New Carnival Rewards Program: Earn & Save on Cruises

The way Carnival Cruise Line rewards its most frequent guests is about to change completely. This new Carnival Rewards program, set to launch on June 1, 2026, replaces the long-standing VIFP Club. It is one of the biggest carnival rewards changes the company has ever made. Instead of counting only the number of nights you sail, the new Carnival Rewards program will track how much money you spend.

This shift moves Carnival closer to the loyalty models used by major airlines and hotels. The carnival rewards announcement signals a move from a simple cruise-night count to a two-part system based on spending. Guests will now earn both points that can be redeemed for purchases and stars that determine their status level. This comprehensive guide breaks down the new system, explaining how you will earn, what your status means, and how the changes affect current members.

The Core of the New Carnival Rewards Program

The VIFP Club counted one point for every night you sailed. That system offered lifetime status, meaning the status you earned was yours forever. The new Carnival Rewards program changes both the earning structure and the guarantee of permanent status.

The new program uses a dual-earning structure:

• Carnival Rewards Points: These are the new currency you can spend on future cruises, onboard purchases, and other services.
• Status Qualifying Stars: These stars determine your elite status level. They must be re-earning every two years.

How to Earn Points and Stars?

Earning in the new Carnival Rewards program is straightforward and based on how much money you spend on the cruise line.

Earning Rate for Points and Stars:

• You will earn 3 Carnival Rewards Points for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases.
• You will also earn 3 Status Qualifying Stars for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases.

What Counts as an Eligible Purchase?

This is a major change from the old system. Eligible purchases include your cruise fare, pre-paid packages, and most onboard spending.

• Cruise fares
• Shore excursions booked through Carnival
• Specialty dining and drink packages
• Spa treatments
• Onboard shopping
• For-pay activities like BOLT or IMAX

You also earn points and stars through casino play. You will receive 1 point and 1 star for every casino point you earn, based on your play in the onboard casino.

Earning Outside of Cruising:

The new Carnival Rewards program will link closely with the co-branded credit card, the Carnival Rewards Mastercard. Card members will be able to earn points on everyday purchases, making it possible to work toward rewards even when you are not sailing.

Full details on the updated credit card are expected later. The current Fun Points you have on the existing credit card will convert directly to Carnival Rewards points when the new program launches.

The New Tiers of Carnival Rewards Status

The old VIFP Club had five tiers: Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The new Carnival Rewards program simplifies this to four tiers by removing the entry-level Blue. Everyone, even first-time guests, will start at the Red tier.

Status is now based on the number of Status Qualifying Stars you accumulate over a set time.

Carnival Rewards Tiers and Star Requirements:

To understand the spending required for status, remember you earn 3 stars for every $1 spent.

• Gold Status: Requires $3,334 in spending over the qualification period.
• Platinum Status: Requires $16,667 in spending over the qualification period.
• Diamond Status: Requires $33,334 in spending over the qualification period.

The Requalification Period

The end of lifetime status is the most significant of the carnival rewards changes. Status is no longer permanent. It works in cycles, similar to airline programs.

• Status Qualifying Period (SQP): This is a two-year period during which you must earn the required number of stars.
• Status Enjoyment Period (SEP): The status you earn is valid for the remainder of your SQP plus the following two years.

If you earn a higher status level during your Status Qualifying Period, you move immediately. You do not have to wait until the end of the period to enjoy the better benefits.

What Happens to Current VIFP Club Members?

The carnival rewards announcement recognized that loyal members were concerned about losing their lifetime status. Carnival has established special rules for the transition to honor existing loyalty. The launch date for the new system is June 1, 2026.

• Existing Status Transfer: Whatever your VIFP status is on May 31, 2026, it will carry over and serve as your starting level in Carnival Rewards. You will keep that status for a minimum of two years, through May 31, 2028. This gives all members time to learn the new system and start earning stars.
• Permanent Diamond Status: This is the biggest exception. Guests who achieve Diamond status in the VIFP Club by May 31, 2026, will be given lifetime Diamond status in the new Carnival Rewards program. This is a major correction made after initial guest feedback. These Diamond members will never have to be requalified.
• Platinum Member Boost: Current Platinum members will receive a biennial boost of 10,000 Status Qualifying Stars when the new program begins. This gives them a significant head start toward re-qualifying Platinum status and a guaranteed minimum of Gold status in future cycles.

