Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club Loyalty Program: Everything You Need to Know

Among the most famous travel brands, Disney Cruise Line has one of the most modest loyalty programs around — even after the upgrade brings it to a whole new level.

Unlike the programs of tourist operators such as Norwegian Cruise Line And Royal CaribbeanDisney Cruise Line Castaway Club, as its name suggests, does not providing members with outstanding privileges such as a free excursion after reaching the top level. Not available Great discounts on shore excursions and spa treatments for members, like lines like Windstar Cruise suggestion.

However, Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club loyalty program still offers some valuable perks at higher levels, including early access to new itineraries and onboard activities.

Disney’s loyalty program also makes it easier to reach higher levels.

Ways to achieve status

Earning status in the Castaway Club loyalty program is as simple as possible. You get credit for every trip you take – whether it’s a three-night trip or a 10-night trip. That’s it. No noise, no fuss. Your status, as we’ll explain below, depends entirely on the number of excursions you take.

Program levels and benefits

There are only four tiers in the Castaway Club program, including a new top tier launching in 2023:

• Silver (after a trip)
• Yellow (after five trips)
• Platinum (after 10 trips)
• pearl (after 25 trips)

Once you reach the first level of the program (Silver), you’ll enjoy exactly six perks. Perhaps the most notable of these is the ability to reserve cruise ship activities like ticket-only character greetings and specialty restaurant dinners up to 90 days before departure. This is a big problem in the world of Disney cruises, where some of the hottest onboard activities sell out quickly.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Disney Cruise Line

Silver members can also book new Disney cruise itineraries one day before the public. That might not seem like a great start, but it can be a real advantage when trying to score the perfect cabin on a hot new cruise. Disney fans are known to be quick to snap up the best cabins – if not all the cabins – on unique new rides.

In addition, Silver members also receive:

• Choose your port arrival time and complete online check-in 33 days before departure
• Check-in is at the exclusive marina where available
• The direct phone line is for members only to call for information and support
• A welcome home gift

Upon reaching Gold level, members will receive all the above perks with three notable upgrades. For starters, they can book cruise activities up to 105 days before departure. That is 15 days earlier than Silver members. They can also book new Disney cruise itineraries two days before the public.

Additionally, they can complete check-in up to 35 days in advance.

In addition, Gold members also receive:

• Private reception for members
• Special discounts on trips

Related: Tips for Sailing on Disney Cruise Line

The third level of the program, the Platinum level, extends the booking period even further. Platinum members can make reservations for cruise activities up to 120 days before departure. That is 15 days earlier than Gold members and 30 days earlier than Silver members. They can also book new Disney cruise itineraries three days before the public.

For Platinum members, check-in will open 38 days before departure.

In addition, Platinum members can also enjoy free dinner at Paloupscale, adults-only Italian eatery on Disney ships — more about this later.

Elite class makes the difference

It’s really not until you reach the Castaway Club’s new Pearl level that the perks start to get interesting. The big benefit at this level is that you can book a new itinerary earlier than everyone else. You also have the earliest possible access to book onboard activities.

Specifically, you can book new itineraries that are announced four days before the public. You can also book activities up to 123 days in advance of your trip.

Related: A beginner’s guide to cruise ship loyalty programs

In the world of Disney, this is a huge deal. As mentioned above, Disney fans are known to snap up all the good cabins for a popular cruise as soon as the trip goes on sale. The same goes for on-board activities.

Additionally, Pearl status allows you to register your cruise 40 days before departure.

Another added perk for Pearl members of Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club is an unlimited free digital photo package, which is a notable perk.

Disney has plenty of official photographers on their ships to take pictures of you and your kids with the princesses and the like. However, it does not provide those photos for free. Paying for a relatively small number of photos taken by these on-board photographers – even in digital form – can often cost hundreds of dollars.

The best elite perks

Unlike some lines, Disney doesn’t offer any truly over-the-top elite perks, such as free cruises the highest-ranking members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Association receive. They’re also very lax about offering big discounts on shore excursions, spa treatments and other services sold by the cruise line to elite members – something some other lines do. Still, there are some perks that get us at least modestly excited.

In our opinion, the most attractive offer is the free dinner that comes with Platinum status at Palo, as noted above.

Related: Best credit cards for booking cruises

Invitations are open to elite members and any other adult passengers staying in the same cabin. Let’s say there are two of you, that’s a value of $100. Palo usually costs 50 USD/person.

Perks can be used at Palo Steakhouses on Disney’s four older ships or Palo Steakhouses on the line’s new ships. Disney Wishes and coming soon Disney treasures.

Does my Disney Castaway Club status last forever?

In a major change effective in early 2024, Disney Castaway Club members will no longer receive “permanent status” upon reaching different levels of the program—a notable attraction program since its inception.

Starting this year, Castaway Club members will lose their Castaway Club status – and in fact their entire membership in the program, even at the entry level – if they don’t book or complete a qualifying Disney cruise at least once every five years.

Therefore, if you haven’t been on a Disney Cruise Line cruise in a few years and you have senior status in the Castaway Club that you want to maintain for the future, it may cost you money to book a cruise. Disney’s fast this year to maintain your loyalty. Or, perhaps now is the time to switch your loyalty to another family-friendly cruise brand, such as Royal Caribbean.

Bottom line

Disney Cruise Line offers some decent perks for members of its Castaway Club loyalty program, including early access to new itineraries and onboard activities.

However, Castaway Club’s loyalty program is not nearly as robust as the frequent cruise programs of many other popular brands, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. If you’re going to be heavily involved with Disney, you’ll want to do it because you love the brand, not because you expect universal validation of your loyalty.

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