Sometimes the simplest solutions really are that easy! One Carnival Cruise Line guest has shared an inexpensive, lightweight, safe, and relaxing option for the cruise cabin nightlight quandary, and yes, it’s cruise line-approved.

Cruise ship staterooms can have a lot of odd lights at night – a spotlight-like glare from an uncovered peephole (try a bit of wadded up tissue to block that), a smear of light from under the door, and random blinking or glowing lights from the thermostat, television, chargers, and other electronics.

What is truly dark, however, is the one spot you may really need a bit of light at night – in the bathroom. While they may be tiny, you certainly don’t want to miss wherever you are aiming during a nighttime visit to that littlest room.

There are a variety of different battery-operated, motion-sensor nightlights you can purchase to take along on a cruise, and I use one myself.

At just $24, it’s a great price and works very well – but it is also about the size of a baseball (taking up room in the luggage) and does turn off if you’re too still while you, ahem, do your business.

That’s fun, sitting in the bathroom in the middle of the night, suddenly plunged into darkness and now needing to wave your arms around to reactivate the nightlight. But I digress…

One cruise guest has shared a simple option – so simple, I’d never have thought of it – and it’s a safe, affordable, and much smaller solution.

Read Also: What to Pack for a Cruise Vacation

“In my home I use battery-powered LED candles in my bathrooms as nightlights,” the guest explained to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador.

“Would I be permitted to bring one of these on the ship for the same purpose? They are not real candles, just battery-powered LED lights shaped like candles. When used in a bathroom they reflect off the mirror and give a nice soft nightlight.”

Just reading that, I’m flabbergasted – such a simple, elegant solution, easy to tuck into the luggage, and they’re only about fifty cents each.

Forgot to pack them along? Just a quick stop at a dollar store and you can resupply your entire traveling party with nightlights for just a few dollars.

And while real candles are on Carnival Cruise Line’s prohibited items list, along with any sort of open flame, explosive, or flammable items, the guest confirmed that these simulated candles are perfectly acceptable.

“Yes, of course you may [bring them],” responded Heald. “I wish you the most fabulous time.”

I’m going to assume Heald isn’t wishing the guest a fabulous time in the bathroom, but the battery-powered candles are a great idea.

But Aren’t There Automatic Nightlights?

But don’t Carnival staterooms have automatic nightlights in the bathrooms? While some newer ships do have such a feature, most older ships do not.

Furthermore, the nightlights Carnival Cruise Line has added to some older ships during dry dock renovations are positioned underneath closet doors.

While they are certainly bright enough – their brightness has actually generated complaints – if the bathroom door is closed, that nightlight is no help.

Worth Reading: Carnival Cruise Line Responds to ‘Night Sweats’ with Blunt Advice

Some cruise guests may choose to leave the bathroom door open for a nighttime visit, but that isn’t always preferable or practical. Others may carry a small flashlight or even leave the television on the bridge view for some soft light.

Different solutions work best for different travelers, of course, but this simple and easy option is one I’m going to have to try.

Reactions to Carnival Cruise Line’s announcement of their complete loyalty program revamp have been fast and furious – literally.

Guests have wasted no time in expressing their disbelief, frustration, and outright rage over the vast changes as the current Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program is to be sunsetted in 2026, replaced with a points-based, spend-based program with recurrent expirations.

There’s a lot to unpack in the new Carnival Rewards program, but guests are upset at one key factor the most – the loss of lifetime loyalty benefits and the years-long accrual of that status.

Loss of a Lifetime

The big – and not too pleasant – surprise that has many loyal Carnival guests reeling is that their loyalty status now has an expiration date. Every two years, Carnival Cruise Line will “reset” guests’ loyalty, and they will have to re-earn – in other words, re-spend – to keep their benefits.

“The lifetime status revocation is a deal breaker for me,” one guest noted. “Take away a few perks… No big deal. But this change was my personal deal breaker.”

Many travelers have expressed similar thoughts. It can take years to reach the higher levels of the VIFP program, years in which guests might have considered trying other cruise lines but remained loyal to Carnival in anticipation of eventually earning more benefits.

To have those benefits revoked after just a couple of years (or in the case of Diamond-level cruisers, in six years at first, and then every two years thereafter) feels very much like a “what have you done for me lately” expression from Carnival Cruise Line.

