Cruise Lines

Best for: Couples · Active/bike-and-hike travelers · First-time river cruisers

Loyalty:

AmaWaterways Loyalty Program

Final payment:

90 days prior to departure

Best for: Travelers who want a U.S.-only cruise with no passport, no long-haul flight and often a drive-to port · Older and first-time river cruisers who value large balcony staterooms and an included pre-cruise hotel night · Solo travelers (single staterooms on every ship, no single supplement)

Loyalty:

Eagle Society

Final payment:

120 days prior to sailing

Best for: Guests who want a river cruise sold as a package, with first- and last-day airport transfers, gratuities and most sightseeing included · Travelers who like exclusive group events (APT 'Signature Experiences') plus a choice of daily excursions ('Freedom of Choice') · Guests looking beyond Europe: APT sells river cruises on the Mekong, Lower Ganges, Yangtze, Amazon and Australia's Murray River as well as the Rhine, Main, Danube and Douro

Loyalty:

APT Club

Final payment:

100 days before departure

Best for: Travelers who want a 16-40-guest luxury ship with a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio and twice-daily small-group excursions · Mekong (Cambodia & Vietnam) and Peruvian Amazon river expeditions, including short 3- and 4-night sailings · Galapagos, East Indonesia (Komodo, Spice Islands, Raja Ampat, Asmat) and Seychelles snorkeling and wildlife trips on a superyacht

Loyalty:

Circolo Aqua (Guest Loyalty Program; free, Miles-based; separate Circolo Aqua Trade Loyalty Program for advisors)

Final payment:

90 days before departure

Best for: Travelers who want Antarctica or the Arctic on a small, all-suite yacht (100 suites) with drinks and gratuities included · Fly-cruise Antarctica: Drake Express voyages fly over the Drake Passage to King George Island on an included charter · Food and wine lovers: Epicurean Expeditions in the Mediterranean with guest chefs and vintners

Loyalty:

Atlas Yacht Club

Final payment:

120 days before sailing

Best for: Antarctica travelers who want small 130-guest X-BOW ships, landings twice a day and the widest add-on activity list (kayaking, snorkelling, diving, camping, skiing) · Travelers short on time or worried about the Drake Passage: Fly the Drake and Fly/Sail voyages from Punta Arenas · Solo travelers: 10 no-supplement solo cabins per sailing, or free roommate matching

Loyalty:

Aurora Expeditions Loyalty Program (Bronze Adventurer, Silver Explorer, Gold Pioneer)

Final payment:

120 days before departure

Best for: Couples who want extra-large staterooms · Active travelers (bikes/e-bikes) · Guests who want a wide choice of included excursions

Loyalty:

Welcome Back Credit

Final payment:

90 days prior to departure

Best for: Destination-immersion travelers · Solo travelers · Repeat/loyal cruisers

Loyalty:

Azamara Circle Loyalty Program

Final payment:

150 days prior (North & South America, Mexico, Australia/NZ, Asia-Pacific); 120 days (UK/Ireland/Europe/Middle East/Africa/Nordic/Brazil); 30 days (Germany/Switzerland); 14 days (Austria)

Best for: families with kids · first-time cruisers · budget-conscious guests

Loyalty:

Carnival Rewards

Final payment:

Not published: Carnival's public pages don't state when final payment is due. Check the booking for the final payment date.

Best for: Couples · Foodies · Guests wanting a more upscale/modern ship design

Loyalty:

Captain's Club

Final payment:

Varies by sailing (60–150 days); check the booking confirmation

Best for: Celebrity/RCL loyalists who want to use their existing Captain's Club status on a river product · Guests wanting a modern, suite-forward river ship with butler service · Couples wanting European river itineraries (Danube, Rhine) with big-ship-style inclusions

Loyalty:

Captain's Club

Final payment:

120 days prior to departure

Best for: Greek Isles / Eastern Mediterranean first-timers · Guests wanting mostly-included pricing · Couples & small-ship travelers

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

30 days prior to sailing

Best for: Travelers who want Australia's remote coast by small ship: the Kimberley, Great Barrier Reef, Cape York and Arnhem Land, Tasmania and Western Australia · Reef and snorkel lovers: snorkel gear included, scuba diving on selected voyages, Outerknown and Citizen Science Great Barrier Reef voyages · Guests interested in Indigenous art and culture (art-centre visits on Cape York & Arnhem Land voyages)

