Carnival Cruise Line is delaying the rollout of its new Carnival Rewards loyalty program amid backlash from passengers hoping to secure elite status. The program, originally set to debut 01JUN, 2026, will now launch 01SEP, 2026, giving guests additional time to earn their final VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) tier before the transition.
In a letter sent to VIFP members—and shared with travel advisors—Carnival said the change comes directly in response to guest concerns. “We’ve been listening to your feedback about our upcoming Carnival Rewards program,” reads the letter, signed by Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line.
The three-month extension allows travellers to count their summer 2026 cruises toward their final VIFP tier before the switch.
“To give you extra time—and to let your summer 2026 cruises count toward your final VIFP Club status — we are moving the launch of Carnival Rewards to Sept. 1, 2026,” the cruise line said. “All your cruise activity through Aug. 31, 2026 will count toward your final VIFP status.”
That final VIFP tier will determine each guest’s starting tier in Carnival Rewards.
Not Everyone Is Chasing Status
Jeff Laforteza, a home-based advisor with Fora Travel in California who specializes in cruises, says the update likely reflects pressure from passengers trying to climb tiers before the cutoff. Of Carnival's move, “they're loosening and updating things,” said Laforteza, who previously shared his thoughts on the initial Carnival Rewards announcement in a LinkedIn post, published by Open Jaw.
But he added the shift won’t affect most of his Carnival clients. “Most of my Carnival people aren’t chasing Diamond or Platinum—they wouldn’t get there anyway. Mine are all casino-offer people," he tells Open Jaw.
Some cruisers, however, say the back-and-forth has pushed them to consider other lines. One Reddit user wrote: “Honestly, this whole debacle has been freeing for me. I don’t feel the need to be loyal to Carnival anymore and have started looking at other lines. I already have a cruise booked with Virgin for December and have been eyeing MSC because of their status-match offer.”
MSC Cruises’ status-match program lets travellers carry over elite status from other loyalty programs.
Virgin Voyages is also targeting travellers with what it calls its "industry-first Status Match program," which lets members carry over elite status from airline, hotel, or other cruise loyalty programs into its Sailing Club. Guests who match into the program receive Blue Extras, including a specialty coffee credit each day, one laundry bag per voyage, access to exclusive onboard cocktail events, and dedicated Sailing Club support throughout their trip.
How Carnival's Two-Year Cycle Will Work
Carnival also detailed how status will function once the new program begins. When Carnival Rewards launches on 01SEP, 2026, members’ tiers will match their VIFP status on that date and remain in place until 31DEC, 2028 — creating a longer first earning cycle. After that, each earning period will run 01JAN to 31DEC on a two-year cycle. Status will be based on “stars,” which reset every two years. Members will earn:
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3 stars per $1 spent on cruise fare and onboard purchases
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1 star per casino point
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Bonus stars for using the Carnival Rewards Mastercard
Diamond guests will retain lifetime status, and Platinum members will receive a 10,000-star boost every two years.
Points for redeeming drinks, dining, excursions, or cruise fare accrue at the same rate as stars but do not affect tiers. Carnival says “100 points ≈ $1 in value,” with points staying active as long as members earn or redeem at least once every three years.
Milestone recognition continues under the new structure. The current milestone program ends 31AUG, 2026, but all milestone awards earned before that date remain valid through 31AUG, 2030. New milestone recognition will be based on days sailed.