Furthermore, it is the complete revocation of benefits that has angered many otherwise loyal Carnival guests. Other cruise lines do have loyalty clauses that require travelers to set sail once every 2-3 years to maintain their benefits, ensuring ongoing spending and loyalty.

Carnival’s new program, however, requires that guests re-earn ALL of their benefits in a limited two-year time frame. As many have noted, this isn’t always possible – particularly for the budget-friendly, family-oriented line that Carnival claims to be.

Buying Loyalty

The current program – which will remain in place through May 31, 2026 – counts a guest’s loyalty based on the total number of days they have sailed with Carnival Cruise Line. Once earned, that loyalty has been forever, with guests building to different tiers and their related benefits over years, or even over a lifetime.

The new Carnival Rewards program, however, is radically different. Beginning on June 1, 2026, guests will earn loyalty points based on their spending – from their cruise fare to shore tours, spa treatments, casino play, drink packages, onboard merch, and more.

Okay, that’s not too bad. Many loyal guests have long since advocated for the ability to earn points based on spending rather than simply days at sea, as one’s spending does support the company just as much as long-term loyalty.

In what appears to be a miscalculated blunder, however, Carnival Cruise Line is pushing hard for guests to sign up for their branded credit card as a way to earn points even faster.

While this is a common tactic for loyalty programs for gas stations or individual stores, it is rubbing many cruise travelers – who often save for years to afford their vacations of choice – the wrong way.

“This is not a loyalty program. It is a rebate program,” one guest described. “The more you spend, the more you will be rebated – as long as it’s within a two-year period.”

More Losses

It isn’t just the loss of status that guests are noticing as well. Various benefits of the program will be permanently removed or curtailed.

For Platinum and Diamond level cruisers, there will be no more VIFP Club parties on sailings of five nights or longer, nor will there be any welcome treats available.

There will be no more logo gifts – tote bags, baseball caps, beach bags, journals, or drink koozies. Guests in the Gold VIFP tier will no longer receive their pin on each sailing (pins will remain for Platinum and Diamond guests).

Guests under the age of 18 will no longer receive the $5 in complimentary arcade credits.

If guests do eventually reach the Diamond level of the new program, they will not be receiving a complimentary specialty dining dinner, a one-time free stateroom upgrade, or the exclusive luggage tag set as welcomes to the uppermost tier.

Read Also: What to Expect When You Go on a Carnival Cruise

Some of the most popular benefits – the priority embarkation and debarkation, free wash-and-fold laundry, and early online check-in are remaining for Platinum and Diamond-level guests – so long as they spend enough to re-earn those benefits every two years.

What other benefits will stay or go, or whether or not Carnival Cruise Line further revises the Carnival Rewards program in the coming months, remains to be seen.

Travelers who drive to the cruise homeport know that between traffic, unfamiliar directions, and general congestion, finding the best parking at the cruise terminal can be a challenge.

Unfortunately, guests setting sail this weekend on Carnival Panorama‘s June 21, 2025 departure may have even more parking challenges than they anticipated, due to limited options at the Port of Long Beach.

Carnival Cruise Line has sent out an advisory to booked guests to help them navigate the situation, but is also urging travelers to find alternative transportation if possible.

“Due to limited parking at the Port of Long Beach, we have secured an offsite parking area for your sailing, but we encourage guests to use alternate transportation that does not require parking,” the notification explains.

The impacted sailing is an 8-night Mexican Riviera cruise with stops planned for Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas before the ship returns to Long Beach on Sunday, June 29.

Carnival is advising guests that they should first drive to the cruise terminal to drop off their traveling party and luggage before proceeding to the offsite parking facility.

This is an essential first step, as they will receive an entry card that will identify them as a Carnival Panorama guest – without this, they may be denied parking.

The parking fee is $20 per day, including embarkation and debarkation days, for a total of $180. This must be paid at the facility, in advance, and only card payments are accepted.

Complimentary shuttles will then bring guests back to the cruise terminal to set sail, and will be available after Carnival Panorama returns for drivers to head back to their vehicles.

On embarkation day (Saturday, June 21), the last shuttle will leave the parking facility 30 minutes before final boarding to ensure all guests arrive at the cruise terminal on time.