Loyalty:

Xplorers Club (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Lifetime; by nights sailed)

Final payment:

90 days before departure

Best for: Guests who want a European, Italian-style ship with an international crowd · Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruisers looking for value fares · Families (children under 4 pay no hotel service charge)

Loyalty:

C|Club (CostaClub)

Final payment:

Final payment date not published

Best for: Value-minded river cruisers · Francophiles and foodies · Travelers wanting less-common rivers (Loire, Guadalquivir, Elbe)

Loyalty:

CroisiClub

Final payment:

30 days prior to departure (European rivers, barges, coastal); 45 days (Nile, Mekong, Ganges, Amazon, Southern Africa)

Best for: Ultra-luxury guests wanting maximum space per passenger · Guests who loved 'old Crystal' pre-2022 and want the relaunched product · Foodies (Nobu at sea)

Loyalty:

Crystal Society

Final payment:

120 days before departure (voyages under 40 days); 180 days before departure (voyages of 40+ days)

Best for: Transatlantic crossing enthusiasts · Traditional/formal cruise guests · History & heritage travelers

Loyalty:

Cunard World Club

Final payment:

120 days prior (voyages of 30 nights or less) / 150 days prior (voyages of 31+ nights)

Best for: Families with young kids · Disney/Marvel/Star Wars/Pixar fans · Guests wanting a private island (Castaway Cay / Lookout Cay)

Loyalty:

Castaway Club

Final payment:

Not published: due on the date set at booking (shown on the booking)

Best for: First-time river cruisers wanting an all-inclusive fare · Guests who want a suite-style balcony (Emerald's signature open-air/enclosed balcony) · Couples/small groups wanting European river itineraries at a mid-luxury price point

Loyalty:

Scenic & Emerald Rewards

Final payment:

90 days prior to departure

Best for: Guests wanting a small, modern superyacht (up to 100-128 guests) over a big ship · Guests who like Emerald's river cruise brand and want an ocean/yacht product from the same company · Couples/small groups wanting included excursions and boutique-yacht dining

Loyalty:

Scenic & Emerald Rewards

Final payment:

120 days prior to departure (Full Fare); Select Fare 150 days; Preferred Fare 10 months prior (or within 30 days of booking if inside 10 months)

Best for: Design-forward luxury travelers · Guests wanting all-inclusive luxury without formality · Couples/multi-generational luxury travelers

Loyalty:

Explora Club

Final payment:

90 days before departure (150 days for Ocean Residences)

Best for: Four Seasons hotel loyalists wanting the brand's service at sea · Guests who want a very small, all-suite yacht with lots of space per guest · Families and groups booking connecting suites, studios or the large Signature Suites

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

150 days before departure (Standard Suites); 180 days (Signature Suites)

Best for: Luxury travelers who want a small ship (400-500 guests) with near one-to-one crew and gratuities in the fare · Expedition travelers heading to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Northwest Passage or the Amazon on PC 6 ice-class ships of 230 guests or fewer · Guests comfortable on a bilingual German-and-English ship from a Hamburg-based line

Loyalty:

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Club

Final payment:

No fixed balance due date published in English; bookings within 30 days of departure pay in full immediately

Best for: Travelers who want the classic Bergen-Kirkenes Norwegian coastal route (34 ports, local passengers and cargo) on the newest ships on the route · Northern Lights seekers on winter Round Voyages and Midnight Sun travelers in summer · Guests who prefer a quiet, informal ship with à la carte full board and no casino, shows or dress code

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

42 days before departure (Flex); Saver paid in full at booking

Best for: Birders and wildlife travelers who want New Zealand and Australia's Subantarctic Islands or a month in Antarctica's Ross Sea · Travelers looking for remote small-ship voyages in Melanesia, Micronesia, Indonesia, Japan and Australia's Kimberley · Guests who want conservation-led expedition cruising with naturalist lecturers on 18-140-guest ships

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

90 days before departure (120 days for Antarctica; 60 days on Heritage Explorer)

