Priority theater seating, dedicated lounges among perks to return to Royal Caribbean cruisers

Priority theater seating and a dedicated disembarkation lounge with Continental breakfast are among the perks returning to Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society loyalty members this year.

When cruises resumed in summer 2021, after a hiatus that lasted nearly a year and a half, those extras and a handful of others were removed to eliminate unnecessary gatherings and reduce touchpoints. The line promised that the benefits would return as conditions allowed.

Now that COVID-19 cases are on the decline and the CDC has eased up on its restrictions, cruise lines are embracing an even greater return to normalcy, with Royal Caribbean once again offering the following, as reported by Royal Caribbean Blog:

• Access to a dedicated departure lounge with continental breakfast on the day of disembarkation (Gold level and higher)
• A special onboard event (Platinum level and higher)
• In-cabin treats to be determined by the onboard chef (Diamond level and higher)
• A personalized gift (Diamond level and higher)
• Access to reserved seating in most onboard performance venues (Diamond Plus level and higher)

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In addition to the relaxing of mask rules on many cruise lines, the reinstatement of these rewards is another way we have seen the onboard experience slowly returning to what cruisers were used to before COVID-19.

Although these perks are returning, several -- including dinner with officers and behind-the-scenes entertainment and galley tours that promote gatherings in small spaces -- are still suspended until the cruise landscape becomes even safer.

However, some of the perks that were added or improved in 2021 -- such as flexible arrival on embarkation day, as well as beverage and dining credits for the highest-tiered loyalists -- could help to make up for it.

As is the case for most cruise lines, Royal Caribbean's approach to the pandemic has evolved over time. At first, the line didn't require masks for vaccinated passengers and allowed for 10% of the onboard population to be unvaccinated (as opposed to other brands that allowed for only 5%) to account for the large number of children that sail on its ships.

Since the CDC allowed its Conditional Sail Order to expire and introduced new standards, Royal Caribbean has complied, now requiring 95% of passengers over the age of 5 to be inoculated. It has also largely done away with its designated vaccinated and unvaccinated areas on board.