Carnival shakes up cruise loyalty; Royal Caribbean to revamp ships
Complaints are pouring in on social media after Carnival Cruise Line announced details of its completely overhauled loyalty program on June 18.
Although Carnival has been talking about a planned loyalty program revamp for months, the cruise line had not yet revealed any details about the changes until now. And it appears that the structure of the new program is not sitting well with many loyal passengers.The new Carnival Rewards program, which rolls out in June 2026, follows a completely different model than Carnival's current Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) loyalty program.
Many Carnival cruisers who have been building their VIFP status for many years to reach Platinum or Diamond levels in the program worry that the new Carnival Rewards system won't value their long-time loyalty as well as the current program.
However, Carnival says that the new loyalty program reflects a commitment to creating more meaningful recognition for its loyal passengers. The new rewards model will put the cruise line loyalty program on par with popular travel loyalty programs offered by airlines and hotels.
Doug Parker shared more details on the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program, and other cruise news including Royal Caribbean's 2026 ship modernization projects, on the June 19th edition of Cruise News Today.Transcript:
This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning, here's your cruise news for Thursday, June 19th.
Carnival Cruise Line is overhauling its loyalty program. Starting next June, the current VIFP Club will be replaced by Carnival Rewards, meaning lifetime status is ending. Passengers must now re-qualify every two years, and this will be based on spending, not the amount of cruise nights you have. This puts the company more in line with airline and hotel loyalty programs.They're also dropping the Blue tier as far as their loyalty program, and all guests will start at Red. Higher tiers like Gold, Platinum, and Diamond will require more spending to earn and keep your perks.
Some benefits, like the gold pins and the complimentary dining and unlimited laundry for Diamond members, are also being scaled back during this change.
There is a lot to unpack here, and it's fully detailed on CarnivalRewards.com.
I'm curious what you think about Carnival moving towards a more pay-to-play model. Let me know in the comments.And a follow-up to the story we brought you yesterday of Celebrity Edge breaking loose while it was docked in Juneau, Alaska.
The U.S. Coast Guard is now investigating the near-collision between two cruise ships after a storm broke Edge loose from its moorings.
High winds pushed Celebrity Edge toward Carnival Luminosa as it was leaving port, forcing Luminosa to back up to avoid being hit. Celebrity Edge did drop the anchor just in time to avoid a crash. No injuries or damage were reported.
Coast Guard officials are reviewing public video submissions and say a probe is now underway.And Royal Caribbean is set to overhaul three of its ships next year — Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas — as part of its ongoing modernization program. The upgrades will include new dining options, enhanced entertainment, and redesigned pool areas.
Ovation will debut in Alaska, Harmony will shift from Europe to Florida, and Liberty will sail from England before heading to Galveston, Texas. All three ships will debut fully revamped.And cruise stocks ended higher on Wednesday. Carnival Corporation: up 1%, 23.61. Royal Caribbean: up 2%, 267.78. Norwegian: up 1%, 18.39. And Viking: up 2%, 48.66.
If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@cruiseradio.net.
And this week's Cruise Radio Podcast: a review of Carnival Panorama, where you listen to your favorite podcasts.
I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Thursday.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
, or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
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