Best for: older/mature travelers · guests who want a quieter, more traditional/elegant ship · foodies (culinary partnerships)

Loyalty:

Mariner Society

Final payment:

120 days (all cruises)

Best for: Travelers who want Norway's coast up close year-round: the 12-day Bergen-Kirkenes Coastal Express with 34 ports, local passengers and cargo · Northern Lights seekers (winter voyages with the Northern Lights Promise) and Midnight Sun summer trips to Svalbard · Guests who prefer small, informal ships with no casinos, shows or dress code over a big-ship cruise

Loyalty:

1893 Ambassador (free; Level 1 and Level 2)

Final payment:

90 days before departure

Best for: Antarctica first-timers and polar repeaters: HX says it is the largest operator in Antarctica · Travelers who want an all-inclusive expedition (drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, landings) at a lower price point than luxury expedition lines · Science-minded guests: onboard Science Center, citizen-science projects and free University of Tasmania courses

Loyalty:

HX Explorers

Final payment:

90 days before departure

Best for: Nature and wildlife travelers who want naturalist-led landings, Zodiac and kayak outings and lectures rather than resort-style ships · Polar travelers (Antarctica, Arctic, Greenland, Svalbard), especially on the PC5 ships National Geographic Endurance and Resolution · Galápagos, Alaska and Baja California small-ship trips, including families with kids (Explorers-in-Training program)

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

120 days before departure

Best for: Short/casual getaways · Casino players · Budget-conscious Florida/Gulf drive-market travelers

Loyalty:

Players Club (casino rewards)

Final payment:

76/91/121 days prior to sailing depending on cruise length

Best for: Value-focused families and multi-generational groups · European-style cruising fans (Mediterranean itineraries, European ships/crew) · Guests wanting a true luxury 'ship-within-a-ship' at a lower price than competitors (Yacht Club)

Loyalty:

MSC Voyagers Club

Final payment:

4 nights or less: 75 days prior to departure. 5-14 nights: 90 days prior to departure. 15+ nights: 110 days prior to departure. World Cruise: 120 days prior to departure. MSC Grand Hamptons Villa: 90 days prior to departure.

Best for: Solo travelers (large studio cabin fleet) · Guests who hate assigned dining times (Freestyle Cruising) · Foodies wanting lots of specialty restaurants

Loyalty:

Latitudes Rewards

Final payment:

120 days prior to sailing for all sailing lengths (1-6 and 7+ days), including The Haven & Suites and holiday sailings

Best for: Foodies/culinary-focused travelers · Destination-immersion travelers · Adults seeking a country-club-casual upscale feel

Loyalty:

Oceania Club

Final payment:

150 days prior (voyages under 180 nights) / 180 days prior (voyages of 180+ nights)

Best for: Active travelers who want Basecamp voyages where camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering and photo workshops are all included · Value-minded polar travelers, and solo travelers happy to share a cabin at no supplement · Wildlife and birding specialists: Weddell Sea emperor penguin voyages by helicopter, Spitsbergen polar bear voyages and the Atlantic Odyssey to Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena and Ascension

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

60 days before departure

Best for: Luxury travelers who want a small, all-suite ship (110 guests) with drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, laundry and airport transfers in the fare · Short-break cruisers: many 3- and 4-night Mediterranean and Caribbean voyages that can be combined · ALL Accor members and fans of the Orient Express trains and hotels (Rome and Venice combinations)

Loyalty:

ALL – Accor Live Limitless (Accor's loyalty program)

Final payment:

120 days before departure (180 days for group bookings)

Best for: Couples and honeymooners who want French Polynesia (Bora Bora, Moorea, Taha'a) on one small all-inclusive ship · Guests who would otherwise book an overwater-bungalow resort and want several islands in one trip · Snorkelers, divers and kayakers (onboard watersports marina, PADI diving program)

Loyalty:

PONANT Yacht Club (PYC)

Final payment:

90 days prior to departure

Best for: Antarctica buyers who want many departure lengths, Antarctic Circle crossings, Falklands and South Georgia, and fly-cruise options · Active travelers who want twice-daily outings plus kayaking, camping, snowshoeing and photography programs · Arctic and North Atlantic explorers: Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Jan Mayen, Scotland, Ireland and the Faroes

