The Cruise Club Guide
Four kinds of cruise club, explained honestly. Nothing to join here.
Get Free Cruise QuotesWhat People Mean by “Cruise Club”
Ask ten cruisers what a cruise club is and you may get four different answers. One means the loyalty program of a cruise line. Another means the online roll call where passengers on the same sailing meet before they go. A third means a local group that gathers to talk about cruises and travel together. A fourth means a paid travel club that promises member-only prices.
This site explains each kind in plain terms, so you can decide which are worth your time. We sell no membership and endorse no paid club. Where it helps, we point you to the official source — and when you are ready to book, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can quote your sailing free through the OCD quote form.
The Four Kinds of Cruise Club
Cruise line loyalty clubs
Free programs run by the lines that reward repeat sailing with tiers and perks. Frequent Cruiser Program covers points and tiers in depth.
Online roll calls
Message threads for one specific sailing, where future shipmates trade tips and plan get-togethers.
Local cruise clubs
Social groups, travel nights and community trips that bring cruisers together near home.
Paid travel and vacation clubs
Membership programs that charge a fee for access to travel offers. Some are fine; some are traps. Know the signs.
Which Cruise Club Is Right for You?
| If you want to… | Look at | Cost to join |
|---|---|---|
| Earn perks for sailing the same line again | The line’s loyalty program | Free |
| Meet your shipmates before you sail | A roll call for your sailing | Free |
| Find people to cruise with | Local cruise clubs and meetups, or a hosted group | Usually free or small dues |
| Get travel discounts through a membership | A paid travel club, after careful checking | Membership fees, sometimes large |
Many cruisers end up in two or three of these at once: a loyalty member who joins the roll call for every sailing and travels with a local group once a year.
Cruising Together Without a Membership Fee
You do not need to buy a membership to cruise with like-minded people. A family reunion, a hobby club, a church or alumni group can sail together as a group booking, and a group often brings perks of its own. Group Cruise Planner walks through organizing one, Cruising Reunions focuses on family and class reunions, and Special Interest Cruises covers theme cruises built around music, food and hobbies.
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle group space for clubs of every size. New to cruising? Start with First Time Cruise.
Who Runs Cruise Club
Cruise Club is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
If you would like a quote for your club or your own cruise, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Want to hear about cruise offers without joining anything? Sign up for the free Mister Cruise cruise-offers newsletter. Browse cruise sites and offers in the Official Cruise Directory, or everything travel in the Official Travel Directory.
Cruise Club: Quick Answers
What is a cruise club?
The phrase covers four different things: a cruise line’s loyalty program, an online roll call for one sailing, a local social club of people who love cruising, and paid travel or vacation clubs that sell membership. They work very differently.
Do I have to pay to join a cruise club?
Cruise line loyalty programs, roll calls and most local social clubs are free. Paid travel and vacation clubs charge membership fees; read the terms and the FTC’s warnings before you sign anything.
Is this site a membership club?
No. Cruise Club explains the options and sells no membership. If you want a cruise quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise provide one free.
Planning a Cruise for Your Club?
Tell us how many are sailing, when and where. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will come back with group options. Free.
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