Royal Intel Insight

Best Place To Start in May 2026

The 9,000-point tier is the strongest tier in release 2605A. It combines the best top-end score with the most useful premium mix, and it does so without the free play collapse seen at 25,000 and 40,000 points. Average free play holds at $750, unchanged from the prior release, which is the clearest sign of stability in the certificate.

What This Means

The standout sailing is Serenade of the Seas on a 7-night Alaska Inside Passage cruise from Vancouver on 2026-07-26. That itinerary is paired with a balcony and cruise fare for 2 guests, which is a better cabin structure than the lower tiers can usually reach. The same tier also surfaces Spectrum of the Seas in Asia with junior suite inventory, so the value is not limited to one region.

What makes 9,000 points stand out is the balance. Lower tiers have more modest free play and less cabin depth. Higher tiers offer premium itineraries, but the average free play falls sharply. At 9,000, the certificate still has enough scale to produce strong Alaska and Asia options, while the dollar value remains intact.

For casino cruisers, this is the tier that looks most complete: premium enough to matter, but not so high that the free play gets washed out.

Tier

9000

1520 sailings at this level

Average Rank

134.7

Based on the best sailings at this tier.

Best Cruise

Serenade Of The Seas

7 Night Alaska Inside Passage Cruise

Balcony | Cruise fare for 2 guests

Why This Tier Stands Out

This is not just a count of how many sailings land in a tier. It also gives more credit to better ships, stronger destinations, longer trips, better room types, and rarer combinations.

A lower tier can still hide a gem, but the stronger tier is where the best options tend to cluster more often.

Next Step

Open the specific tier page to see the best options at that level.

Then return to the month report to compare it with the opening points for Europe, Alaska, and longer sailings.

Tier Snapshot

Average Nights

5.6

Top Region

Caribbean

Most Common Room

Junior Suite