Carnival Cruise Line shifts rewards program, angering loyal customers

In the United States, Carnival Cruise Line announced a significant overhaul of its rewards program, introducing a new system starting June 1, 2026. This change moves away from the existing Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) scheme, which allowed passengers to earn points based on the number of nights they sailed, to a system that rewards spending. The new Carnival Rewards program will grant three points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, impacting not only cruise fares but also onboard services like spa treatments and specialty dining. While this shift aims to offer guests more opportunities to earn rewards, loyal customers have expressed concerns about the impending reset of current loyalty statuses. Passengers will need to monitor their spending and accumulate a minimum number of stars to maintain or advance their tier status. For example, moving from the basic red tier to gold will require 10,000 stars, whereas platinum requires 50,000, and diamond status demands 100,000 stars. Therefore, the long-time loyal members' fears center on how these adjustments will diminish the significance of their past travel history. Currently, Carnival Cruise Line does allow existing VIFP members to carry over their current status into the new program. For a transitional period ending on May 31, 2028, those who were diamond members will retain their status until May 31, 2032. Despite the company’s assurance that there will still be opportunities to maintain status, many customers feel betrayed, as they invested years in achieving their elite tiers. Widespread criticism has arisen on social media platforms from frustrated passengers who feel the change undermines decades of loyalty and planning. This overhaul of the rewards scheme comes at a time when Carnival Corporation has reported record revenues of $6.3 billion in the second quarter and exceeded financial targets set for 2026. The company's drastic financial turnaround from the pandemic was further complicated by the recent release of a Netflix documentary detailing the 2013 Carnival Triumph disaster. As the cruise line’s officials celebrate their financial success, they are also faced with the backlash from devoted passengers who feel unseen amidst these corporate achievements. These simultaneous events highlight the challenges Carnival faces in balancing financial prosperity with customer satisfaction.