Celebrity Cruises has a new way to earn loyalty points: Is it worth it?
Celebrity Cruises recently launched a new program, Power Up Points, to help cruisers stay engaged with the line and earn Captain's Club loyalty points -- even when we're not sailing. It's a smart marketing strategy but will cruisers earn a meaningful number of points and potentially jump to a new tier in the line's Captain's Club frequent cruiser loyalty program? Let's dig into the details to find out.
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A quick Captain's Club primer
Before we talk about Power Up Points, let's do a quick review of Celebrity's Captain's Club cruise loyalty program. If you've cruised with Celebrity before, you're already a CC member. You can also join the Preview level -- even if you've never sailed with the line. The more you sail, the more Captain's Club points you'll earn. You can leapfrog through the program's tiers, which include Preview, Classic, Select, Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith.
- Preview -- 0 points
- Classic -- 2–149 points
- Select -- 150–299 points
- Elite -- 300–749 points
- Elite Plus -- 750–2,999
- Zenith -- 3,000+ points
Each level offers different perks, ranging from discounts on or free onboard services like internet or laundry. Stateroom upgrades, invitations to cocktail parties and priority embarkation are other benefits. When you reach the Zenith tier, you get a free seven-night Caribbean or Bermuda cruise in a veranda stateroom.
Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles
You earn points based on the stateroom category you book, the length of the cruise and any Cruisetours or Celebrity Explorations you purchase. For example, earn 2 points per night for inside and ocean-view rooms, 3 points for verandas and infinite verandas, 5 points for Concierge and AquaClass, 8 points for Sky Suites and 12–18 points based on name suites.
Related: Enjoy shipboard credit, cruise perks with Amex Platinum and Amex's Cruise Privileges Program
Power Up Points and how to earn them
The new Power Up Points program works in tandem with the CC points you earn by cruising with Celebrity. You can earn Power Up Points that translate into Captain's Club points by taking certain actions, such as filling out an online survey, posting on social media about Celebrity Cruises or making a new booking.
You must be signed up to receive emails from Celebrity, and whenever there is an "earning" opportunity, you'll get an email about it. Act fast since -- so far -- all of the Power Up Points-earning options have been very limited-time offers.
Posting to social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter is probably the easiest activity that generates points. However, be aware that the time horizon to earn points is very short. Watch your email for instructions and then act on them immediately. The opportunity to earn points with the hashtag #SailingwithCelebrity was short-lived.
Here's what the earning opportunities looked like during the program's first month in action:
- Week 1: 20 Power Up Points (2 CC points) for responding to a survey
- Week 2: 20 Power Up Points (2 CC points) for posting on social media with a #SailingwithCelebrity hashtag
- Week 3: 10 Power Up Points (1 CC points) for telling the cruise line if you prefer a la carte pricing or packages
- Week 4: 100 Power Up Points (10 CC points) if you make a new cruise booking in The Retreat (suite area) by July 12
How much are points worth?
Every 10 Power Up Points you earn translates into 1 Captain's Club point.
How to sign up
If you'd like to join Celebrity's Power Up Points program, visit Celebrity.com/powerup. If you're already a Captain's Club member, click on the "Subscribe for Emails" button. If you're not yet a member of Celebrity's loyalty program, click the "Enroll Now" button.
Related: The best credit cards for booking a cruise
Bottom line
As you can see, you're not going to earn a million points via Celebrity's Power Up Points promotion. But, it may be worth it to monitor the program and see what other tasks Celebrity adds to the list of those that generate points that can convert to Captain's Club tier points. If you're just a few points shy of graduating to Celebrity's next elite status tier, the Power Up Points program may help push you over the edge.
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees