Carnival Cruise Line — which not too long ago unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its loyalty program into an airline-style mannequin with redeemable factors — introduced enhancements for top-tier members Monday, together with lifetime standing for any members who attain the Diamond degree earlier than the brand new program launches in June.
The changes come simply 4 months after the Carnival Rewards program (which eradicated lifetime standing earnings) was introduced.
“We have spent the summer time speaking with our friends, listening to their feedback and taking of their suggestions,” Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy mentioned in a press release. “Consequently, I’m glad to share that we’re making adjustments to enhance the providing to our most loyal prospects as we prepare for this system’s launch in 2026. We consider these enhancements acknowledge our appreciation for the loyalty of our prime tier friends.”
Beneath are a few of the introduced adjustments:
- Company who obtain Diamond standing within the firm’s present loyalty program, the VIFP Membership, by Could 31, 2026, will obtain lifetime Diamond standing within the new Carnival Rewards program. Initially, these members would have seen their standing prolonged via 2032.
- Company who obtain Platinum standing within the present VIFP Membership by Could 31, 2026, won’t solely have their standing prolonged via Could 31, 2028, as beforehand introduced, however they’re going to additionally get a lift of 10,000 Carnival Rewards standing qualifying Stars when the Carnival Rewards program begins June 1, 2026, and in each two-year incomes cycle thereafter. It will give Platinum VIFP members a biennial 20% “head begin” on incomes Platinum or Diamond standing. They’re going to even be assured a minimal of Gold standing in all future cycles.
- Though U.S. privateness legal guidelines prohibit minors from enrolling in rewards applications, Carnival mentioned that kids will take pleasure in the identical standing because the grownup who booked their crusing. When minors flip 18, those that achieved Diamond or Platinum standing via an grownup by Could 31, 2026, will likely be invited to choose in to Carnival Rewards with that standing and the identical privileges provided to all different Diamond and Platinum VIFP members.
- Carnival additionally mentioned it’s actively exploring choices for friends in Canada and Australia to earn factors via partnerships just like the Carnival® World Mastercard® accessible to U.S. residents. The knowledge for the Carnival World Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Impressed by the success of airline and resort loyalty applications which can be tied to journey, spending and cobranded bank cards, Carnival is the primary to launch the same program for the cruise business.
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The brand new program strikes away from lifetime qualification for all however the prime Diamond tier, and it tweaks advantages reminiscent of free Wi-Fi, laundry service, precedence boarding and eating perks related to the totally different tiers. It additionally introduces a brand new forex that may be earned and redeemed for nearly any Carnival buy.
Below the brand new program, members will earn 3 factors for each greenback spent on eligible Carnival purchases, together with cruise fare, onboard drinks, specialty eating, spa therapies and shore excursions.
Frequent avid gamers may also see rewards, incomes 1 level for each on line casino level remaining on the finish of their cruise.
Company can even earn rewards factors for spending on the Carnival World Mastercard. The brand new forex will exchange the FunPoints at present earned on the cardboard, and present cardmembers will see their present balances transitioned to the brand new program when it launches.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, airline or resort chain, and haven’t been reviewed, authorized or in any other case endorsed by any of those entities.
