3 minute read
Big news out of Carnival Cruise Line this week—they’ve officially announced a brand-new loyalty program, and it’s a major shake-up. Starting June 1, 2026, the current VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) program will be replaced by Carnival Rewards, a more modern, spend-focused rewards system.
If you’re a loyal Carnival cruiser like me, this is something you’ll want to understand now so you can set yourself up to win big when the changes take effect.
Watch my full breakdown here:
What is Carnival Rewards?
Carnival Rewards is Carnival Cruise Line’s reimagined loyalty program that’s designed to be more flexible, more rewarding, and more reflective of how much you actually engage with the brand.
Gone are the days of just tracking cruise nights. Carnival Rewards introduces a dual-earning structure:
- Points – Redeemable currency you earn with every Carnival purchase, including cruise fare, drinks, excursions, spa treatments, and more.
- Stars – These determine your loyalty status tier (Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) and are earned based on spend—not just nights sailed.
How It Works
Here’s the simple version:
- Every eligible Carnival purchase earns you Carnival Rewards points (to spend) and status-qualifying stars (to level up).
- You can use your points on onboard experiences, specialty dining, shore excursions, and even future cruises.
- Your status resets every two years, but once you earn a tier, you keep it for the following two years.
Tiers + Timeline
The tier names aren’t changing—but how you get there is. You’ll now level up based on how many stars you earn over time. Here’s the timeline Carnival shared:
- Your current VIFP status will carry over as your starting point when Carnival Rewards launches in June 2026.
- Diamond status holders keep their tier through May 31, 2032.
- All other status levels are retained until May 31, 2028.
Carnival Rewards Mastercard
Another big component of this change is the integration with Carnival’s new co-branded credit card through Barclays. The Carnival Rewards Mastercard will let cardholders earn both points and stars through everyday spending—not just while cruising.
If you already have the old Carnival Mastercard, don’t worry—your Fun Points will automatically convert into Carnival Rewards points in 2026.
Why This Matters
This change is huge—and long overdue. The VIFP program had become too crowded at the top, and the perks weren’t feeling exclusive anymore. By tying rewards and status to how much you engage and spend with Carnival, this program adds real value for loyal cruisers.
Plus, with more flexibility in how you earn and spend your rewards, it puts the power back in the hands of the guest.
Final Thoughts
If you’re cruising Carnival between now and 2026, keep racking up that VIFP status—it’ll still count. But start thinking about how your spending patterns might affect your rewards under the new system.
I’ll continue covering this story as more updates roll out, including a deep dive into the Carnival Rewards Mastercard once those details are public.
Make sure to watch my full breakdown video above, and let me know in the comments what you think about this loyalty reboot. Are you excited for the change or skeptical about how it’ll impact your status?
