Carnival Cruise Loyalty Program: What’s Changing (and How to Make the Most of It)
Big news for anyone who cruises with us: we’re rolling out major Carnival Cruise loyalty program changes. VIFP Club is getting a new name, a new look, and a whole new way to earn. Starting 1 September 2026, VIFP Club becomes Carnival Rewards, a program built to reward you for everything you do with Carnival, not just the days you spend onboard. Carnival originally planned to launch the new program back in June 2026, but pushed the date to September 1, giving everyone a little more time to get ready for the switch. Sailing round-trip from Australia? Don’t skip the callout below, since it affects how your cruise days carry across.
If you’re already a VIFP member, your status is protected, but to carry it over, you’ll need to enrol in Carnival Rewards and accept the program’s terms and conditions. Once you’ve opted in, nothing changes without plenty of notice. If you’re new here, welcome. Carnival Rewards is designed to get you earning real perks from your very first cruise. Here’s everything you need to know.
What’s Changing: From VIFP Club to Carnival Rewards
The biggest of these loyalty program changes is how you earn status. VIFP Club has always been about days sailed. Carnival Rewards is about what you spend on your cruise fare, onboard, and even before you sail. It’s a more flexible system that rewards how you actually cruise, whether that’s one big trip a year or several shorter ones.
A few other changes worth knowing:
- Five tiers become four. Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond are now Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. If you’re currently Blue, you’ll move straight to Red.
- Your VIFP status as of 31 August 2026 sets your starting point. Whatever tier you’ve earned by then carries over as your entry status in Carnival Rewards.
- You need to opt in. Because Carnival Rewards comes with updated terms, Carnival can’t move your status and sailing history over automatically. You’ll need to click “Enrol & Accept,” either through the email Carnival sends you or the banner on Carnival.com, before the 1 September 2026 launch. If you don’t, your VIFP status and points won’t carry over, so this is one step you don’t want to put off.
- Every VIFP number becomes a Carnival Guest Number. This new number is assigned to every guest automatically, whether or not you’ve enrolled in Carnival Rewards
Sailing round-trip from Australia? Check your cruise count first. Round-trip Australian cruises don’t earn VIFP points automatically. You’ll need to log in and claim them yourself through “Missing a Cruise?” in your account, and processing takes six to eight weeks. Any round-trip cruises you leave unclaimed won’t be reflected in your day count when it carries over into Carnival Rewards, so it’s worth checking this before 31 August 2026.
Enrol to Protect Every Star You Earn
Cruising with family or friends? Here’s the strongest reason to make sure everyone in your stateroom enrols. Cruise-fare Stars are split only among guests who are enrolled in Carnival Rewards. If an adult travelling with you isn’t enrolled, their share of the Stars isn’t held for them or shared out to the rest of the group: they simply lose it, unless they enrol within 180 days of completing the voyage. After that window closes, that portion is forfeited for good. Getting everyone signed up before you sail, or within that 180-day window afterwards, is the easiest way to make sure no Stars go to waste.
How to Earn with Carnival Rewards
Carnival Rewards runs on two types of rewards value, and they’re simpler than they sound:
Rewards Points can be redeemed for eligible Carnival purchases and experiences, such as specialty dining, spa treatments, shore excursions, or a future cruise, subject to the program terms; and
Status Qualifying Stars are what move you up the tiers. Think of Points as what you get to spend, and Stars as what get you recognised.
The standard earn rate is 3 Points and 3 Stars for every $1 USD spent on qualifying cruise fare, and onboard purchases. Every dollar works double duty: building your rewards balance and your status at the same time.
A few categories don’t earn Points or Stars: taxes and fees, Fly2Fun bookings, certain fare types, and anything funded by Points or unearned onboard credit. Cruise fare redemption opens in September 2026, and once you’re onboard, you’ll redeem Points straight through the HUB app. Points are non-transferable and can’t be pooled or shared across a household, but bookings made through a travel agent or PVP still earn Points and Stars as normal.
Rewards Tiers Explained
Status is earned in fixed periods, based on Stars accumulated in that window. The first period runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 December 2028, a 28-month stretch that lines the cycle up with the calendar year. From 1 January 2029, earning periods move to a fixed two-year cycle:
| Tier | Stars Needed (per 2-year period) | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Entry, no minimum | Everyone starts here or above |
| Gold | 10,000 Stars (about USD $3,333 spent) | Meaningful perks kick in |
| Platinum | 50,000 Stars (about USD $16,667 spent) | Serious cruisers and top spenders |
| Diamond | 100,000 Stars (about USD $33,334 spent) | The top tier, with the most exclusive perks |
Here’s the part that matters most if you’re already a VIFP member: your 31 August 2026 status becomes guaranteed minimum through 31 December 2028, the end of the first earning period, whether you’re Red, Gold, or Platinum. Platinum members also get a recurring bonus of 10,000 Stars added every two years, a real head start toward staying Platinum or reaching Diamond.
And if you reach Diamond status by 31 August 2026, that status is yours for life, no requalifying ever.
