Carnival will overhaul cruise loyalty program: Here's how much you'll earn
Carnival will overhaul cruise loyalty program: Here's how much you'll earn
Show Caption
Hide Caption
How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise
Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips.
Problem Solved
Carnival Cruise Line is replacing its VIFP Club loyalty program with Carnival Rewards in June 2026.
The new program shifts from a cruise-count based system to one based on spending, awarding "stars" and redeemable points for purchases.
Guests will earn stars to achieve status levels (Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) and points for onboard amenities and future cruises.
Existing VIFP members will transition to comparable levels in the new program, retaining their status for a set period.
For loyalty status on Carnival Cruise Line, it'll soon be points that count – not just how many cruises you've been on.
Carnival will overhaul its loyalty program next year, measuring status largely based on purchases rather than days sailed – and giving guests new ways to earn and redeem benefits. Carnival Rewards will take the place of the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club, which has been in place since 2012.
As demand has grown – along with the cruise line's ships and fleet – the company has outgrown the current program, according to Carnival President Christine Duffy.
'We, over time, have so many guests that have earned status with Carnival based on how frequently they cruise,' she told USA TODAY ahead of Wednesday's announcement. 'But as we continue to add ships and add bigger ships and have five more ships that will be coming, we recognize that it's become very challenging to really give so many people the benefits that come with the way the existing program was structured which is pretty much, if you're at this status, this is what you get.'
The number of Diamond VIFP members – its highest level – more than tripled between 2021 and 2024. Platinum members, the second-highest, more than doubled.
'I think the new program allows us to evolve to something that gives our guests a lot more flexibility in how they earn rewards that they can use, and also how they continue to earn status,' said Duffy. Here's what travelers should know.
When will Carnival Rewards take effect?
The new program will launch on June 1, 2026. Guests will be asked to opt in and their VIFP member number – which will be called their Carnival Guest Number – will be transferred.
Members of the program will keep their existing loyalty status, with the exception of Blue members whose level will be combined with the program's Red tier. That status will remain valid for six years for Diamond members – through May 31, 2032 – and two years for all other levels.
How will the program work?
Guests will earn status-qualifying stars by spending money on the following:
Their cruise fare
Pre-cruise and onboard purchases
Gratuities
Transfers
Carnival Vacation Protection
Points earned in the casino will also count towards passengers' star balance. Unlike VIFP status levels, which don't expire, Carnival Rewards status accrued in a two-year period will be good for the following two years (with the exception of the initial six-year guarantee for existing VIFP Diamond members upon the program's launch).
Separately, guests will earn Carnival Rewards points in the same ways they earn stars. 'Points can be redeemed for almost anything Carnival offers, including onboard activities, spa treatments, specialty dining, and even toward a future cruise,' the cruise line said in a news release.
Carnival Mastercard cardholders, who can already earn FunPoints through purchases, will be automatically switched to a Carnival Rewards Mastercard. Their FunPoints will be combined with their Carnival Rewards account, with additional details to come.
Duffy said the new program is 'more akin to the kind of loyalty programs that consumers have become quite accustomed to from the hotel industry and from the airline industry. And so we think while it's a first for the cruise industry, that it's something people will understand.'
You're probably already enrolled: How cruise loyalty programs make travel easier, cheaper
How much will I earn through Carnival Rewards?
Guests will get three status-qualifying stars and three Carnival Rewards points per dollar on eligible purchases. Members can also get one star and one rewards point for each casino point they have left at the end of their cruise.
The four-tier program will include:
Red upon sign up: Perks include an e-newsletter and a complimentary bottle of water
Gold at 10,000 stars: Perks include Red benefits plus Gold member support and a complimentary drink on cruises 5 days or longer
Platinum at 50,000 stars: Perks include most Gold perks plus two complimentary drinks, priority specialty dining reservations, complimentary laundry service, priority embarkation and debarkation and more
Diamond at 100,000 stars: Perks include most lower-tier perks along with retail concierge services, invitation to a special event from the captain and more
As an example, a guest who sails once per year, takes two shore excursions and orders three drinks per day could earn approximately 5,655 rewards points based on a typical seven-day cruise. The same guest could also earn an estimated 11,310 stars within a two-year period.
Travelers can visit Carnival's website to calculate how much they'll earn on their cruise.
Duffy noted the cruise line will continue to recognize guest loyalty even beyond the points and stars system, such as when a guest reaches their 25th cruise, for instance.
'So, we want people to know that we continue to very much value our loyal guests.'
