Royal Caribbean wants to add more value to its guests at the very top of its customer loyalty program.
Pinnacle Club guests received an email on Wednesday informing them of an update to their Pinnacle Club benefits.
Pinnacle Club status is the top tier within its loyalty program, requiring a total of 700 points to attain it.
Read more: Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets
Overview of the new benefit
Effective on sailings beginning March 15, 2024, and onwards, each Pinnacle Club member may now bring one guest staying in their immediate stateroom to accompany them into the Suite/Concierge Lounge, Suite Sun Decks, and Coastal Kitchen.
Crown Lounge (formerly known as the Diamond Lounge is not included) in this change.
There are some special rules with this new option:
Non-Pinnacle Club guests must be always accompanied by a Pinnacle Club member.
Beverages consumed in these venues will be charged to guests' SeaPass cards - Diamond and above members may redeem their daily drink vouchers.
On sailings where the number of eligible Suite & Pinnacle Club guests exceeds the Suite venue capacity, access for Pinnacle Club members will be determined by cruise points and extended to one of their stateroom occupants. Those eligible will receive access notifications 48 hours before the sailing and a reminder on boarding day in the Welcome Letter.
Access to Coastal Kitchen is based on space and availability. Reservations are required and can only be made once onboard.
Royal Caribbean went on to say that this new benefit for Pinnacle Club members has not changed Crown Lounge access and remains exclusive to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members, unless communicated otherwise.
Why the change? Royal Caribbean wants to deliver the very best benefits to its most loyal cruisers, "We are committed to ensuring your cruise experience is exceptional, and we believe these updates contribute to that goal."
Adding the new benefit means Pinnacles can bring someone in their cabin with them to enjoy the reserved space. Prior to this change, the benefit was only applicable to the Pinnacle Club guests.
The gap between Pinnacle Club and the next tier down, Diamond Plus, is significant at 175 points to 700 to move up.
Pinnacle Club benefits comparison
Beyond the benefits shared with lower tiers, Pinnacle Club guests enjoy a great deal of benefits.
Chief among them is a free cruise once they reach the tier. There's a free cruise for two people on a 7-night balcony stateroom for 700 and 1050 cruise point thresholds.
Plus, a milestone cruise certificate valued at the prevailing rate of a Junior Suite stateroom for 1,400 and every 350 cruise points thereafter.
Pinnacles also get free internet packages for duration of every sailing, lapel pins, priority embarkation with the suite guests, and daily breakfast at a specialty restaurant.
How to qualify for Pinnacle Club
If you'd like to get to Pinnacle Club, you'll need to accrue at least 700 points in Crown and Anchor Society.
You'll earn one point per night of your cruise in a standard cabin (balcony cabin or smaller), which means you'd need 700 cruise nights to get there.
There is a faster way if you're willing to spend extra. Staying in a suite gets you two points per night. Likewise, booking a standard cabin alone will get you two points per night.
If you stay in a suite by yourself, then you'll earn three points per night, which is the most you can earn per night in Crown and Anchor Society at the moment.
Unlike most hotels or most airlines, your points never expire and you don't have to requalify for your status annually.
