Carnival made a change so massive to its loyalty program that Royal Caribbean followers are certain to note.
Carnival Rewards is the brand new program that begins June 1, 2026, and represents a basic shift in how the cruise line acknowledges and rewards its most devoted visitors.
In contrast to the VIFP Membership, this new system introduces a extra dynamic, spending-based mannequin just like airline frequent flyer applications.
It isn’t solely a departure from the normal cruise loyalty mannequin but in addition has implications for a way visitors will earn, redeem, and keep elite standing aboard Carnival ships.
Observe that the Carnival Rewards program is not going to prolong to any of Carnival Company’s sister strains, resembling Princess, Holland America, or Costa Cruises. The change is just for Carnival Cruise Line.
{Dollars} spent as an alternative of nights
Up till now, Carnival’s VIFP Membership was was just like Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society: the extra nights you sailed, the extra factors you accrued, and the upper your loyalty tier climbed.
Nonetheless, starting in mid-2026, the main target will shift to cash spent over nights sailed to find out standing.
Beneath the brand new program, visitors will earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible Carnival purchases, together with base cruise fare, specialty eating, shore excursions, spa remedies, and onboard drinks.
Moreover, for each remaining on line casino level on the finish of the crusing, visitors will obtain 1 Carnival Rewards level.
The brand new program rewards how a lot somebody spends, along with merely crusing with the road. Cruisers that purchase up onboard experiences (leisure, eating, playing) will probably discover this technique extra helpful.
Carnival bank card earns factors too
One other massive change throughout the program is the Carnival World Mastercard can earn you factors within the loyalty program.
Factors earned by way of bank card spending will now feed immediately into the Carnival Rewards ecosystem, changing the present FunPoints system. Present cardholders will see their balances transformed into the brand new foreign money mechanically when this system goes dwell.
This integration permits visitors to construct reward worth outdoors of cruising, including one other manner for factors to be amassed.
How redeeming Carnival factors will work
One of many defining options of Carnival Rewards is its flexibility in redemption. Friends can use their factors to cowl a variety of cruise-related bills, together with:
Reserving cruise faresReserving shore excursionsPurchasing packages upfront of embarkationMaking onboard purchases in the course of the voyage
In contrast to many airline applications that impose redemption thresholds or blackout dates, Carnival Rewards will permit visitors to redeem any quantity of factors, with no minimal required. This design is meant to decrease the barrier to entry for brand new members whereas additionally offering frequent cruisers a priceless, spendable reward foreign money.
Loyalty tiers
One of many largest surprises of the announcement is standing is not lifetime.
Going ahead, there shall be a rolling two-year qualification window. Loyalty standing will now be decided utilizing Standing Qualifying Stars, that are earned on the identical fee as reward factors: 3 stars per greenback spent on eligible purchases and 1 star per on line casino level left on the finish of a cruise.
Carnival Rewards will function 4 loyalty tiers:
As soon as a tier is reached, it stays energetic for the rest of that two-year interval plus an extra two years. Nonetheless, standing is not everlasting, and members should requalify inside every two-year interval to keep up their tier.
Extra just like airline loyalty applications
One conclusion quite a lot of cruisers got here to after studying by way of Carnival Rewards is it mirrors the airline trade’s loyalty strategy extra intently than any cruise line program.
Airline loyalty applications embrace the next diploma of competitiveness and recurring participation.
Adjustments to Platinum and Diamond advantages
A number of advantages at the moment tied to Platinum and Diamond VIFP tiers shall be discontinued starting June 1, 2026. These embrace:
The VIFP Membership occasion on cruises of 5 nights or longer (to get replaced by two complimentary drinks)The $5 arcade credit score for visitors below 18The welcome deal with for cruises 5 nights or longer (obtainable by request solely)The VIFP emblem reward, beforehand provided on each crusing
Moreover, Diamond-level members will not obtain the next one-time rewards after qualifying:
Complimentary specialty eating meal for twoOne-time free cabin improve or free crusing for third, fourth, or fifth guestsVIFP Membership-branded baggage tag set
Would Royal Caribbean ever do the identical?
Instantly after the information was posted, Royal Caribbean followers started considering if this variation would come their manner.
“Do you assume that is one thing Royal and the opposite strains will attempt to undertake?” wrote oOoOsarahOoOo on the Royal Caribbean subreddit.
xAdray replied, “I very a lot hope Royal realizes that by having the perfect loyalty program within the trade, they’d have probably the most to lose by making drastic modifications to C&A.”
Pilotboy1985 talked about the necessity to requalify each two years, “Think about it Royal did that. All of the individuals who have been Pinnicale for many years, proudly carrying their pins, would all be bumped right down to gold.”
a1__steak_sauce added, “I actually like Royal but when they messed with diamond drinks I’d not solely be taking a look at different cruise strains, I’d be contemplating extra land primarily based holidays.”
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