Carnival Loyalty Program Changes in 2026: VIFP Ending, Carnival Rewards Launching

Carnival is ending its VIFP Club loyalty program and rolling out a new Carnival loyalty program called Carnival Rewards, launching on June 1, 2026. This change comes alongside other recent updates to onboard services and pricing.

On paper, the new setup is more aligned with modern travel loyalty programs. Airlines and hotels already reward repeat spending more than time in the system. In practice, it is a major change for Carnival loyalists who have climbed the VIFP tiers by sailing often rather than spending heavily.

Carnival first announced this change in June 2025. The initial response from loyal Carnival cruisers was overwhelmingly negative. The original plan removed lifetime status for everyone, including Diamond. Every guest at every VIFP level would have had to re-earn their status every two years under the new spend-based system.

The backlash from long-time Platinum and Diamond guests was immediate and loud enough that Carnival revised part of the program over the summer. That kind of reversal is rare. It tells you everything about how high the emotional stakes are for the fleet’s most dedicated return guests.

Here is what is confirmed, what is being removed or altered, and what Carnival has not revealed yet.

Why Carnival Is Making the Switch

Carnival says the VIFP Club loyalty structure had reached a point where it couldn’t function the way it was designed to.

• The top tiers got too crowded: With so many Platinum and Diamond guests, Carnival says it became difficult to deliver rewards perks consistently.
• Lifetime status wasn’t sustainable: The old structure locked too many people into lifetime benefits, creating long-term strain on the program.
• They want more flexibility: The new Carnival Rewards system rewards guest spending (fare, onboard purchases, Carnival Mastercard use) instead of just nights sailed.
• Faster path for newer guests: Carnival says the update makes it easier for newer cruisers to reach higher tiers, instead of waiting years to move up.

The headline: loyalty is no longer based on cruise nights. In 2026 and beyond, it’s tied almost entirely to spending.

How Earning Works with New Carnival Loyalty Program

Instead of earning one VIFP point per cruise night, the new system gives you two different types of credit at the same time. Status Qualifying Stars determine your tier level, and Carnival Rewards Points act as the redeemable currency you can use toward cruise fare, onboard spending, or excursions. You earn three Stars and three Rewards Points for every dollar spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including cruise fare and most onboard charges.

Carnival has confirmed that every casino point will convert to one Status Qualifying Star. The company has not said whether the current $2-per-casino-point earning rate will stay the same under Carnival Rewards.

Status is no longer permanent unless you qualify before the cutoff date (more on that below). After the launch, every tier will have to be re-earned on a rolling two-year basis. You can Estimate how many points you’d earn on a typical cruise with the Carnival Rewards points calculator. It projects Stars and redeemable Points for cruise fare, onboard spend, and casino play.

Carnival Rewards Tiers and How They Work

This is the new structure every guest will use starting June 2026.

Stars control your status, Points are the currency you can spend. They aren’t the same thing.

What Happens to Current VIFP Club Members

Your VIFP level on May 31, 2026, is what carries into Carnival Rewards.

If you reach Diamond by that date, you get lifetime Diamond in Carnival Rewards. No future requalification is required and there is no expiration date. That benefit was not part of the original plan. It was reinstated only after the company received strong pushback.

If you are Platinum by May 31, you keep Platinum through May 31, 2028. And after that, Carnival will automatically deposit 10,000 Status Qualifying Stars into your Carnival Rewards account every two years. That guarantees you will always be at least Gold and gives you a head start to maintain Platinum or move up to Diamond.

If you are below Platinum, you start from scratch under the new system. Your time sailed will not convert into Stars.

Guests under 18 will mirror the adult status on their booking. If a minor reaches Platinum or Diamond before May 2026, Carnival will honor that level when they turn 18. They will be able to opt in with the same protections adults receive.

Key Dates for the VIFP Club to Carnival Rewards Switch

These are the important dates in the transition.

If you’re chasing a VIFP level, everything you do before June 1st is what counts.