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Line rep threatened over loyalty program changes
Getting upset is a natural reaction to news you don't like, but no matter how angry you are, please don't shoot the messenger. If you're one of the many loyal Carnival Cruise Line passengers who are unhappy about the overhaul of the cruise line's loyalty program, you're certainly welcome and encouraged to share constructive feedback with the cruise line. Related: Carnival Cruise Line unveils controversial new loyalty program But please don't make the mistake of thinking your anger gives you any right or reason to threaten and insult the cruise line's brand ambassador, president, or other employees. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald, who diligently responds to hundreds of passenger questions and complaints every day on his popular Facebook page, doesn't deserve the onslaught of nasty comments coming his way in the aftermath of the loyalty program announcement. Sure, he's a voice for Carnival Cruise Line, but more importantly, he's a voice for its passengers. Besides communicating important cruise line information to Carnival passengers on Facebook, Heald represents Carnival cruisers and their interests. He doesn't just respond to passenger comments, he meticulously addresses them and constantly gathers feedback to share with decision-making Carnival executives. He handles passenger comments with remarkable patience and compassion, even though disgruntled cruisers often write to him in a rude way. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Heald truly listens to and cares about Carnival passengers, and he works hard to ensure that their concerns and requests are taken seriously as the cruise line evolves its loyalty program, ships, and offerings. Even though he deals with rude comments from inevitable unsatisfied passengers every day, Heald continues to put cruisers and their interests first. After sharing details of the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program at the end of his day on June 18, he immediately went to work the next day to gather passenger feedback about the loyalty program changes. Related: Carnival Cruise Line takes on a new passenger problem As the brand ambassador began to answer questions and respond to concerns about the program with intentions to share constructive criticism with his colleagues, he was shocked by an unfortunate pattern of rude, and even threatening, comments. While many loyal passengers shared their frustration and plans to "jump ship" to sail with another cruise line, some went too far and took their anger out inappropriately. Heald didn't just ignore those comments though, he addressed them head on. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. "To the few who threatened me and threatened my family and made terrible vile remarks against the people I work with at the mothership in Miami, well, I hope you never cruise with us again," Heald wrote in a comment he posted on the June 19 edition of his daily three-minute video update for his followers. He even expressed wishes for those people to be banned from sailing on any cruise line. "Your promise to cruise with another cruise line after writing those disgusting comments is something I wish I could forward to other cruise lines to suggest that they stop you from cruising there, but sadly, I can't," Heald continued. "Thank goodness they are a very small minority." More Carnival cruise news: Carnival Cruise Line's Project ACE vs. Royal Caribbean's Discovery ClassCarnival Cruise Line raises red flag over new cruise 'hack'Carnival Cruise Line fixes massive passenger pain point The brand ambassador also stressed that he understands passengers' frustrations over the new loyalty program and will "fight the good fight" on their behalf. "I know people are frustrated and I promise, I absolutely promise, that I will do everything I can to represent you and to be your voice," Heald insisted. "And those who truly know me know that I am very sincere in that. Thank you so much, and I hope we see you all having fun with us again very soon." (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Carnival shakes up cruise loyalty; Royal Caribbean to revamp ships
Complaints are pouring in on social media after Carnival Cruise Line announced details of its completely overhauled loyalty program on June 18. Although Carnival has been talking about a planned loyalty program revamp for months, the cruise line had not yet revealed any details about the changes until now. And it appears that the structure of the new program is not sitting well with many loyal passengers. Related: Carnival Cruise Line takes on a new passenger problem The new Carnival Rewards program, which rolls out in June 2026, follows a completely different model than Carnival's current Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) loyalty program. Many Carnival cruisers who have been building their VIFP status for many years to reach Platinum or Diamond levels in the program worry that the new Carnival Rewards system won't value their long-time loyalty as well as the current program. However, Carnival says that the new loyalty program reflects a commitment to creating more meaningful recognition for its loyal passengers. The new rewards model will put the cruise line loyalty program on par with popular travel loyalty programs offered by airlines and hotels. Doug Parker shared more details on the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program, and other cruise news including Royal Caribbean's 2026 ship modernization projects, on the June 19th edition of Cruise News Today. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Transcript: This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Thursday, June 19th. Carnival Cruise Line is overhauling its loyalty program. Starting next June, the current VIFP Club will be replaced by Carnival Rewards, meaning lifetime status is ending. Passengers must now re-qualify every two years, and this will be based on spending, not the amount of cruise nights you have. This puts the company more in line with airline and hotel loyalty programs. Related: Carnival Cruise Line fixes massive passenger pain point They're also dropping the Blue tier as far as their loyalty program, and all guests will start at Red. Higher tiers like Gold, Platinum, and Diamond will require more spending to earn and keep your perks. Some benefits, like the gold pins and the complimentary dining and unlimited laundry for Diamond members, are also being scaled back during this change. There is a lot to unpack here, and it's fully detailed on I'm curious what you think about Carnival moving towards a more pay-to-play model. Let me know in the comments. