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If you’re an avid cruiser, then you’re probably a member of at least one cruise line loyalty program. However, if you cruise with a handful of different lines, did you know that some cruise lines offer loyalty status matching?
That means, if you have a top-tier status with one cruise line, you could enjoy the same status and all the perks that come with it, on another cruise line, without working your way up from that other line’s loyalty program introductory tier.
Yes! MSC Cruises status matches quite generously. If you have a high ranking in just about any other travel brand’s loyalty program, chances are likely that you can status match the next time you sail with MSC Cruises.
The cruise line’s status match program is applicable to literally dozens of other loyalty programs, including hotel programs, airline programs and more.
So, for example, I currently enjoy perks like booking discounts, gifts, and free Wi-Fi when I fly with certain airlines and stay at certain hotel chains. With status matching, I can get similar perks with MSC Cruises.
For cruising specifically, you can get an MSC Voyagers Club status match if you’re already enrolled in a loyalty program with one of the following other cruise lines:
In order to get your matched tier, all you have to do is fill out a short online application. You’ll have to provide your contact info and other loyalty program membership information, including a photo of your loyalty card.
From there, MSC Cruises will take a look at your loyalty status and place you in a comparable tier within the Voyagers Club.
A pro tip? MSC Cruises very much rewards your loyalty to other travel brands by giving you a Voyagers Club status that will match your status elsewhere as closely as possible.
As such, when you pick the other loyalty program that you want MSC Cruises to match, pick the program in which you currently have the highest status.
For example, if you have a mid-tier status with another cruise line, but the highest possible status with, say, Marriott, you’d want to ask MSC Cruises to status match you according to your Marriott status. Forget the other cruise line.
Keep in mind, also, that you can only status match one time in your life. If you’re about to reach a particularly noteworthy status within one of your travel loyalty programs, you might want to hold off on status matching until you’ve achieved that higher tier. You might just get a better Voyagers Club tier as a result.
Want to get a guess at what status you might get on MSC Cruises, based on your status elsewhere? Check out this official conversion table. It’s slightly outdated but still should give you a good idea of what to expect.
Yes, relatively new cruise line Virgin Voyages does offer status matching, so you can increase your status within the line’s Sailing Club, based on your status elsewhere.
However, the list of eligible loyalty programs isn’t quite as long as that of MSC Cruises’. You won’t find a bunch of hotel or airline loyalty programs on the list.
Still, if you have a certain status within another cruise line loyalty program, chances are good that you can get a comparable status with Virgin Voyages.
Eligible cruise line loyalty programs for status matching with Virgin Voyages include:
So, as you can see, your options aren’t as plentiful as they are with MSC Cruises, but Virgin Voyages will match with a few lines that MSC Cruises will not, such as the Windstar Yacht Club.
There is, though, one caveat. For some of the above cruise lines that Virgin Voyages status matches with, the cruise line will not match with every single status tier.
For example, while Virgin Voyages will status match with the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society, Virgin Voyages will only status match you if you have Crown & Anchor Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle Club status. If you have Gold, Platinum or Emerald status, you’re out of luck.
Check out the eligibility terms to see what to expect.
In order to apply for a status match, you do need a voyage on Virgin Voyages currently booked. You also cannot apply for status match if it’s less than a week until your sailing.
The short online application just requires your contact info and a photo of your eligible loyalty program membership card.
Also, it’s worth noting that Virgin Voyages says it will status match “for a limited time.” This may mean that the offering isn’t here to stay. If you’ve been putting off filling out the status match application, you may want to do it now.
Yes! All Royal Caribbean Group cruise lines status match, but only with one another.
Royal Caribbean Group owns three cruise line brands:
As such, if you have a loyalty status with one of these three lines, you can get a comparable status with the other two.
Gold members within Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society get Classic status in the Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club and 1 VS Day within Silversea’s Venetian Society.
If you have Platinum status or Emerald status in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Select status in the Captain’s Club and 100 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
If you have Diamond status in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Elite status in the Captain’s Club and 250 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
If you have Diamond Plus in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Elite Plus in the Captain’s Club and 350 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
Lastly, if you have the highest tier, Pinnacle Club status, in the Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll get Zenith status in the Captain’s Club and 500 VS Days in the Venetian Society.
Of course, all of the above applies in reverse as well, so you can get the same onboard benefits and onboard services, no matter which Royal Caribbean Group cruise line you sail with. You can always expect a similar current level of benefits.
In order to qualify for the loyalty status match program, you do have to actively enroll in each of the loyalty programs (or at least in the two you want to status match).
If you’re already a member of the programs, then you’ll automatically receive an email telling you that your status has been matched.
Yes, Explora Journeys Explora Club Members can status match with a handful of other cruise lines. As an MSC Cruises’ sister brand, Explora Journeys’ status matching policy is rather generous, too.
However, as a luxury cruise line, Explora Journeys primarily status matches with other luxury cruise lines.
Explora Journeys will offer you a comparable Explora Club status to whatever status you currently hold with the following cruise lines:
Beyond these luxury cruise lines, though, Explora Journeys will also status match you if you’ve earned status within sister brand MSC Cruises’ Voyagers Club.
To see what status you’ll get within the Explora Club, based on your current cruise line loyalty status level, check out the official conversion chart.
When you create your Explora Club membership, you’ll be able to tick a box saying that you’d like to request status match. If you already have a membership created, you can request a status match within the Explora Experience Centre or My Explora profile.
You’ll have to provide proof of your loyalty status and you can only request one status match, ever. Status match requests are processed within about 10 business day.
There are so many reasons why you should status match before your next cruise, but you absolutely should run, not walk, to do so if you have an existing, highly elevated status with any loyalty program.
Signing up for a status match is free, easy and can only lead to good things (like onboard perks, onboard discounts, freebies and more).
Why would I not want to enjoy benefits very similar to those that I get on Norwegian Cruise Line, when I sail on Virgin Voyages? Or similar perks that I love on Carnival Cruise Line, when I cruise with MSC Cruises?
It’s just an easy way that I can make every cruising experience as great as possible, without the need to build up loyalty over time, with cruise lines that are new or relatively new to me.
However, above and beyond all this, consider the recent move that Carnival Cruise Line pulled. Carnival Cruise Line recently announced that it would be revamping its loyalty program and, in the process, it would be eliminating lifetime loyalty statuses.
However, those cruisers who are losing their status, can status match with MSC Cruises, for example, right now, and get a similar status with MSC Cruises for life (so long as you cruise once every three years).
So, not only will taking the minimal time necessary to status match ensure you get some great perks across a larger number of cruise lines, but it’ll also ensure that you can keep a higher status on at least one line, if one of your other loyalty programs shakes things up.
