Carnival Cruise Line revises new loyalty program launch plan
- Carnival Cruise Line is delaying the launch of its new loyalty program, Carnival Rewards, from June 1, 2026 to September 1, 2026 to allow cruisers more time to reach higher loyalty status levels before the program begins.
Few loyal Carnival cruisers are looking forward to the launch of Carnival Rewards , the cruise line's new loyalty program launching in summer 2026.
The new program will reward cruisers more for how much money they spend with the cruise line than how much time they spend at sea, which is a drastic shift from traditional cruise loyalty programs.
In response to overwhelming criticism of Carnival Rewards, Carnival made some program tweaks to better recognize the loyalty of those who have spent years cruising their way to the highest levels of the cruise line's current VIFP Club loyalty program.
And now, Carnival is making more changes to give cruisers more time to reach a higher loyalty status before Carnival Rewards launches.
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Carnival is giving its loyal cruisers more time to build their loyalty status before the new Carnival Rewards program launches.Photo credit: fitzcrittle / Shutterstock.com
Carnival pushes back launch date for Carnival Rewards program
In response to passengers' continued feedback about the Carnival Rewards program rollout, Carnival has now decided to push back the program's launch from June 1, 2026 to Sept. 1, 2026.
"To give you extra time — and to let your Summer 2026 cruises count toward your final VIFP Club status — we are moving the launch of Carnival Rewards to September 1, 2026. All your cruise activity through August 31, 2026 will count toward your final VIFP status, which will become your starting status in Carnival Rewards," Carnival announced in a Nov. 20 email to VIFP Club members.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line makes bigger plans for a key cruise port
For some cruisers, this change means a chance at earning lifetime loyalty status in the Carnival Rewards program. In the current VIFP Club program, members earn status solely based on the number of days they cruise and now, summer 2026 cruises can help cruisers reach a higher starting status level in Carnival Rewards. Those nearing the highest status tier, Diamond, could earn lifetime status as a result.
As part of a tweak already made to the Carnival Rewards rollout plan, members who achieve Diamond status in the current VIFP Club by Aug. 31, 2026 will receive lifetime Diamond status in the Carnival Rewards program.
The change shifts Carnival Rewards' two-year status earning cycle
The new program eliminates lifetime loyalty status for all other levels below Diamond, so while members will start out in Carnival Rewards with their current VIFP Club status, they will earn their status in a two-year cycle going forward.
As Carnival pushes back the program launch date, it's also shifting that two-year earning cycle:
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In the first cycle, members will get four extra months to earn status.
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When Carnival Rewards begins on Sept. 1, 2026, members' status will match their VIFP status on Aug. 31, 2026, and they will keep that status through Dec. 31, 2028.
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Beginning in 2029, every earning period will run from Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, every two years.
Here's how members will earn stars, which determine status level and reset every two years:
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3 stars per $1 spent on cruise fare and anything purchased onboard (+1 extra star per $1 if they use the Carnival Rewards Mastercard)
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1 star for every casino point
Related: Carnival Cruise Line adds new cruise breakfast options
Here's how members will earn points for spending on rewards like drinks, excursions, and cruise fare credits:
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3 points per $1 spent on cruise fare and onboard purchases
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1 point per casino point
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Extra points with the Carnival Rewards Mastercard
Like cruise fares, the value of points will vary based on demand, but you can expect 100 points to have approximately $1 in value. Points won't expire as long as you earn or redeem points at least once every three years.
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This story was originally published by TravelHost on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
