MGM Rewards offers a compelling cruise value proposition: two comp cruises per status year for MGM Platinum members… but the booking process may not be straightforward. Here are some tips for booking both the MGM Gold and MGM Platinum cruises.
In 2025, MGM Rewards added an Oceanview comp cruise for members who earn Gold status. For years, MGM Rewards offered a comp balcony cruise with Platinum status, but now the new benefit offers two separate cruises. In my experience, some Celebrity and Royal Caribbean phone agents were unaware of the additional cruise and incorrectly claimed that only one benefit is available per year.
The MGM cruises offer a significant discount compared to many cruises booked through other means. For example, a recent MyVegas cruise offer charged about $500 in taxes and fees for an interior room, while the MGM Platinum benefit offers a balcony cruise with onboard freeplay, credit, and more route options.
Separate, Not Combined
Comp cruises earned from status levels are separate offers, not one combined or enhanced benefit. Allegedly, phone reps need an offer code to book both the Platinum and Gold cruises, and unfortunately, MGM Rewards wasn’t clear about the offer codes. In 2025, I only received a platinum offer code and had to dig to find a Gold offer code.
I asked TravelZork Facebook community members about the Gold cruise, and had some friends who had only achieved MGM Rewards Gold status in 2025, and got the Gold offer code from them. In 2026, there will likely be a distinct offer code for both Gold and Platinum statuses. You can also reach out to MGM Rewards by phone or email for more details.
MGM-booked cruises through Royal Caribbean or Celebrity are appealing because they come with onboard freeplay, onboard credit, and casino play that contribute to MGM Rewards tier and comps earning. Onboard casino play should also contribute to future cruise offers, as evidenced by the regular postal mail and e-mail I receive inviting me back following my several thousand per-cruise coin-in on Video Poker.
Hold On to Your Chips
You don’t need to gamble or spend in land-based casinos to earn MGM statuses that offer comp cruises because spending on MGM credit cards, even outside MGM properties, contributes to tier status. Having both credit cards and maxing their limits through Blackjack play on BetMGM in PA and NJ, funded directly with the credit cards, I’ve almost requalified for Platinum status in March of 2026.
Bonused spend, particularly 2x tier and comps or freeplay at grocery stores, can also reach MGM status levels, but with the option of BetMGM, I can focus my credit card spend online rather than incurring the opportunity cost of higher multipliers with other credit cards. For those without regular BetMGM access, other credit card spend can lead to Gold and even Platinum status.
For a deeper dive into booking both MGM Rewards cruises, listen to a recent episode of my Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast.
As always, gamble intelligently and use credit responsibly.
Looking beyond MGM Rewards comp cruises?
TravelZork Travel helps clients book casino cruises, premium cruise vacations, and more customized sailings when you want something different from the usual. We specialize in elevated cruise experiences, including multi-generational travel, family cruises, and small group trips, with an emphasis on strong value, thoughtful planning, and real support throughout the process.
