{"id":275885,"date":"2026-09-01T14:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T14:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=275885\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T17:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T17:02:01","slug":"carnival-cruise-line-just-launched-a-new-loyalty-program-heres-what-to-know-about-carnival-rewards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/cruises\/carnival-rewards-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"Carnival Cruise Line Just Launched a New Loyalty Program \u2014 Here\u2019s What to Know about Carnival Rewards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Carnival Cruise Line launched <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/carnival-rewards-program-changes\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Carnival Rewards<\/a> today, replacing its VIFP Club with a new loyalty program that rewards spending rather than days sailed. The new structure introduces a redeemable points currency, a separate status currency dubbed &#8220;Stars,&#8221; and a revamped co-branded card from Barclays.<\/p>\n<p>Carnival calls the program a first for the cruise industry, and that's largely true. Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society and Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards both count nights toward status, and status is for life. Carnival Rewards is more similar to a traditional airline or hotel program, with expiring status and credit card spenders who can earn status without ever setting sail.<\/p>\n<p>We also had a chance to ask the Carnival team a few questions before the program launched. Here's everything you need to know about the new Carnival Rewards program.<\/p>\n<p><iframe data-aspectratio=\"500\/281\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The New Carnival Rewards Program Is CRAZY! Everything You Need To Know\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TcbdDJ3Jwxo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen class=\"lazyload\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Points_and_Stars_Replace_Days_Sailed\">Points and Stars Replace Days Sailed<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Under the VIFP program, status came from days on board, with levels Red (2-24 nights), Gold (25-74 nights), Platinum (75-199 nights), and Diamond (200+ nights). Now, you need to understand two metrics: Carnival Rewards Points and Status Qualifying Stars.<\/p>\n<p>Carnival Rewards Points are redeemable points, while Status Qualifying Stars determine your status tier. This is similar to the concept we've seen with airlines like American Airlines, which offer <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/loyalty-point-rewards-choices\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Loyalty Points<\/a> for status accrual and redeemable miles for award flights.<\/p>\n<p>You'll earn points and stars on every Carnival purchase. Sid Krishna, VP of Loyalty at Carnival, helped build the program over roughly four years. He framed the design goal as flexibility from a guest's first sailing onward rather than a reward for purely sailing frequently with Carnival.<\/p>\n<p>Here's how earning is broken down in the new program:<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-1360\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-1360 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Activity<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Points Earning<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Qualifying Stars Earning<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Eligible Carnival Purchases<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">3 points per $1 spent<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">3 stars per $1 spent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Casino Play<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1 point per Casino Point Earned<br \/>\n(and not redeemed for Free Play)<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1 star per Casino Point<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<p>Eligible purchases include spa treatments, shore excursions, specialty dining, onboard activities, and pre-cruise purchases. Taxes and fees are excluded. The responsible party for minors sailing on board would receive credit for the spending so that parents may ramp up status faster under the new program. In addition, onboard spending would be credited to the customer making the purchase, so traveling couples could credit all their spending to one party to earn more stars.<\/p>\n<p>In the casino, players will earn casino points as always, based on their play. Each casino point will earn one Star, and all Stars that are not redeemed for free play will convert to Reward Points at the end of the cruise.<\/p>\n<p>Credit card spending on the Carnival Rewards Mastercard will also earn points and stars. You'll earn 3X points per $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, 2X points on dining and groceries, and 1X points on everything else. Every $1 you spend on the card also earns one Star.<\/p>\n<p>Points start up to 14 days after your sailing ends. They expire after three years and reset with any account activity, including credit card spend.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Earning_Status\">Earning Status<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You now earn status by accruing stars over a two-year Status Qualifying Window. You earn Red status upon enrollment, Gold at 10,000 Stars, Platinum at 50,000 Stars, and Diamond at 100,000 Stars.<\/p>\n<p>The status you earn stays yours for the rest of the earning window, plus another two-year period during which you'll keep the status you've earned. During that period, you can accrue stars to earn status again. The inaugural qualifying period runs from September 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, meaning the first window is actually 28 months long.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_275929\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/338\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-275929 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CARNIVAL-REWARD-LEVELS-1030x580-1.webp\" alt=\"carnival rewards status levels\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CARNIVAL-REWARD-LEVELS-1030x580-1.webp 1030w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CARNIVAL-REWARD-LEVELS-1030x580-1-750x422.webp 750w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CARNIVAL-REWARD-LEVELS-1030x580-1-900x507.webp 900w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CARNIVAL-REWARD-LEVELS-1030x580-1-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Carnival<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Doing the math, Carnival Rewards members would have to spend $3,334 on eligible Carnival purchases over a two-year period to earn Gold, but only $2,500 if that spend is charged to the Carnival Rewards Mastercard. Platinum requires $16,667 in spending, or $12,500 if spent on the credit card. Top-tier Diamond would require $33,334 in spending, or $25,000 on the credit card.