Carnival Cruise has been a favorite of cruise-lovers for a long time. Its fun onboard life has created fun vacations for many travelers. However, the cruise line is changing its loyalty program.
On June 18th, 2025, the cruise line announced that it is changing its Carnival Cruise VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) program to Carnival Rewards. This program launches on June 1st, 2026.
There is a lot to this Carnival Cruise loyalty program update, so let’s dive right in and unpack this jolting news.
30-Second Summary
Carnival Cruise Line has announced a significant overhaul to its loyalty program. The VIFP program, which was credited according to the number of sailing nights, is changing into Carnival Rewards.
This program will make you climb tiers on the basis of the money you spend on board. There are more changes in the latest Carnival Cruise loyalty program update that are discussed in this blog. Read on to see how it will impact you as a loyal Carnival traveler.
The Evolution of the Carnival VIFP Program
The VIFP program was rolled out in 2012. This program was designed to provide benefits for repeat cruisers, such as early boarding, special gifts, and exclusive events. Your status level was determined according to the number of nights you spent on the cruise.
But now, as travelers like to spend more on onboard activities, specialty dining, and excursions, Carnival Cruise is also changing its policy. It is revamping its VIFP program to Carnival Rewards, which will operate on a dual-earning structure.
Your status through this new program will be tied to the amount of money you are spending on casinos, spas, excursions, and other onboard activities while sailing. Moreover, passengers will have to requalify periodically to maintain their status.
Key Carnival Loyalty Program Changes
Let’s have a look at what is changing with this new program.
From Nights to Spending: Cruisers will now earn points (which are redeemable) and stars (which qualify their status) based on the amount of money they spend.
New Earning Categories: Passengers get points and stars by spending on cruise fares, onboard purchases like spa, dining, excursions, and casino, and everyday use of the Carnival Mastercard.
Elimination of Blue Tier: Carnival will eliminate the entry-level Blue tier. Now, new members will start from the Red tier. However, passengers who are already in the Blue tier due to the VIFP program will be Red under Carnival Rewards.
Tier Thresholds: This is how you qualify for each tier.
- Red: Upon sign-up
- Gold: 10,000 stars on approximately $3,334 spent.
- Platinum: 50,000 stars on approximately $16,667 spent.
- Diamond: 100,000 stars on approximately $33,334 spent
Carnival Cruise Card Colors and New Tier System
For decades, Carnival passengers carried their cards proudly that reflected their status onboard. The Carnival card colors were
- Blue (entry-level, awarded on first sailing)
- Red (second sailing through 24 points)
- Gold (25 to 74 points)
- Platinum (75 to 199 points)
- Diamond (200+ points)
Effective from June 1st, 2026, this changes. New color cards will look like this:
- Red (entry-level, as blue will phase out)
- Gold (achieved at 10,000 stars)
- Platinum (achieved at 50,000 stars)
- Diamond (achieved at 100,000 stars)
It means that no matter how many nights you spend sailing, your access to these tiers depends on the amount of money you spend.
Changes in the Tiers
Let’s see the changes in each tier that will be applicable in the Carnival Rewards program.
Gold
- Travelers will no longer get collectible Gold pins.
Platinum
- You will not get VIFP Club logo gifts.
- You can only get a welcome treat offered on cruises of five nights or more through request.
- Cruisers younger than 18 will not get complimentary arcade credits.
- Passengers will now get only two free drinks during the VIFP party instead of an open bar and unlimited drinks.
Diamond
- The changes in the Platinum tier will also be applied to the Diamond tier.
- The offers “one-time free upgrade” and “third, fourth, and fifth passengers free” will no longer be applicable.
- Passengers will not get VIFP luggage tag sets.
Impact on VIFP Benefits
If you are a loyal Carnival Cruise passenger, you must be wondering what happens to your VIFP benefits. Here is what we know.
- VIFP members will keep their current status for around 2 years. Passengers who have Diamond status will keep it for six years.
- As we discussed above, many perks will be reduced when VIFP transitions into Carnival Rewards.
- Some freebies (like the welcome treat) will not be provided automatically. You will have to request them.
Carnival Credit Card System
The new program emphasizes the use of the Carnival credit card.
