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Yes. Princess Cruises offers a loyalty program called Princess Captain’s Circle®. It rewards guests who return to Princess with progressively higher membership levels and additional benefits.
Membership is straightforward: after completing your first Princess cruise, you generally become a Captain’s Circle member automatically. As you complete more cruises or accumulate qualifying cruise days, you can move through Gold, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite levels.
The program is useful for repeat Princess passengers because its benefits are not limited to future cruise discounts. Depending on your tier, benefits can include early access to new itineraries, special pricing, onboard events, Wi-Fi savings, dining reservation access, spa discounts, shopping discounts, shore excursion savings, and complimentary onboard services.
This guide explains how the Princess Cruises loyalty program works, how you qualify for each tier, what benefits you receive, and what you should know before booking your next sailing.
Princess Captain’s Circle is Princess Cruises' customer loyalty program for returning guests.
Instead of using a traditional points-based system where you accumulate points to exchange for individual rewards, Captain’s Circle primarily uses completed cruises and cruise days to determine your membership level. Princess also provides additional cruise-credit opportunities in certain qualifying circumstances.
The four current membership levels are:
| Captain’s Circle Tier | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Gold | After completing your first cruise |
| Ruby | 3 cruises or 30 cruise days |
| Platinum | 5 cruises or 50 cruise days |
| Elite | 15 cruises or 150 cruise days |
Princess states that members become eligible for the higher tier on their next cruise after completing the required number of cruises or cruise days.
Princess describes Captain’s Circle as a loyalty membership that begins after completing a Princess cruise, rather than as a separately purchased membership.
Princess's post-cruise FAQ says membership is automatic after you finish your cruise and that the cruise line sends a welcome email after you return home.
For residents of the European Economic Area, Princess notes a different enrollment requirement: eligible guests must register on Princess.com and create a My Princess account to receive Captain’s Circle loyalty benefits.
Captain’s Circle has four levels: Gold, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite.
Each higher level retains the benefits of the previous levels while adding additional privileges.
Gold is the entry-level Captain’s Circle tier.
You reach Gold after completing your first Princess cruise. Current Gold benefits include:
Princess also states that all Captain’s Circle members can receive early access to new itineraries, currently described as one week before they go on sale to the general public.
This means you do not have to be a long-time Princess cruiser to receive loyalty benefits. Your first completed cruise gets you into the program.
Ruby is the second Captain’s Circle level.
You qualify after completing either:
Ruby members receive Gold benefits plus an exclusive shoreside Captain’s Circle Help Desk phone line. Princess's current benefits material also lists a Princess Platinum Vacation Protection upgrade, subject to its applicable terms and eligibility requirements.
Ruby can therefore be useful for guests who cruise Princess regularly but have not yet reached the higher Platinum level.
Platinum requires either:
Platinum includes the benefits of Gold and Ruby and adds several onboard savings and access benefits.
Current Platinum benefits include:
These benefits can become particularly useful for passengers who regularly purchase Wi-Fi, spa treatments, or onboard photography. The discounts have specific terms and exclusions, so guests should check the current conditions before assuming every purchase qualifies.
Elite is the highest Captain’s Circle tier.
You qualify after completing either:
Elite members retain the benefits from the lower tiers and receive additional perks.
Current Elite benefits include:
Some benefits have age, frequency, service, or purchase restrictions. For example, Princess specifies that the complimentary wine tasting is for guests aged 21 and over and is limited to one per cruise per Elite member.
The basic progression is based on the number of cruises you complete or the number of qualifying cruise days you accumulate.
A simplified path looks like this:
First cruise → Gold → 3 cruises/30 days → Ruby → 5 cruises/50 days → Platinum → 15 cruises/150 days → Elite
Princess says that longer voyages can help because it tracks cruise days as well as completed voyages.
Yes, there is an important cruise-credit rule.
Princess states that booking and sailing in a full suite can provide two cruise credits instead of one. Traveling alone under the qualifying exclusive-occupancy fare can also provide two cruise credits. However, cruise days are not doubled.
Mini-suites are excluded from this particular double-cruise-credit rule.
This distinction matters because a passenger should not assume that a qualifying double cruise credit also doubles the number of cruise days.
Not in the same way as a traditional hotel or airline points program.
Captain’s Circle tier advancement is primarily based on cruises and cruise days, rather than accumulating a conventional balance of points that can be redeemed for individual rewards. Princess refers to cruise credits in connection with certain qualifying sailings and circumstances.
