Royal Caribbean lately prolonged standing matching advantages to Superstar Cruises, and I could not assist however strive Superstar once more.
I took my first Superstar Cruises final yr on two of their latest and largest ships: Superstar Apex and Superstar Ascent. I loved my first experiences on the sister model to Royal Caribbean, however I used to be disenchanted with the infinite balcony expertise in addition to the overall state of leisure.
That is not to say I swore off Superstar, however I used to be content material cruising primarily with Royal Caribbean.
In June 2024, the brand new standing matching was introduced that supplied larger parity between loyalty tiers among the many traces. The truth is, Pinnacle Membership members got the identical prime tier standing in Superstar and that piqued my curiosity.
To my shock, I obtained a on line casino provide from Superstar’s Blue Chip membership to get a major low cost if I booked a delegated crusing. Between the provide and the brand new perks, I needed to give it a strive.
I picked a cruise on Superstar Reflection for a 3-night cruise that visited Royal Caribbean’s non-public island of Good Day at CocoCay. It appeared like a perfect match provided that I might sail on Superstar however get a Royal Caribbean day.
Going into the cruise, I used to be curious how intently my second go round could be to my first, and what the CocoCay expertise could be like.
A surprisingly busy cruise ship
Superstar Reflection is much from their latest ship, however I used to be pleasantly shocked by how a lot there was to do on the ship.
Reflection is the final of the Solstice Class ships, and commenced providing cruises in 2012. She’s 1,017 ft in size and may deal with 3,046 passengers.
That makes her roughly the identical age as Quantum of the Seas and the has the capability of a Freedom Class cruise ship.
I discovered there to be a very good mixture of venues onboard, from eating to bars, to swimming pools and sizzling tubs. Whereas Superstar ships could lack all of the signature prime deck actions Royal Caribbean is thought for, there’s a lot to carry my consideration across the ship.
Being that this was a weekend cruise, I feel lots of people had been treating this crusing as a getaway journey. The swimming pools had been busy, the on line casino busy, and music occasions fashionable.
My go to identify on any Superstar ship is Cafe al Bacio, and clearly everybody else on the ship had the identical thought. There was all the time a crowd there, however I used to be capable of finding a spot every time I glided by.
Cafe al Bacio is a lot extra fulfilling than Cafe Promenade as a result of they’ve waiter service on the tables, that may carry you espresso and snacks.
Talking of the snacks, I like the upper high quality meals supplied right here as nicely in comparison with the snacks at Cafe Promenade. Croissants, desserts, and cookies galore.
Standing matching advantages that impress
As a Pinnacle Membership member in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, I used to be granted Zenith standing in Superstar’s Captain’s Membership. This implies I received the very best advantages Superstar has to supply.
To be clear, you may get the standing in Captain’s Membership, however you earn factors individually. So you possibly can’t cruise on Superstar to assist increase your Crown and Anchor standing until you turn and go all-in.
To get your Captain’s Membership standing, you must name Superstar earlier than your first cruise to substantiate your enrollment. That may get you your Captain’s Membership numbers and guarantee they “see” your Crown and Anchor standing.
I used to be actually impressed after I received an e mail earlier than the cruise that I received a free Premium drink package deal, which is a step up from Royal Caribbean’s six day by day drink vouchers. That is an amazing worth off the bat.
Identical to Royal Caribbean, I additionally received a free web package deal all through the crusing, entry to the suite space, and precedence embarkation.
Once I sailed final yr, it was earlier than the standing matching change and I used to be unimpressed with the perks I received at Elite Plus. This new parity between the packages is considerably higher.
We received to board the ship within the suite line, and wait to board the ship within the Retreat lounge in Terminal 25 of Port Everglades.
We spent loads of our evenings hanging out in Michael’s Membership, which is the suite lounge on the ship. Enjoyable reality, the “Michael” within the lounge’s title alludes to Michael Bayley, who was Superstar’s CEO earlier than turning into Royal Caribbean’s CEO.
I appreciated the bar arrange within the lounge, together with the actual fact there are hors d’oeuvres served, self-service non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks from 7am – midnight, and dwell music on formal night time.
