Key Aspects:
- A high number of Diamond and Platinum VIFP guests will be onboard for Mardi Gras’ upcoming Transatlantic crossing, which sets sail on September 13, 2025.
- As a result, loyalty benefits like priority embarkation and disembarkation and early stateroom access will not be available.
- This is the latest example in which there have been too many elite cruisers onboard at once, which helps to justify the controversial overhaul to the current VIFP loyalty program.
Guests who are just days away from embarking on Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras have learned that they won’t necessarily get the VIP experience onboard – or VIFP experience we should say – that they were expecting.
The voyage in question is a 14-night Transatlantic crossing from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Barcelona, Spain, that embarks on September 13, 2025.
Carnival has issued a letter confirming that too many elite members of the VIFP loyalty program will be onboard for this sailing, which makes it impossible to offer some of the perks that top-tier Diamond and Platinum members may be accustomed to.
“Due to the high number of Diamond and Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide the following benefits,” the letter begins.
In this case, priority embarkation and disembarkation will not be offered, including at any ports of call.
This would have been helpful when the Excel-class ship visits the new Celebration Key in the Bahamas; Santa Cruise de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Cadiz, Spain; and Malaga, Spain.
Early stateroom access, even just to drop off luggage, will also not be allowed. Similarly, priority luggage delivery for checked suitcases will not be available either.
Next, it will not be possible for the guest services team to provide priority assistance to these elite cruisers by phone or at the desk onboard.
Last but not least, main dining room seating requests made by Diamond guests cannot be guaranteed due to capacity limitations.
But while this news may be disappointing, other perks like complimentary beverages, welcome treats that are available upon request, and the collectible VIFP pins will still be offered.
Missing Perks on Journeys Sailings
This isn’t the first time that Carnival has had to revoke loyalty benefits and it likely won’t be the last, at least until the revamped Rewards Program kicks in next summer.
Carnival Journeys sailings, which are longer voyages like Mardi Gras’ quickly approaching Transatlantic voyage, are more likely to welcome a greater number of elite VIFP passengers.
As a result, the ability to offer perks is more likely to become impractical on these extended cruises.
“These operational changes are consistent with other Carnival Journeys cruises where we have a very large number of Diamond and Platinum guests,” Carnival explained in the letter.
“We apologize for any disappointment and thank you for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you aboard for a unique, fun, and memorable cruise.”
Read Also: Everything to Know About Carnival’s Adults-Only SEA Cruises
Most recently, Carnival Conquest’s unique adults-only sailing that embarked on August 22, 2025, was not able to offer these standard perks.
This was a longer 9-night southern Caribbean voyage that was marketed to top VIFP guests and members of the Carnival Players Club, so this news was not all that surprising.
However, guests booked on four normal family-friendly Carnival Journeys Sailings that were operated by Carnival Pride, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Dream, and Carnival Venezia at the beginning of this year would have received similar letters about saying goodbye to perks.
Although Carnival’s new Rewards Program has received a flood of criticism, these are all repeated examples of how the current VIFP program isn’t sustainable and doesn’t allow the cruise line to properly reward its most loyal passengers.
Loyalty status will reset every two years instead of being set for life, which is where much of the pushback is coming from. However, this is a necessary change to prevent situations where there are too many elite passengers onboard at once.
