The world of cruise loyalty is getting a jolt at the moment, as Carnival Cruise Line, the world’s largest line, has introduced an overhaul of its loyalty program. The rebranded program — dubbed Carnival Rewards — will take impact on June 1, 2026.
This isn’t only a new title. As an alternative, Carnival is totally rethinking its strategy to rewarding clients, shifting nearer to an airline frequent flyer mannequin — full with redeemable factors together with common qualification necessities to earn (and retain) elite standing.
There’s rather a lot to this announcement, so this is what it’s good to know.
Earn and redeem factors with Carnival Rewards
Below the road’s present loyalty program — Carnival VIFP Membership — there is a single metric for purchasers. You earn 1 level for every night time you sail. The extra factors you earn, the upper standing you unlock.
Carnival Rewards will change that, as you may earn factors primarily based on how a lot you spend, with 3 factors for each greenback spent on eligible Carnival purchases. This contains your cruise fare, onboard drinks, specialty eating, spa remedies and shore excursions.
It’s also possible to earn 1 level for each on line casino level remaining on the finish of your cruise — so frequent players will quickly be rewarded for his or her play.
Lastly, you may additionally earn Carnival Rewards factors for spending on the Carnival® World Mastercard®, issued by Barclays. This foreign money will exchange the FunPoints at present earned on the cardboard, and present cardmembers will see their present balances transitioned to the brand new program when it launches.
The data for the Carnival Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
As soon as earned, you’ll redeem Carnival Rewards factors for just about something associated to a Carnival cruise — whether or not it is reserving a crusing, reserving excursions or packages previous to embarkation, or protecting onboard purchases. There’s additionally no minimal to redeem.
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Observe that this program solely applies to Carnival itineraries, to not any of the opposite manufacturers beneath the Carnival umbrella.
Associated: 43 Carnival Cruise Line ideas, methods and hacks to reinforce your trip at sea
Incomes stars for standing with Carnival Rewards
Whereas factors are now not the metric to qualify for standing, Carnival remains to be rewarding its most loyal clients within the new program. Nevertheless, in a significant shift for the business, qualification is now not a lifetime prospect. As an alternative, you may earn Standing Qualifying Stars on the similar fee you earn factors: 3 stars for each greenback spent on eligible Carnival purchases and 1 star for each on line casino level left on the finish of your cruise. Carnival can also be shifting to simply 4 tiers of standing (down from 5 within the VIFP program).
This is the way you qualify for every tier:
- Pink: Upon enroll
- Gold: 10,000 stars
- Platinum: 50,000 stars
- Diamond: 100,000 stars
You’ve got a two-year interval throughout which to earn sufficient stars to qualify. Then, when you hit an relevant standing, it is legitimate for the remainder of that interval plus the next two years.
This is how that breaks down with Carnival spending (excluding on line casino exercise):
- Gold: $3,333.33 over two years
- Platinum: $16,666,67 over two years
- Diamond: $33,333.33
As you’ll be able to see, incomes (or sustaining) standing within the new Carnival Rewards program requires numerous spending, however fortunately, the road is providing present standing holders a transition interval.
Present VIFP standing holders
The standing you maintain within the VIFP Membership on Might 31, 2026 might be your beginning stage in Carnival Rewards for 2 years — that means Gold members as of that date will preserve their Gold standing by means of no less than Might 31, 2028 (and similar for Platinum members).
Nevertheless, Diamond VIFP cruisers will preserve that standing for six years, by means of Might 31, 2032. These people have already spent no less than 200 nights on Carnival ships, so it is affordable to supply them an extended runway to regulate to the brand new program. Nonetheless, these members might want to hit the two-year qualification requirement previous to the top of this six-year transition interval to maintain their advantages past that date.
Along with these main modifications in qualification, Carnival can also be adjusting a number of the perks for Platinum and Diamond members.
As of June 1, 2026, the next advantages from the present VIFP program will now not be obtainable:
- VIFP Membership social gathering on 5+ day cruises (now two complimentary drinks)
- $5 value of complimentary arcade credit (visitors beneath 18 solely)
- Welcome deal with on 5+ day cruises (upon request)
- VIFP Membership emblem present on each crusing
As well as, Diamond members will now not earn the next one-time perks after qualification:
- One-time complimentary meal for 2 at a specialty eating restaurant of alternative
- One-time free cabin improve, or third, fourth and fifth visitors sail free
- VIFP Membership baggage tag set
You’ll be able to view full particulars of the modifications to VIFP Membership standing on this web page.
Given all of those modifications, should you’re closing in on the 200 nights required to earn Diamond standing, it might be a good suggestion to push for that threshold by Might 31, 2026, since you may lock in these perks for the primary six years of the brand new Carnival Rewards program.
Backside line
Carnival Cruise Line has introduced some of the important overhauls to a cruise loyalty program in years. It’s transferring away from lifetime qualification and introducing a brand new foreign money that may be earned and redeemed for just about any Carnival buy. This wildly totally different strategy is certain to generate numerous buzz from present members as the road appears to be like forward to thrilling developments within the years to come back.
