In short
Standard booking means paying the listed price. In the club you pick one way to pay less: a member price about 17% lower, or points covering up to 50%, or up to 100% with enough points saved and a booking made 270+ days before departure. The club has a monthly fee, so it pays off mainly for regular cruisers.
Everything starts from the listed price
Every sailing has a listed price — the standard, published price for that cabin on that date. Booking it the usual way, you pay that price, or wait for a sale. Through the club, you choose one of three ways to pay for the same cruise.
Three ways to pay in the club
| Method | How much you save | When you can book | Price match and Trip Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| INsider Pricing | A member price, typically about 17% below the listed price, paid in money | From 15 days after activation; cruises up to 21 days before departure | — |
| Reward Points + payment | Points cover up to 50% of the cruise price; the rest in money | 30 days or more before departure | Yes |
| All Reward Points | Points cover up to 100%, if you have saved up enough | 270 days or more before departure | No |
The methods don't combine on one booking: it's one or the other. You can hold two cruise bookings with points at the same time — one with All Reward Points and one with Reward Points + payment.
At a glance
Three ways to pay for a cruise
Which one you can use depends on how far ahead you book.
Book 270+ days before departure
All Reward Points
100% points
Points cover up to 100%: the first half at 1 point = $1, the second half at 2 points per $1.
- Price match guarantee
- Optional trip protection
Book 30+ days before departure
Reward Points + payment
50% max. in points
Points cover up to half, you pay the rest.
- Price match guarantee
- Optional trip protection
No waiting for points
INsider Pricing
~17% off right away
An instant member price; the fare is paid in money.
- Points are not used
- Available to every paying member
Methods don’t stack: on a single cruise you use either INsider Pricing or Reward Points, never both.
Where the points come from
Reward Points build up from your monthly membership payments — on CLASSIC, for example, 200 points for a month paid within 5 days. They are not money and can't be cashed out; they lower the price of a cruise or stay booked through the club. See how Reward Points work.
Why no dollar figures here
We don't quote specific prices — the actual numbers depend entirely on the sailing, cabin and timing, and they are worked out when you book.
What the club price does not change
- Extras on board — drinks, specialty restaurants, excursions, Wi-Fi and the service charge — are paid as usual. Points can't be used for them.
- Flights and insurance are booked and paid separately; points don't cover them.
- The cruise line's own conditions — cancellation, route changes, documents — apply as usual.
- Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search.
What standard booking doesn't include
- No built-in instant discount — you pay the listed price, or wait for a sale.
- No points building value towards future trips.
- No club price match guarantee (in the club, if you find the identical cruise at least $100 cheaper before booking, the price is matched). How the price match guarantee works →
The trade-off worth knowing
Club pricing has a cost — it comes with a monthly membership fee. Whether it is worth it comes down to how often you actually cruise: occasional travellers may find the savings roughly offset the membership cost, while frequent travellers usually come out clearly ahead. Compare membership plans →
Want the wider view — club vs. travel agencies, booking sites and airline miles? See all the comparisons → Prefer to play with the numbers? Try the illustrative savings estimator →
Common questions
What is the difference between the club price and the normal price?
The normal price is the listed price. In the club you pay either a member price about 17% below it, or part of the price with points: up to 50%, or up to 100% if you book 270+ days ahead with enough points saved.
Can I combine the member price and points?
No. On one booking you use one method: INsider Pricing or points.
When does the 100% points option apply?
When you book 270 days or more before departure and have saved up enough points. The price match guarantee and Trip Protection don't apply to it.
Do points pay for drinks or excursions?
No. Points can't be used for flights, insurance, fees, gratuities, excursions, specialty dining and drinks, or personal spending on board.
Is the club worth it if I cruise once a year?
It depends on your cruise and plan; for occasional travellers the savings may roughly offset the membership fee. Regular cruisers usually benefit more. Try the savings estimator to see your own case.
Reflects membership terms as of March 2026 (Membership 3.X). Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Always confirm current terms in your account. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.