Key Aspects:
- Carnival informed cruise guests that they would need to enroll in the new Rewards Program in order to maintain their current VIFP status.
- This action has reignited the controversy behind the new program.
- Largely because of the negative response, the program’s launch was delayed to September 1, 2026.
It’s no secret that Carnival’s new Rewards Program has been met with a sea of controversy, particularly over the removal of the automatic lifetime loyalty status.
After being told that guests’ existing VIFP statuses would automatically be carried over to the new program, Carnival informed cruisers that they would now need to opt in to maintain their current status.
Though loyalty levels will reset every two years under the new program, guests will be able to keep their existing status through at least December 31, 2028.
The enrollment emails, which went out in early May, have reignited the outrage associated with the new loyalty program. Cruisers are once again debating if they should remain loyal to Carnival going forward.
“It took me 12 years to get platinum status. I took extra cruises that I wouldn’t typically have taken, just to try to get to platinum a little quicker. I even chose Carnival over NCL a few times to help me get that status,” one avid Cruiser posted on Reddit on May 5, 2026.
“I invested in Carnival, so they could invest in me as a loyal cruiser, over many years. They’ve now decided that years of loyalty mean nothing. So, goodbye Carnival, and just remember, this breakup is on you. Who else is moving on?” they continued.
For reference, Platinum is one step below the very top Diamond tier of the current VIFP loyalty program. The cruiser needed 75-199 points to reach this level, with guests earning one point for each day they sail under the retiring system.
Enrollment May Be the Final Straw
If guests are planning to opt in to the new Rewards Program, the process takes less than a minute and must be completed by August 31, 2026.
Guests simply have to click the link in their personalized emails to accept the new Rewards Program’s terms and conditions. But for some, this action is still a step too far.
“I was told that it automatically reverts over and there is nothing we need to do,” one confused cruiser said on Cruise Hive’s Facebook page.
“I am Platinum and very RELUCTANT to opt in, because I lose everything under new program because I will not / am not spending money Carnival requires to maintain Platinum level!!!,” one avid cruiser lamented.
“Not enrolling in anything! Take my last booked cruise with them on the Venezia this Sunday, then no more Carnival. Not spending $34k every two years to maintain Diamond. All the members that think their “grandfathering in” is going to be permanent are mistaken,” another exclaimed.
Despite her outrage, this second guest may be slightly misinformed. In response to the backlash, Carnival made the Diamond status permanent for any guests who reach this level by May 31, 2026.
For all other levels, the Carnival Rewards Program status will reset every two years. Statuses will be earned and obtained by earning stars, which are based on dollars spent and gambling in the onboard casinos.
When Does the Rewards Program Kick In?
The forced enrollment is just one more offense for angry cruisers who have not liked the new Rewards Program from the very beginning.
However, the change is necessary as so many cruisers have reached elite VIFP statuses that Carnival is repeatedly unable to provide the special loyalty perks that these vacationers have earned.
“If every one has platinum status, no one does. I don’t understand why people don’t get that. They had to change it. It got to a point where some cruises were mostly platinum and diamond members. They could not provide the perks for those cruises,” one cruise fan said in Carnival’s defense.
The new program was pushed back from June 1, 2026, to make tweaks to the program and respond to some of the criticism. It will go into effect on September 1, 2026, whether guests like it or not.
