Carnival Cruise Line has pushed back the date for the launch of its new Carnival Rewards loyalty program. The change should be helpful for those cruisers chasing that Diamond status before the old VIFP program goes away. The cruise line is also sharing more information on earning status with the new program.
The Carnival Rewards program will reward cruisers more based on the amount of money they spend with Carnival versus how much time they spend cruising. This is a dramatic change from the traditional loyalty program.
Those most loyal to Carnival have been very vocal in their criticism of Carnival Rewards prompting the cruise line to make some changes that improves the program for its highest levels of the current loyalty program. Now, the cruise line is also giving its cruisers more time to reach a higher loyalty status.
In a recent email, Carnival announced it was pushing back the launch of Carnival Rewards from June 1, 2026 to September 1, 2026. La Lido Loca’s Tony was aboard the Carnival Celebration when he received the news, and could not wait to share!
Carnival Extends Loyalty Program
“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.”
Those extra three months could mean the difference in earning lifetime loyalty status in the current Carnival program. With the current program, VIFP members earn status simply by cruising–each night onboard counts. Here’s the bottom line…cruisers nearing that Diamond Status–which now will be a lifetime status–now have through Summer 2026 to make it happen.
With the Carnival Rewards program, Diamond is the only level that is lifetime. Cruisers will begin the Carnival Rewards program at their current VIFP level; however, going forward, that status will be earned in a 2-year cycle. Pushing back the new program start date, also pushes back that earning cycle. VIFP members will keep their current status in the new Carnival Rewards program from launch date, September 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, giving them an extra four months to earn status. Then, beginning January 1, 2029, guests will have two years for every earning cycle.
There are a couple ways to earn stars, which is what determines a cruiser’s status level and reset every two years:
- Cruisers earn 3 stars per $1 spent on cruise fare and onboard purchases. 4 stars per $1 spent if they use the Carnival Rewards Mastercard.
- 1 star for every casino point.
Cruisers can also earn points in the same way to spend on rewards like drinks, excursions, and more. The value of the points will vary, but they will not expire as long as you earn or redeem points at least once in a three year period.