Later this year, Carnival Cruise Line will cancel its current loyalty program (VIFP Club) and launch a new program with a completely different structure: Carnival Rewards. Since the change was announced last year, loyal Carnival cruisers have been feeling uncertain and raising questions about the plan.
To help answer these questions and clear up any doubts, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide covering everything we know about the upcoming Carnival Rewards loyalty program. We’ll cover how to make the transition, how long you can stay current, new ways to earn points, levels and benefits, and more.
quick summary
- The Carnival Rewards Loyalty Program will replace the VIFP Club on September 1, 2026
- Guests who are currently members of the VIPP Club must specifically choose to join the Carnival Rewards in order to continue their current status and progress
- There will be two “points” systems for Carnival Rewards: Carnival Rewards Points and Tier Qualification Stars, both based on spend
- The Carnival Rewards program has four levels: Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond
- To prevent points from expiring, “qualifying qualifying activity” must occur on a guest’s account at least once every three years
- Diamond guests are the only guests who permanently retain Carnival Rewards program status; others must requalify every two years
When will the Carnival Rewards Program replace the current Carnival VIPP Club?
Carnival’s current loyalty program is called VIPP club (Very Important Funny People) is still valid at the time of publication. However, Carnival Rewards will officially replace the program on September 1, 2026.
How do I sign up for the Carnival Rewards loyalty program?
If you are an existing Carnival VIFP loyalty program member, you will need to accept the new terms and conditions and opt-in to Carnival Rewards. Due to privacy laws, Guests must select and register before Carnival rewards are available September 1st. Only then will your current status progress and benefits carry over to the new plan.
Those who opt out will no When new programs are launched, their current status is respected.
If you did not receive or lost the email asking you to opt in to the new program, you can Request another email here.
For more information, visit the Carnival Rewards Program FAQ page here.
How do I earn points in the Carnival Loyalty Program?
There will be two “points” systems for Carnival rewards. The first is Carnival Reward Points, which are points earned based on purchases. This spend includes eligible cruise fares, onboard purchases, credit card activity and more.
Another point system is the Tier Qualification Stars, which determine your tier progression in the Carnival Rewards program. Stars are also earned based on spending.
Carnival Bonus Points
Carnival Rewards Points are redeemable points that can be used like cash on a variety of Carnival purchases. Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases. You will also earn 1 Carnival Bonus Point for every 1 Casino Point remaining at the end of the cruise.
These points can be redeemed for almost anything Carnival has to offer, including cruise fares, pre-cruise packages, onboard shopping, gratuities, future cruises and more. Carnival Rewards points do not expire as long as there is at least one activity on your Carnival Rewards account every three years.
Qualification Star
Level Qualification Stars determine your level in the Carnival Rewards program. Earn three qualifying stars for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including cruise fares, pre-cruise packages and onboard purchases. For every casino point you earn, you also earn a Tier Qualification Star.
Status is obtained within two years and retained for the following two years. Unlike the VIFP program, membership is no longer lifetime and needs to be renewed every two years (except for Diamond members, who will receive lifetime membership).
The more status qualification stars you accumulate, the higher your status level becomes.
What happened to the Carnival Mastercard?
Current Carnival Mastercard cardholders will be automatically transferred to the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard when it is launched in September 2026. Your Fun Points balance will be converted into Carnival Bonus Points.
Benefits of the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard include:
- Earn up to 6x points on Carnival purchases, 3x points on the card, and 3x points on Carnival rewards
- Earn 2x points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores
- All other purchases earn 1x point
- Earn 1 Tier Qualifying Star per $1 spent on everyday purchases, combined with 3 stars earned through Carnival Rewards, for a maximum of 4 stars per $1 spent on Carnival purchases
What can Carnival Reward Points be used for?
Carnival Rewards Points can be used in a variety of ways – at the time of booking, before sailing and once on board. Consider how an airline operates its loyalty program. You can earn airline miles that you can use on actual flights. However, you can also use them for checked luggage, seat upgrades, airport lounge access, vacation packages, and more. Carnival bonus points work similarly.
Points can be redeemed during the booking process so you can apply them toward a deposit or actual cruise fare. You can also redeem them before sailing, e.g. shore excursion, Drink packageand WiFi packagebook a spa treatment or order specialty dining.
During your cruise, points can also be converted to on board credit. From there, the possibilities for using them are endless. You can purchase gifts and souvenirs at the ship’s shop, reserve passes to your spa suite, play in the casino, enjoy specialty restaurants, purchase drinks and snacks, purchase passes to on-board attractions for an additional fee, and more.
