25% off signature spa treatments
- 25% discount on the line’s Ultimate Beverage Package
- Priority check-in at select ports
- Exclusive onboard get-together
Bottom line
Because Azamara is a premium line, it’s no surprise that its loyalty program offers passengers quite a bit more discounts and opportunities to earn free cruise nights than mainstream lines.
There are marked differences between Azamara Circle tiers, but cruisers hit the sweet spots when they achieve at least the Discoverer Plus level.
Because joining the program requires minimal work — just a registration — there’s no reason not to join, as the perks can add up over time, especially if you plan to cruise with Azamara regularly.
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
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- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.