Carnival Confirms Loyalty Program Changes Coming Soon
Staying loyal to one cruise line can bring travelers great benefits, but do they mean as much when everyone has the same perks? This is a problem Carnival Cruise Line is finally hoping to correct.
Carnival’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program, first introduced in 2012, has long been due for an overhaul, and now, those changes are just months away, much to the relief and excitement of eager guests.
The cruise line’s president, Christine Duffy, confirmed the timeline for the new changes as part of the “Innovation Itinerary” – a five-year plan focusing on three core pillars for the company’s success.
First up is the most fun fleet at sea – including the upcoming Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale, the fourth and fifth Excel-class ships. Next, the company will work on creating highly desirable experiences for guests, including new destinations.
The third pillar is “building more Carnival loyalists” and that is where changes to the VIFP program are planned.
“Carnival has an incredibly loyal and passionate fan base who are advocates for our brand, our crew and the amazing vacations we deliver,” Duffy said.
The VIFP program, however, has been fraught with controversy and challenges in recent years as more and more cruisers reach higher levels of loyalty.
From VIFP appreciation gifts that aren’t always appreciated to canceling highly coveted benefits because too many cruisers qualify for the program to be managed on certain sailings, it has been clear that changes are needed.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has long hinted that a massive overhaul of the program is in the works, a project Duffy now confirms.
“We’ve had our existing VIFP loyalty recognition program in place since 2012 and as our fleet and business have grown, so has the VIFP program,” she said. “As we continue to grow, we are modifying the program to unlock greater value and engagement for our loyal guests.”
The new program updates will be announced this summer, though no exact date has been given for further details to be released.
Duffy did note, however, that the new guidelines for the program – whatever they may be – will take effect in 2026. This delay will help give guests and travel agents time to adjust and make any necessary changes for their travel plans to take advantage of their best benefits.
This same type of adjustment period happened in 2012, when guests were temporarily grandfathered into new VIFP tiers and given time to reach the tiers according to the new guidelines.
This is good news for guests who may be close to switching tiers, as they could have a chance to do so before the new program fully takes effect.
What Changes Might Be Coming?
While Carnival Cruise Line has not announced any confirmed updates to the program, there are many ways it might be changed to provide enhanced benefits loyal guests will enjoy.
How points are accrued could be one important change. The current program counts a guest’s days as points, with each cruise day adding one point to their loyalty total. It is possible the cruise line might consider extra points awarded for guests who purchase suites or other high-level staterooms.
Read Also: Loyalty Programs – Should You Stay Loyal to One Cruise Line?
The number of levels in the program is almost certain to change, as this is one of the trickiest areas Carnival Cruise Line has had to work with in recent years.
Right now, the levels are quite uneven – the “Blue” level for new cruisers is only the very first sailing, while the “Red” level goes to 24 points. The “Gold” level is 25-74 points, but the “Platinum” level is much broader – 75-199 points. Guests who reach 200 points and higher are “Diamond” status.
It is possible that new tiers could be added between Platinum and Diamond as well as after Diamond for even more elite cruisers. The idea of a “Double Diamond” tier has been requested several times, which just shows how many cruisers are very far beyond that highest level already.
Other cruise lines have added new tiers to their loyalty programs in recent years. Disney Cruise Line, for example, added the Pearl tier in February 2023.
Certain very coveted benefits will also need adjustment, as the number of cruisers who currently have such benefits is unwieldy.
For example, the priority embarkation and debarkation is one of the most sought-after perks. This benefit is currently available to both Platinum and Diamond cruisers (and is a very useful option to get the fun started more quickly!).
When popular sailings – maiden voyages, transatlantic cruises, and longer Carnival Journeys itineraries – have hundreds of high-level guests, it isn’t possible to offer that priority perk as expected.
Similarly, priority dining time reservations are also cumbersome when there are significant numbers of Platinum and Diamond guests onboard, as the restaurant capacities are limited.
Other benefits in the current program include various discounts, gifts, and onboard events. These are likely to remain, but may be adjusted to different levels or further upgraded with new guidelines and features.
Easy options that could be added might be even earlier pre-cruise check-in windows, access to exclusive spaces onboard or at private destinations, onboard discounts or onboard credit, special VIFP tours, or other creative choices.
Stay tuned in the months to come as new loyalty program perks are announced and confirmed!