Understanding Carnival Rewards™: A New Era in Loyalty Programs

Carnival has recently unveiled exciting details about its revamped loyalty program—Carnival Rewards™. If you cruise even occasionally, it’s essential to understand these changes now.

Here’s the big news: Carnival is transitioning from a “days sailed” loyalty model to a “spend + sailing” rewards model. This new approach features two separate trackers:

• Carnival Rewards Points (to earn and redeem)

• Status Qualifying Stars (to earn status)

  
  

Carnival Rewards Launch Date (Sept. 1, 2026)

+ VIFP End Date

• Carnival Rewards launches: September 1, 2026

• VIFP Club® ends: August 31, 2026

• No immediate changes right now: Carnival assures that your current VIFP status and onboard experience will remain unchanged until the launch.

  
  

The New Name: What’s Replacing VIFP?

• The loyalty program will no longer be known as VIFP Club.

• It will now be called Carnival Rewards.

• Your existing VIFP number will transition to a Carnival Guest Number.

• To fully participate, guests will need to opt in by accepting the new terms and conditions. Carnival plans to allow opt-in ahead of the launch.

  
  

Carnival Rewards Points vs. Status Qualifying Stars: A Simple Breakdown

Carnival Rewards Points: Use Them Toward Carnival Purchases

You’ll earn Carnival Rewards Points on eligible Carnival spending and redeem them for nearly anything Carnival offers.

Earning:

• 3 points per $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases (like cruise fares and onboard purchases)

• Casino: 1 point per 1 casino point remaining at the end of the cruise (after any casino point redemptions)

  
  

Redeeming: Carnival states that points can be used toward almost every Carnival purchase, including:

• Drink packages

• Shore excursions

• Specialty dining

• Spa treatments

• WiFi

• Gratuities

• Even your next cruise (including using points toward deposit and cruise fare)

  
  

Do points expire? Points don’t expire as long as you have eligible activity at least once every 3 years (earning, redeeming, or being a Carnival Mastercard cardmember).

Status Qualifying Stars: Your Status Level

Stars are what you earn to reach (and maintain) status.

• 3 stars per $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases

• Casino: 1 star per 1 casino point earned

  
  

Important: Stars are earned in a fixed two-year earning window, and your status is based on what you earn during that window.

Carnival Rewards Status Tiers: Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond

Carnival Rewards will have four status levels:

• Red

• Gold

• Platinum

• Diamond

  
  

Carnival states that current VIFP Blue guests will transition to Red once they opt in.

How the 2-Year Status Windows Work (and the “Bonus” First Window)

Stars accumulate over a two-year window, which then resets for the next window.

• First earning window: Sept. 1, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2028 (this is the “bonus” window—an extra 4 months)

• First enjoyment period: through Dec. 31, 2030

  
  

Good news: if you earn enough stars to reach a new tier mid-window, Carnival says you’ll get upgraded right away and enjoy it immediately.

What Counts (and What Doesn’t) for Earning

Carnival states that points and stars can be earned on many Carnival purchases, including:

• Eligible cruise fare

• Gratuities

• Transfers

• Carnival Vacation Protection

• Pre-cruise and onboard purchases

  
  

Not eligible (examples Carnival listed):

• Taxes and fees (Required Cruise Fees and Expenses; Government Taxes and Fees)

• Fly2Fun air travel

• Certain other fees

• Certain fare types and rate codes (some may also be excluded from redemption)

  
  

Generally, you won’t earn on:

• Purchases made using Carnival Rewards Points

• Onboard Credits (OBC)

• Carnival-funded FCCs that weren’t originally funded by guest spend

  
  

How Earning is Awarded (Solo, Families, Groups)

Carnival shared some important details here:

• Single occupancy: The solo guest earns on the full eligible cruise fare.

• Multiple eligible guests in the same stateroom: Cruise fare earning is split equally among eligible guests.

• Minors in the stateroom: Minors can’t enroll, so the responsible adult earns the minor’s portion.

• Non-members in the stateroom: Their portion is forfeited unless they enroll within 180 days of sailing (or during the sailing).

• Onboard/pre-cruise purchases (non-casino): Earning goes to the member whose folio the purchases are charged to.

  
  

What Happens to Current Platinum & Diamond Guests?

• Diamond: If you earn VIFP Diamond by Aug. 31, 2026, Carnival states they will permanently extend Diamond status in Carnival Rewards.

• Platinum: If you are VIFP Platinum as of Aug. 31, 2026:

- Your Platinum status is extended through Dec. 31, 2028.

- Carnival will deposit 10,000 Status Qualifying Stars into your new Carnival Rewards account at launch.

- Carnival says this 10,000-star deposit will repeat every two-year earning cycle (a “biennial gesture”)—but it’s limited to guests who are Platinum by Aug. 31, 2026.

• Everyone else: You keep your status for two years (through Dec. 31, 2028) unless your new earning activity qualifies you for higher status sooner.

  
  

What About Milestone Gifts and Pins?

Carnival says milestones are getting revamped.

• They’ll introduce a Carnival Rewards Milestone Program tied to days sailed (not number of cruises).

• Recognition will occur on the itinerary where the milestone is achieved.

• Milestones include 50, 100, 200 days (and every 100 days after).

• The Platinum/Diamond ship-specific pin will remain.

• The current VIFP milestone program ends at launch, but previously earned milestone rewards can be redeemed through Aug. 31, 2030.

  
  

More milestone details are still “coming soon.”

Credit Card Update: Fun Points Are Converting

Carnival also teased an enhanced Carnival Rewards™ Mastercard® (Barclays).

What we know:

• Current Carnival Mastercard cardmembers will be transferred automatically.

• Fun Points® will convert to Carnival Rewards Points at launch.

• New card earning (as announced):

- On Carnival: total of 6 points and 4 stars per $1

- Grocery/restaurants: 2 points + 1 star per $1

- Everything else: 1 point + 1 star per $1

The Part That Matters Most: Plan a Great Cruise First

Loyalty programs are nice, but the best “value” usually comes from choosing the right:

• Itinerary (ports + sea days)

• Ship (vibe, dining, entertainment)

• Stateroom category and location

• Travel dates (crowds + pricing)

• Add-ons you’ll actually use (excursions, dining, WiFi, etc.)

  
  

If you want help picking the best Carnival cruise for your travel style and budget, book a Free Consultation.

Source: Carnival Cruise Line “Know Before You Go” FAQs – Carnival Rewards

Easy Travels,

Denise