Carnival will overhaul cruise loyalty program
Carnival Cruise Line is making a big change to its loyalty program. In June 2026, the current VIFP Club will be replaced by Carnival Rewards. The new program will work differently from the old one. Instead of counting how many cruises you've taken, it will look at how much money you spend. You'll earn "stars" and points for your purchases. These stars will help you reach different status levels: Red, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The points you earn can be used for things on the ship or for future cruises. If you're already a VIFP member, don't worry. This change means that how much you spend, not just how often you cruise, will determine your rewards and benefits.
Loyalty status on Carnival Cruise Line: It's soon to be points that matter – not just how many cruises you've been on.
Next year, Carnival will revamp its loyalty program, giving weight to status based more on what you spend than how many days you have sailed – and offering guests new ways to earn and redeem perks. Carnival Rewards replaces the brand's Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club, which has been around since 2012.
With demand on the rise — and the cruise line’s fleet and ships expanding — the company has outgrown the existing program, Carnival President Christine Duffy said.
“We, over the years, have so many guests that have achieved status with Carnival simply by cruising so much,” she told USA TODAY ahead of Wednesday's announcement. “But as we go and add ships and add bigger ships and have five more dramatic new ships coming, we realize that it’s becoming very challenging for us to really give so many people the benefits of what it means to get the benefits of simply, this is the way the existing program is structured,” he added.
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Membership of Diamond VIFP, the highest category, has more than trippled in the five years between 2021 and 2024. Platinum members, the second-highest leveled, more than doubled.
“I think as we thought about the new program, it gave us the vehicle to grow to something that gives our guests a lot more flexibility in how they earn rewards and can use them and how they continue to earn status,” Duffy said.
Here’s what travelers need to know. When are the Carnival Rewards going to be in effect?
The new program is scheduled to kick off June 1, 2026. The Guests will be asked to opt-in and their VIFP member number (which will be referred to as their Carnival Guest Number) will be passed over.
Program members will retain their loyalty status, except for Blue members whose status will be integrated with the program’s Red tier. For Diamond members — the new name for the program’s highest level — that status will be good for six years (until May 31, 2032) and two years for all other levels.
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How will the program work?
The status-qualifying stars accumulate from spending money on:
Their cruise fare
Before or during your cruise
Gratuities
Transfers
Carnival Vacation Protection
Guests will be able to earn points in the casino that go toward their star balance. Unlike VIFP levels there is no lifetime component and all Carnival Rewards status earned over a two-year period will be good for the next 2 years (with the exception of the six-year guarantee mileage for existing VIFP Diamond members at launch of the program).
Additionally, guests earn Carnival Rewards points in the same fashion as they earn stars. “Points can be used toward a variety of perks, including on board experiences, relaxing spa treatments, specialty dining and more,” the cruise line said in a news release.
Carnival Mastercard cardholders, who have access to shopping redemptions and can earn FunPoints through purchases, will automatically convert to a Carnival Rewards Mastercard. Their FunPoints will be merged into their Carnival Rewards account with more information to be shared.
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The new program, Duffy said, is “much more like the type of loyalty programs that consumers have become very familiar with in the hotel industry and in the airline industry. And so we believe that that’s they way people are going to think about it and even though it’s a first, we believe that's something that people can resonate with. How much can I make with Carnival Rewards?
Guests will earn three status-qualifying stars and three Carnival Rewards points for every dollar spent on qualified purchases. Members can also redeem one star and one rewards point for every casino point remaining at the end of their cruise.
The program will also offer:
Red when you sign up: Perks are an e-newsletter and a free bottle of water
Gold at 10,000 stars: All Red benefits, plus Gold member program assistance and one free drink for every 5+ day cruise
Platinum at 50,000 stars: Get most Gold perks as well as two free drinks, priority reservations for specialty dining, free laundry service, priority embarkation and debarkation and more
Diamond with 100,000 stars: Benefits include all lower-tier perks plus retail concierge services, an invitation to a special event with the captain and more
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For instance, a traveler who embarks on a cruise annually, participates in two shore excursions, and consumes three drinks daily might accumulate about 5,655 reward points during a standard seven-day cruise. This same traveler could potentially amass around 11,310 stars over the course of two years.
Travelers can refer to Carnival's website to estimate their earnings from a cruise.
Duffy emphasized that the cruise line will maintain its guest loyalty acknowledgments beyond the points and stars framework, like when a guest completes their 25th cruise, for example.
“We want our guests to know that we deeply appreciate their loyalty,” Duffy stated.
Cruise lines are offering a great deal right now. Some companies like Virgin and MSC will match your loyalty status from Carnival cruise lines. This means you can keep your perks even if you switch to a new cruise company. It's a good idea to look into this soon, especially if you're a Carnival cruiser. After June 2026, Carnival will change its loyalty program. So, if you want to keep your benefits, you should think about getting your loyalty matched before then. If you need help figuring this out, don't worry. You can contact us, and we'll be happy to guide you through the process. It's a chance to explore new cruise lines while keeping the rewards you've earned over the years.