Carnival Cruise Line is walking back some of the most controversial parts of its new Carnival Rewards loyalty program. But, if you ask many of the cruise line’s loyal guests, the change doesn’t go nearly far enough.
Earlier this week, Carnival announced that Diamond members, the top tier of the current VIFP program, will now receive lifetime status if they reach that level before May 31, 2026.
In addition, Platinum guests also received a slight adjustment. Now, their status will carry through until 2028 with a “head start” of 10,000 stars every two years in the new program.
In theory, the announcement was a welcome change for top-tier Carnival cruisers. However, many mid-tier loyalty guests are still frustrated and disappointed by the change.
Carnival’s loyalty program received harsh feedback
The backlash started when Carnival revealed plans to revamp its loyalty program. Instead of measuring loyalty by the number of nights sailed, which is industry standard, Carnival is switching to a spend-based loyalty program.
Instead of the simplicity of cruise days adding up toward Gold, Platinum, and Diamond status, guests will now earn stars for spending onboard, booking cabins, excursions, drinks, and more.
For Carnival, the shift makes sense. Diamond and Platinum membership had skyrocketed in recent years, so a spending-based model promises more exclusivity for top-tier members.
However, for cruisers who spent years climbing the ladder under Carnival’s old system, it felt like the rug was being pulled out from under them. Not to mention, competitors like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line maintain a lifetime loyalty status.
Carnival grants lifetime Diamond status, but offers little beyond that
Following the harsh criticism regarding their loyalty program changes, Carnival has backpedalled on some changes.
“We are so excited about our new Carnival Rewards loyalty program launching next year, and believe it will drive fantastic engagement with, and rewards for, our guests. At the same time, we greatly appreciate the loyalty of our passionate guests and the years of dedication many have exhibited in order to achieve higher tiered loyalty status with Carnival Cruise Line,” stated the cruise line in a press release.
“We’ve spent the summer talking with our guests, listening to their comments and taking in their feedback. As a result, I am happy to share that we are making changes to improve the offering to our most loyal customers as we get ready for the program’s launch in 2026,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
- Diamond Forever: If you reach Diamond status by May 31, 2026, and you’ll keep it for life.
- Platinum Boosts: Platinum members keep their status through 2028 and get a biennial 10,000-star bonus toward re-qualifying.
- Milestone Rewards Protected: Free cruise certificates tied to 25th, 50th, etc. sailings will remain valid through 2030.
Duffy stated, “We believe these enhancements recognize our appreciation for the loyalty of our top tier guests.”
The damage is already done, and loyal cruisers still aren’t happy
Although this is a clear attempt to soften the blow, it only really cushions the highest Diamond tier. Other loyal guests in lower tiers are still facing the new star-based program, effectively losing their lifetime status progress.
The recent changes were posted to Reddit, and many cruisers still expressed their frustration with Carnival’s loyalty changes. Additionally, many see that the damage has already been done, especially for most loyalty tiers.
“Honestly, this whole debacle has been freeing for me. I don’t feel the need to be loyal to Carnival anymore and have started looking at other lines. I already have a cruise booked with Virgin for December and have been eyeing MSC because of their status match offer. I’m even considering giving Margaritaville a try just for the [heck] of it,” replied one cruiser.
Another replied, “Fixed it for diamond, sure. Gold and platinum get screwed still. If you’re gold, there’s no point in trying to work up to platinum unless you’re a huge spender to qualify to maintain status.”
They continued, “I’ve cancelled my future Carnival bookings and I’m going to explore other lines since there’s no point in trying to maintain loyalty with them. I’d hoped to get Platinum in the near future, but I could never maintain it under the new program.”
“Again, those who have been sailing with them for 20 years who are loyal, but haven’t been able to do more than a cruise a year, are still loyal. If the issue with too many high loyal guests was a problem, Royal Caribbean would have the issue too. Instead, they extend loyalty to your spouse and your kids,” replied another cruiser.
Moreover, some loyal cruisers mention that Diamond status might be extended for a lifetime now, but the cruise line hasn’t extended the qualification time.
“Yeah, it fixes for Diamonds, but it doesn’t extend my time to earn Diamond status. I’ll be 40 – 50 days short when the program changes,” stated one cruiser.
Another poster commented similarly, “I literally booked 73 days worth of cruises before May of next year to get Diamond. I bet this announcement is going to get a whole lot more people booking and trying to make it work. Executives are going to get some big bonuses for that short term thinking as much as I hate to say it.”
Can Carnival salvage its rewards program?
Carnival Cruise Line may have reverted changes for its most loyal Diamond guests, but for everyone else, the frustration runs deep. The cruise line insists it’s listening, but many longtime cruisers feel the trust has been broken. Many believe their loyalty doesn’t matter anymore, and have already decided to take their business elsewhere.
Many agreed that Carnival needed to revamp its loyalty program, as even the highest perks paled in comparison to those of other cruise lines. While other cruise lines give their top-tier guests meaningful perks, such as complimentary daily drinks and internet access, Carnival’s elite members usually get little more than priority boarding and a pin.
Although Diamonds now get lifetime status and Platinums have a little extra breathing room, the majority of loyalty members will not benefit from the new program. The bulk of Carnival’s repeat guests will need to frequently spend more money to maintain their status. For the average cruiser who might set sail once a year, the new reward program has little to no benefit.
