Carnival cruisers must opt in to new loyalty program to keep status
Even if you're sad to see Carnival Cruise Line retire its current VIFP Club loyalty program in favor of Carnival Rewards, a new spending-based program, you may not want to risk losing your current loyalty status as Carnival Rewards launches later this year.
Although the new loyalty program has drawn significant criticism and left some cruisers questioning whether they'll stay loyal to Carnival in the future, it's still set to become the main way that Carnival will recognize and reward cruisers for their loyalty beginning Sept. 1, 2026.
So, if you want to make sure that your current loyalty status and benefits in the VIFP Club transfer over to Carnival Rewards, it's time to opt in.
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How to enroll in Carnival Rewards
Carnival Cruise Line is beginning to notify passengers that they must opt in to the new Carnival Rewards program ahead of the Sept. 1 launch date.
"You must enroll and accept the Terms & Conditions to participate in the new Carnival Rewards program launching September 1, 2026, to ensure your status and benefits transition from the VIFP Club program. You're just two clicks away," a banner at the top of Carnival.com reads.
Enrolling in Carnival Rewards can be done in one of two ways:
- Via the "Enroll and Accept" link provided in a personalized email from Carnival
- By enrolling via the banner link on Carnival's website
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Why won't loyalty status automatically carry over to Carnival Rewards?
Carnival says that in accordance with applicable law, loyalty program members must accept the updated terms and conditions that come with Carnival Rewards to continuing receiving loyalty benefits.
"We're updating our Terms & Conditions, which means you must accept them below to start experiencing all that Carnival Rewards will offer," Carnival states on its website.
Cruisers who don't want to participate also have the opportunity to opt out of Carnival Rewards rather than accept the terms.
Not sure whether you want to participate? You can still opt out later even if you enroll now to ensure the transfer of your VIFP status and days sailed into Carnival Rewards.
Your starting status level in Carnival Rewards will depend upon your VIFP Club status
After you opt in and agree to the program terms, your VIFP Club status as of Aug. 31, 2026 will be used to determine your starting status level in Carnival Rewards when it launches on Sept. 1.
If you're at Red or Gold status in the VIFP Club as of Aug. 31, your guaranteed minimum status level will be the same as your VIFP Club status level for the first two years of Carnival Rewards. You'll also have the opportunity to earn a higher status level through points earned on your cruise fare and onboard purchases under the new program.
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If you reach Platinum status in the current VIFP Club by Aug. 31, you will have your Platinum status extended through Dec. 31, 2028, and will receive a boost of 10,000 Carnival Rewards Status Qualifying Stars every two-year earning period when the Carnival Rewards program starts in September 2026, and in each two-year earning cycle that follows. The boost is designed to give Platinum VIFP members a 20% "head start" to earning Platinum status, or the higher Diamond status in the new program.
Those who reach Diamond, the highest level of the VIFP Club, by Aug. 31, 2026, will receive lifetime Diamond status in the Carnival Rewards program - a benefit that Carnival added following major backlash from its most loyal passengers.
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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 12:09 PM.