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"The_Carnival_Rewards_Mastercard\">The Carnival Rewards Mastercard<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Along with the new Carnival Rewards program, the Carnival Rewards Mastercard is launching today. The old version of the card &#8212; the Carnival World Mastercard &#8212; is being rebranded as part of the launch.<\/p>\n<p>New cardmembers earn 50,000 bonus points after $1,000 in purchases within 90 days, plus a 2,500-point anniversary bonus each year after $2,000 in spending. The card also carries a 0% promotional APR for six months on Carnival cruise bookings.<\/p>\n<p>Existing Carnival World Mastercard holders transition automatically during their next billing cycle throughout September. Benefits from the old card carry over, and all existing Fun Points balances convert 1:1 into Carnival Rewards Points in your Carnival Rewards account.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Redeeming_Points\">Redeeming Points<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One surprise we learned from the press event was the redemption rate for Carnival Rewards points. Instead of a clear, constant redemption rate, the value of your Carnival Rewards points will fluctuate, depending on your preferred redemption. That means <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/travel\/what-is-dynamic-pricing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">dynamic pricing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Carnival is not publishing a redemption chart at launch. We do know there are many redeemable options, including cruise fares, cabin upgrades, shore excursions, specialty dining, spa treatments, and airport transfers.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, redemption rates could also change sailing-to-sailing, giving Carnival the ability to incentivize redemptions on emptier sailings, for example. It also means that Carnival could price redemptions higher for peak travel dates, like the holidays or Spring Break.<\/p>\n<p>The new program also allows points and cash bookings, and members won't be penalized for combining points and cash. The sailing date and redemption type will change the reward price.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_This_New_Program_Means\">What This New Program Means<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>There are fewer sweet spots.<\/strong> A point pegged to the Carnival's own cash pricing (or demand-based redemptions) cannot produce outsized redemptions. We'll have to see if Carnival truly discounts redemptions on off-peak sailings or older ships when we dig more into the program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Points could be devalued sneakily.<\/strong> Programs without published charts eventually devalue, often with short notice. We see that all the time at AwardWallet. Carnival Rewards could suddenly require more points to redeem for a free cruise, simply because the brand decides to. That could make it hard to assign value to a program's currency. It also incentivizes the member to use their points as quickly as possible. Thankfully, there's no minimum threshold to using your points.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You're only as valuable as how much you spend.<\/strong> Under the old program, days on board were what mattered most for status. Plus, the status was for life. Now, it's how much you spend with Carnival and on its credit card, and even the status you earn expires. A reminder: Carnival did allow Diamonds to keep their status after they first announced the program.<\/p>\n<p>Carnival has also rethought its Milestone Rewards program, so you'll still get some rewards for days sailed. But if you enjoyed the perks of your status while sailing Carnival, you'll have to earn it again under the new rules. Existing VIFP status will expire on August 31, 2028.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This is just the beginning.\u00a0<\/strong>While earning Qualifying Stars and Carnival Points will currently only be possible with Carnival at launch, the team hinted at possible future partnerships to earn more. We'll stay tuned for more details.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Carnival Rewards is the most significant loyalty change the cruise industry has ever seen. A new reward currency, new earning schemes, and milestone rewards are all part of a program that rewards big spending rather than days sailed.<\/p>\n<p>The dynamic redemption model is the real headline change. Travelers hoping to leverage Carnival Rewards Points into outsized value should reset their expectations now. Earn them on spending you were going to do anyway, redeem as you earn, and consider the credit card if status matters.<\/p>\n<p>If you cruise Carnival even occasionally, enrollment is free. You can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/account\/add\/402\" rel=\"noopener\">add your Carnival Rewards account to AwardWallet<\/a> to track your points and make sure they don't expire.<\/p>\n<p class=\"custom-blue\"><strong>Don't have an AwardWallet account yet?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/register?ref=235\" target=_blank>Sign up for free<\/a> and track unlimited rewards programs and travel plans.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ftoc\"><div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Points_and_Stars_Replace_Days_Sailed\">Points and Stars Replace Days Sailed<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Earning_Status\">Earning Status<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#The_Carnival_Rewards_Mastercard\">The Carnival Rewards Mastercard<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Redeeming_Points\">Redeeming Points<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#What_This_New_Program_Means\">What This New Program Means<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new Carnival Rewards program is now live, and with it comes new status earning requirements, and lifetime status no longer. Spending with Carnival is what matters most in the new program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":204850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12069],"tags":[36522,12036],"coauthors":[36469],"class_list":["post-275885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-carnival-rewards","tag-major-updates"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275885"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":276261,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275885\/revisions\/276261"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/204850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275885"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=275885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}