Latest news with #Carnival
Fast Company
13 hours ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Carnival is overhauling its cruise rewards program: Changes, launch dates to know
Rewards programs are getting revamps all over the place. Earlier this week, JPMorgan Chase announced major changes to its Chase Sapphire Reserve rewards credit card. That announcement came shortly after competitor American Express teased an upcoming overhaul to its premium Platinum rewards card. And now, one of America's most popular cruise lines, Carnival, has announced it will radically shake up its rewards program come 2026. Here's what you need to know about Carnival Cruise Line's upcoming overhauled rewards program. Bye-bye, Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Carnival Cruise Line's current rewards and loyalty program is called the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program. The program has been in existence since 2012 and is beloved by many Carnival Cruise enthusiasts. One of the reasons frequent Carnival customers love the VIFP program is its simplicity. You earn points based on how many days you cruise—that's it. There's no complicated earning structure or confusing rules. The total number of these points based on the total number of days cruised slots you into one of five groups: blue, red, gold, platinum, or diamond. The higher the group (diamond is tops), the more perks you get, including everything from free bottles of water to priority reservations at Specialty restaurants. However, Carnival has now announced that the VIFP program is being discontinued. Its last day of operation will be May 31, 2026. Hello, Carnival Rewards Carnival's VIFP program is being replaced with a new rewards and loyalty program called Carnival Rewards. The program will officially launch on June 1, 2026, and it represents a radical departure from the current VIFP program. One of the biggest changes to the new Carnival Rewards program is that points are no longer earned based on how many days you cruise with the line. Instead, points will be earned based on what you spend with Carnival Cruise Line. This spend includes the cost of tickets, drinks you buy on board, and even what you spend in the ship's casino. Points can also be earned through the use of a new Carnival Rewards Mastercard, which will be debuting. However, you won't just be collecting points to move up the group rankings anymore. The new Carnival Rewards program will use a dual-earning structure. The dollars you spend will earn you both stars and Carnival Rewards points. The stars will dictate which group you are slotted into—there are only four this time: red, gold, platinum, or diamond (blue is going away). The more prominent the group, the better perks you get, such as embarkation and debarkation priority, if you are a member of the diamond group. The Carnival Rewards points you earn can be redeemed for anything from cruise fares, transfers, onboard purchases, and more. Why is Carnival revamping its rewards program? The business answer to this question is that Carnival Cruise Line likely believes that the revamped rewards program will lead to a better bottom line. As points and group tiers are now dependent on what you spend, customers who are keen to collect Canrival Rewards points may be more willing to spend more onboard to keep earning those points. But Carnival would likely argue that the revamped program is now a little fairer than its current VIFP program. Under the VIFP, Carnival customers would receive the same amount of rewards regardless of whether they paid for the lowest or highest class of cabin on the ship. That's because the rewards were simply linked to the number of days cruised. The new program will mean that customers who book higher-priced cabins will now earn a higher number of reward points. But there is some bad news for customers under the new Carnival Rewards program, no matter how much they spend: the new status tiers they earn—red, gold, platinum, and diamond—don't last forever. Under the VIFP program, when a customer earned a status, they could only move up, not down. That means someone who earned diamond status would keep it for life. But the new status program will see customers lose their status after two years. And the points earned to achieve a status must be earned within a two-year period; otherwise, they do not count towards a status upgrade. In a FAQ about the new rewards program, Carnival says that this move is consistent with loyalty programs across the travel industry. The company says it recognizes 'that change can be difficult, but the current program based on cruise frequency makes it difficult to properly recognize our loyal guests.' Carnival stock price still well below pre-pandemic levels The owner of Carnival Cruise Lines, Carnival Corporation & plc, filed its most recent earnings report on March 21 for the first quarter of 2025. The company announced that its Q1 revenues increased by over $400 million from the same quarter a year earlier, reaching $5.8 billion. At the time, Carnival Corporation & plc's CEO, Josh Weinstein, boasted that the quarter 'was truly characterized by outperformance.' That growth is something investors are undoubtedly happy to see, especially after Carnival, like all other cruise lines, took a major hit in 2020 following the outbreak of the pandemic. In January 2020, Carnival Corporation & plc's stock (NYSE: CCL) was trading at above $50 per share. But by April, it had fallen to below $8 per share. As recently as October of 2022, CCL stock was trading below $7 per share. However, the stock's fortunes have improved as the cruise industry has slowly recovered from the pandemic's impact, receding from people's memories. As of yesterday's close, CCL stock is trading at above $23 per share. However, that is still down more than 5% since the beginning of the year. We won't know whether Carnival's new rewards program will have a material impact on the company's business, and thus its stock price, until it launches next year.
Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I was on vile "Poop Cruise" where sewage ran into cabins - the smell haunts me'
The infamous 'Poop Cruise' - where passengers were left stranded without any power and had to poo in bags - made global headlines back in 2013 as the chaos unfolded Netflix documentary series Trainwreck explores some of the most bizarre, jaw-dropping, and at times downright revolting events in recent history. One particularly unforgettable episode focuses on a maritime disaster that made global headlines: the infamous 'Poop Cruise'. In February 2013, the Carnival Triumph cruise ship set sail from Galveston, Texas, with more than 4,000 passengers and crew onboard, bound for a leisurely four-day Caribbean getaway. But the holiday quickly unravelled into chaos. On the third day, a fire erupted in the aft engine room. Though the blaze was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported, it critically damaged the ship's main power systems. The Triumph was left drifting in the Gulf of Mexico without propulsion, or basic functioning utilities. With the power out, vital systems failed, including air conditioning, refrigeration, and most importantly, the sewage and sanitation infrastructure. What followed was a nightmare. Toilets stopped working. Raw sewage began leaking into hallways and cabins, filling the ship with a stench described by passengers as unbearable. Many were forced to relieve themselves in plastic bags and red biohazard bags, as bathrooms became unusable. With the air conditioning offline, temperatures inside soared, making the interior suffocatingly hot and humid. Dozens of passengers chose to sleep on open decks just to escape the heat and foul odours. Food quickly became scarce. Without refrigeration, the crew did what they could, serving cold sandwiches and sparse meals often consisting of little more than bread and vegetables. Water was rationed, and tensions steadily rose. Although communication with the outside world was limited, word of the ship's grim conditions quickly spread. Images of the stranded vessel and its desperate passengers went viral, drawing international media attention. After five gruelling days, the Carnival Triumph was finally towed to port in Mobile, Alabama, bringing an end to the ordeal, but not to the controversy. In the aftermath, investigations uncovered troubling details. CNN obtained documents showing only four of the ship's six generators were functioning before departure, and that Carnival had prior knowledge of both fire hazards and fuel line issues. Records revealed nine separate fuel line incidents in just two years, raising serious questions about the company's maintenance practices and safety protocols. As lawsuits mounted and scrutiny of the cruise industry intensified, Carnival found itself in damage control. Then-President and CEO Gerry Cahill issued a public apology, saying: 'I want to again apologise to our guests and their friends and families. The situation on board was difficult and we are very sorry for what has happened. We pride ourselves on providing our guests with a great vacation experience and clearly we failed in this case.' Kimberly Townsend, a 54-year-old mother of two and grandmother of three, was among 31 passengers who sued Carnival, holding the company accountable for what they describe as a disastrous voyage. In her testimony, Townsend gave a vivid and emotional account of the harrowing days spent aboard the disabled ship stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. She described terrified passengers crowding the decks, worried for their safety, while foul-smelling toilets overflowed into hallways. There was no power, near-total darkness, long waits for limited water, and a severe lack of food. Townsend recalled finally managing to reach her mother by phone once the crippled ship was towed into Mobile, Alabama - arriving days late from what was meant to be a dream vacation. She told the court she had begged her mother to come get her right away. As she recounted the moment, her voice faltered, she looked down, and began to sob in the witness chair. She was one of several passengers from the Carnival Triumph who took the stand, some breaking down in tears, as they spoke about the ordeal and the emotional toll that still lingers a year later. 'I did not get physically injured. I got mentally injured,' testified Jean Cripps, a 74-year-old grandmother who suffers from Parkinson's disease. She went on the cruise with her husband, Alton, who has diabetes and a hurt leg that forced him to retire disabled. The elderly couple was on the cruise as a present from their son, David, and grandson, Easton, who went with them. 'It never ends, the whole experience never ends,' testified Cripps. 'It's over and over again. We had two good days,' she said, referring to the first days of the cruise. 'But that's not what I think about. I think about the smell, the stench and the bad things. All the memories come flooding back, and I can't stop them.' Among the worst memories, Cripps testified, was the fear that the ship, which listed severely after the fire, would actually turn over and sink. 'It was a horrible experience,' testified Michelle Key, 48, who went on the cruise with her mother, Fleda Key, 68. 'I walked through water and faeces and urine, no telling what else,' she testified. 'We would slip and slide through greasy, gross, slippery muck,' she said, adding 'it was very difficult' for her mother. Fleda Key described having terrible diarrhoea on numerous occasions and having difficulty finding any toilets that were not overflowing. 'There was lots of urine and faeces all the way up to the rim of every one,' she said, explaining she 'choked away the smell'. Like many of the witnesses, she testified that she lived for days in total fear that they might not finish the voyage alive. 'I was fearful, downright afraid and scared,' said Fleda.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