How many levels are there in the Carnival Rewards program?
The Carnival Rewards program has four tiers: Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.
Since Blue Tier will no longer exist in the new program, all existing Blue Tier guests (guests who have not yet taken their first cruise with Carnival) will move to Red Tier when Carnival Rewards becomes available if they choose to join the program.
Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Reward Levels and Benefits
Red: after registration
When you sign up for the Carnival Rewards program, you will automatically join the Red Tier. Red membership benefits include a free 1.5 liter bottle of water, exclusive member benefits and a red Sail & Sign card on board.
Gold level: 10,000 to 49,999 stars
The second level of the Carnival loyalty program is Gold, which you earn after reaching 10,000 stars. In addition to the red benefits, Gold members also receive a free specialty drink on cruises of 5 days or more, Gold Member Support, and the Gold Member Sail & Sign Card.
Platinum: 50,000 to 99,999 stars
Platinum level is where benefits really start to come into play Carnival Cruise Line. In addition to Gold card privileges, Platinum card members also receive the following free items: laundry (1-4 pieces of luggage depending on flight length), a collection badge, two free drinks, preferred seating in the main restaurant and preferred specialty dining reservations.
Guests also enjoy early online check-in (up to 16 days), priority check-in, security, baggage delivery upon boarding and embarkation (and access to the Captain’s Lounge (where available)), and priority boarding and disembarkation.
Check your luggage to the cabin early Embarkation dayAs well as priority spa reservations, casino cashier hotline, guest service hotline and guest service phone assistance are also perks of the Platinum card. Of course, Platinum members also receive Platinum Membership Support and the Platinum Sail & Sign Card.
Diamonds: 100,000+ stars
Diamond is the highest level in the Carnival Rewards loyalty program. In addition to the benefits available to Platinum guests, Diamond members receive first choice at prime dining times (early or late seating only), 2-5 bags of laundry service depending on cruise length, retail concierge service and access to dedicated casino concierge services upon request.
Diamond members also enjoy dedicated member support (sales and service) and receive a Diamond Sail & Sign card.
Milestone rewards
In addition to the tiers listed above, Carnival Cruise Line offers guests two Milestone Awards based on days sailed. After guests sail for 50 days, they will receive 5,000 bonus points and a special milestone Sail & Sign card.
For every 100 days of sailing, guests can earn 10,000 points, a commemorative gift and a landmark Sail & Sign card.
Do Carnival bonus points expire?
Carnival Cruise Line requires that you engage in “qualifying qualifying activity” at least once every three years to retain your points. The bank defines a qualifying event as any Carnival activity where points can be earned or redeemed. Examples of qualifying activities include:
- Complete a cruise and earn points from the cruise
- Earn points from partner transactions
- Redeem points for in-flight purchases
Once a qualifying event occurs, points validity will be extended for an additional three years from the event date.
Carnival Mastercard members’ Carnival Rewards points never expire.
How long can I retain VIFP status after Carnival rewards are launched?
diamond
All VIPP Club members who achieve Diamond status before August 31, 2026 will be able to permanently retain their Diamond status in Carnival Rewards.
platinum
As of August 31, 2026, Platinum guests will be able to maintain their Platinum status until December 31, 2028. When Carnival Rewards becomes available, all Platinum guests will also receive 10,000 status-eligible stars credited to their account. This will provide a minimum Gold level in the subsequent January 2028 to December 2030 cycle and help maintain Platinum status or earn Diamond status.
Deposits of 10,000 qualifying stars will be made every two years at the beginning of each new two-year revenue cycle, providing Gold status and providing a head start to Platinum or Diamond status. This deposit is limited to existing Platinum VIFP guests through August 31, 2026.
red and gold
Guests in the Red and Gold tiers will retain their status for two years, until December 31, 2028, unless their cruise activity, cruise spending and credit card activity (if they have a Carnival Rewards MasterCard) qualify them for higher status earlier.
Does Carnival have status matching?
No, Carnival Cruise Line does not perform status matching with other cruise lines.
Comment
What do you think of the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program? How loyal are you currently to your cruise line? If you’re still loyal to Carnival Cruise Line or jumping ship, please share it by leaving us a comment below.
Post Guide to the New Carnival Rewards Loyalty Program: New Points System, Tier Benefits, and More first appeared in EatSleepCruise.com.