10 Benefits of Disney’s Castaway Club Program

The loyalty club for Disney Cruise Line is called Castaway Club. Like all loyalty programs, there is more than one level, and each successive level has more benefits.

After one cruise, you’ll be at the Silver level. After you complete five cruises, you’ll reach Gold level, and after ten you’ll be Platinum. After a whopping 25 cruises, you reach the highest current level – Pearl. And Disney even recognizes cruisers who continue to sail and reach certain milestone numbers (see below for details).

Is Disney’s program the best program out there? Definitely not. Back in January, I posted a blog about some changes I think Castaway Club should make, and I’ll stand by that. But there are some benefits! Here are 10 of them.

1. In Stateroom Gifts – You’re going to start receiving gifts in your stateroom on your second cruise! They’ll vary as Disney changes them up, and if you’re on a Maiden Voyage or sailing during the Inaugural season of a new ship, you’ll usually get something exclusive that’s limited to that ship and those sailings. You’ll get a new Castaway Club lanyard every time. On your second cruise, when you’re Silver, you’ll get a second gift, usually a backpack or bag of some kind. After you reach the Gold level, you’ll get the Silver gift, plus a second gift like a wet/dry bag. Once you’re Platinum, you’ll get the Silver and Gold gifts, as well as a third gift such as a tumbler. Pearl Castaway Club members receive all of the other level gifts plus a fourth gift like a travel blanket. With the exception of the lanyard, the gifts are one per stateroom, not one per Castaway member.

2. Shopping Discounts – Once you reach Gold level and up, you’ll receive 10% off merchandise in the stores onboard.

3. Complimentary Palo Dinner – For Platinum and Pearl members, you will receive a $55 credit towards a dinner in Palo, Palo Steakhouse, or Palo Trattoria. Much to the chagrin of Platinum and Pearl members everywhere, Disney recently began enforcing the rule that limits the credit to dinner.

4. Unlimited Digital Photo Package – Pearl members also get a free unlimited Digital Photo Package onboard.

5. Early Booking – New itineraries are released in stages for booking. Pearl members can book on day 1, then Platinum on day 2, and so on. That matters as prices go up, itineraries fill up, and new ships sell out. Onboard activity and excursion bookings also open in stages. After Concierge guests, Pearl level goes first at 123 days, Platinum at 120, Gold at 105, and Silver at 90.

6. Early Online Check-in – Online Check-in for your sailing will open up in stages as well. Pearl members go first at 40 days, Platinum at 38, Gold at 35, and Silver at 33. The biggest benefit here is an early Port Arrival Time. The sooner you can check in, the more Port Arrival times are available.

7. Early Boarding Group – An early Port Arrival Time doesn’t matter at all to Pearl Castaway Club members. They are given one of the earliest Port Arrival Times and are automatically assigned to Boarding Group 2.

8. Separate Check-in Lines at the Port – All Castaway Club members usually have a special line to check in at the port. Pearl Castaway Club members often have a separate one from that.

9. Receptions – On cruises of 8 nights or longer, there is a special reception onboard for Gold members and up. On Maiden Voyages, there is also usually an invite-only reception with the officers for anyone who has sailed more than 50 times.

10. Milestone Gifts – Once a member starts reaching other milestone cruises, such as 50, there are other gifts. After 50 sailings, you can get your name on a plank wall at Castaway Cay. After 75 sailings, as I wrote about in a blog post last week, you get an exclusive Arribas Brothers figurine mailed to your house. After 100 sailings, you’ll receive a different Arribas figurine.

Bonus – There’s also a dedicated phone number for Castaway Club members, which you may find useful. It’s 1-800-449-3380.

Did I miss anything? What’s your favorite benefit?