Sarah BretzLater this year, Carnival Cruise Line will be retiring its current loyalty program (the VIFP Club) and introducing a new one with an entirely different structure: the Carnival Rewards program. Since announcing the change last year, loyal Carnival cruisers have felt uncertainty and had questions about the program.
To help answer those questions and put concerns at ease, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on everything we know about the upcoming Carnival Rewards loyalty program. We’re covering how the transition will take place, how long you’ll get to keep your current status, the new way to earn points, tier levels and benefits, and more.
Quick Summary
- The Carnival Rewards loyalty program will replace the VIFP Club on September 1, 2026
- Guests currently in the VIFP Club must purposely opt into Carnival Rewards in order for their current status progress to carry over
- Carnival Rewards will have two “points” systems: Carnival Rewards Points and Status Qualifying Stars, both of which are based on spend
- There are four tiers in the Carnival Rewards program: Red, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond
- To prevent points from expiring, guests must have an “eligible qualifying activity” on their account at least once every three years
- Diamond tier guests are the only ones that permanently keep their status in the Carnival Rewards program; others must requalify every two years
When will Carnival Rewards replace the current Carnival VIFP Club?
Carnival’s current loyalty program, called the VIFP Club (Very Important Fun Person) is still in effect at the time of publishing. However, Carnival Rewards will officially replace this program on September 1, 2026.
How do you sign up for the Carnival Rewards loyalty program?
If you’re an existing Carnival VIFP loyalty program member, you will need to accept the new terms and conditions and opt into Carnival Rewards. Due to privacy laws, guests must opt into and enroll in Carnival Rewards prior to when it launches on September 1. Only then will your current status progress and benefits carry over to the new program.
Those who opt out will not have their current status honored when the new program launches.
If you have not received or lost the email requesting that you opt into the new program, you can request another email here.
For more information, visit the line’s FAQ page on the Carnival Rewards program here.
How do you earn points in the Carnival loyalty program?
Carnival Rewards will have two “points” systems. The first is Carnival Rewards points, which are points that are earned based on spend. This spend includes eligible cruise fares, onboard purchases, credit card activity, and more.
The other points system is Status Qualifying Stars, which determine the progression of your status in the Carnival Rewards program. Stars are also earned based on spend.
Carnival Rewards Points
Carnival Rewards Points are redeemable points that can be used like cash for various Carnival purchases. You earn three points for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases. You also earn one Carnival Rewards point for every one casino point remaining at the end of a sailing.
These points can be redeemed for almost anything Carnival offers, including your cruise fare, pre-cruise packages, onboard purchases, gratuities, future cruises, and more. Carnival Rewards points do not expire as long as there’s activity on your Carnival Rewards account at least once every three years.
Status Qualifying Stars
Status Qualifying Stars determine your tier within the Carnival Rewards program. You earn three Status Qualifying Stars for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including cruise fare, pre-cruise packages, and onboard spend. You also earn one Status Qualifying Star for every one casino point earned.
Status is earned over a two-year period and is retained for the following two years. Unlike with the VIFP program, status is no longer lifetime and will require requalification every two years (except for Diamond members who will receive lifetime status).
The more Status Qualifying Stars you accumulate, the higher your status level.
What’s happening with the Carnival Mastercard?
Current Carnival Mastercard cardholders will automatically move to the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard upon its launch in September 2026. The balance of your Fun Points will be converted to Carnival Rewards Points.
Benefits of the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard will include:
- Earn up to 6x points on Carnival purchases, 3x points from your card, plus 3x points through Carnival Rewards
- Earn 2x points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores
- Earn 1x points on all other purchases
- Earn 1 Status Qualifying Star per $1 spent on your everyday purchases, which is up to 4 stars per $1 on Carnival purchases when combined with the 3 stars you earn through Carnival Rewards
What can you use Carnival Rewards points on?
Carnival Rewards points can be used on lots of things — at the time of booking, prior to sailing, and once on board. Think about how airlines operate their loyalty programs. You earn airline miles, which you can use on actual flights. But, you can also use them for things like checked bags, seat upgrades, accessing an airport lounge, vacation packages, and more. Carnival Rewards points work similarly.
Points can be redeemed during the booking process, allowing you to put them towards your deposit or the actual cruise fare. You can also redeem them prior to sailing on things like shore excursions, drink packages, and wifi packages, pre-booked spa treatments, or pre-booked specialty dining.
