Carnival Cruise Line continues to face challenges in convincing its most loyal guests that their commitment is being properly rewarded, as dissatisfaction grows around changes to its loyalty structure. While competitors such as Royal Caribbean are expanding and enhancing their loyalty perks, Carnival is moving in a different direction with the introduction of an entirely new program that has drawn mixed reactions from longtime cruisers.
The cruise line is preparing to roll out Carnival Rewards, a revamped loyalty program designed to replace the long-standing VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club. However, many repeat passengers argue that the new system diminishes the value of loyalty rather than enhancing it, sparking ongoing criticism across Carnival’s customer base.
In response to passenger feedback, Carnival has already made adjustments to the program and delayed its launch. Originally scheduled to debut on June 1, the rollout of Carnival Rewards has been pushed back to September 1, 2026, as the company works to address concerns raised by current VIFP members.
The most significant change under Carnival Rewards is how guests earn status and benefits. Instead of being rewarded based on the number of days sailed, as is standard across most cruise loyalty programs, Carnival will now tie rewards and status levels to how much passengers spend on cruise fares and onboard purchases.
Carnival has said the overhaul is driven by operational challenges within the VIFP Club. Over the years, a large number of repeat cruisers have reached the top-tier Platinum and Diamond levels, making it increasingly difficult for the cruise line to consistently deliver promised perks such as priority boarding and exclusive onboard benefits.
This saturation at the highest loyalty tiers has strained onboard operations, particularly on full sailings where premium benefits must be extended to thousands of eligible guests at once. Carnival views the new spend-based system as a way to better manage demand while aligning rewards with overall revenue contribution.
Compounding the frustration, Carnival has recently encountered issues affecting another existing VIFP Club benefit on select sailings, further disappointing loyal passengers. The latest setback has renewed scrutiny of the cruise line’s handling of its loyalty transition, raising questions about whether Carnival can strike the right balance between operational efficiency and customer appreciation.
