Originally launched in 2012, Carnival Cruise Line’s tiered Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) loyalty program has long been popular with its most loyal cruisers. But after years of hints and speculation that Carnival would update its loyalty rewards program, the cruise line has finally gone and done it; it has created an all-new program, named “Carnival Rewards,” without the VIFP branding.
Many long-term, loyal guests of the cruise line have been on edge, waiting for this new rewards program, which Carnival has remained very secretive about over the last few years. Although plenty of eager guests are excited about the changes, a noticeable number of others are left feeling sour, having taken to social media to express their frustration.
Moreover, the negative reaction to the company’s loyalty program revamp comes only weeks after Carnival angered passengers when ambassador John Heald confirmed it would not offer a combined loyalty program across all its affiliated brands—so this double disappointment is not the news its most loyal cruisers wanted to hear. We’ll explain what Carnival’s new Carnival Rewards program entails, how it compares to the coming-to-an-end VIFP program, when the changes will begin, and why some loyal passengers are pretty furious about it.
