Carnival President Defends New Rewards Program After Backlash

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As controversy over Carnival Cruise Line’s overhaul of its Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) loyalty program continues to stir strong reactions, company president Christine Duffy is stepping in to address guest concerns head-on.

Christine Duffy Carnival Rewards

The changes, announced in June 2025 and set to take effect on 1st June 2026, shift the program from a cruise-day-based model to a spending-based system.

Many long-time cruisers have voiced frustration over the elimination of lifetime status and the increased emphasis on dollars spent.

Speaking from Carnival Vista on 14th July, Duffy acknowledged the outcry but defended the decision as necessary for the cruise line’s future.

“While we knew this change and this announcement was going to be difficult, the lifetime status benefits just cannot be delivered in the right way,”

Duffy pointed to the exponential growth of Carnival’s guest base as a key factor. Founded in 1972, the line will have carried 110 million guests by the end of 2025 – 65 million of them in just the past 13 years.

With two more Excel-class ships and three new Ace-class vessels on the way, the company says it needs a scalable loyalty system that rewards guests based on actual engagement.

“I really just want to reassure people that it is not our intention at all for people not to maintain their status… Just lifetime status is not feasible given the number of people and the growth in the highest tiers.”

New Structure: Points and Stars

The revamped program, Carnival Rewards, introduces two systems:

  • Points which are earned based on money spent on cruise fares, onboard extras (spa, specialty dining, drinks, etc.), casino play, and purchases made with the Carnival Rewards Mastercard.
  • Stars, which determine a guest’s loyalty tier and will be based on spending activity within a rolling two-year window.
Carnival Rewards Points Earning

This means guests must continue to cruise and spend in order to retain status – a dramatic shift from the original program, which was largely based on days sailed.

Carnival promises that all current VIFP tiers will remain in place until 31st May 2028. Diamond members will receive a longer grace period through 31st May 2032.

Cardholders Affected

Duffy also addressed questions surrounding the Carnival Rewards Mastercard, currently issued through Barclays. Points accrued under the existing program will automatically carry over into the new system.

There are ongoing discussions to include Canada and Australia, although regulatory differences in credit and data laws may require unique program variants for those markets.

For guests nearing a milestone reward under the current program – such as commemorative items or sailings – Duffy confirmed they will be able to redeem those benefits for up to five years after the new program launches.

A new Milestone program is also being developed, though details remain under wraps for now.

“We want to be transparent, and we want to be sure everyone understands the program,”

The cruise line has promised that full details about how points, stars, and tier rewards work will be released before the end of 2025, giving guests several months to understand and plan for the transition.

Loyalty Tested

While the updated system may offer more flexible redemption and rewards tied to spending habits, many Carnival fans have said the shift undermines the sense of community and recognition that long-time cruising built.

Some have already voiced intentions to switch to competitor lines like MSC Cruises or Explora Journeys, both of which offer loyalty status matching.

Carnival, for its part, hopes transparency and clearer communication in the months ahead will help keep its core base onboard.

For now, loyalty guests are encouraged to monitor updates closely and redeem existing benefits before the system is replaced in June 2026.

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