It is unclear, however, if full parties will be able to be accommodated on the shuttles – another reason to drop one’s traveling companions at the cruise terminal on embarkation day, and perhaps a consideration for debarkation.

Guests should note that not all vehicles can be accommodated at offsite parking area. No vehicles taller than 6 feet 6 inches will be permitted, nor will any oversized vehicles that require more than one space – such as RVs or trailers.

It is also important to note that back-to-back guests who are also sailing on Carnival Panorama‘s June 29 departure, a 6-night cruise, cannot use the provided area, as it is only in use for a single sailing.

As no alternative suggestions other than to find a way not to drive to the cruise terminal are offered, guests with larger vehicles or who are on back-to-back sailings will need to do their own research about parking near the Port of Long Beach.

All guests are also reminded to stick to their pre-selected cruise terminal arrival appointments.

“No matter what you choose, please adhere to your pre-selected Terminal Arrival Appointment,” the email said. “We must allow debarking guests to leave the cruise terminal before we can accommodate your arrival.”

Sticking to those time windows will also help alleviate parking difficulties, as debarking travelers can vacate parking spaces before other cruisers arrive.

Why Is the Parking Full?

Carnival Cruise Line has not offered any explanation about why the port’s parking is limited for this one sailing, but it is not the first time the Port of Long Beach has had crowded parking.

While Carnival Panorama is the only cruise ship using the port on Saturday, June 21, Carnival Firenze is returning the next day, while both Carnival Radiance and Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas will be docked on Monday, June 23. Ovation of the Seas returns on Wednesday, June 25.

Read Also: Full Guide on Long Beach Cruise Terminal Parking

It is possible that other considerations, such as repaving or restriping projects for parking areas or other port traffic, may be impacting parking for this one Carnival Panorama cruise.

Savvy travelers should always plan alternative options in case their first choice for parking may not be available, just so they aren’t faced with extra confusion or frustration and left scrambling for a space on embarkation day.

There are regular news stories about travelers who retire to the seagoing life and spend their golden years almost entirely aboard cruise ships, but do such retirement plans come with extra benefits?

One cruise couple who encountered such a retiree in recent years has been considering the option, and reached out to Carnival Cruise Line with interesting questions.

“My wife and I were on a cruise in 2023 aboard the Regal Princess. At dinner we noticed an elderly lady sitting alone in the main dining room. I also noticed that all the staff, ships officers, waiters all seemed very familiar with this lady,” the poster described to Carnival’s brand ambassador, John Heald.

The guest goes on to note that they had expected the woman might be someone famous, but learned that she had actually been aboard the ship for the past six months.

They had an opportunity to chat with her, and what they learned caught their attention and has kept them thinking about their own options even two years later.

The woman had said of her lengthy cruise, “It’s cheaper than a nursing home.” But is it?

The guest goes on to note that the average cost of a nursing home in their area is $10,000 per month (though according to the American Council on Aging, it is closer to $14,000), and indeed it might be cheaper to set sail permanently.

“My wife and I are both in our late sixties now and we have been thinking about this lady,” the guest explained. “Would Carnival allow discounts for us to live out our lives on the Carnival Legend? This is our favorite ship. … We have no children and we cannot think of a better way to live out our lives.”

The question of whether or not a cruise line might offer discounts for full-time cruise ship life is an interesting one, though Heald admittedly doesn’t have a direct answer.

“Honestly, I have no idea if this is something we would consider,” Heald acknowledged. “I do think though that it’s a wonderful way to think.”

Heald goes on to compare that the retirement home life can be far less impressive than “being forever on vacation” with Carnival Cruise Line’s dining options, multiple pools, “and of course a caring, giving, considerate and always friendly crew.”

Granted, there is one request the guest has for their retirement-at-sea option that Carnival Cruise Line probably won’t be able to accommodate.

“When we die you can just dump us overboard. This will save on funeral costs too,” the guest commented (hopefully joking!).

That did give Heald a laugh, of course, but the cruise line isn’t likely to take such steps. He can, however, help guests arrange for scattering ashes at sea if desired.

Would a Cruise Line Be a Good Alternative to a Nursing Home?

