News: Carnival Rewards Officially Launches as Carnival Cruise Line Retires the VIFP Loyalty Program

Carnival Cruise Line has officially launched Carnival Rewards, replacing the longtime VIFP Club loyalty program that rewarded guests primarily based on the number of cruise days sailed. The new Carnival Rewards program went live on September 1, 2026, introducing a completely different approach to earning loyalty status and cruise rewards.

Under Carnival Rewards, guests now earn both Carnival Rewards Points and Status Qualifying Stars on eligible cruise spending, onboard purchases, casino play, and certain credit card purchases. The change marks the biggest overhaul to Carnival's loyalty program since the introduction of VIFP and shifts the focus from sailing frequency alone to a combination of cruise activity and spending.

For many Carnival cruisers, the biggest question is what happens to their existing VIFP status. Fortunately, current VIFP members are not starting over. Existing status levels carry over into Carnival Rewards, although the way status is maintained going forward has changed significantly.

Carnival Rewards Officially Launches

Carnival Rewards officially replaced the VIFP Club on September 1, 2026. The new program introduces two separate earning currencies.

• Carnival Reward Points – These can be redeemed for purchases such as spa treatments, specialty dining, onboard experiences, and even future cruises.

• Status Qualifying Stars – These determine your loyalty tier: Red, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond.

Carnival Rewards Points function as a redeemable rewards currency. Guests can use points toward cruise fare discounts, onboard credits, specialty dining, shore excursions, beverage packages, spa treatments, WiFi packages, gratuities, and other eligible Carnival purchases.

Status Qualifying Stars determine a guest's loyalty tier and benefits. The more stars earned during a status earning period, the higher a guest's status level becomes. Unlike Carnival Rewards Points, stars cannot be redeemed and are used exclusively for tier qualification.

Carnival Rewards includes four status levels:

• Red: 0+ Stars

• Gold: 10,000+ Stars

• Platinum: 50,000+ Stars

• Diamond: 100,000+ Stars

Guests generally earn 3 Carnival Rewards Points and 3 Status Qualifying Stars for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, excluding taxes, fees, and other excluded charges. Eligible spending categories include cruise fare, gratuities, Carnival Vacation Protection, transfers, shore excursions, beverage packages, specialty dining, spa purchases, WiFi, photo packages, onboard shopping, and more. Casino players can also earn points and stars based on casino activity.

Unlike the VIFP system, which is based solely on the number of nights you’ve sailed, Carnival Rewards factors in both cruise nights and how much you spend, including onboard purchases and spending through the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard.

The Big Changes: How Carnival Rewards Differs from the Old VIFP Loyalty Program

The most significant difference between Carnival Rewards and the retired VIFP Club is how loyalty status is earned and maintained.

Under the former VIFP program, status was based entirely on cruise days sailed. Every cruise day counted toward lifetime status progression. Once a guest reached Gold, Platinum, or Diamond, that status remained permanently.

Carnival Rewards moves away from lifetime status for most members. Status is now based primarily on Stars earned during fixed earning periods. Guests can earn Stars through cruise spending, onboard purchases, casino play, and spending on the Carnival Rewards Mastercard.

Another major change is that Carnival Rewards introduces a redeemable points currency. Under VIFP, guests received loyalty benefits but did not earn a rewards currency that could be redeemed for purchases. Carnival Rewards Points now provide a flexible way to offset vacation costs and pay for onboard experiences.

Status is also no longer permanent for most guests. Once achieved, a status level is guaranteed through the current earning period and the following status period, but guests must continue earning Stars to maintain their tier. The exception is for certain legacy Diamond members, as discussed below.

What Rewards Level Am I Now That VIFP Has Been Retired?

One of the biggest concerns among Carnival cruisers has been how existing VIFP status transfers into Carnival Rewards.

Carnival has automatically mapped current VIFP status levels into the new program based on a guest's status as of August 31, 2026. Existing members who enroll in Carnival Rewards retain their earned VIFP status when transitioning to the new system.

• If you were a Blue VIFP member, your status converts to Red.

• If you were a Red VIFP member, your status remains Red.

• If you were a Gold VIFP member, your status remains Gold.

• If you were a Platinum VIFP member, your status transfers to Platinum through December 31, 2028. Carnival will also deposit 10,000 Status Qualifying Stars into Platinum members' accounts at the beginning of each future earning cycle, providing a built in boost toward maintaining higher status levels.

• If you earned VIFP Diamond status by August 31, 2026, Carnival has granted lifetime Carnival Rewards Diamond status. This was a change made after feedback from loyal guests and represents a major revision from Carnival's original announcement.

