As part of Carnival Cruise Line's "Innovation Itinerary," a five-year plan to sail the most "FUN" fleet at sea, create more compelling experiences and destinations, and build more loyalists, Carnival is set to unveil a revamped loyalty program that will enhance the experience for repeat cruisers.
Carnival’s Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club was introduced in 2012 and has been criticized compared to other lines' programs, namely Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society.
Carnival's Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has hinted that they've been working on an overhaul; however, Carnival's President Christine Duffy confirmed they'll announce changes this summer.
“Carnival has an incredibly loyal and passionate fan base who are advocates for our brand, our crew and the amazing vacations we deliver. We’ve had our existing VIFP loyalty recognition program in place since 2012 and as our fleet and business has grown, so has the VIFP program,” Duffy said.
“As we continue to grow, we are modifying the program to unlock greater value and engagement for our loyal guests.”
While Duffy didn't disclose the changes, she said the modifications will go into effect in 2026. Possible enhancements include a new tier, additional ways to earn loyalty points, and extra perks.
For instance, the VIFP Club has only 5 pretty unequal tiers:
- Blue (first cruise)
- Red (1 - 24 points)
- Gold (25 - 74 points)
- Platinum (75 - 199 points)
- Diamond (200+ points)
After four weeklong cruises, you'd already be in the third tier. However, you'd need another seven 7-night cruises to move from Gold to Platinum. With a 124-point difference between Platinum and Gold, at least 29 weeklong cruises are required to reach the VIFP Club's highest tier.
As such, Carnival may announce another tier — either between Platinum and Diamond or after Diamond — to further elevate the onboard experience for their most loyal customers. Disney Cruise Line made a similar update when they created the Pearl tier.
Not only are the tiers uneven, but the perks fail in comparison to other cruise lines. For instance, after earning 80 cruise points with Royal Caribbean, cruisers receive four daily drink coupons, which can be used on alcoholic beverages.
While Platinum and Diamond cruisers are invited to a private party on sailings 5 nights or longer with complimentary beverages, it's not the same as redeeming them throughout the voyage. The benefit also doesn't help cruisers on shorter getaways to the Bahamas.
The announcement follows Carnival's release of the names of its two new Excel Class ships
Sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida, Carnival Festivale (2027) will effectively replace Mardi Gras itineraries, with the original Excel Class ship moving to short cruises.
“As new ships are introduced, this will allow us to upgrade capacity and hardware in key markets, with a particular focus on short cruises,” explained Duffy.
“With short cruises on Mardi Gras, our guests who may not have the time to take a weeklong vacation can experience all the amazing features of our Excel class.”
As with the existing Excel Class ships, Carnival loyalists can look forward to exciting changes onboard Carnival Festivale with three new zones celebrating music with music-themed venues and immersive experiences. The brand-new cruise ship will also include 1,000 connecting cabins, nearly 70% more than the existing Excel Class ships. However, this means that Carnival Festivale won't have a Family Harbor area.
Another major change coming to Carnival Festivale is that it won't have BOLT, the Ultimate Seacoaster. Instead, the new Sunsation Point will feature "the most family-friendly water park at sea." With six slides, four of which are new to Carnival, it's set to be "the ultimate destination for splashy excitement."
Moving onto dining, Carnival's Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse is working with the cruise line's Food and Beverage team to create brand-new dining concepts, including a new restaurant that will replace the Mexican-Asian hybrid ChiBang!
Carnival Tropicale will join the fleet in 2028. Details about the homeport and itineraries will be released at a later date.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