Old Program vs. New Program, at a Glance
| VIFP Club | Carnival Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| How you earn status | Days sailed | Dollars spent |
| Number of tiers | 5 (Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) | 4 (Red, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) |
| Status length | Lifetime once earned | Requalify every 2 years (Diamond can be lifetime only for guests who reach it via VIFP by 31 Aug 2026) |
| Rewards currency | Points only | Points and Stars |
Ready to Learn More?
Whether you’re protecting the status you’ve already earned or starting fresh, the most important step is the same: click “Enrol & Accept” before 1 September 2026. From there, Carnival Rewards is built to grow with you, cruise after cruise.
Got more questions about exclusions, or exactly how your points convert? Head to our full FAQ or visit the Carnival Rewards microsite for the complete terms and the latest updates as launch day approaches.
Ready to see where you stand? Log in to manage your VIFP account before the switch, or browse upcoming Carnival cruises to build status before 31 August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my Platinum status?
No, if you’re VIFP Platinum on 31 August 2026, that status carries over and is guaranteed through 31 December 2028, along with a recurring boost of 10,000 Status Qualifying Stars in each subsequent two-year earning cycle.
Will I lose my Diamond status?
No, reach VIFP Diamond by 31 August 2026, and you receive lifetime Diamond status under Carnival Rewards, with no requalifying required.
How many stars do I earn per dollar spent?
You’ll earn 3 Status Qualifying Stars and 3 Reward Points for every USD spent on cruise fare and eligible onboard purchases (exclusions apply).
Does onboard spending count toward my stars?
Yes, onboard purchases are one of the two confirmed earning categories, alongside cruise fare.
What is the new Milestone program?
Milestone Rewards run alongside Stars and are tied to lifetime cruise nights rather than spend: you earn 5,000 Points at 50 days sailed, and 10,000 Points at 100 days sailed. Points at every 100-day mark after that (200, 300, 400, and so on). Existing VIFP milestone awards earned through 31 August 2026 are honoured through 2030.
I've already sailed more days than the next milestone. What happens?
Your sailed days carry over in full, but recognition starts at the next milestone from where you are, rather than backdating a reward for every 100-day mark you’ve already passed. For example, a guest who has sailed 175 days gets their next Milestone reward at 200 days.
What happens to Gold members?
Gold carries over as a tier name under Carnival Rewards, with benefits refreshed to align with the new program structure. Guests below Platinum will need to earn status under the new Star-based system going forward.
Can I lose status level under the new system?
Outside the protected Platinum and Diamond transition guarantees, tiers are tied to Star accumulation each earning period (the first runs to 31 December 2028, then periods run two years at a time) , so status can move if earning slows in a given cycle. Carnival has said reaching a new tier mid-window triggers an immediate upgrade, so the system is built to move guests up quickly too.
What if I cruise often but spend very little?
Carnival Rewards recognises eligible spend through Stars, while Milestone Rewards continue to recognise cruise days.
My status didn't transfer, or my sailing history looks wrong. Who do I contact?
This is an account-specific issue Carnival needs to resolve directly. Contact Carnival guest services with your booking and membership details ready, particularly once the new program opens for enrolment.
Do minors earn Stars and Points?
No, guests under 18 can’t enrol or participate directly. If a minor is on a booking, a “responsible party” must be linked to their reservation, and any Stars or Points earned through the minor’s purchases are credited to that responsible party’s account instead.
Do my Stars or Points expire?
Points, yes: if your account has no qualifying activity (earning or redeeming) for three consecutive years, all accumulated Points are forfeited. Stars work differently and reset to zero at the end of every earning period regardless of activity, since they measure what you’ve earned within that window rather than a running lifetime total.
How do Stars work for families or multiple guests cruising together?
Cruise-fare Stars are split only among the guests in your stateroom who are enrolled in Carnival Rewards. If an adult travelling with you isn’t enrolled and doesn’t enrol within 180 days of the voyage ending, their portion of the Stars is forfeited rather than shared out to the rest of the group. So it is well worth all guests enrolling! For guests under 18, who can’t enrol individually, a linked “responsible party” (an enrolled adult) receives the minor’s share instead, so it’s worth making sure every enrolled adult’s details are on the booking, and that any unenrolled guests sign up within 180 days of your cruise.
What doesn't earn Points or Stars?
Taxes and fees, Fly2Fun bookings, certain fare types, and anything funded by Points or unearned onboard credit are all excluded from earning.
Can I transfer or share my Points with family?
No, Points are non-transferable and can’t be pooled or shared across a household. Each enrolled guest keeps their own Points balance.
I'm cruising round-trip from Australia. Do I need to do anything?
Yes, round-trip Australian cruises aren’t logged to earn VIFP points automatically, so you’ll need to log in and claim them through “Missing a Cruise?” in your account. Processing takes six to eight weeks, and any cruises you leave unclaimed will mean the wrong day count carries over into Carnival Rewards, so it’s worth doing this well before 31 August 2026.