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. And a follow-up to the story we brought you yesterday of Celebrity Edge breaking loose while it was docked in Juneau, Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard is now investigating the near-collision between two cruise ships after a storm broke Edge loose from its moorings. High winds pushed Celebrity Edge toward Carnival Luminosa as it was leaving port, forcing Luminosa to back up to avoid being hit. Celebrity Edge did drop the anchor just in time to avoid a crash. No injuries or damage were reported. Coast Guard officials are reviewing public video submissions and say a probe is now underway. Related: Video: Celebrity Cruises ship goes adrift in busy Alaska port And Royal Caribbean is set to overhaul three of its ships next year - Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas - as part of its ongoing modernization program. The upgrades will include new dining options, enhanced entertainment, and redesigned pool areas. Ovation will debut in Alaska, Harmony will shift from Europe to Florida, and Liberty will sail from England before heading to Galveston, Texas. All three ships will debut fully revamped. Related: Royal Caribbean, Carnival add ship enhancements cruisers will love And cruise stocks ended higher on Wednesday. Carnival Corporation: up 1%, 23.61. Royal Caribbean: up 2%, 267.78. Norwegian: up 1%, 18.39. And Viking: up 2%, 48.66. If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@ And this week's Cruise Radio Podcast: a review of Carnival Panorama, where you listen to your favorite podcasts. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Thursday. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Line's Project ACE vs. Royal Caribbean's Discovery Class
If you've been on a cruise in the past decade, you've likely noticed that the ships keep getting bigger, especially across mass-market cruise lines. Every couple of years or so the newest ship has been bigger than the last. While bigger has meant larger water parks, more restaurants, more spaces for entertainment, it raises a critical question: is this what cruisers want now? Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Some cruisers crave the allure of a floating city where the ship itself is a destination, while others are looking for a comfortable launchpad in between destinations focusing on adventures ashore rather than onboard. Two cruise industry giants - Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line - are preparing to answer that question with their next-generation ships. Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the cruise lines with the largest cruise ships in the world. Royal Caribbean holds the title for the largest cruise ship in the world: the Icon of the Seas, which can hold up to 7,600 passengers. Currently Icon of the Seas is the only one in its class so far, with the Star of the Seas to make its debut in August 2025. Legend of the Seas is next in line, set to launch in the summer of 2026. Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships and Carnival's Excel Class ships can all hold a minimum of around 5,400 passengers and up to around 6,700 guests, depending on the number of guests in each room. Related: Carnival Cruise Line warns against a hot cabin hack MSC is also in the running for the bigger-is-better competition, with it recently launching the World Class series, including the World America currently home-ported in Miami and holding up to around 6,700 guests. The next in line will be World Asia scheduled for 2026, followed by World Atlantic to debut in Port Canaveral, Florida, and set to make its appearance in the winter of 2027/2028. Two more World Class ships are on order for delivery in 2029 and 2030. They will be of similar size and capacity. Larger cruise ships tend to focus on maximum thrills and appeal to diverse demographics, whereas smaller cruise ships lean toward offering more laid-back and intimate experiences. Smaller ships have an edge of being able to visit more destinations, since some ports cannot accommodate larger vessels and their large number of passengers. Carnival Cruise Line recently announced Project ACE, which refers to the development of a brand-new class of mega ships, with the first one scheduled to debut in 2029. Carnival will continue its trend of producing mega-thrill ships with the next class. These vessels will have a passenger capacity of over 8,000, which will take the title for largest cruise ship in passenger capacity, but not in tonnage. The new ACE Class ships will offer more interconnecting rooms that can offer more options for families and groups traveling together. Related: Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line dealing with booking issues The ships will offer new dining experiences and enhanced spaces for youth, including Waterworks Ultra, which will feature an expanded water park with four new water slides and six slides total. Two of the new slides will be designed as family raft slides, allowing multiple passengers to ride together. Royal Caribbean seems to be taking a different route for its next class of ships. More on cruises: Royal Caribbean cruisers witness risky stunt at Alaska cruise portRoyal Caribbean, Carnival add ship enhancements cruisers will loveCarnival Cruise Line testing new dining option passengers want Royal Caribbean has not revealed many details about the Discovery Project, referring to its next class of ships, which will proceed, the newest Icon Class. But, Royal Caribbean's CEO's Jason Liberty and Michael Bayley have mentioned that smaller class ships have been discussed as well as the need for replacing ships that are nearing the end of their time at sea. The oldest Royal Caribbean ship is the Grandeur of the Seas, which first set sail in Dec. 1996. A smaller class of ships has the potential to expand itinerary options. The Discovery Class could offer more diverse itineraries in some popular destinations such as the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Alaska. There has been no debut date revealed for the Discovery Project's ships, but based on the time frames of previous launches, it could be 2027 or 2028. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