Loyalty:

The All Explorers Club (benefits after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd voyage)

Final payment:

120 days before departure

Best for: Travelers who want small French-flagged expedition yachts (184-264 guests) with an open bar, free Wi-Fi and an included activity at every port · Polar travelers: Antarctica and the Arctic, including the high-Arctic icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot · Guests who like a French, bilingual (French/English) atmosphere and Ducasse-led gastronomy

Loyalty:

PONANT Yacht Club

Final payment:

90 days before the first service

Best for: Alaska cruisers · couples/older adults wanting a refined but not stuffy ship · guests who like tech (MedallionClass)

Loyalty:

Captain's Circle

Final payment:

120 days prior to departure (uniform, all cruise lengths up to 44 days)

Best for: Travelers who want only polar travel: Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falklands, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland and the Canadian Arctic · Guests who want helicopter flightseeing and heli-landings (Ultramarine, outside Svalbard) · Active travelers adding kayaking, camping, paddleboarding or mountain biking as paid Adventure Options

Loyalty:

The Shackleton Club (tiered past-passenger program: Silver, Gold, Platinum)

Final payment:

150 days before Day 1

Best for: All-inclusive luxury seekers · Guests who want free unlimited shore excursions included · Couples celebrating milestones

Loyalty:

Seven Seas Society

Final payment:

150 days prior (voyages of 60 nights or less) / 180 days prior (voyages of 61+ nights)

Best for: Solo travelers · Value-minded first-time river cruisers · Couples

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

101 days prior to departure

Best for: Families · First-time cruisers · Thrill-seekers wanting big-ship activities

Loyalty:

Crown & Anchor Society

Final payment:

75 / 90 / 120 days by cruise length

Best for: Guests wanting a true all-inclusive luxury river fare (drinks, tours, and more bundled in) · Guests who want butler service on a river ship · Travelers who want both Europe and Southeast Asia river options from one brand

Loyalty:

Scenic & Emerald Rewards

Final payment:

90 days before departure (Full Fare)

Best for: Ultra-luxury travelers wanting expedition capability (Antarctica, remote regions) without giving up 6-star service · Guests who want a helicopter and a submarine as onboard 'toys' on an expedition-capable ship · Couples/small groups wanting an all-suite, all-inclusive yacht experience

Loyalty:

Scenic & Emerald Rewards

Final payment:

120 days before departure (Full Fare); Select Fare 150 days; Preferred Fare 10 months (or within 30 days of booking if booked inside 10 months)

Best for: Luxury travelers wanting an all-inclusive small-ship experience · Guests who want polar/expedition options (Venture, Pursuit) alongside classic luxury voyages · Couples/solo travelers seeking a quiet, all-suite ship

Loyalty:

Seabourn Club

Final payment:

21 days or less: 120 days prior. 22-69 days: 150 days prior. 70+ days: 180 days prior.

Best for: Couples who want a private-yacht feel: 112 guests, 95 crew, open-seating dining on deck · Caribbean island-hopping (Virgin Islands, St. Barths overnights, Grenadines) and Mediterranean yachting harbors · Active travelers: free watersports from the marina, bikes, yoga and crew-led hikes

Loyalty:

SeaDream Club

Final payment:

90 days before departure

Best for: Luxury travelers who want an all-suite, butler-served small ship with wines, spirits and other beverages, Wi-Fi and gratuities in the fare · Guests who want classic luxury voyages and true expeditions (Galapagos, Antarctica, Arctic) from one brand · Royal Caribbean or Celebrity loyalists stepping up to luxury, since their tier is matched one-for-one

Loyalty:

Venetian Society

Final payment:

150 days prior to departure

Best for: Travelers who want a real sailing experience: the sails go up every day and guests can help haul lines or climb the mast · Active couples and solo travelers who like water sports from the ship on beach days, at no extra charge · Caribbean and Central America in winter (Grenadines, Leewards, BVI, Costa Rica and Panama) and the Mediterranean in summer on 166-227 guest ships

Loyalty:

TopGallant Loyalty Club

Final payment:

