Welcome to the Royal Caribbean Blog podcast, a weekly look into the world of Royal Caribbean cruising.

I'm your host Matt Hachberg, and this is episode number 261.

Regardless of your status in Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program, it's hard not to dream

about someday reaching the uppermost level of Crown and Anchor Society, the Pinnacle Club.

Being a Pinnacle member means you are among the few that have cruised on Royal Caribbean the most

and also have the opportunity to take advantage of some pretty great perks.

This week, we have on the podcast with me someone that recently became a Pinnacle Club member

and we will talk about what it takes to reach the top and what being a Pinnacle member means to him.

Here we go.

I'm never one to look very hard for an excuse to go on another Royal Caribbean cruise.

I think a lot of veteran cruisers find a certain level of satisfaction in attaining different

statuses in Crown and Anchor Society.

The notion of moving up to a new level of rewards offers recognition for our continued

loyalty to Royal Caribbean.

On top of that, each level brings a new array of offers to save time and money.

At the very top of Crown and Anchor Society lays the pinnacle club, which the cruise line

describes as you're more than a member, you're a member of the family.

At 700 points in Crown and Anchor Society, most of us can only dream of someday, maybe, just maybe, reaching Pinnacle.

But it's a title that some lucky cruisers get to realize, and this week we have one of them with us on the podcast.

I've known this week's guest for a few years, and watching his ascension to Pinnacle has been inspiring and incredible at the same time. I thought it would

be fun this week to talk with him about his climb to Pinnacle, what he did to get there,

and what it's like now that he's reached the very top. I'm talking about a fellow Floridian,

...