Royal brought back double points, but casino bookings are excluded

That tracks with what we’ve seen for years, just said out loud now. Gene and I ran into similar on another line where the casino certificate got us onboard, but loyalty promos only counted if we paid retail. Different buckets, same cruise. For us, it wouldn’t move the needle enough to skip a decent casino offer just to chase status. I like perks as much as anyone, but I’m too budget-minded to pay extra for a maybe. I do wonder if folks close to the next tier will do the math differently. Anybody here actually considering booking outside casino for this one?

That’s how I read it too, but what makes it interesting is timing. A lot of us book shoulder-season sailings where cabin price can swing a lot, so the real comparison isn’t just “double points vs casino offer,” it’s what itinerary and cabin you’d actually choose if paying retail. On Royal, I could see someone a few points short of a meaningful tier doing a shorter paid sailing to finish the year, but not replacing a strong casino comp on a longer trip. I’d also want to know whether NextCruise bookings count cleanly here or if there are exclusions buried in the terms. Did anyone read the fine print all the way through?

I pulled the terms because that “new bookings” language usually hides the real answer. The key pieces I’d want people to verify on Royal’s own promo page: whether NextCruise deposits made onboard during the booking window qualify, whether the offer is combinable with any resident/senior/military rates, and whether moving an existing reservation into the window is treated as a new booking or just a repricing. Lines often say no on that last one. Also worth remembering Crown & Anchor points are based on nights and cabin category, not casino play, so this promo only changes the earning rate on an otherwise eligible fare. If anyone has the exact exclusions text, post it.