Like most cruise lines, Azamara Cruises has a brand loyalty program, Azamara Circle, that allows frequent cruisers to maximize their travel investment by earning points for every night they sail with the brand. As passengers earn points, they advance through five loyalty levels and earn additional benefits and amenities, including onboard discounts, free cruise nights, and access to exclusive parties.
This article breaks down the program, from earning points to what each loyalty tier has to offer and which cabin category bookings allow you to go above and beyond in terms of perks.
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Ways to earn points
Azamara’s points earning system is fairly simple. The line has eight cabin categories, each of which earns passengers a certain number of points per night.
- Club interior (2 points)
- Club Sea View (3 points)
- Porch Club (5 points)
- Club Porch Plus (6 points)
- Club Continent suites (8 points)
- Club Spa (18 points)
- Club Ocean (18 points)
- Club World owner suites (18 points)
Please note that the number of points you receive depends on the cabin category you have booked and not the category you land in. If you upgrade to a higher level cabin, you will not receive an increased number of points.
Because Azamara’s ships do not accommodate solo cruisers, anyone traveling alone must pay two cruise fares, as all cabins are designed for double occupancy. That’s why all solo passengers receive double points for each night of their trip.
Program tiers and benefits
There are five levels in the Azamara Circle loyalty program:
- Adventurer (1-149 points)
- Explorer (150-299 points)
- Discoverer (300-749 points)
- Explorer Plus (750-2,999)
- Discover Platinum (over 3,000 points)
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Adventurer is the easiest level to reach, as you reach it after just one crossing, which means your benefits will take effect on your second trip. (To register, you must create an account with Azamara.)
All loyalty tiers receive 10% off select trips once per quarter, free internet minutes based on tier, discounts and upgrades on Hertz car rentals, the services of a loyalty ambassador and onboard host, member-only happy hour on every sailing, exclusive email updates, future cruise credits of $300 per cabin for every referral that books with the line, and discounts on drink packages. Below you will find additional benefits and details for each level.
Unlike the first tier of most other cruise lines’ loyalty programs, Adventurer tier cruisers earn some valuable savings in addition to those already mentioned:
- 5% discount on future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future travel in the form of up to $300 onboard credit (when you book future cruises onboard during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% discounted deposit
- 30 free minutes of Wi-Fi or 20% discount on an unlimited internet package (more when staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table below)
- 10% discount on exclusive spa treatments
- 5% off the line’s Ultimate Beverage package
Many other cruise lines only reward passengers with free cruises after they reach the highest loyalty level. However, Azamara starts awarding free cruise nights to passengers when they reach the Explorer level and each subsequent level after that. That means passengers can save even more in addition to discount percentages when they book cruises from the Explorer level.
Cruisers can reach the Explorer level in just nine nights (or five nights if traveling alone) when staying in one of three upper-level cabin types. Explorer benefits include:
- Two complimentary cruise nights (must be redeemed within 12 months for sailings of seven nights or more)
- 5% discount on future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future travel in the form of up to $300 onboard credit (when you book future cruises onboard during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% discounted deposit
- 60 free minutes of Wi-Fi or 35% discount on an unlimited internet package (more when staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table below)
- Complimentary laundry service for one bag of gear per cabin per seven nights of sailing (two bags when booked in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table below)
- 15% discount on exclusive spa treatments
- 10% off the line’s Ultimate Beverage package
You can reach the Discoverer level after 17 nights (or nine nights if you are traveling alone) in one of the three upper level cabins. Discoverer-level cruisers receive:
- Four complimentary cruise nights (must be redeemed within 12 months for sailings of seven nights or more)
- 6% discount on future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future travel in the form of up to $300 onboard credit (when you book future cruises onboard during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% discounted deposit
- 90 free minutes of Wi-Fi or 50% discount on an unlimited internet package (more when staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table below)
- Complimentary laundry service for one bag of gear per cabin per seven nights of sailing (two bags when booked in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table below)
- 20% discount on exclusive spa treatments
- 15% off the line’s Ultimate Beverage package
- Priority check-in at certain ports
- Exclusive gathering on board
Each level of the loyalty program entitles you to free Wi-Fi minutes, depending on the level. However, those who stay in Club Veranda Plus cabins or higher will receive more, based on a combination of cabin type and loyalty level, according to the following chart, even if they have only reached Adventurer status.
In addition, Explorer level or higher passengers receive two bags of complimentary laundry service when they book in any of the cabin categories listed on the chart below.
Royal Caribbean Group sold Azamara in early 2021 to Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm based in New York. Effective February 1, 2023, the line’s loyalty program will no longer reciprocate with that of former sister brands Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.
The elite level that makes the difference
The Discoverer Plus tier includes the largest number of points, making it the first tier where cruisers can earn enough to sail almost completely free for a week. Six nights will be awarded when this level is first reached, along with three additional nights at 1,500 points and three more at 2,250 points.
Azamara Circle members at this level are entitled to:
- Six free cruise nights, plus three additional nights for 1,500 points and 2,250 points (must be redeemed within 12 months for sailings of seven nights or more)
- 7% discount on future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future travel in the form of up to $300 onboard credit (when you book future cruises onboard during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% discounted deposit
- 120 free minutes of Wi-Fi or 75% discount on an unlimited internet package (more when staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table above)
- Complimentary laundry service for one bag of gear per cabin per seven nights of sailing (two bags when booked in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table above)
- 25% discount on exclusive spa treatments
- 20% off the line’s Ultimate Beverage package
- Priority check-in at certain ports
- Exclusive gathering on board
Best elite advantage
Discoverer Platinum is Azamara Circle’s highest loyalty tier. It’s the only tier that, when reached, rewards cruisers with enough nights for a completely free sailing of at least a week. However, other than the first four additional free cruise nights, free Wi-Fi, and an additional 5% discount on the Ultimate Beverage Package, this tier doesn’t offer much different than what you receive on the Discoverer Plus tier.
Discoverer Platinum features include:
- 10 free cruise nights, plus three additional nights every 750 points after reaching Discoverer Platinum status (must be redeemed within 12 months for sailings of seven nights or more)
- 10% discount on future cruises booked on board
- Savings on future travel in the form of up to $300 onboard credit (when you book future cruises onboard during the first half of your cruise) and a 50% discounted deposit
- 150 free minutes of Wi-Fi or a free unlimited internet package (more when staying in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table above)
- Complimentary laundry service for one bag of gear per cabin per seven nights of sailing (two bags when booked in a Club Veranda Plus cabin category or higher; see table above)
- 25% discount on exclusive spa treatments
- 25% off the line’s Ultimate Beverage package
- Priority check-in at certain ports
- Exclusive gathering on board
In short
Since Azamara is a premium line, it’s no surprise that the loyalty program offers passengers far more discounts and opportunities to earn free cruise nights than regular lines.
There are distinct differences between the Azamara Circle tiers, but cruisers get to the best spots when they reach at least the Discoverer Plus tier.
Since joining the program requires minimal work (just a registration), there is no reason not to join as the benefits can add up over time, especially if you plan to cruise with Azamara on a regular basis.
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