Key Aspects:
- Christine Duffy and John Heald have shared a new video answering key questions about the Carnival Rewards program.
- Milestone recognition, a Sail & Sign card redesign, and points vs. stars were discussed in the 7-minute chat.
- Guests were also reminded that they must opt in to the new program before it begins on September 1, 2026.
Carnival Cruise Line’s president and brand ambassador, Christine Duffy and John Heald, had a sit-down chat recently about what the new Carnival Rewards program offers to guests, clarifying some key points in the 7-minute video about the spend-based loyalty program.
With the official retirement of Carnival Cruise Line’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) loyalty program and the launch of the spend-based Carnival Rewards program looming in less than three months, these questions have been much on guests’ minds as they struggle to understand how their loyalty will be recognized and what benefits will be available.
Carnival Rewards will set sail from September 1, 2026. At that time, the VIFP program will be officially retired and no longer applicable to guests’ loyalty and rewards.
Milestone Rewards Changing
For many guests who cruise frequently, the “Milestone” part of the program is of great interest. Under the VIFP program, guests who had sailed 25, 50, 75, and 100 cruises with Carnival received special recognition and perks.
Those perks included a special Sail & Sign card and non-refundable onboard credit equivalent to 25%, 50%, or 75% of their cruise fare for the corresponding sailing, as well as a free cruise (subject to restrictions) after their 100th Carnival cruise.
Under the Carnival Rewards program, milestones will still be recognized but in different ways. The total number of cruises will no longer be counted, but the days that guests sail with the line will add up to the respective milestone.
“With the new program, you’ll be able to achieve milestones faster using days sailed rather than just counting individual cruises,” Duffy explained.
For example, if a guest takes a total of 25 3-day weekend sailings, the VIFP program would recognize them at that 25th milestone sailing after a total of 75 days sailed. On the other hand, the guest who only takes 7-day cruises would need to sail a total of 175 days to get the same recognition.
By counting days sailed instead, that guest taking weeklong voyages would earn the same recognition after just 11 cruises.
Carnival Rewards recognizes the first milestone at 50 days, which will reward guests with 5,000 Carnival Reward Points. At 100 days, they’ll receive 10,000 points. For every 100 days after, they will receive another recognition of 10,000 points.
Guests on milestone cruises will also receive commemorative coins and different rewards for different milestone levels, but no further details have yet been disclosed.
This does mean that there will no longer be automatic onboard credit for milestone sailings. The points, however, can be redeemed for onboard purchases or applied to future cruise fares, though exact details have not been announced.
The Carnival Rewards website does give a few options of possible point redemption values, such as 13,499 points for one person for a 50-minute Swedish massage, 1,357 points for a 6-pack of soda, or 5,500 points for one adult for a steakhouse dinner.
“Points redemption values are for illustrative purposes only. Points needed to redeem may vary,” the website notes.
Carnival Sail & Sign Cards Redesigned
Because Carnival guests often love to display their Sail & Sign cards both during their cruise as well as mementos after debarkation, the redesign of the card for Carnival Rewards is also of interest.
“One of the things that we know was so important is that we continue to recognize our guest loyalty in cruising with Carnival. And so, now on your card, it will include the number of days that you have sailed with Carnival from your very first cruise,” said Duffy.
The card redesign moves to a vertical rather than a horizontal orientation, which will be easier to see in many lanyards. The cards are still the loyalty level colors (red, gold, platinum, and diamond), and include all the same information as previously, such as muster station location, guest number, ship name, sailing date, and dining time and table.
In the lower right corner, however, a circular emblem with “Carnival Days Sailed” will be personalized with each individual guests’ number of cruise days.
“They are going to love that,” Heald commented. “I think I can say more than any other cruise line in the world, our guests love to show their loyalty to show here exactly how many days.”
Points Versus Stars
Heald and Duffy concluded the 7-minute chat by clarifying how Carnival Rewards Points and Stars work together for overall loyalty.
Read Also: Which Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs?
Stars are what are accumulated toward individual status, while points are what guests can earn for reward spending power.
Guests not only earn points for spending directly with Carnival Cruise Line, either booking a cruise or onboard spending during sailings, but can also earn points everyday on land or at sea with the Carnival Mastercard.
The final reminder, however, is that guests must opt in before they can begin accumulating or receiving Carnival Rewards benefits.
“Of course we need to remind people that they must opt in,” Heald noted.
This has caused some confusion for guests who have sailed with Carnival for many years, as there will be no automatic conversion from the VIFP program to the Carnival Rewards program.
“It is a brand new program,” Duffy reminded viewers. “It has new terms and conditions, and guests should review and accept them. Privacy rules prevent us from automatically enrolling guests, even our longtime cruisers.”
Guests who are already Carnival Mastercard holders are opted in under the card’s terms and conditions. Guests without the credit card will need to manually opt in to the new program.
Cruise Hive has already reported on Carnival sending reminders to guests to do just that, and more such reminders are sure to be sent via emails, texts, and other promotions in the weeks leading up to September 1.