During your cruise, points can also be converted to onboard credit. From there, the possibilities for using them abound. You can buy gifts and souvenirs in the onboard shops, book a thermal suite pass, play in the casino, enjoy a specialty restaurant, buy drinks and treats, purchase passes for extra-fee onboard attractions, and more.
How many levels are in the Carnival Rewards program?
There are four status levels in the Carnival Rewards program: Red, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.
Since Blue will no longer exist in the new program, all current Blue tier guests (those who haven’t yet taken their first cruise with Carnival) will be rolled into the Red tier when Carnival Rewards launches (if they opt into the program).
Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Rewards Tiers & Benefits
Red: Upon Sign-Up
Upon signing up for the Carnival Rewards program, you’re automatically enrolled into the Red tier. Red member perks include a free 1.5 liter bottle of water, members-only offers, and a red Sail & Sign card on board.
Gold: 10,000 to 49,999 stars
The second tier in the Carnival loyalty program is Gold, which you achieve upon reaching 10,000 stars. In addition to the Red perks, Gold members receive one free specialty drink on 5+ day cruises, Gold member support, and a Gold member Sail & Sign card.
Platinum: 50,000 to 99,999 stars
Platinum is where the perks really start to kick in on Carnival Cruise Line. In addition to the Gold perks, Platinum members receive complimentary bags of laundry (1-4 bags depending on the length of the cruise), a collectible pin, two complimentary beverages, and preferred seating in the main dining room as well as preferred specialty dining reservations.
Guests also receive early online check-in (16 days), priority check-in, security, boarding, and luggage delivery upon embarkation (as well as access to the Captain’s Lounge where available), and priority tender boarding and debarkation.
Early bag drop-off in stateroom on embarkation day, as well as priority spa reservations, casino cashier line, guest services line, and guest services phone assistance are also perks of being Platinum. Of course, Platinum members also receive Platinum member support and a Platinum Sail & Sign card.
Diamond: 100,000+ stars
Diamond is the highest tier in the Carnival Rewards loyalty program. In addition to the perks that Platinum guests receive, Diamond members are guaranteed their top choice for main dining time (early or late seatings only), 2-5 bags of laundry depending on the cruise length, retail concierge services, and access to a dedicated casino host upon request.
Diamond members also have dedicated member support (sales and service) and receive a Diamond member Sail & Sign card.
Milestone Rewards
In addition to the tiers mentioned above, Carnival Cruise Line offers two milestone rewards to guests based on number of days sailed. Once a guest has reached their first 50 days sailed, they receive a bonus 5,000 points and a special milestone Sail & Sign card.
Every 100 days sailed, guests receive 10,000 points, a commemorative gift, and a milestone Sail & Sign card.
Do Carnival Rewards points expire?
Carnival Cruise Line requires that you have an “eligible qualifying activity” at least once every three years in order to keep your points. The line defines eligible qualifying activity as any activity with Carnival that leads to either earning or redeeming points. Examples of eligible activity include:
- Completing a sailing and earning points from the sailing
- Earning points from a partner transaction
- Redeeming points towards an onboard purchase
Once an eligible activity takes place, the points expiration date extends another three years from the activity date.
Carnival Rewards points never expire for Carnival Mastercard card members.
How long do I get to keep my VIFP status once Carnival Rewards launches?
Diamond
All VIFP Club members who earn Diamond status by August 31, 2026 will be able to PERMANENTLY keep their Diamond status in Carnival Rewards.
Platinum
Guests who are Platinum as of August 31, 2026 will be able to keep their Platinum status through December 31, 2028. Upon launch of Carnival Rewards, all Platinum guests will also receive 10,000 status qualifying stars deposited into their account. That will provide a minimum of Gold status in the subsequent January 2028 to December 2030 cycle and provides a boost towards maintaining Platinum or earning Diamond.
The 10,000 status qualifying stars deposit will be a biennial gesture at the start of each new two-year earning cycle, providing Gold and a head start towards Platinum or Diamond. This deposit is limited to existing Platinum VIFP guests as of August 31, 2026.
Red & Gold
Red and Gold level guests will keep their status for two years, through December 31, 2028, unless their cruise activity, cruise spend, and credit card activity (if they have the Carnival Rewards Mastercard) qualifies them for a higher status earlier.
Does Carnival do status matching?
No, Carnival Cruise Line does not do status matching with other cruise lines.
Comments
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