MSC Group’s new ultra-luxury cruise line, Explora Journeys, is offering members of rival cruise lines and hotel loyalty programs the opportunity to use their status to earn a credit on its ships.
The ‘Exclusive Welcome Match’ initiative, which rolled out in May, is available to new guests booking their first voyage. The value of the Journey Experience Credit (JEC) varies based on the brand of origin and loyalty program tier of a pre-approved list of cruise lines and hotel companies.
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The list of cruise loyalty plan operators recognised include: Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Crystal Cruises, Ponant, SeaDream Yacht Club, Scenic, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Azamara, Oceania Cruises, Cunard, Viking, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Voyagers Club, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and AIDA.
Among the hotel loyalty programs are those operated by Accor, Marriott, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and IHG.
The JEC value varies from €50 to €200, depending on the tier status. Upon proof of status, review and approval, the first and second guests of a booked suite aboard EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II are entitled to the JEC, on a one-off basis.
While combinable with any other promotion offered by Explora Journeys, guests with numerous loyalty program memberships will be need to determine which program offers the best outcome for the match, as the JEC is only available once on a booking.
The offer is available until 31 December 2023, but may be withdrawn at any time.
Explora Journeys also notes that it will launch its own loyalty program within the next few years.
Additionally, Explora Journeys has reduced its deposit requirement from the standard 25% to just 10%, regardless of chosen journey and suite category.