- 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 new system was put into place as Carnival claimed too many cruisers are now in the higher tiers, and they aren’t able to offer all the benefits anymore. In fact, they’re already cutting benefits on some cruisers, such as Carnival Conquest cruise below.
However, the new loyalty method means 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 means 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, it 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.
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Just completed a cruise will have 179 Points but won’t reach diamond in time at least Carnival should have given people more time like 2 or 3 years to reach the status they wanted.No now it doesn’t matter if you cruise after May 31 2026 it doesn’t count toward previous status.I’m going to permanently switch to Royal where at least there benefits are better at 80 nights anyway and it matches status with celebrity unlike carnival where they dont for Princess or Holland America.Even Norwegian today announced they are matching status across their lines.Big mistake Carnival you’re the one who opened the can of worms and you will pay the price down the road. Once a loyal Carnival cruiser No more!!!
Ms Duffy,
I kindly request your Carnival team consider seeking influential advisors before making changes in the wrong area. The majority of your cruisers are platinum and volume is key to continual growth.
We are lucky being Diamond on RC….so many extras that Carnival do not offer at ANY level.
If companies want loyalty then give a decent reason to be loyal otherwise don’t bother. Carnival to us is just another holiday option with no reason to re-book beyond destination and price.
We have booked 8 trips this year Loyalty what a joke. Is this even legal
I’m definitely going with MSC. Good bye
We just lost our reasons for our loyalty we have had 28 cruises with cardinal always with the benefits in mind over the years the benefits have decreased so sad
We are a family of five and all are gold. With this change the kids will also be unable to earn anything to keep status.
I’m not sure how this change is going to fix the problem. The reason for the change is that the program is top heavy with numbers. If Diamond is now keeping status for life how is that that relieving the top heavy issue? Platinum is now the issue? But they are given 10,000 points to help keep it. Maybe put an extra level in to split the top heavy issue? They are also decreaseing the benefits for each level. That has to relieve some of the issues? This shows that Carnival is not concerned about the Australian market. We are unable to get the credit card to earn the extra points and is only set up for the American market. Here in Australia we have all the terrible vessels. The ex P&O vessels that need a complete refit to make them Carnival. They brag about 4 ships. Luminosa is only here for the summer. The Splendor is the only true Carnival vessel in Australia and that could do with work. Send us a newer vessel if they really cared and don’t change the program for Aussie as it is not fit for purpose is our Aussie market. I can’t say I have ever seen too many Diamond and Platinum members on the cruises I have been on? I have never seen lines at Guest Services with Diamond or Platinum they are always empty. Never seen Diamond or Platinum get priority for the water shuttles either. When we arrive early at terminal for embarkation we are always told to just to board. This is both Sydney and Brisbane so from what I see it’s only an American issue. Why should we be penalised?
This is the final straw for me. It was bad enough when Carnival (as Princess Cruises) removed most of their smaller ships from Australian waters (I hate the super big ships over 3000 people), and then reduced the variety of cruises which left and returned to Australian ports, but now they remove my Platinum benefits. I have already moved on to other cruise lines with smaller ships, more local variety and better rewards programs. Bye Carnival.
How can a company like Carnival just delete its loyal passengers hard earned loyalty points? Surely it would make sense to change moving forward programs but not change what passengers have earned.
If Princess want to save costs why not review what they give away. Eg. The captains and officers get together where no one gets to feel special now anyway.
Who would miss that and that would cost a few $’s.
But how much does it cost to allow early embarkation, early room access, have a special area so on disembarkation it can be a little more comfortable.
We have just completed a cruise on Sky princess and do see cost cutting on the cruise line anyway. We have also just booked on board future cruises which we will now review.
A few benefits that cost nothing. Really Carnival if things are so tough that you can’t offer some recognition of loyalty you are damaging the brand you have worked so hard for, and it will cost you more to rebuild the loyalty you are now throwing away. Very short sighted and Poor business decision I think.
Numerous Princess cruisers will confirm and think with their feet. And why oh why do you offer chance to win a free cruise when times are so tough that you take away recognition for past lotalty??
Hey Cruiselines (anybody but Carnival that is!) – Will any of you be offering to swap out our loyalty points for us to jump ship? Please contact me!
So glad I did a cruise on Viking for the first time this year. If you are going to have to pay big money now with Carnival and I only need a few more days to reach the Diamond Level after I complete a cruise in January and one in October booked next year and I will be stripped of these points?? I will switch my loyalty to Viking. As a solo sailor now, I pay a bomb anyway and at least with Viking you may pay a little more. However, excursions are included, beer and wine provided at lunch and dinner, no hard upselling throughout the cruise, no casinos and no kids. Every room has a balcony, smaller ship sailing, speciality dining included. I have noticed more companies are offering good deals for solos without the penalities and now catering for this growing market.
My wife and have 132 points and have booked cruises thru to early 2027 where we would have made diamond status now so much for Carnival loyalty !!! program what loyalty !!! carnival doesnt care you have screwed your loyal customers I am no longer going to care. I am cancelling tge remainder of our trips and will select Royal Carribean or others. Carnival can compete for my business but without loyalty they dont have a hope in hell fir second rate ships. Also thanks Carnival for looking after Australian customers you should have offered credit card options like the USA to earn points that might have softened the blow but you couldn’t even be bothered.
I’m only at the Gold level but I’m close to Platinum and this new program doesn’t work for the Australian market . We can’t get the Carnival credit card to boost your points with everyday spending and for someone like me who cruises twice a year but doesn’t spend in the Casino I’m always going to be Red. Carnival has the monopoly for all year cruising here and they really don’t care about loyalty.
These are my thoughts only. This new loyalty program for those with Platinum status, is a huge slap in the face, especially for us Australians and any other country who has to spend 3 times the amount of money compared to US. This new program is confusing and not a fair deal. We have been just as loyal to Carnival as the guests that are currently Diamond. We have been cruising with them for years trying to get to Diamond status. Spending our hard earned money only to find out that we will lose our Platinum status and drop back to Gold at the end of the 2 year period if we can’t cruise and spend money on the ship buying things we don’t want or paying for excursions that way over priced. We are being forced to do this if we want to maintain our status, that we will lose anyway.
We pay for cruises to do what we want to do, relax and do nothing or do heaps if we wish. That should be the reason enough to cruise.
Why should we have to spend 3 times the amount of money as to the US passengers. Also who has the amount of money we are expected to spend to get back to Platinum if our staus reverts back to gold, let alone never being able to get to Diamond with this new program.
Platinum guests should maintain their status for at least 5 years and when they reach Diamond status, they maintain it forever too.
I worked out as a solo cruiser I would sauce to spend at least AU$25,000 in a two year period to maintain platinum status under the crap rewards program. Sorry but that’s complete BS and carnival can stick it up their a**