By Alexandr — Independent Partner, inCruises
Below: how the price works, what actually lowers it, what those tools don’t do and where the real catch is. No numbers out of context and no promises.
Where the difference comes from
When I was first shown that the price of the same cruise could differ, I assumed there was fine print somewhere. There wasn’t. The point is that members have tools for paying less that an ordinary buyer simply doesn’t have. Not a “secret database”, not connections — just clearly written rules.
Let’s go through them one by one. One important note first: you can’t combine the member price and points on one booking — when you book, you choose one way to pay.
Three tools that lower the price
Tool 1. The member price
The first is the member price, usually around 17% below the listed price. What matters isn’t so much the size as the nature of it: it’s not a sale you have to catch or a promo code you have to find. It’s always there while your membership is active.
A detail people underestimate: the hunt for discounts simply disappears. No five open tabs, no wondering whether it’ll be cheaper next week.
Tool 2. Points for discipline, not for spending
The points work differently from what most people are used to. In most programmes you earn by spending. Here, points are earned for paying your membership on time — and paying on time earns twice as many. So what builds up isn’t “cashback on purchases” but something closer to money set aside, waiting for your trip.
These points can cover up to half the cost of a cruise — instead of the member price, not on top of it. Not 5%, not “a discount on your next order” — half.
Tool 3. Time
The third tool is the only one that depends on you rather than on the club. If 270 days or more remain between booking and departure, accumulated points can cover the whole cabin. This is exactly where two people on the same plan get a different result: one decided in March to sail in July, the other was already thinking in March about next spring.
Why I don’t give a specific amount here
Because an honest amount is always personal. It depends on the sailing, the cabin, the dates and your plan. Quoting an “average” would be a lie: one person’s savings add up to one result, another’s to something quite different. The percentages above are approximate, to explain the mechanics — not a quote.
What these tools don’t do
An honest breakdown isn’t complete without this. Points don’t cover the flight to the port, gratuities, shore excursions, speciality restaurants or spending on board. The member price doesn’t turn a luxury suite into a budget cabin. And none of these tools work if your membership isn’t active.
So this isn’t “all-inclusive and free” but a specific set of levers with specific limits. I think that’s exactly what’s worth knowing in advance.
Where the real catch is
There is one, and it’s simple: the membership has to be paid every month. If you join and then don’t travel, don’t plan and never look inside, it’s just a cost — like a gym membership you never use. The savings are real, but they reward actually planning trips, not just signing up.
Notice what I didn’t just say. I didn’t say “the system works for you” or “you can’t lose”. That wouldn’t be true — and it’s exactly the kind of line that should make you close the tab. The honest trade-off sounds different: put in a little attention, and the model quietly pays it back in trips. Put in nothing, and it won’t.
How to check it yourself
The calmest way is not to take anyone’s word for it but to look from the inside. There’s a free registration: you get 50 welcome points and can look at the mechanics without paying anything. If you’d rather play with numbers first, there’s an illustrative calculator that works from an amount you enter yourself.
And if your question is specific — “what would this come to on my cruise?” — that’s exactly what I work out personally. Get in touch, and we’ll go through it calmly and with no obligation.
And one more thing — honestly
Many people join purely for affordable travel and only later notice that the club also has a partner side. No gold mines: it takes time and effort, and under the club’s rules I’m not allowed to quote figures. But if you ever want to look into it, I’ll explain honestly and without pressure. How partnership works →
Alexandr · Independent Partner, inCruises · shurgen.incruises.com/membership
I’m an Independent Partner of inCruises. This is my personal opinion, not official company material. I’m not a travel agent. All percentages and examples are approximate and illustrative, shown for clarity; your savings are always individual. Confirm current terms, membership plans and rules with the club. inCruises is a brand of inGroup International.