Also Read: Carnival Cruise VIFP Club Loyalty Program

Comparison of New Benefits

The new program keeps many familiar perks while adjusting others. Some benefits are slightly reduced from the old VIFP Club, while the redemption options are a major improvement.

Carnival Rewards Benefits by Tier:

The old Diamond-level perk of a one-time free cabin upgrade or having the third, fourth, and fifth guests sail free, as well as the one-time complimentary meal for two in a specialty restaurant, are no longer offered as a tier benefit. The VIFP party drink benefit for Platinum and Diamond members shifts from a period of unlimited complimentary drinks to a limit of two complimentary drinks.

The Power of Redeemable Points:

The most flexible part of the new Carnival Rewards is the new point currency. Carnival Rewards Points can be redeemed for almost any Carnival purchase. This gives you more control over your rewards than the old system.

Redemption Options:

• Cruise Fares: Use points to cover part or all of your next cruise.
• Onboard Credit: Apply points as credit to your Sail & Sign account.
• Shore Excursions: Pay for your tours in port with points.
• Specialty Dining: Use points to book restaurants like Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.
• Spa Services and Packages: Cover the cost of massages or other spa treatments.
• Wi-Fi Packages and Drink Packages: Use points to pay for these popular cruise add-ons.

There is no minimum to redeem points. This new flexibility allows you to save your points for a future cruise or use them to pay for a few drinks on your current sailing.

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Planning for the Future: A Strategy for Cruisers

The carnival rewards changes mean your strategy for earning status needs to shift. The program rewards those who spend more money, both on the cruise fare and on extras while onboard.

• Focus on Eligible Spending: Under the old VIFP Club, a passenger who booked a short, inexpensive interior cabin cruise earned the same one point per night as a passenger who booked a long, expensive suite. Now, the person who spends more money earns stars and status faster. To climb the tiers, focus on spending that earns stars. This includes booking suites or balconies, adding drink packages, making spa appointments, or dining often at specialty restaurants.
• Watch the Two-Year Clock: The need to re-qualify every two years means you must cruise with Carnival on a regular basis or be a consistently high spender. If you typically cruise once every few years, you may find your status drops from Gold back down to Red if you do not meet the star requirement in the two-year window. Plan your cruises or your spending to ensure you hit the minimum star levels before the Status Enjoyment Period ends.
• Current Platinum and Diamond Action: If you are close to Diamond status under the current VIFP Club, you should try to reach the 200-night threshold by May 31, 2026. Achieving Diamond status before the launch date locks in your status for life. Current Platinum members should note the 10,000-star boost will give them a head start but should also plan to cruise and spend during the first two-year cycle to maintain Platinum status.
• Consider the Carnival Rewards Mastercard: If you want to earn status outside of your vacation time, the new co-branded credit card will be key. Using the card for everyday purchases allows you to earn points and stars year-round, which can help you maintain your elite status even if you do not take an expensive cruise every year.

Understanding the Carnival Rewards Shift

The new Carnival Rewards program is a major transformation. Carnival is moving away from simply rewarding frequency toward rewarding overall financial engagement.

The original VIFP Club had a simple, unique lifetime model that rewarded every cruiser equally for each night sailed. The new program adds a layer of complexity with two earning currencies and a time limit on status.

For guests who spend thousands of dollars on one or two cruises each year, this new system is a positive change. They will reach status tiers faster than they did before. For guests who cruise often on short, less expensive sailings, the path to high status levels like Platinum and Diamond will become more challenging without significant onboard spending.

Carnival is following the trend of other major travel loyalty programs. The new system provides more tangible value through the redeemable points, which can be spent almost like cash on a future vacation. The new Carnival Rewards system promises flexibility and greater earning potential for big spenders. The shift from a nights-based program to a spend-based model is the biggest takeaway from the Carnival Rewards announcement. It forces all members to re-evaluate how they cruise and how they plan to maintain their hard-earned status.

The new structure provides a clear path for new and frequent guests to earn perks and get rewarded for their loyalty in a way that aligns with their total vacation spending. The permanent Diamond status for the top tier of current members shows that Carnival still values its most dedicated cruisers.