09/02/2026
š¢ BIG CHANGE FOR CARNIVAL CRUISERS!
*I'd love to know your thoughts and opinions of this new program. Comment below!
If you cruise Carnivalāor have been working your way up through their loyalty levelsāthis is one you'll want to know about.
As of September 1, Carnival has officially replaced its VIFP Club with the new Carnival Rewards program.
And this is a pretty significant change.
Previously, Carnival loyalty status was primarily based on the number of days you sailed. Under the new program, your status will be based largely on how much you spend with Carnival.
Here's the simplified version:
ā POINTS = rewards you can spend ā STARS = what determines your loyalty status
Members earn 3 Points AND 3 Status Qualifying Stars for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including things such as cruise fare, gratuities, shore excursions, specialty dining and other eligible purchases.
Points can then be redeemed toward things like future Carnival cruises, shore excursions, specialty dining, spa treatments and other eligible Carnival purchases. (Your Points don't expire as long as you have eligible Points activity within 3 years.)
Your Stars, on the other hand, determine your status:
š“ Red ā upon enrollment š” Gold ā 10,000 Stars āŖ Platinum ā 50,000 Stars š Diamond ā 100,000 Stars
And here's probably the biggest adjustment for longtime Carnival cruisers:
For most guests, status is no longer something you earn once and keep forever.
Carnival is moving to fixed qualifying periods. The first runs from September 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. After that, Stars reset for the next two-year earning period. Once you earn a status level, you'll enjoy it for the remainder of that earning period plus the following two-year enjoyment period.
There are important protections for longtime Carnival cruisers:
š Anyone who reached VIFP Diamond by August 31, 2026 is grandfathered into lifetime Diamond status after enrolling in Carnival Rewards.
āŖ Those who were VIFP Platinum by August 31, 2026 retain Platinum through December 31, 2028. Going forward, they'll also receive a 10,000-Star boost at the beginning of each new qualifying cycle, which gives them Gold status and a head start toward earning Platinum again.
Carnival is also adding a separate Milestone Recognition Program based on days sailed ā your time at sea still gets noticed. You'll earn milestone perks like bonus Points and onboard recognition at 50 days sailed, 100 days, and every 100 days after that.
One important caveat: the milestone counter starts at zero on September 1, 2026 ā days you sailed before the launch don't count toward the new milestone rewards (though VIFP milestone awards you already earned remain honored through August 2030).
One other important thing: you do need to enroll in Carnival Rewards to fully participate in the new program and receive the applicable benefits.
This is definitely a major shiftāespecially for loyal Carnival cruisers who were accustomed to earning status simply by accumulating days at sea.
I'm curious what my Carnival cruisers think. š¢
Do you like the idea of being rewarded based on what you spend, or did you prefer earning loyalty status based on days sailed?