- The Carnival Mastercard, which was issued by Barclays, allows passengers to earn points and stars on sea and on land.
- If you purchase every day using the card, you have a high chance of faster tier advancement.
- Once the Carnival Rewards program launches, all the Fun Points from the Barclay Carnival Cruise credit card will be transferred into the new system.
In short, if you want to climb tiers fast, you need to spend more using the credit card.
Milestone Credit and Carnival Stock Benefits
Although Carnival Cruise is reducing some VIFP perks, two benefits stay strong.
Milestone Credit
Carnival celebrates guests who reach specific milestones with the cruise line. When a traveler hits 25th, 50th, or 100th sailing with the Carnival, they get a commemorative credit, which can also be used as onboard credit.
It shows that the cruise line appreciates the long-term loyalty. The exact details of this perk might change under Carnival Rewards, but it is not going away. It is particularly valuable for people who want to sail with this cruise line for years.
Carnival Stock Benefits
If you own shares of Carnival Corporation (CCL), you get additional onboard credit on every travel. The amount of the credit depends on the length of the cruise.
- You get $250 OBC on 14-day or longer cruises.
- You get $100 OBC on 7 to 13-day cruises.
- You get $50 OBC on 6-day or shorter cruises.
This benefit is appealing as you get onboard credit regardless of your loyalty status. Even if you are traveling with Carnival for the first time, you can avail this credit just by being a shareholder.
Another good thing is that it stacks with Carnival Rewards. A frequent traveler who is also a shareholder gets the maximum benefits.
Carnival VIFP lookup and Member Transition
If you are a member of the VIFP club, you must be worried about your status once the Carnival Rewards program rolls out. Carnival Cruise offers a VIFP lookup tool. It is a login portal where you can see your current status and how it will change after the new program launches.
- Your current status will be honored during the grace period.
- No member loses their status immediately. There will be time to adjust.
- You can track your points and stars directly online.
The new Carnival Cruise loyalty program update has confused many passengers, but the cruise line will accommodate all VIFP members when transitioning into Carnival Rewards.
Passenger Reactions to the Loyalty Program Changes
Not everyone is thrilled to know about the Carnival Cruise loyalty program update. Many passengers showed their disappointment as newer and higher-spending guests got an advantage.
Take a look at these Reddit reviews.
- “Very disappointing to see that loyalty status resets every two years. You should be able to keep your VIFP status and keep growing over the years!”
- “People like me and my family can only afford to go on one cruise per year, but we prefer to stick with Carnival because we enjoy it. We’ve built up some status (Gold) over the years and were proud of it. Guess I’ll be looking elsewhere.”
- “I am taking my first cruise in August and was excited about the program and taking more cruises. I’m happy I saw this because I was getting ready to book another cruise. Not anymore.”
The Bottom Line
The Carnival Cruise loyalty program update marks a significant change in cruising rewards. It brings many changes to the previous loyalty program and opens the door for passengers who are willing to spend both on sea and on land.
This different approach is sure to create buzz from current members, as this cruise line is ready to make exciting developments in the coming year.
Learn more about different cruise lines and stay updated with latest information through Cruise Tidal.
FAQs
What is the Latest Carnival Cruise Loyalty Program update?
According to the latest update, Carnival Cruise is changing its VIFP program into Carnival Rewards. This program will reward passengers on the basis of the amount of money they spend on onboard services and excursions.
When will the Carnival Rewards program start?
This program will be applicable from June 1st, 2026.
What are the New Carnival Card Colors?
The new cards are Red, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The Blue, which is a part of the VIFP program, will be replaced by Red in the Carnival Rewards program.
Do I lose my Current VIFP benefits?
No, you carry your current status during a transition period, which is 2 years for most and 6 years for Diamond. However, some benefits will be reduced or eliminated.
What is Milestone Credit on Carnival Cruise?
The milestone credit is awarded to passengers who reach specific sailing milestones with the cruise line. The details may change due to the new program, but this benefit is not going away.
How can I see my Loyalty Status?
You can use the Carnival VIFP lookup tool to see your current status and how it will change under the Carnival Rewards.
