Carnival Rewards Is Coming: What Carnival Cruisers Need to Know (Launching Sept. 1, 2026)

Currents on Carnival Jubilee — one of my favorite spots to soak up the ship’s vibe. Choosing the right ship (and the spaces you’ll actually use) is where a great cruise starts.

Carnival just shared new details about its updated loyalty program—Carnival Rewards™—and if you cruise even once in a while, this is worth understanding now.

Here’s the big headline: Carnival is moving from a “days sailed” loyalty model to a “spend + sailing” rewards model—with 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 says your current VIFP status and onboard experience stay the same until launch.

The new name (and what’s replacing VIFP)

• The loyalty program will no longer be called VIFP Club.

• It will 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 says they’ll allow opt-in ahead of launch).

Carnival Rewards Points vs. Status Qualifying Stars (Simple Breakdown)

Carnival Rewards Points = “use them toward Carnival purchases”

You’ll earn Carnival Rewards Points on eligible Carnival spending, then redeem them for almost 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 says points can be used toward nearly 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 keep) 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 says current VIFP Blue guests will roll into Red once they opt in.

How the 2-year status windows work (and the “bonus” first window)

Stars accumulate over a two-year window, and then reset 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 says 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 (and some may also be excluded from redemption)
  

Also, you generally 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 says 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 happen 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 is staying.

• 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