For example, Princess says that:
So if you are searching for “Princess Cruises loyalty points,” it is better to think of the program in terms of membership tiers, cruise credits, completed cruises, and cruise days.
The benefits depend on your Captain’s Circle level.
One of the notable benefits available to Captain’s Circle members is early access to new itineraries.
Princess currently says members receive access to new itineraries before they go on sale to the general public. Its current materials describe this as one week of early access.
This can be useful when a popular itinerary or particular stateroom category is likely to attract significant demand.
Gold and higher members can receive Captain’s Circle Launch Savings on qualifying new itinerary launches.
The exact amount varies by sailing and promotion. For example, Princess's current offer terms list Captain’s Circle Launch Savings of up to $200 per guest for certain Alaska 2028 launch bookings, with the amount depending on cruise length.
Because these offers can change, travelers should always check the terms attached to the particular cruise they are considering.
Captain’s Circle members may receive preferential pricing offers.
These offers are not necessarily available on every cruise, and they may have booking or residency restrictions. Therefore, being a member does not mean every Princess sailing will automatically have a lower price.
Gold and higher members can have access to Captain’s Circle events onboard.
These events provide an opportunity for returning passengers to meet other members and participate in activities associated with the loyalty program.
Platinum and Elite members receive 50% off eligible MedallionNet Wi-Fi packages, subject to Princess's terms.
Princess specifies that certain pre-cruise Wi-Fi purchases may be adjusted onboard with a refund credit to the guest's folio. The discount cannot necessarily be combined with every other Wi-Fi promotion.
Platinum and Elite members receive 10% off eligible Lotus Spa treatments.
The discount does not apply to retail purchases, and Princess notes that other restrictions and promotional exclusions can apply.
Platinum and Elite members receive a 10% discount on qualifying Photo Gallery products, including specified digital and printed photos.
Princess excludes certain products and events, so the discount should not be assumed to apply to every photo-related purchase.
Elite members receive 10% off eligible shore excursions.
The benefit has exclusions. Princess's current terms state that the discount does not apply to certain items such as transfers, shuttles, private vehicles, debarkation tours, overland tours, and flightseeing tours.
One of the more practical Elite benefits is complimentary laundry service and shoe polishing, although Princess excludes same-day service.
For longer cruises, this can be particularly useful because passengers may be able to pack less clothing and make use of the onboard laundry benefit.
Elite members receive a complimentary mini-bar setup.
Princess specifies that this is a one-time benefit per Elite stateroom and that the complimentary setup is subject to its applicable conditions.
Elite members receive priority disembarkation.
This can be useful at the end of a cruise when passengers are trying to coordinate flights, transfers, trains, or other onward travel. The exact process can depend on the ship and port.
Yes. Princess states that children and teens can become Captain’s Circle members after their first cruise.
Princess's current loyalty materials specifically note that children and teens become members after completing their first cruise and can receive additional benefits as they sail more.
Families who cruise with Princess regularly should therefore keep track of each eligible passenger's Captain’s Circle membership information rather than assuming that loyalty benefits apply only to the adults in the booking.
Not necessarily.
Captain’s Circle benefits are subject to the program's terms and conditions, and individual discounts can have restrictions.
For example, Princess states that:
Princess also states that only qualifying Princess cruises and certain specified P&O Australia sailings count toward the Captain’s Circle program. P&O UK cruises are no longer eligible under the current terms.
For that reason, check the current terms rather than relying on an older Captain’s Circle benefits chart.
A practical way to manage your membership is through your My Princess account.
Princess encourages members to register for a My Princess account to receive special offers and current information. The Captain’s Circle membership page also advises passengers to provide their Captain’s Circle number whenever they make a booking.
If your existing reservation does not show your correct membership status, Princess provides Captain’s Circle contact numbers for several regions and advises already-booked guests to contact the cruise line for assistance.
Before booking or sailing, verify:
Keeping this information accurate can prevent confusion when you board.
Yes, even if you have only taken one Princess cruise.
The important point is that the program does not require many years of cruising before you receive benefits. Once you complete your first Princess cruise, you enter the Gold level under the standard program rules.
That means your first cruise can establish your loyalty status for future bookings.
However, travelers should distinguish between membership benefits and guaranteed savings. Being a Captain’s Circle member does not mean every future cruise will automatically be cheaper. Savings depend on the applicable fare, promotion, itinerary, sailing date, residency, and other terms.
If you plan to cruise with Princess more than once, a few simple steps can help you use the program effectively.
Use the same membership number whenever you book.