90 days before departure

Best for: Travelers who want an all-inclusive polar expedition (drinks, gratuities, basic Wi-Fi, excursions) on 152-192-guest ice-class ships · Guests who want lecture-led 'cultural expedition' voyages beyond the poles: West and Southern Africa, Brazil and the Amazon, Japan, Indonesia and the South Pacific · Antarctica buyers comparing longer options: Falklands and South Georgia, Weddell Sea, Antarctic Circle, South Atlantic crossings to Cape Town, and Ushuaia to Dunedin

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

120 days before departure (60 days for D/A/CH customers)

Best for: Travelers who want a fully guided river cruise, with Tauck Directors handling every detail on board and ashore · Clients who hate add-on costs: excursions, all drinks aboard, gratuities and transfers are in one upfront price, and no options are sold · Solo travelers (no single supplement in Category 1 on every European river departure)

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

120 days before departure

Best for: Travelers who want a small-ship cruise run as a fully guided Tauck trip, with Tauck Directors and pre-arranged hotel stays at each end · Clients who want excursions, gratuities and transfers in one price with no options sold · Families on Tauck Bridges sailings (Galápagos, Croatia)

Loyalty:

Not yet verified

Final payment:

120 days before departure

Best for: Marriott Bonvoy members who want to earn and redeem points and Elite Night Credits at sea · Travelers who want an all-suite, all-terrace yacht with drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities in the fare · Couples and small groups who like a relaxed, no-formal-nights atmosphere with watersports from the Marina

Loyalty:

Marriott Bonvoy (earn and redeem points on voyages)

Final payment:

180 days before departure (auto-charged to the card on file)

Best for: Value-minded travelers who want a river cruise package with gratuities, first- and last-day airport transfers and guided sightseeing included · Guests who are happy with wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner rather than an all-day open bar · Travelers looking beyond Europe: Travelmarvel also sells river cruises on the Mekong, Nile, Yangtze and Australia's Murray River

Loyalty:

Traveller Club

Final payment:

100 days before departure

Best for: Active travelers who want kayaking, hiking, paddleboarding and skiff trips every day on a 22-86-guest ship · Alaska travelers who want to stay inside Alaska (roundtrip Juneau, two days in Glacier Bay) rather than sail from Seattle or Vancouver · Families on Families in Nature sailings, and couples wanting Adult Escape sailings

Loyalty:

Loyalty Rewards and Benefits (past-guest savings; 'Beyond the Buoy' membership after 5+ cruises)

Final payment:

120 days before departure

Best for: Luxury travelers · Guests who want a true all-inclusive fare · Couples celebrating an occasion

Loyalty:

River Heritage Club

Final payment:

120 days prior to departure

Best for: Adults-only travelers (18+) wanting true polar/remote expedition itineraries (Antarctica, Great Lakes, Arctic) · Guests who want science/expedition activities (kayaking, Zodiacs, Special Operations Boats, 6-seat submarines) included in the fare · Guests who liked Viking Ocean/River's style and want to try expedition cruising

Loyalty:

Viking Explorer Society

Final payment:

Set by the booking's promotion; shown on the invoice

Best for: Adults-only travelers (18+) wanting a quiet, destination-focused ship · Culturally curious guests who want included excursions and enrichment lectures · Guests who like Viking's river cruise style but want ocean itineraries

Loyalty:

Viking Explorer Society

Final payment:

Set by the booking's promotion; shown on the invoice

Best for: Adults-only travelers (18+) · First-time river cruisers · Culturally curious/destination-focused travelers

Loyalty:

Viking Explorer Society

Final payment:

Set by the booking's promotion; shown on the invoice

Best for: Adults-only travelers (no guests under 18, ever) · Couples and friend groups wanting a boutique, design-forward ship · Guests who want an all-inclusive-leaning fare with no forced formal nights or traditional cruise cliches

Loyalty:

Sailing Club

Final payment:

Final payment due 120 days prior to voyage start date, or at time of booking if booked within 120 days of sailing.

Best for: Guests wanting small ships/yachts that reach ports big ships can't · Couples/honeymooners wanting an intimate, casual-elegant vibe · Guests who want sail-powered ships (Wind Star, Wind Surf, Wind Spirit) as a novelty

Loyalty:

Yacht Club

Final payment:

90 days prior to vacation start date