For all members except the legacy VIFP Diamond members, their existing status level is guaranteed through December 31, 2028, unless they qualify for a higher level before then.

How to Earn Points and Stars

Carnival Rewards introduces multiple earning opportunities that did not exist under the VIFP Club. Guests earn:

• 3 Carnival Rewards Points per eligible dollar spent

• 3 Status Qualifying Stars per eligible dollar spent

• 1 Carnival Rewards Point and 1 Status Qualifying Star for every casino point remaining at the end of a sailing

Eligible purchases generally include:

• Your cruise fare

• Pre-cruise purchases

• Gratuities

• Carnival Vacation Protection plans

• Airport transfers purchased through Carnival

• Shore excursions purchased through Carnival

• Specialty dining

• Spa treatments

• Beverage packages

• WiFi packages

• Photo packages

• Onboard shopping

• Most onboard purchases

Points earned do not expire as long as there is qualifying activity at least once every three years. Stars, meanwhile, are used solely for determining loyalty status.

The first Carnival Rewards earning period runs from September 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. Future earning cycles will operate on fixed two year periods beginning January 1, 2029 and every two years thereafter.

Carnival Mastercard Integration

The Carnival Rewards Mastercard now plays a much larger role in Carnival's loyalty ecosystem.

Current Carnival Mastercard cardholders are automatically transitioned into the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard. Existing Fun Points balances convert into Carnival Rewards Points after launch.

• Guests can earn both Points and Stars through card spending.

• Existing Fun Points from the current card program will convert to Carnival Reward Points when the new system launches.

Cardholders earn:

• Up to 6 Carnival Rewards Points per eligible Carnival purchase

• 2 Points per dollar at restaurants and eligible grocery stores

• 1 Point per dollar on other purchases

• 1 Status Qualifying Star per dollar spent on everyday purchases

• Up to 4 Status Qualifying Stars per dollar on eligible Carnival purchases when card earnings are combined with Carnival Rewards earnings

This means guests who regularly use the Carnival Rewards Mastercard can earn status much faster than cruisers relying solely on cruise spending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carnival Rewards replacing VIFP?

Yes. Carnival Rewards officially replaced the VIFP Club on September 1, 2026. All loyalty activity now occurs through Carnival Rewards.

Do my VIFP cruise days still count?

Yes. Your existing cruise history and earned VIFP status were used to determine your starting Carnival Rewards status level.

Is Platinum status still lifetime?

No. Platinum status is no longer a lifetime tier for new qualifications. Existing Platinum members retain status through December 31, 2028 and receive ongoing 10,000 Star deposits at the start of each earning cycle.

Is Diamond status still lifetime?

Yes, for guests who earned VIFP Diamond status by August 31, 2026. Those members receive lifetime Carnival Rewards Diamond status. Any guests who naturally earn Diamond status through the new Carnival Rewards program are NOT granted lifetime status and must re-qualify every earnings period.

Can I redeem Carnival Rewards Points for a cruise?

Yes. Points can be applied toward cruise fare and a variety of onboard and pre cruise purchases.

Do Carnival Rewards Points expire?

Points remain active as long as there is qualifying points activity at least once every three years.

Do I need to enroll in Carnival Rewards?

Yes. Carnival requires guests to accept the new program terms and enroll in Carnival Rewards. Guests who enrolled before launch ensured their VIFP status and cruise history transferred into the new system.

Bottom Line and Final Thoughts on Carnival Rewards

Carnival Rewards represents the most significant loyalty program change in Carnival Cruise Line history. The retirement of VIFP ends a system that rewarded guests almost exclusively for the number of cruise days sailed and replaces it with a program that rewards both spending and engagement across the Carnival ecosystem.

For many guests, the addition of a redeemable points currency is an improvement. Carnival cruisers can now earn rewards that can be used toward future cruises, specialty dining, shore excursions, drink packages, WiFi, spa treatments, and other onboard purchases.

At the same time, the shift away from lifetime status will likely remain the most controversial aspect of the new program. While existing Diamond members received lifetime protection and Platinum members received significant transition benefits, future status levels will require ongoing activity and spending to maintain your loyalty tier.

Whether Carnival Rewards is ultimately viewed as better than VIFP will depend largely on how guests cruise. Frequent spenders, casino players, and Carnival Mastercard users may find it easier to earn rewards and status than ever before. Guests who relied primarily on accumulated cruise days under VIFP may find the new system more challenging to maintain their status.

What is clear is that Carnival Rewards is now the future of Carnival Cruise Line loyalty, and understanding how Points, Stars, and status levels work will be essential for every Carnival cruiser moving forward.

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