Carnival will overhaul cruise loyalty program: Here’s how much you’ll earn
Portrait of Nathan DillerNathan Dille
Carnival Cruise Line is replacing its VIFP Club loyalty program with Carnival Rewards in June 2026.
The new program shifts from a cruise-count based system to one based on spending, awarding “stars” and redeemable points for purchases.
Guests will earn stars to achieve status levels (Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) and points for onboard amenities and future cruises.
Existing VIFP members will transition to comparable levels in the new program, retaining their status for a set period.
For loyalty status on Carnival Cruise Line, it’ll soon be points that count – not just how many cruises you’ve been on.
Carnival will overhaul its loyalty program next year, measuring status largely based on purchases rather than days sailed – and giving guests new ways to earn and redeem benefits. Carnival Rewards will take the place of the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club, which has been in place since 2012.
As demand has grown – along with the cruise line’s ships and fleet – the company has outgrown the current program, according to Carnival President Christine Duffy.
“We, over time, have so many guests that have earned status with Carnival based on how frequently they cruise,” she told USA TODAY ahead of Wednesday’s announcement. “But as we continue to add ships and add bigger ships and have five more ships that will be coming, we recognize that it’s become very challenging to really give so many people the benefits that come with the way the existing program was structured which is pretty much, if you’re at this status, this is what you get.”
When will Carnival Rewards take effect?
The new program will launch on June 1, 2026. Guests will be asked to opt in and their VIFP member number – which will be called their Carnival Guest Number – will be transferred.
Members of the program will keep their existing loyalty status, with the exception of Blue members whose level will be combined with the program’s Red tier. That status will remain valid for six years for Diamond members – through May 31, 2032 – and two years for all other levels.
Guests will earn status-qualifying stars by spending money on the following:
Their cruise fare
Pre-cruise and onboard purchases
Gratuities
Transfers
Carnival Vacation Protection
Points earned in the casino will also count towards passengers’ star balance. Unlike VIFP status levels, which don’t expire, Carnival Rewards status accrued in a two-year period will be good for the following two years (with the exception of the initial six-year guarantee for existing VIFP Diamond members upon the program’s launch).
