Frequent cruisers receive perks. Most cruise lines are reducing the perks they give their loyal customers. I've only done one Carnival Cruise so it doesn't apply to me. They are now rewarding by "money spent", not the number of nights sailed! So all the people who book suites will move ahead quickly but those who book an inside cabin will wait. If you are a frequent Carnival Cruiser, you may want to read this:
Hold on to your Blue cards, Gold pins and VIFP logo gifts because next year, they’ll disappear, along with lifetime status.
For the first time since it rolled out the VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club Program in 2012, Carnival Cruise Line is giving its cruiser loyalty concept a major overhaul. The most significant changes are that the new program, to be called Carnival Rewards, will operate on a dual-earning system, and passengers will now have to periodically requalify for status.
Under the new program – which will take effect on June 1, 2026, without the VIFP branding – Carnival will eliminate the entry-level Blue tier. All other levels (Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond) will remain. Cruisers who are currently Blue, as well as new Carnival passengers, will be Red under Carnival Rewards.
“As we went through it, there were too many levels,” Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said during an exclusive interview with Cruise Critic. “We didn’t need to differentiate between the Blue and the Red.”
Until the transition, members of the VIFP program will continue to earn status as usual. Passengers enrolled in the program will retain their VIFP numbers, but after the transition, they will be referred to as Carnival Guest Numbers.
In terms of perks, the line has confirmed it will be changing some of the offerings for the Gold, Platinum and Diamond tiers. Here’s how:
Changes to Carnival loyalty perks (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line)
Gold
- Passengers will no long receive Gold pins.
Platinum
The VIFP party on cruises of five nights or longer will now be two free drinks.
Complimentary arcade credits will no longer be offered for cruisers younger than 18.
The welcome treat offered on cruises of five nights or longer will now only be available on request.
VIFP Club logo gifts will no longer be given.
Diamond
The same changes made to the Platinum perks will apply to Diamond perks.
Cruisers will no longer receive a free specialty restaurant meal for two.
The “one-time free upgrade” or “third, fourth and fifth passengers free” offer no longer applies.
VIFP luggage tag sets will no longer be awarded.
Although some of the existing perks will shift, Carnival will still honor milestone cruises. For their 50th night sailed, passengers will receive 5,000 Carnival Rewards points and a commemorative Sail & Sign Card. At 100 nights (and every hundredth night thereafter), the line will award 10,000 points, a special gift and a milestone Sail & Sign card.
I remember when they ended chocolates on pillows! I thought the passengers were going to have a mutiny!
