Members of Virgin Voyages' Sailing Club loyalty program have been able to match with other cruise lines’ loyalty programs for a while. However, if you have airline or hotel status, now could be the time to book that voyage you’ve been considering.
Here’s all you need to know to take advantage of this offer.
What’s the deal?
Book one of several select cruises with Virgin Voyages from Wednesday to Friday, submit proof of your loyalty status on Virgin Voyages’ website by Friday, and you’ll be automatically moved to Blue Extras, the second tier of Virgin Voyages’ three-tier Sailing Club program. You’ll be awarded the corresponding perks, starting on your first cruise following the match. (Rates start at $149 per person, per night for four-night sailings.)
Perks include one free bag of laundry to be sent out and returned to your cabin, one free specialty coffee per day and a cocktail reception.
Which brands will Virgin Voyages match?
This promotion will take loyalty status match requests into account for the following major airline and hotel brands:
- United Airlines MileagePlus
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- Frontier Airlines Miles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Hilton Honors
- World of Hyatt
- Choice Privileges
- IHG One Rewards
- Wyndham Rewards
- Radisson Rewards
- Best Western Rewards
Virgin Voyages will also match your status if you are a loyal repeat traveler with another cruise line, but that offer is ongoing. The cruise line will continue to consider cruise line status matches after this deal ends.
What’s the catch?
The obvious caveat is that you must book a cruise for your hotel or airline match to be considered.
You also can’t be at the lowest tier within your airline’s or hotel’s loyalty program. Entry-level tiers don’t qualify for the match. It's not enough to just be enrolled in a loyalty program. You must have earned some status within it first.
Additionally, this isn’t a traditional type of match. Regardless of the level you’ve reached with your airline or hotel, you will only be awarded middle-tier status — Blue Extras — with Virgin Voyages. This promotion won’t earn you the perks of Deep Blue Extras — the highest tier — no matter how elite you are elsewhere.
Which other cruise lines offer status matches?
Status matches are not common in the world of cruising. The only line that offers matches to cruise lines, hotels and airlines is MSC Cruises. MSC’s matching program awards passengers status based on the loyalty level they submit for consideration. The drawbacks are that major U.S. airlines aren't yet part of the program, and if you don't cruise within three years of obtaining your status match, you'll lose it.
The only other megaship cruise lines that allow status matches are Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises — but only with one another since they’re sister brands. If you have status with one, you can submit a request to have it matched with the other.
Bottom line
Virgin Voyages prides itself on being a bit of an outlier in the cruise industry. The line has refreshingly managed to turn cruising on its head by eliminating buffets, hiring a resident drag queen and installing tattoo parlors on its ships.
Its current Sailing Club loyalty program hotel and airline status match is a great way to earn status and perks with a cruise line that offers a different way to cruise.
Want to learn more about Virgin Voyages? We’ve got you covered:
- Here’s what it’s like to sail Virgin Voyages
- A guide to Virgin Voyages cabins and suites
- We tried every single one of Virgin Voyages’ bars
- Virgin Voyages drink packages
- All you need to know about Virgin Voyages entertainment
- I just got a tattoo on a cruise ship!
- Where you can sail on Virgin Voyages ships
- Do Virgin Voyages ships have buffets?
- Order Champagne on these ships by shaking your phone
- What are Virgin Voyages’ fitness classes like?
- Here's how Virgin Voyages will make you feel like a kid again
- Scarlet Lady ship review
- A first look at Valiant Lady
- Resilient Lady ship review
