How to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise ship

Thinking about booking a cruise with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection – Ritz-Carlton’s new flying arm? Here’s good news if you’re hoping to save cash: It’s one of the few travel brands that you can use points to pay for a trip.

This is also one of the few travel brands where you can earn points when paying for your trip in cash.

That’s because the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is involved Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

Specifically, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points on cruises on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, as well as enjoy privileges of elite status on trips. This is welcome news as some exclusive Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotels do not participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program and Ritz-Carlton properties not provided the same range of benefits for elite members that other premium brands have affiliated with Marriott.

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That said, the earnings and redemption rates and elite perks available to Bonvoy members booking Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruises are significantly different from vacations at Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels. Here’s a guide to everything you need to know.

Related: First images of Evrima, the new Ritz-Carlton cruise ship

Of course, 5 points per dollar is good but not great. By comparison, the majority of Marriott properties – including the Ritz-Carlton hotels – offer 10 points for every dollar spent on stay, which includes onsite fees like restaurant tabs and spa bills. .

The usual exception is for Marriott’s long-stay brands, including Residence Inn and Marriott Homes & Villaswhere members usually earn 5 points for every dollar.

In addition to the above, Marriott co-branded credit cardholders earn the same rewards points when booking The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruises they make on qualifying purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

In addition to that base rate, here’s how many points you’ll accrue on The RItz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruise fare depending on the Marriott credit card you have:

Given how high the fares are for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruises (5-night cruises start at $4,600 per person), this can really boost your income considerably. .

In addition to bonus points, Bonvoy members who book The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection also receive a complimentary night per night onboard. In addition, cruise fare and hotel package rates apply to the highest class qualifying annual spend requirement Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite status.

Related: 4 best itineraries for luxury and elegance

Redeem Marriott Bonvoy points on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The redemption structure for using payment points for cruises on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection also works quite differently than staying at a traditional hotel. Points have a fixed value, so there’s no “hot spot” to speak of. You also don’t need enough points to cover your entire trip.

Here’s how it works: You can redeem a minimum of 180,000 points for a flat $1,000 savings on yacht fares. You can then redeem the 90,000 point increment for $500 in savings, up to the full cruise fare. For paid reservations, you must call to book.

That’s pretty much the point, for sure. Assuming you booked the cheapest boat trip available on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which costs $4,600 per person, you’ll need over 800,000 points to cover the full cost of the trip. It’s not per room but per person. Also, it’s for the cheapest rooms on board.

Some of the top cabins on longer trips can cost $30,000 per person or more. If you want to order one all in points, you need 5.4 million or more points. Again, on a per-person basis.

This conversion rate equates to about 0.55 cents per Marriott point, much lower TPG’s valuation is 0.84 cents/pointbut the same thing you would get in exchange for a motel through Homes & Villas by Marriott.

Marriott also allows you to redeem points for cruise reservations through the Cruise With Points program. In that case, redemption starts at 63,000 points for a $250 credit, giving it a value less than 0.4 cents per point, so at least the luxury cruisers will do better than that.

Related: How to book a ride using points and miles

In spite of Elite member of Bonvoy may not earn bonus points on their voyages, their status will still receive special onboard perks. The benefits are different from those offered by hotels because the tours are all inclusive.

Below is an overview of benefits, broken down by status level. Benefits will apply to the elite member, plus any roommates.

It’s nice to see how Marriott has thought of a way to reward its elite members on The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection cruises with perks like early restaurant bookings and free laundry. However, in our opinion here at TPG, it would be more impressive if a software suite upgrade or some sort of bespoke service was included for the top-tier Ambassador Elites.