Princess specifically advises members to include their Captain’s Circle number when booking so that the appropriate membership benefits can be associated with the reservation.
Early itinerary access can be valuable when you want a specific sailing, cabin category, or popular destination.
Check your email and Princess account when new itineraries are announced.
Do not assume that the loyalty price is automatically the lowest possible fare.
Compare the Captain’s Circle offer with the other eligible promotions and read the restrictions before making your final booking.
Because Captain’s Circle uses both completed cruises and cruise days, keep an eye on both measures.
A passenger who takes several shorter cruises may progress differently from someone who takes fewer but much longer voyages.
If you are Platinum or Elite, check whether your purchase qualifies for a Captain’s Circle discount before paying full price.
This is particularly relevant to:
Not every item within these categories qualifies, so checking the current terms is important.
The standard Captain’s Circle benefits published by Princess do not describe a general system where members accumulate enough loyalty points to automatically receive a free cruise.
Instead, the program focuses on tier-based benefits, savings, priority access, onboard services, and discounts.
Separate promotions, future cruise credits, onboard credits, or other offers may exist, but those should not be confused with a standard Captain’s Circle “free cruise points” redemption system.
These are different things.
Captain’s Circle is Princess's loyalty program. Your membership level is based primarily on qualifying cruises and cruise days.
Onboard Credit (OBC) is spending credit that can be provided through certain promotions or other qualifying circumstances. Princess says onboard credit can generally be used toward eligible purchases such as shore excursions, beverages, shops, and Lotus Spa services.
Therefore, having Captain’s Circle status does not mean you automatically have a cash-like onboard credit balance.
Yes. Princess's terms state that it reserves the right to change or terminate the Captain’s Circle program and its benefits.
This is why travelers should use the current Princess benefits page and terms when planning a future cruise rather than relying on an old blog post or benefits chart.
A benefit that existed several years ago may no longer be offered, may have different eligibility rules, or may have been replaced with another benefit.
Yes. Princess Cruises operates the Princess Captain’s Circle loyalty program. Guests progress through Gold, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite levels based primarily on completed cruises and qualifying cruise days.
Under the standard rules, you become a Captain’s Circle member after completing your first Princess cruise. Residents of the EEA have a registration requirement involving a Princess.com account and My Princess.
Elite is the highest of the four Captain’s Circle levels. It requires 15 completed cruises or 150 cruise days under the current published criteria.
You need 5 completed cruises or 50 cruise days to reach Platinum, subject to Princess's membership rules.
You need 15 completed cruises or 150 cruise days for Elite status.
Yes. Depending on membership level and the applicable offer, benefits can include Captain’s Circle Launch Savings, preferential pricing, Wi-Fi discounts, spa discounts, photo discounts, shop discounts, and eligible shore excursion discounts.
Yes. Current Princess materials state that Captain’s Circle members receive early access to new itineraries, currently described as one week before general public sale.
Yes. Platinum and Elite Captain’s Circle members receive 50% off eligible MedallionNet Wi-Fi packages, subject to the published terms and restrictions.
Yes. Complimentary laundry services and shoe polishing are listed among the current Elite benefits. Same-day service is excluded.
Yes. Princess states that children and teens become Captain’s Circle members after their first cruise and can receive benefits as they complete additional sailings.
Individual benefits are subject to the Captain’s Circle terms and conditions. Princess also states that unused benefits are not necessarily refundable or transferable, so passengers should check the conditions for the specific benefit rather than assuming every perk carries forward indefinitely.
Princess currently states that qualifying guests who book and sail in a full suite, or travel alone under the qualifying exclusive-occupancy fare, can receive two cruise credits instead of one. Mini-suites are excluded, and cruise days are not doubled.
Yes, Princess Cruises offers a loyalty program: Princess Captain’s Circle. It is designed to reward returning guests through four membership levels—Gold, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite.
The program starts after your first completed Princess cruise and becomes more rewarding as you accumulate qualifying cruises or cruise days. Benefits range from early itinerary access and preferential offers at the Gold level to Wi-Fi and spa discounts at Platinum and additional onboard services and discounts at Elite.
For anyone planning multiple Princess cruises, the most important step is to keep the Captain’s Circle number attached to every reservation and regularly check the current benefits and terms. Princess can change individual benefits and promotions, and some discounts have specific restrictions.
In short, Princess Captain’s Circle is a tier-based loyalty program rather than a traditional points-redemption program. The more qualifying cruises and cruise days you complete, the higher your membership level can become and the more benefits you can access.
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