Carnival Platinum members flood internet after being stripped of their loyalty status

• Carnival has made some “tweaks” to its controversial new ‘Carnival Rewards’ loyalty system.
• The line has given lifetime status to Diamond-level cruisers, who have cruised 200 nights or more
• But Platinum members who have cruised between 50 and 199 nights have been stripped of their status.
• Carnival Platinum members have been flooding internet comments sections, feeling let down by the brand.

A few months ago, Carnival revealed the details of its new loyalty rewards system, Carnival Rewards, and the reaction was far from positive. 

The new system created a new rolling two-year window to earn loyalty points, with points resetting after each window. This meant that loyal Carnival cruisers who had cruised with the brand for years would be removed from their loyalty status and would lose the loyalty perks they were promised.

It also meant that people who spend high amounts over short periods of time would be more rewarded under the new system, rather than cruisers who may have been with Carnival for many years, but don’t have the ability to cruise so frequently. 

The good news is Carnival listened to the feedback and has made some amendments to the program, tweaking the originally announced system.

However, while Carnival may have rescued the benefits of their most loyal sailors, who are already Diamond Status, in the process they may have upset those who are sailing at one tier below, in the Platinum status, who have cruised between 50 and 199 nights with Carnival.

They are still set to lose all of their current perks, and they are not happy.

While the new changes definitely extend an olive branch to Carnival’s most loyal customers, it may leave Carnival’s ever-so-slightly less loyal customers being left out. 

What are these changes exactly? While before all Carnival loyalty program members, even those of Diamond Status, the highest tier, were set to be eventually moved off their loyalty tier, Diamond status members will now get to keep their status.

Any guest who is currently Diamond, or will achieve Diamond status by May 31, 2026, will now receive a lifetime Diamond status in the Carnival Rewards program.  This is great news for those who have sailed with Carnival for years, as earning Diamond status takes a massive two years of sailing. 

This does come with some minor compromise. For example, the IFP Club Party will be discontinued, complimentary arcade credit for kids will be removed, guests can no longer request a welcome treat on five-day plus cruises or there won’t be a VIFP club logo gift. There is also a tweak from unlimited wash and fold laundry down to a limit of how many laundry bags depending on sailing days, 

Furthermore, the ‘one-time’ benefits, such as a complimentary specialty dining meal, free cabin upgrade and VIFP club luggage tag set will also be discontinued, however, this won’t affect most current members as they already would have used these benefits, or still have time to use them.

However, what really has cruisers upset is those who have, or will achieve Platinum status before May 31 will still be kicked off their tier. While Carnival has offered a boost of 10,000 Carnival Rewards points to Platinum members, it will still require significant spending in a two-year period to reach Platinum status, and then their points will reset. 

Carnival has offered Platinum members permanent ‘Gold Status’, which offers a 1.5 litre bottle of water and one complimentary beverage on cruises of five days or longer.

Therefore, if we think about someone who is Platinum status right now and receives priority check-in and boarding, a welcome treat, priority spa reservations, priority water shuttle boarding, complimentary wash and fold service, priority debarkation and more, if they take a three-day Carnival cruise in the future, they may receive nothing more than a bottle of water.

Even with the 10,000 points boost, it would still require tens and thousands of dollars spent on running two year cycles to maintain Platinum benefits, making it impossible for the vast majority of cruisers, especially everyday Aussie families that pick Carnival for its value.

However, while this is definitely an improvement for Carnival’s most loyal sailors, it does come with a compromise. Carnival has taken away some of the benefits of Diamond status, so that while it can now be held onto, it won’t be quite the same.

The VIFP Club Party will be discontinued, complimentary arcade credit for kids will be removed, guests can no longer request a welcome treat on five-day plus cruises or there won’t be a VIFP club logo gift. There is also a tweak from unlimited wash and fold laundry down to a limit of how many laundry bags depending on sailing days.

Furthermore, the ‘one-time’ benefits, such as a complimentary specialty dining meal, free cabin upgrade and VIFP club luggage tag set will also be discontinued, however, this won’t affect most current members as they already would have used these benefits, or still have time to use them. 

While this doesn’t spell a worse fate for Platinum status cruisers than the initial Carnival Rewards announcement had suggested, many cruisers were hoping this would be changed and are disappointed by the confirmation that they’ll be losing their current loyalty status.

Platinum Carnival members express their disappointment

Many cruisers have been expressing their disappointment at the latest announcement. Platinum level members have come out in numbers to express their disappointment at finding out that they’re still getting kicked off their loyalty tier.  

Cruiser Sandy EB wrote: “How much is carnival saving and why has platinum become a financial burden to them. There are so many of us platinum folks who have been loyal!

“These benefits that carnival is sparsely awarding platinum is not a loyalty gesture to us. We have been more loyal to them throughout the years.

“I think they should have extended Platinum status 2 years to reach Diamond. At least some people would have booked, booked, & booked to get there. These new changes do nothing for anyone but the Diamond cruisers. Congratulations Diamond folks!”

Sheil Lea Bailey wrote: “As a platinum member, still feels like a slap in the face but there are lots of other lines we are wanting to experience, so loyalty won’t be a factor from now on….cruise on!”

Cathay Duty Snell wrote: “I still think it’s unfair that you will lose your platinum status when we earned it with loyalty to carnival. Having to sail 75 days wasn’t easy when you work for a living. We will be checking out other cruise lines in the future. We already have a loyalty match with MSC and the perks look pretty dang good.”

Jan Thompson wrote: “This new policy is terrible. Been in platinum for years, but can’t cruise this year or next so when I do cruise, I’ll be gold. Takes away all of my benefits.”

Casey Bland wrote: “What I heard was: Diamond, you are the only important ones, but sorry Platinum, there are too many of you so, too bad, we’re still cutting your status but we will give you enough stars to be Gold making it easier to make Platinum again. I’m sorry, what?! As someone who is close to Diamond, this is garbage and continues to be why I’ve already booked on other lines.”

Lindsay Hanson wrote: “Happy for the current diamonds but this announcement changes nothing for this platinum guest. I still can’t spend USD$13,333 every two years to maintain platinum. And dropping back to gold versus red is nothing since I could maintain gold on my own with the way I normally cruise.”

Tonia Standridge wrote: “ I can say the one thing I’ve learned from Carnival is loyalty means nothing to them. Platinum status means nothing to them, so I’m guessing that I’m losing my money means nothing either? I have been told that MSC will status match.”

Curtis Iby wrote: “Always be careful of what you demand from a corporation that initially eliminated something from you. This corporation has not and continues to not respect the loyalty program it started.”

Are you affected? Tell us what you think in the comments below.