Disney fans love Castaway Club — it’s all about celebrating the fact that you came back to sail with Disney again.
But when you compare it to Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, the differences become hard to ignore.
One focuses on recognition with minimal perks. The other is stacked with real, money saving benefits.
I have sailed multiple times with both cruise lines.
And they are very different.
No one should choose a cruise line because of the loyalty perks alone, but repeat cruisers, understandably, do like to feel that there is some recognition of their loyalty to the brand.
Here’s a full comparison, plus why Disney really should rethink how it rewards its most loyal guests.
Disney Castaway Club: Magical but Minimal
Disney Castaway Club has four levels:
- Silver (after 1 sailing)
- Gold (after 5)
- Platinum (after 10)
- Pearl (after 25)
Perks include early booking, dedicated check in lines, Castaway Club stateroom gifts, some discounts onboard, and at Platinum level, a complimentary Palo dinner.
Pearl introduces the unlimited photo package, which is a big perk.
But here’s the not so great part — progress is based on number of cruises, not nights sailed.
- Ten 3 night cruises = 30 nights at sea – Platinum.
- Ten 7 night cruises = 70 nights at sea – also Platinum.
The longer sailing family who’s invested double the time (and money) in Disney cruises gets identical benefits.
Many believe there should be a change so the movement up the loyalty tiers is based on number of nights rather than the number of cruises.
Now I probably feel this way because I am one of the ones that would have benefited from a different system.
I sail on 7 and even 14 night cruises more often than the shorter sailings – so it took what seemed like an age to move up all the tiers.
Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor: Real, Tangible Rewards
Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society is entirely points based:
- 1 point per night in a standard stateroom.
- 2 points per night in a suite.
This means every extra night counts toward faster rewards. And the rewards? Substantial.
Here’s what you unlock as you climb through the six tiers:
- Gold (3–29 points): early discounts, spa/bingo/drink coupons, loyalty lounge.
- Platinum (30–54): balcony/suite booking discounts, 15% internet discount, robes, laundry savings.
- Emerald (55–79): water bottles, better photo discounts.
- Diamond (80–174): lounge access, 4 free daily drinks, 1 free internet day, free photo, exclusive events.
- Diamond Plus (175–699): 5 free daily drinks, 2 internet days, specialty dining perks, free laundry bag, spa add-ons, 50% solo supplement reduction after 340 points.
- Pinnacle (700+): 6 free daily drinks, unlimited internet, exclusive breakfasts, suite lounge access, flexible boarding, and the holy grail — free milestone cruises (balcony at 700 pts/1050 pts, junior suite every 350 pts after 1400).
Even kids get perks — free ice cream, arcade credits, and mocktails matching parent drink vouchers.
In other words, by the time you’re at Diamond, you’re sipping four free drinks a day and sitting in a private lounge. By Pinnacle, you’re literally cruising for free some of the time.
Side by Side Benefit Comparison
| Benefit | Disney Castaway Club | Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor |
|---|---|---|
| How levels are earned | Number of cruises (not nights) | Points per night (1 per night, 2 per night in suite) |
| First tier access | Silver after 1 sailing | Gold after 3 points ( 1 sailing) |
| Booking perks | Early booking window (Silver = +1 day, Pearl = +4 days) | Exclusive early rates, balcony/suite discounts from Platinum up |
| Onboard discounts | Limited onboard discounts (starting at Gold) | Drink coupons, % off spa, photos, logo shop, internet (10–25%) |
| Dining perks | Platinum+: 1 free Palo dinner per adult per stateroom | Multiple: complimentary 2nd guest dining (Diamond+), specialty discounts, Pinnacle free specialty breakfasts |
| Drinks | None | Diamond: 4 free drinks per day; Diamond+: 5; Pinnacle: 6 |
| Onboard lounges | None | Diamond+: Crown Lounge with happy hours, Pinnacle adds suite/coastal kitchen access |
| Laundry | None | Wash & fold discounts at Platinum+, free laundry bag Diamond+ |
| Photo perks | Pearl: unlimited photo package | 20 to30% off photos from Platinum, free photo Diamond+ |
| Internet perks | None | Diamond: 1 free day Wi-Fi, Diamond+: 2 free days, Pinnacle: unlimited |
| Exclusive events | Castaway Club receptions (limited) | Backstage tours, Cheers with an Officer, top tier events |
| Recognition gifts | Varies but usually luggage tags, backpacks, Pearl has extras | Crystal Blocks every 70 pts, pins, milestone recognition |
| Top tier perk | Pearl: free unlimited photo package | Pinnacle: free 7 night cruise (balcony/junior suite), repeatable every 350 pts |
| Fairness of system | Long 7 night cruise counts same as 3 night | Rewards scale with nights sailed |
Why Disney Should Improve
In terms of real value, Royal Caribbean’s program is far ahead.
- Drink perks save real money. Four daily complimentary drinks at Diamond easily offsets the loyalty gap.
- Internet and laundry matter. Especially on longer sailings, these benefits are worth a lot.
- Free cruises. No other way to put it: Royal gives loyal cruisers back actual vacations.
Disney could make its program more rewarding simply by:
- Switching from cruise count to nights sailed.
- Adding practical, adult focused perks like drinks, Wi-Fi, or spa/laundry discounts.
After all, Disney’s fans are fiercely loyal — they deserve loyalty benefits that reflect that dedication.
Disney Cruise Resources
The Easy Guide to Tipping on a Disney Cruise
Save on Drinks on a Disney Cruise
8 Surprising Disney Cruise Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.