Carnival loyalists, this one demands your attention. The VIFP Club — Carnival’s loyalty program for over a decade — officially retires on September 1, 2026. Its replacement, Carnival Rewards, changes almost everything about how you earn and keep status. More importantly, there’s a deadline. If you don’t opt in by August 31, 2026, your current status will NOT carry over. Let’s break down exactly what’s happening.
The Big Change: Spending Replaces Sailing
The old VIFP Club was simple. You earned one point per day sailed. Points accumulated for life. Status never expired. Carnival Rewards flips that model completely. Under the new program, you earn Status Qualifying Stars based on dollars spent — cruise fares, onboard purchases, dining, spa treatments, shore excursions, and casino play all count. A new co-branded Carnival Rewards Mastercard adds everyday spending to the mix, earning up to 4 stars per dollar on Carnival purchases.
Status also stops being permanent. The new program runs on two-year cycles. You earn status during a two-year Status Earning Window, then enjoy it during the following two-year window. Don’t requalify, and you drop. The first earning window runs September 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
Points now work like airline miles too. Beyond status, you earn redeemable points with a fixed value. Use them toward future cruises, onboard purchases, and other travel expenses.
The Critical Part: You Must Opt In
Here’s what every VIFP member needs to know right now. Due to privacy laws, Carnival cannot automatically transfer your status to the new program. You must actively enroll and accept the new terms and conditions. Carnival began emailing personalized enrollment links in early May. Each link is specific to you — non-transferable, and it cannot be completed by anyone else. Even your travel advisor cannot opt in on your behalf.
The deadline is August 31, 2026. Miss it, and your years of accumulated status disappear when the new program launches the next day. The opt-in process takes less than a minute. Log into your Carnival.com account or use your personalized email link. If you never received the email or lost it, you can request a new one directly through Carnival’s website.
What Happens to Your Current Status
Carnival listened to the backlash — and the outcry was loud — and improved the transition terms. Here’s where each tier lands. Diamond members who reach that level by August 31, 2026 receive lifetime Diamond status in the new program. That’s permanent, and it was added specifically in response to guest feedback. Platinum members get their status extended through December 31, 2028, plus a 10,000-star deposit every two-year cycle going forward. That boost guarantees a minimum of Gold status for life and provides roughly a 20% head start toward requalifying for Platinum. Red and Gold members keep their current level for the first two years, through December 31, 2028, with the chance to climb higher through spending.
One more note: previously earned VIFP Milestone awards will be honored through August 2030. But no new Milestone Rewards will be issued under the old system after August 2026.
What You Should Do This Week
First, opt in now. There’s zero benefit to waiting, and forgetting could cost you everything you’ve earned. Second, if you’re close to a higher tier, sail before August 31. Your VIFP level on that date determines your starting position — and Diamond reached by then is Diamond forever. Third, watch for the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard if you want to earn status through everyday spending. Current Carnival Mastercard holders transfer automatically, with FunPoints converting to Carnival Rewards Points.
Change is hard, and this one has frustrated plenty of loyal cruisers. But whether you love or hate the new program, the single most important move is the same: opt in before August 31. Protect what you’ve earned first. Decide how you feel about it after.