More and more people are considering retirement-at-sea options, and it is an intriguing idea – especially considering that the US average of nursing home care is $111,325 per person for a shared room (think double occupancy staterooms) annually.

Of course, onboard costs would vary depending on the cruise line, the exact ship and type of sailings, stateroom selections, and other factors.

If a guest has high-level loyalty with the cruise line, that could translate into significant savings with free internet, drink discounts, or laundry perks.

Read Also: Here’s How You Can Retire on a Cruise Ship!

One would also have to plan for cruise ship dry dock schedules when it would be necessary to disembark completely, perhaps to switch to a different ship.

Pets would not be permitted, and it is essential to note that cruise ships aren’t always equipped for specialized medical care if it was needed.

Despite those potential drawbacks, however, spending one’s golden years witnessing endless golden at sea sunsets can be a very interesting – and not too outrageous! – option.

For some travelers, it isn’t even necessary to wait until retirement to set sail. Royal Caribbean’s top cruiser, 72-year-old Mario Salcedo, spends nearly 50 weeks a year at sea, working remotely and truly living the seagoing life.

Would you consider a life at sea? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!

After years of growing congestion particularly with the upper tiers of the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) loyalty program, first launched in 2012, Carnival Cruise Line has finally created a new program for eager guests.

Coming in June 2026 will be the new Carnival Rewards program, featuring a duel-earning structure based on both on sailings as well as spending through the Carnival Rewards Mastercard.

The new program is designed to help travelers better customize the rewards they prefer, truly providing added value and rewarding loyalty in multiple ways.

“The evolution of our loyalty program to Carnival Rewards represents our commitment to creating more meaningful recognition for our valued guests,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line’s president.

“Our current VIFP program has served us well for many years and while we’ve enjoyed truly extraordinary growth in our loyal customer base, it has become challenging to deliver the exceptional experience our Diamond and Platinum members deserve.”

The number of Platinum VIFP guests has doubled since 2022, while the number of Diamond guests has quadrupled in that same time period.

The new system will be points-based in a way to reward not only frequency of travel with the cruise line, but also how much travelers spend onboard. Guests will earn three points for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases (with limited exclusions).

Points can also be earned through casino play, and even when guests make non-cruise purchases with their Carnival Rewards Mastercard.

“This transition honors our past while building a future where loyalty is recognized through both cruising frequency and overall engagement with the Carnival experience,” explained Duffy.

Guests will be able to redeem their earned points for onboard extra-charge activities, spa treatments, drinks, specialty dining, shore tours, and even credit them toward future Carnival cruise vacations.

Simultaneously, guests will earn “stars” that determine their loyalty tier, which will remain for two years. The “lifetime” status of cruise line loyalty is being eliminated.

The new program is being introduced in a phased approach. Current VIFP members will stay with their current loyalty level through May 31, 2028 (once the new program launches on June 1, 2026).

Diamond members, however, will have six years – until May 31, 2032 – to acclimate to the new program.

This will give everyone time to adjust to the changes and the launch of the Carnival Rewards program while still building loyalty – both stars and points – on booked cruises and any new sailings they enjoy in the interim.

Guests should note that, for now, there are no changes to the current VIFP program – at least for the next year.

“For the time being, there is no impact to the existing VIFP Club program, guest status, account, or how we will deliver our existing onboard experience.  The preview of the changes is the start of a conversation about how Carnival Rewards will deliver guest benefits and recognition when it formally launches in June 2026,” the Carnival website confirms.

This new program comes after years of hints and sly suggestions that updates were in the works. Such as been the inevitable delay with the announcements that some loyal guests even believed the updates might never be made.

Will the Changes Be Happily Accepted?

Of course, it is not easy to craft a loyalty program covering millions of cruise guests, hundreds of annual sailings, and a fleet of nearly 30 vessels sailing all over the world.

Different benefits, of course, are organized by different cruise line departments, but must have all been meshed together into the new, cohesive program. Balancing levels, providing good value, and above all, ensuring guests feel welcome and valued are all key aspects of any cruise line loyalty program.

Read Also: Which Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs?

While time will tell whether or not every aspect of the Carnival Rewards program remains intact – perks do come and go over time and some tweaks are likely inevitable – many Carnival cruisers will undoubtedly be eager to set sail with their new benefits in the coming years.