by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 10:00 AM ET, Tue September 1, 2026
Carnival Cruise Line has officially launched its new Carnival Rewards loyalty program.
The new program introduces Carnival Rewards points, which are earned and can be redeemed for Carnival cruises and eligible onboard experiences, as well as status qualifying stars, which unlock status and additional benefits.
“Everything [guests] do with Carnival is now rewarded,” says Sidharth Krishna, vice president of loyalty for Carnival Cruise Line. “Every action that they take, whether that be sailing with us, whether that be going into a spa, getting a short excursion or even playing in the casino. All of those are now rewarded with these points and stars.”
The program also introduces the Milestone Recognition Program, which celebrates guests as they reach key achievements based on the number of days sailed. The brand is also debuting the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard, a credit card with no annual fee that allows guests to earn rewards for Carnival vacations through everyday spending.
Here’s what to know about the new program.
Carnival Rewards Points
Travelers earn three Carnival Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including gratuities, and they earn one point for every one casino point remaining at the end of a sailing.
Points are earned at the end of the sailing, posting approximately 14 days after a cruise’s end date. They can be redeemed as soon as they are made available toward future Carnival Cruise Line cruises as well as eligible onboard purchases, such as shore excursions, specialty dining and spa treatments.
“These points are what [guests] will use to redeem for things that they love to do with Carnival,” says Krishna. “So whether it be purchasing another cruise, using it as a deposit or even purchasing a mojito on a sailing.”
Status Qualifying Stars
Guests earn status with Carnival Cruise Line through status qualifying stars, which accumulate based on their activity throughout their vacation. Carnival Rewards has four status levels: red, upon enrollment; gold, for earning at least 10,000 stars; platinum, for earning 50,000 stars; and diamond, for earning 100,000 stars.
“Stars are the new way that we determine status,” says Krishna.
Guests can earn three stars for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including gratuities, as well as one star for every casino point earned. Guests earn their status during a two-year status qualifying window, and can enjoy their status for the remainder of that period and the following two-year status enjoyment window. The inaugural qualifying period will run from September 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028.
All VIFP members who have enrolled in Carnival Rewards will transition their status as of August 31 into Carnival Rewards until December 31, 2028. Members who earned diamond status in the VIFP program by August 31 will transition into Carnival Rewards as a Carnival Rewards diamond member for life. Members who earned platinum status in the VIFP program by August 31 will earn a 10,000-star boost during each qualifying period, granting them an accelerated path to Carnival Rewards platinum.
Milestone Recognition Program
The brand’s new milestone recognition program celebrates enrolled Carnival Rewards members’ lifetime relationship with Carnival based on days sailed.
“We revamped and improved our milestone program to ensure that the guests who are sailing with us a long time, that they are rewarded, they are recognized,” says Krishna.
Once they reach the 50-day sailing milestone, members will receive 5,000 Carnival Rewards points and a special Sail & Sign card. At the 100-day milestone and every 100-day milestone through 500 days, members receive 10,000 Carnival Rewards points, onboard recognition, a commemorative coin and onboard credit. At the 500-day milestone and every 100-day milestone thereafter, members receive elevated recognition and commemorative gifts.
Carnival Rewards Mastercard
The new Carnival Rewards Mastercard allows guests to earn rewards through everyday spending. The card has no annual fee and, for a limited time, guests who apply and are approved can earn up to 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
“Guests can earn points and stars for their everyday spend, even when they’re not sailing with us,” says Krishna. “That’s a key element that I think was missing in the cruise industry.”
Carnival Rewards Mastercard cardholders can earn up to 6x points on eligible Carnival purchases (3x points from the card plus 3x points through Carnival Rewards) and up to four status qualifying stars per $1 on eligible Carnival purchases when combined with Carnival Rewards earnings.
Cardholders can also earn 2x points at eligible restaurants and grocery stores and one status qualifying star per $1 spent on everyday purchases. They can earn 1x points on all other purchases and earn one status qualifying star per $1 spent on everyday purchases. The card also comes with a 2,500-point annual anniversary bonus after spending $2,000 on purchases.
Carnival’s leaders hope the new credit card will help travelers feel “connected more with the brand, connected to come back and sail with us, connect with the Carnival ethos, the fun culture,” says Krishna. “So that connection will continue outside of when they're not sailing also with the credit card. And hopefully the fact that they'll be earning even more points from their everyday spend and potentially status from their everyday spend, they will be coming back to us, coming back and using that status, coming back and using those points to keep sailing with us. That's the connection that we want to create.”
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