Carnival Cruise Line’s biggest loyalty programme overhaul in years takes effect from 1st September 2026, replacing the long-running VIFP system with Carnival Rewards and introducing a new approach to status, points, milestone recognition and benefits.
The change moves Carnival away from awarding loyalty status primarily according to days sailed. Under Carnival Rewards, most guests will instead qualify for status by earning “stars” through eligible spending with the cruise line, while a separate points currency can be redeemed towards cruise purchases and onboard experiences.
Carnival has also revealed the first Platinum and Diamond collectible pins for the new programme. The dated, ship-specific pins are available on cruises departing from 1st September onwards, although Gold guests will no longer receive loyalty pins.
Carnival Rewards was originally due to launch on 1st June 2026 before its introduction was postponed until September. Guests were given until 31st August to opt in and transfer their existing loyalty status and sailing history from VIFP.
Status Moves To A Spending-Based System
One of the most significant changes under Carnival Rewards is the way passengers earn and retain loyalty status.
Instead of status being permanently accumulated according to the number of days a guest has sailed, eligible Carnival spending will generate stars that count towards status. Those stars operate within two-year earning periods, meaning most passengers will have to continue earning to retain their level.
Carnival has made an exception for existing Diamond VIFP members. Following criticism of the original Carnival Rewards proposals, the cruise line announced in September 2025 that Diamond status already earned under VIFP would be recognised as lifetime Diamond status under the new programme.
Existing VIFP status earned by 31st August 2026 carries over and remains the guest’s Carnival Rewards status through December 2028, covering the programme’s first earning period. From January 2029, status will be determined by what members have earned during that period.
Platinum members will also receive a 10,000-star boost at the beginning of the next earning period, allowing them to start at Gold rather than the entry-level Red tier.
Carnival Rewards continues to provide different benefits according to status.
Members at every level receive a complimentary 1.5-litre bottle of water, while Gold members receive one complimentary beverage on cruises of five days or longer.
Platinum members receive two complimentary beverages, limited complimentary wash-and-fold laundry and selected priority or preferred access covering areas including online check-in, embarkation, debarkation, dining times and other onboard services.
Diamond remains Carnival Rewards’ highest tier. Its benefits include additional complimentary wash-and-fold laundry, although the service is no longer unlimited, guaranteed main dining time selections, retail concierge services and an invitation to a special event hosted by the Captain.
Several benefits associated with the previous VIFP programme have ended. These include Platinum and Diamond VIFP parties on selected sailings, VIFP-branded loyalty gifts, welcome treats and complimentary stateroom upgrades.
Alongside stars, Carnival Rewards members can earn points from eligible Carnival purchases and through the Carnival Rewards Mastercard for qualifying cardholders.
Those points can be redeemed against a range of cruise expenses. Members can use them towards a deposit or cruise fare as well as purchases including shore excursions, spa treatments, drinks packages, speciality dining and onboard shopping.
Carnival says there is no minimum points balance required before redemption, giving members the option of using smaller balances rather than waiting until they reach a particular threshold.
Milestones, meanwhile, remain linked to sailing history rather than spending.
Carnival confirmed in July that milestone recognition would be based on total days sailed from 1st September, replacing the previous system based on the number of cruises taken regardless of voyage length.
Recognition is available at 50 days, 100 days and every additional 100 days thereafter. Depending on the milestone reached, rewards can include bonus points, a commemorative coin, onboard credit and other benefits.
The cruise discount, onboard credit and complimentary cruise previously associated with VIFP milestones have been discontinued as part of the transition.
New Carnival Rewards Pins Revealed
Carnival has retained one of the more visible collectibles associated with its former loyalty programme, although eligibility has been narrowed.
Brand ambassador John Heald revealed the first Carnival Rewards Platinum and Diamond pins on 31st August, confirming they would be available on qualifying sailings beginning from 1st September.
“Here are the images of the Carnival Rewards Platinum and Diamond ship specific pins which can be collected from the photo gallery on cruises that start from September 1 onward,” Heald originally said.
John later updated his post to let people know that the pins would be delivered to cabins instead.
Both circular designs feature an image of the relevant Carnival ship in the centre, with Carnival Rewards branding and the cruise line’s funnel logo above. The year appears at the bottom, retaining the dated format that allows passengers to associate individual pins with particular cruises.
The Platinum version has silver framing together with red, gold and platinum dots of graduated sizes, while “Platinum” appears around the upper border.
The Diamond version adds a larger diamond-style dot alongside the red, gold and platinum markings, with “Diamond” around the upper border.
Carnival has traditionally changed its loyalty pin designs annually, although it has not been confirmed whether the Carnival Rewards versions will receive a different design each year (beyond the date changing, of course).
Only Platinum and Diamond members are eligible for the new pins. Gold-level pins, which were available under VIFP, have been discontinued.
Eligible passengers must collect their pin from the Pixels Photo Gallery during their cruise, where staff have a list of Platinum and Diamond guests and record when each pin is claimed.
Carnival has used onboard collection for loyalty pins since cruises resumed in 2021. Before the industry-wide pandemic suspension, pins had been delivered to passengers’ staterooms.
Availability can still depend on onboard supplies. Shipping delays affecting the 2026 VIFP pins earlier this year resulted in some guests being unable to collect them during their cruises. At the time, Heald said affected passengers could contact customer service after sailing to request that a pin be mailed to them.
The transition to Carnival Rewards has not been entirely smooth. Some passengers reported inconsistencies involving their previous VIFP information and the stars and points displayed under the new programme in the days leading up to the change.
Carnival’s website and Carnival Rewards systems were also unavailable during a planned 18-hour maintenance period from the evening of 29th August until midday on 30th August.
With the new programme taking effect from 1st September, Carnival’s loyalty structure now enters its first earning period, which runs through the end of 2028 before members’ status is recalculated for January 2029.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
See the latest Carnival cruise offers…
