Carnival replaces VIFP Club with new spend-based loyalty program
Carnival Cruise Line will retire its Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club on June 1, 2026, replacing it with Carnival Rewards – a major shift from cruise-night-based status to spending-based rewards. The change aligns Carnival with broader travel industry trends that prioritize total guest spending over trip frequency. It also introduces a more flexible rewards structure, but not without trade-offs for longtime cruisers used to legacy perks.
Related: Related: Navigating Carnival ship classes? Start here
On this page:
- How Carnival’s new Carnival Rewards works
- The Carnival Rewards transition for existing members
- Benefit changes of Carnival Rewards
- Carnival Rewards credit card integration
- Carnival Rewards impact on different cruisers
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How Carnival’s new Carnival Rewards works
The new Carnival Rewards program introduces a dual tracking system, with Stars determining status tiers and Points serving as redeemable currency. Unlike the old system based on cruise nights, everything now revolves around how much you spend.
Guests earn 3 Stars and 3 Points per dollar spent on cruise fares and onboard purchases, including dining, spa treatments, and excursions. Casino play earns 1 Star and 1 Point per casino point.
There are four status levels based on Stars earned over rolling two-year periods: Gold at 10,000 Stars (approximately $3,334 in spending), Platinum at 50,000 Stars (about $16,667), and Diamond at 100,000 Stars (roughly $33,334). Points can be redeemed for future cruises, excursions, specialty dining, spa treatments, and onboard credit, with no minimum redemption requirement.
