Editor’s note: This article about the Carnival VIFP program was originally published in April 2023. Since then, Carnival has confirmed that its VIFP Club will be replaced by Carnival Rewards, with the new program now expected to launch on September 1, 2026. The original article has been updated for accuracy, with further details on Carnival Rewards added below.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club has been popular among its frequent cruisers for years. However, the cruise line has been considering making changes to the program to make it more spend-based, rather than night-based. In this blog, we’ll discuss the current VIFP program, the proposed changes, and what it could mean for Carnival’s loyal cruisers.

Current Carnival VIFP Program

The current VIFP program has five levels of membership: Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. These levels are based on the number of nights sailed with Carnival, with higher levels being achieved after earning a certain number of points. The most common way to earn points is by sailing with the cruise line, 1 point per night.

The tiers and their thresholds are below:

Each membership level comes with its own set of benefits, with VIFP points used to determine status rather than redeemed as a traditional points currency. An example of some of the benefits:

The program offers minimal value to those in the Gold or less tiers, with the high-value benefits coming in at the Platinum level.

Proposed Changes to Carnival VIFP Program

Carnival has been considering changing the VIFP program to a spend-based system, rather than one based on the number of nights sailed. Under this new system, members would earn points based on the amount of money spent on their cruise. This has been hinted at by a brand ambassador who recently acknowledged the possibility of changes to the loyalty currency earn.

While Carnival has not released details on exactly how the new program would work, it is likely to target higher-spending members who would be able to achieve higher levels of membership and earn more benefits. This system is similar to other loyalty programs in the travel industry, such as airline frequent flyer programs, which are often spend-based.

What It Means for Loyal Cruisers

The proposed changes to the VIFP program could have a significant impact on Carnival’s loyal cruisers. Those who frequently sail on shorter cruises could potentially reach higher levels of membership and benefits than those who sail on longer cruises but spend less money overall. This could be a positive change for those who enjoy taking shorter, more frequent cruises.

However, those who have previously achieved higher levels of membership based on the number of nights sailed may feel that their loyalty to the cruise line is being devalued. Additionally, those who have previously used credit card rewards or other methods to earn free or discounted nights may find it more difficult to achieve higher levels of membership under a spend-based system.

Overall, it remains to be seen how Carnival’s proposed changes to the VIFP program will be received by its loyal cruisers. While a spend-based system could benefit those who frequently sail on shorter cruises, it may be less appealing to those who have achieved higher levels of membership based on the number of nights sailed. Regardless, Carnival will likely continue to offer a loyalty program that rewards its frequent cruisers and encourages them to keep coming back for more fun on the high seas.

Update: Carnival Rewards Will Replace Carnival VIFP Club in 2026

Since this article was first published, Carnival has confirmed that the VIFP Club will be replaced by a new loyalty program called Carnival Rewards. The program is now expected to launch on September 1, 2026, giving current VIFP members more time to earn status under the existing system before the change takes effect.

The big change is that Carnival Rewards will move the program further away from a simple nights-sailed structure. The current VIFP Club is mainly a status-based program, where points determine a guest’s tier and the benefits that come with it. Carnival Rewards builds on this by adding a separate rewards currency. Members will earn Status Qualifying Stars to determine their tier status, as well as points that can be used towards Carnival rewards.

This is a notable change for Carnival. Under VIFP, loyalty has mostly been based on time spent cruising with the line. Under Carnival Rewards, guests who spend more with Carnival will have more opportunities to move through the program. This includes eligible cruise purchases, onboard spending and, in some markets, Carnival’s co-branded credit card.

For existing VIFP members, Carnival has said that cruise activity through August 31, 2026, will count towards final VIFP status. This will then become the member’s starting status in Carnival Rewards. Put simply, current status will carry over when the new program launches, but the way status is earned going forward will change.

For loyal cruisers, this confirms a lot of what had been expected when Carnival first hinted at changes to VIFP. The new structure brings Carnival closer to airline and hotel loyalty programs, where status is often tied to spend rather than only frequency. That may be good news for guests who spend more per cruise, but less appealing to those who built their status through regular, lower-cost sailings.

Carnival Rewards was originally expected to launch on June 1, 2026, but Carnival has since pushed the launch back to September 1, 2026. Carnival has framed this as giving members more time to earn status under VIFP, but the delay also came after a strong negative response from some long-time cruisers. In response, Carnival adjusted the original structure, adding lifetime Diamond status for guests who reach Diamond under VIFP before the changeover, along with a recurring 10,000 Status Qualifying Stars boost for Platinum members in each two-year earning cycle. Much of the frustration was around moving away from a system where loyal cruisers could build status over time, towards one where status has to be re-earned on a two-year cycle.

There is a wider issue here too. Part of the problem seems to be that VIFP worked almost too well. Carnival has said that the number of Platinum guests doubled and the number of Diamond guests quadrupled in just three years, making it harder for ships and crew to deliver the recognition and benefits attached to those tiers. In that sense, Carnival Rewards is not just about rewarding spend. It is also about making the top tiers harder to reach and easier for Carnival to manage.

Whether Carnival Rewards will feel more valuable to members remains to be seen. A spend-based model may help Carnival better reward the guests who spend the most with the cruise line, but it also risks frustrating loyal, long-time cruisers who saw VIFP as a simple reward for days spent at sea. Carnival’s decision to delay the launch suggests it knows this change is a sensitive one, and that it needs to give members more time before the new program begins.

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