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:
El programa ofrece un valor mínimo a quienes se sitúan en los niveles Oro o inferiores, mientras que las ventajas de mayor valor se encuentran en el nivel Platino.
Proposed Changes to Carnival VIFP Program
Carnival ha estado considerando la posibilidad de cambiar el programa VIFP por un sistema basado en el gasto, en lugar de uno basado en el número de noches navegadas. Con este nuevo sistema, los miembros ganarían puntos en función de la cantidad de dinero gastada en su crucero. Así lo ha insinuado recientemente un embajador de la marca, que ha reconocido la posibilidad de que se produzcan cambios en la moneda de fidelización.
Aunque Carnival no ha dado detalles sobre el funcionamiento exacto del nuevo programa, es probable que se dirija a los socios que más gastan, que podrían alcanzar niveles más altos de afiliación y obtener más ventajas. Este sistema es similar al de otros programas de fidelización del sector de los viajes, como los programas de viajero frecuente de las aerolíneas, que suelen basarse en el gasto.
What It Means for Loyal Cruisers
Los cambios propuestos en el programa VIFP podrían tener un impacto significativo en los cruceristas fieles a Carnival. Aquellos que navegan con frecuencia en cruceros más cortos podrían alcanzar niveles de afiliación y beneficios superiores a los de aquellos que navegan en cruceros más largos pero gastan menos dinero en general. Esto podría ser un cambio positivo para quienes disfrutan haciendo cruceros más cortos y frecuentes.
Sin embargo, quienes hayan alcanzado anteriormente niveles más altos de afiliación basados en el número de noches navegadas pueden sentir que se está devaluando su fidelidad a la línea de cruceros. Por otra parte, a los que antes utilizaban las recompensas de las tarjetas de crédito u otros métodos para ganar noches gratis o con descuento puede resultarles más difícil alcanzar niveles más altos de afiliación con un sistema basado en el gasto.
En general, queda por ver cómo recibirán los cruceristas fieles los cambios propuestos por Carnival en el programa VIFP. Si bien un sistema basado en el gasto podría beneficiar a quienes navegan con frecuencia en cruceros más cortos, puede resultar menos atractivo para quienes han alcanzado niveles más altos de afiliación basados en el número de noches navegadas. En cualquier caso, es probable que Carnival siga ofreciendo un programa de fidelidad que recompense a sus cruceristas frecuentes y les anime a volver para divertirse más en alta mar.
Update: Carnival Rewards Will Replace Carnival VIFP Club in 2026
Since this article was first published, Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that Carnival Rewards will replace its VIFP Club. Carnival now expects the new program to launch on September 1, 2026, delayed from its original June 1, 2026 date. The cruise line says this gives current VIFP members more time to earn status under the existing system, but the timing also follows strong criticism from some long-time cruisers.
From nights sailed to spend-based loyalty
The big change is that Carnival Rewards moves the program further away from a simple nights-sailed structure. The current VIFP Club is mainly a status-based program: points determine a guest’s tier and the benefits that come with it.
Carnival Rewards changes how members climb the tiers and adds a separate rewards currency. Members will earn Status Qualifying Stars to determine their tier status. Carnival will base these Stars on eligible activity and spending, rather than just days sailed. They will also earn rewards points that can be redeemed for Carnival purchases and experiences.
This is a notable change for Carnival. Under VIFP, Carnival has mostly rewarded members for the time they spend 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.
What happens to current VIFP status?
For existing VIFP members, Carnival says 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. However, the way guests earn status after that will change.
For loyal cruisers, this confirms a lot of what Carnival had hinted at when it first discussed changes to VIFP. The new structure brings Carnival closer to airline and hotel loyalty programs. In these programs, status is often tied to spend rather than only frequency. This may be good news for guests who spend more per cruise. It may be less appealing to those who built their status through regular, lower-cost sailings.
Why Carnival delayed the change
Carnival Rewards was originally expected to launch on June 1, 2026. The cruise line has since pushed the launch back to September 1, 2026. Carnival has framed this as giving members more time to earn status under VIFP. However, the delay also came after a strong negative response from some long-time cruisers.
In response, Carnival adjusted the original structure. Guests who reach Diamond under VIFP before the changeover will receive lifetime Diamond status. Platinum members will also receive a recurring 10,000 Status Qualifying Stars boost in each two-year earning cycle. Much of the frustration centred on the move away from a system where loyal cruisers could build status over time. Under Carnival Rewards, they will instead need to re-earn status on a two-year cycle.
Did VIFP work too well?
There is a wider issue here too. Part of the problem seems to be that VIFP worked almost too well. Carnival says the number of Platinum guests doubled in the three years leading up to the 2025 announcement. It also says the number of Diamond guests quadrupled over the same period. This made 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.
The question is whether Carnival Rewards will feel more valuable once members start using it. A spend-based model may help Carnival better reward the guests who spend the most with the cruise line. However, 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 sensitive. For the new program to work, Carnival will need to prove that Carnival Rewards offers more than just a harder path back to the same benefits.
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