How the Carnival Rewards Mastercard Fits In

If you have the current Carnival Mastercard, your existing FunPoints will automatically convert into Carnival Rewards Points when the new program launches. Those converted Points can be used for redemptions, but they will not count toward tier status.

You can still earn Points from cruise fare and onboard spending using the Mastercard just like before. And starting June 1, 2026, the card will let you earn Rewards Points on everyday purchases. One dollar spent equals one Point, even if the purchase happens on land. Carnival says you will earn more than one Point per dollar on Carnival purchases, but they have not published the exact earn rate yet.

Only the cardholder earns Points when using the card to pay for cruise fare or onboard purchases. Other guests in the cabin earn based on their own fare and spending.

The Milestone Rewards Program Is Being Redefined

The biggest quiet change is happening to the Milestone Rewards Program. Carnival hasn’t highlighted it, but the benefits are different under the new system.

Under the VIFP Club, Milestone awards are based on number of cruises. Reaching your 25th, 50th, 75th, or 100th sailing unlocks valuable rewards, including large onboard credits and a free 8-day suite cruise at 100 cruises. These perks are meaningful and, in some cases, huge.

Under Carnival Rewards, Milestone awards are tied to days sailed, not cruise count. You get a 5,000-point reward at 50 sailing days, and 10,000 points for each 100-day block after that. The free suite cruise at 100 sailings disappears. So do the 25 to 75 percent onboard credit benefits.

Carnival will still honor previously earned VIFP Club Milestone awards through May 2030. But no new Milestone Rewards will be issued under the old system after May 2026.

Carnival Rewards vs. VIFP Club: What You Keep vs. What You Lose

How Perks Are Changing Under Carnival Rewards

Carnival has shared a preview of how current VIFP Club perks translate into the new Carnival Rewards system and it’s a mix of familiar and reworked.

Here’s what the new onboard extras and priority benefits look like:

Red

• One complimentary 1.5L bottle of water per sailing

Gold

• One complimentary 1.5L bottle of water
• One complimentary beverage on cruises 5+ days

Platinum

• One complimentary 1.5L bottle of water
• Two complimentary beverages
• Complimentary Wash & Fold laundry (number of bags depends on sailing length)
• Priority dining (Specialty and Main Dining)
• Priority check-in, embarkation, onboard access, and debarkation
• Early online check-in at 16 days out

Diamond

• Everything Platinum gets, plus:
• Retail concierge services
• Guaranteed main dining time
• Exclusive event invitation from the Captain

What’s Going Away in 2026

Carnival confirmed these VIFP perks will not carry over into Carnival Rewards:

• VIFP Party on 5+ day cruises (replaced by two drink vouchers)
• $5 arcade credit for guests under 18
• Welcome treat
• VIFP logo gift on every sailing
• First-time Diamond benefits
  • Free specialty dining meal for two
  • One-time cabin upgrade or 3rd, 4th, 5th guests sail free
  • Luggage tag set

What We Still Don’t Know

Carnival has yet to publish a fixed conversion chart showing exactly how many Points equal how much in cruise fare. And there is no confirmed Rewards Mastercard equivalent for Canadian or Australian guests. Carnival has said only that they are “exploring options.”

So, What Should You Do If You Sail Carnival?

If you’re close to Diamond, get there before June 1, 2026. That’s your last chance to lock in lifetime top-tier status without requalifying.

This new points-based system clearly benefits high spenders instead of just frequent cruisers. And the Milestone awards have been dramatically reduced in value. This is the biggest loss for long-time cruisers and the biggest overhaul to Carnival loyalty we have seen.

Official Carnival Resources

• Carnival Rewards FAQ: https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=11493
• Points calculator: https://carnivalrewards.com/earn
• Status and benefits: https://www.carnival.com/carnival-rewards/benefits
• Ways to earn: https://www.carnival.com/carnival-rewards/earn
• Ways to redeem: https://www.carnival.com/carnival-rewards/redeem