Royal Caribbean just kicked off a new casino year, and with it came a handful of changes to Club Royale that are already getting a lot of attention from frequent cruisers.
April 1st is the start of the casino calendar year, when players can start accruing points to requalify for their status within the casino program.
Royal Caribbean Blog reader Craig Hart is a Masters level player, which is the highest tier in the program. Suffice to say, he pays close attention to any change made by Casino Royale.
He believes some of the changes will be welcomed by players, and others perhaps not. It all depends on how gamble.
Players started noticing differences on April 1 when the 2026–2027 casino year officially began and comparing notes almost immediately.
Here’s what actually changed, what it means, and where the biggest impact is for cruise passengers who rely on casino perks.
Helpful change: casino status now shows in the app
One change anyone might notice is in the Royal Caribbean app.
Royal Caribbean has started integrating Club Royale into its mobile app, allowing guests to see their casino tier and (eventually) their offers in one place.
That might not sound like a big deal, but it’s something casino players have wanted for years. Historically, Club Royale has felt like a separate ecosystem, with offers sent via email or buried on the website.
Having status, offers, and notifications within the app brings it closer to how airlines and hotels manage loyalty programs.
However, it's not quite fully operational yet.
Craig reports some users are reporting errors when trying to view offers through the app, even though those same offers are still accessible on Royal Caribbean's website.
Regardless of the soft rollout, Royal Caribbean is trying to unify its casino program with the broader cruise experience. And if they get this right, it could make tracking offers and planning trips a lot easier.
Signature guests get onboard credit
There's been another change for the mid-tier members within the casino loyalty program in terms of onboard perks.
Signature-level members will now receive onboard credit based on the length of their sailing.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- $25 for 3–4 night cruises
- $50 for 5–6 night cruises
- $75 for 7+ night cruises
Previously, Signature players didn’t receive any onboard credit at all.
According to Craig, this change doesn’t completely close the gap with higher tiers like Masters, who still receive more generous perks, but it's a meaningful addition.
And it aligns with a broader trend we’ve seen from Royal Caribbean of adding smaller, incremental perks rather than making sweeping changes.
He believes this onboard credit won't used towards anything but casino spending. Casino players at the Signature level are the type of player that typically use their OBC to fuel more play.
He thinks it's a nice perk, but it’s not really changing behavior. It just makes the experience feel a little more rewarding.
A big change for video poker players
If there’s one change that's getting the most pushback, it's related to video poker.
Royal Caribbean increased the earning requirement for video poker to $15 per point. That's a significant jump, and it directly affects how quickly players can earn status or qualify for rewards.
What this means is you now have to wager more money to earn the same number of points.
Those that play a lot of video poker don't seem happy with the change because it requires more money to be wagered in order to attain tier progression.
Online complaints have said it reduces efficiency for earning offers, and makes it harder to justify extended play if you're trying to maximize value.
Craig thinks it's a change to bring the game in line with the better odds it has. Video poker typically has a lower house edge than slot machines, meaning players can stretch their bankroll longer. By increasing the points threshold, the company is effectively rebalancing the system.
If you're someone who primarily plays slots, this probably won't affect you much. But if you leaned into video poker as a strategic way to earn status, this is a meaningful change.
Cutback in instant offers?
The biggest change casino players claim to be seeing is related to cruise offers earned onboard a ship.
Frequent casino players have started noticing a reduction in the value of "instant certificates", which are the rewards you earn during a sailing based on how many points you rack up.
These certificates typically offer free or discounted cruise fares, free play, and upgraded cabins at the higher levels.
It appears something has changed compared to expectations from the past experiences.
Starting around March, many reported:
- The cabin categories offered were lower than before
- The amount of free play was reduced
- Overall value per point felt diminished
This kind of adjustment is subtle, but it matters a lot for repeat cruisers who plan their gambling strategy around hitting certain thresholds.
Craig recommends viewing the reward certificates at the start of the cruise at the casino host desk and plan your play accordingly.
