Carnival Cruise Line Promises Lifelong Diamond Status to Loyalty Club Members

After considerable backlash from cruisers regarding its upcoming Carnival Rewards loyalty program, Carnival Cruise Line is making some changes to the future program, specifically for Diamond and Platinum guests.

Most significantly, any VIFP members who have already reached Diamond status – or reach it by the new program’s launch date of June 1, 2026 – will retain that status for life.

Platinum VIFP members will not only have their status extended through May 31, 2028, as previously announced, but they will also receive a “boost” to help them towards platinum status in the new program.

The boost comes in the form of a bi-annual reward of 10,000 Carnival Rewards status-qualifying stars when the Carnival Rewards program starts on June 1, 2026, and in every two-year earning cycle thereafter.  This will give Platinum VIFP members a 20% “head start” to earning Platinum status. It also provides a minimum of Gold status in all future cycles under the Carnival Rewards program.

“We are so excited about our new Carnival Rewards loyalty program launching next year, and believe it will drive fantastic engagement with, and rewards for, our guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “At the same time, we greatly appreciate the loyalty of our passionate guests and the years of dedication many have exhibited in order to achieve higher tiered loyalty status with Carnival Cruise Line. We’ve spent the summer talking with our guests, listening to their comments and taking in their feedback. As a result, I am happy to share that we are making changes to improve the offering to our most loyal customers as we get ready for the program’s launch in 2026. We believe these enhancements recognize our appreciation for the loyalty of our top tier guests.”

Other changes announced include:

• Consistent with U.S. privacy laws that restrict children under 18 from being enrolled in programs like Carnival Rewards, Carnival confirmed that children will enjoy the same status as their parent or adult that is designated as their responsible party on the booking for that sailing, and when minors turn 18, those who have achieved Diamond or Platinum status by May 31, 2026, will be invited to opt-in to Carnival Rewards with their earned status and the same privileges offered to all other Diamond and Platinum VIFP members.
  
• Carnival is actively exploring options for guests in Canada and Australia to offer similar enhanced earning and rewards opportunities to residents in those countries, like what the Carnival Rewards Mastercard will do for U.S. residents.