‘LA Carnival on the Shaw' Honors Juneteenth and Celebrates Caribbean American Heritage Month with Third Annual Event
- Los Angeles Carnival Brings the Caribbean Back to Crenshaw with Masquerade, Music and Merriment - LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 18, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — 'LA Carnival on the Shaw' returns to the community for the third year, honoring Junteenth and celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month. Produced by Marikel International, the music, masquerades and multicultural merriment will parade along Crenshaw Blvd., Sunday, June 29th, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The initiative was launched in 2023 as a bold catalyst to engage, activate and revitalize businesses on Crenshaw, affectionately known as 'The Shaw.' Select merchants along the parade route will add their special flavor to the festivities by hosting 'Carnival Vibe Spots' in front of, or inside their establishments. The first Vibe Spot will be an 'Assembly Lime/Fiesta' from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Obama Blvd. as revelers, masqueraders, drummers, and DJ's set the carnival tone. At 6:00 p.m. the parade will extend parallel to the Metro K-Line into Liberation Plaza in Leimert Park. 'LA Carnival on the Shaw' is free and open to all. The roster of exciting carnival masqueraders includes Danza Azteca, LA Success Steel Orchestra, Peace Players Youth Drummers, the spectacular group Ajudisgua, Ko's Korean Drum and Dance, Samba N' Motion, and the iconic 100 Drums, featuring international master drummers from the Leimert Park drum community! This vivacious gathering of costumed revelers, entrepreneurs, artisans and musicians supported by 'Carnival Vibe Spots' will spread peace, love and positive vibes along Crenshaw. Then as daylight simmers to night, 100 beautiful flags will infuse the evening with magic, rhythm and a timely call for peace and community healing. The procession culminates with a grand drum circle in Liberation Plaza, at 4349 Crenshaw Blvd, Leimert Park. And to keep the party going, head to 'The District' at 3888 Crenshaw Blvd., for the Official Vibe Spot Extravaganza that closes out LA Carnival on the Shaw, 2025. 'It's so important to bring our communities together during these challenging times. Los Angeles Carnival has always been diverse, and this year is no different. Cultural inclusivity is what brings joy and healing and makes our city so great!' expresses Los Angeles Carnival founder, Marie Kellier. 'This year's gathering of participants will reflect a cross-section of traditions in costume, art, dance and music for the entire family to enjoy. Los Angeles is an incubator for international creativity and Los Angeles Carnival is a proud reflection of that legacy. LA Carnival on the Shaw is being designed to evolve into a monthly arts, entertainment and business experience, preparing our Crenshaw community for the LA28 Games and Cultural Olympiad.' Since 1998 Los Angeles Carnival has brought together a multigenerational mix of Caribbean immigrants and friends and pioneered the longest running Caribbean carnival in Southern California. Rooted in festival and carnival arts of the region, the event celebrates Caribbean heritage and integrates the hopes, values and creativity of Los Angeles itself. Its mission is to bring innovation to Caribbean cultural practices; and to share the experience with a diverse cross-section of communities in Los Angeles and beyond. For sponsorship, special events and advertising contact the Los Angeles Carnival corporate offices at (213) 656-3663 or (213) 761-4475, or email [email protected]. For more details and information about attending LA Carnival on the Shaw, visit or email Los Angeles Carnival at [email protected]. MEDIA CONTACT: Makeda Smith / [email protected] / 323-380-8819 NEWS SOURCE: Marikel International Keywords: Entertainment, Los Angeles Carnival, LA Carnival on the Shaw, Juneteenth, Caribbean American Heritage Month, Marikel International, LOS ANGELES, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Marikel International) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P127068 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic UK festival attracting millions each year ‘faces axe without more cash as it makes urgent appeal for help'