Irrespective of which stage you are at in Crown and Anchor, it is an actual boon to get added advantages on Superstar off the bat. For these of us on the prime tiers of Royal Caribbean, working in a Superstar cruise is a simple match.
My favourite coverage on Superstar
You’ll be able to give you professionals and cons of cruising any cruise line, however I like the actual fact you possibly can drop your luggage off in your cabin instantly upon boarding.
On Royal Caribbean, staterooms do not open till 1 or 2pm, and there is not any entry to cabins till then.
Superstar’s cabins additionally do not open up till the identical time, however the distinction is you possibly can go to your cabin to drop off your belongings after which go away.
Not having to take your carry-on gadgets round (and get your SeaPass card) is incredible, and it actually made a distinction in my enjoyment of embarkation day.
Talking of my stateroom, I ended up in a Concierge Class balcony room.
I did a last-minute improve a couple of days earlier than the cruise to maneuver up from an inside cabin to a balcony for less than $292.
Concierge Class sounds higher than it truly is, and the one purpose I picked it over a typical balcony is it was oddly cheaper.
For a brief weekend cruise, I would not prioritize a cabin improve essentially, however given a budget value, I made a decision to drag the set off on it.
What it is like to go to CocoCay
That is the primary yr Superstar has been in a position to ship a few of its ships to Good Day at CocoCay, and I used to be curious to see the way it in contrast.
Our ship was docked alongside Attract of the Seas, and as a Royal Caribbean fan, it felt good to step off the gangway and again onto a Royal Caribbean space. It wasn’t that I disliked my Superstar expertise, simply that it felt acquainted once more being on the island.
Contemplating how extremely rated Royal Caribbean’s non-public island has been amongst passengers, it is no shock Superstar wished to get in on the enjoyable.
On the island, there’s a mixture of crew members working from each ships. The Superstar crew members often have a “X’ pin on their shirt to suggest which firm they work for, however that is in regards to the extent of the variations.
The Superstar drink package deal and web packages work on the island, identical to Royal Caribbean’s choices.
We spent our day at Oasis Lagoon having fun with the music, refreshing water, and swim-up bar. It has been my go-to spot on the island because the Good Day makeover.
Tame nightlife
Sadly the most important disadvantage to Superstar I skilled final yr remained on Reflection: lack of nighttime leisure.
There are occasions held at night time, however it pales compared to what’s supplied on any Royal Caribbean ship.
After 10pm, the selection of actions dwindles to a handful of decisions. On the second night time, there have been precisely 5 occasions whole to select from within the Superstar app.
I missed having the selection of Schooner Bar, Pub, motion pictures on the pool, karaoke, and the opposite typical nighttime actions on Royal Caribbean.
The on line casino turned our go-to spot, but when luck is not in your aspect, then it is arduous to remain there for lengthy.
A technique to have a look at it was that we received to mattress sooner than on Royal Caribbean, so we received extra sleep and felt much less exhausted every morning.
My favourite type of on line casino
There’s loads of professionals and cons to cruising with Superstar, however I completely love their on line casino is non-smoking.
Whereas Royal Caribbean’s casinos are technically break up between smoking and non-smoking, it actually means one aspect could be very smoky as a substitute of the much less smoky different aspect.
As a non-smoker, it is a welcome change to have a smokeless on line casino. It made me wish to spend extra time there.
It does not seem Royal Caribbean has any plans to undertake a non-smoking on line casino, however I would like to see that change come over to Royal quickly.
I wish to strive Superstar exterior of the Caribbean
We had a enjoyable weekend on Superstar, however a part of me thinks I really want to expertise them in Europe, Alaska, or some place else to reap the benefits of the expertise.
I feel among the benefits Superstar brings to the desk are finest loved on different itineraries. Or a minimum of, that is my working principle.
Specifically crusing on a ship with much less passengers, infinite balconies (on the Edge Class ships), and much more assorted itineraries than on Royal Caribbean.
Generally, I feel I will proceed to cruise on Superstar right here and there from an opportunistic standpoint. Nevertheless, with the standing matching now, I can not assist however really feel extra compelled to reap the benefits of it.