DANCE OFF Iconic UK festival attracting millions each year 'faces axe without more cash as it makes urgent appeal for help' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE FUTURE of an iconic UK festival could be in jeopardy unless the government steps in organisers have warned. Millions travel to the Notting Hill Carnival in London each year to join in with the iconic, colourful celebrations. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The festival has come under fire amid concerns for public safety Credit: Alamy In a leaked letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy festival chiefs asked for an urgent handout to keep the world famous event going, the BBC reports. It comes after a review of the festival identified "critical public safety concerns" that needed more money to address. Notting Hill Carnival attracts a whopping 2 million revellers a year but has come under fire recently after public safety concerns were raised. Carnival Chair Ian Comfort said in the letter: "The April 2025 London Assembly report, external highlights the increasing strain placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events. "Limited resourcing has restricted the police service's ability to respond to growing operational pressures." He went on to say that without immediate additional funding "risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival." The full findings of the safety review have not been made public yet. Held annually over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year's Carnival saw a woman tragically stabbed to death amid chaotic scenes. Cher Maximen, who was 32, was with friends and her daughter just off the Carnival parade route on Sunday, 25 August 2024 when she was caught up in a violent fight involving multiple men. Maximen was stabbed and tragically died in hospital six days later. The shocking incident sparked widespread concern around the safety of Notting Hill Carnival. Notting Hill revellers hit streets in fabulous feathers as party gets underway The Met Police's Assistant Commissioner has raised concerns over a "mass casualty event" due to density of the massive crowds attracted by the festivities. Without funding to help make the event safer chief's have warned it may not be able to go ahead. In the leaked letter carnival chair Ian Comfort asked for further funding to support increased stewarding and crowd management. Mr Comfort has reportedly not asked for a specific amount of funding. If his request is granted it will mark the first time direct government funding has been provided to the event. During last year's carnival around 7,000 police officers were on duty to help keep festival goers safe.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Iconic UK festival attracting millions each year ‘faces axe without more cash as it makes urgent appeal for help'
THE FUTURE of an iconic UK festival could be in jeopardy unless the government steps in organisers have warned. Millions travel to the Notting Hill Carnival in London each year to join in with the iconic, colourful celebrations. 1 The festival has come under fire amid concerns for public safety Credit: Alamy In a leaked letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy festival chiefs asked for an urgent handout to keep the world famous event going, the BBC reports. It comes after a review of the festival identified "critical public safety concerns" that needed more money to address. Notting Hill Carnival attracts a whopping 2 million revellers a year but has come under fire recently after public safety concerns were raised. Carnival Chair Ian Comfort said in the letter: "The April 2025 London Assembly report, external highlights the increasing strain placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events. Read more in News "Limited resourcing has restricted the police service's ability to respond to growing operational pressures." He went on to say that without immediate additional funding "risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival." The full findings of the safety review have not been made public yet. Held annually over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year's Carnival saw a woman tragically stabbed to death amid chaotic scenes. Most read in The Sun Cher Maximen, who was 32, was with friends and her daughter just off the Carnival parade route on Sunday, 25 August 2024 when she was caught up in a violent fight involving multiple men. Maximen was stabbed and tragically died in hospital six days later. The shocking incident sparked widespread concern around the safety of Notting Hill Carnival. Notting Hill revellers hit streets in fabulous feathers as party gets underway The Met Police's Assistant Commissioner has raised concerns over a "mass casualty event" due to density of the massive crowds attracted by the festivities. Without funding to help make the event safer chief's have warned it may not be able to go ahead. In the leaked letter carnival chair Ian Comfort asked for further funding to support increased stewarding and crowd management. Mr Comfort has reportedly not asked for a specific amount of funding. If his request is granted it will mark the first time direct government funding has been provided to the event. During last year's carnival around 7,000 police officers were on duty to help keep festival goers safe.
