Climbing the Carnival loyalty ladder is a big deal. Not only do cruisers proudly wear their status on their colored Sail & Sign cards, but the higher you are, the more perks you get while onboard.
More cruisers than ever have reached the coveted Platinum and Diamond statuses, as revealed by some ships' inability to offer the full lineup of VIP perks on sailings with a high number of top-tier sailors.
Although I'm still 47 points away from reaching Platinum status, I've already begun to reap the benefits of Carnival's VIFP Club.
After five cruises totaling 30 nights on Carnival's "FUN" fleet, I reached Gold status in May 2025, just in time for my weeklong Alaska cruise on Carnival Luminosa.
Gold doesn't come with priority embarkation, complimentary laundry, or VIP parties, but it's a clear step into the innermost circle of devout Carnival fans.
Whether you're just starting on your Carnival cruise journey or are chasing Diamond status before the new rewards program launches next year, here's what I wish I knew about how much of a difference Carnival's loyalty tiers make.
Read more: 8 big changes coming to Carnival Cruise Line in 2025
The Gold benefits are minimal but appreciated
Gold shouldn't be your endgame — it's not really a noticeable step up compared to the Red tier. However, if you frequently cruise, you'll appreciate the complimentary beverage on sailings of 5 nights or longer, especially if you forego the pricey CHEERS! drink package.
For example, while on my Alaska cruise, I redeemed my free beverage on embarkation day at the Atrium Bar. Rather than shelling out over $13, including the mandatory service charge, for a Lychee Martini, my first drink of the cruise cost just $1.32.
Pro tip: The perk applies automatically to your first beverage. Skip soda or bottled water and use it on a specialty cocktail to maximize the value.
Moreover, you can proudly display your loyalty to Carnival Cruise Line with a Gold pin that's available for pickup from the Photo Gallery no later than two days before the end of your cruise.
Other benefits include a complimentary 1.5-liter bottle of water, members-only offers, and a special newsletter.
The real perks roll in after you've spent at least 75 nights with Carnival Cruise Line
Platinum VIFP cruisers are part of the elite squad of guests who have spent over two months on Carnival ships.
Benefits include priority check-in and boarding on embarkation day, a unique loyalty pin on every sailing, priority tendering, a dedicated Guest Services line, a complimentary beverage on all sailings, and more.
According to loyal cruisers, one of the most valuable benefits is the complimentary wash and fold laundry service.
"[The laundry benefit] means for very short cruises, backpacks only, and longer ones we can get by with one suitcase between us!" wrote one cruiser on Reddit.
Platinum cruisers are limited in how many bags they can send off, depending on the length of their cruise: 2 bags on 3-6 day cruises, 3 bags on 7-13 day cruises, and 5 bags on 14+ day cruises. Conversely, Diamond guests enjoy unlimited wash and fold laundry, regardless of the cruise's duration.
If you don't need clean clothes during the sailing, consider sending your dirty garments off toward the end of the cruise, so you have less laundry piled up when you get home.
Another cruiser added that, while laundry is undoubtedly useful, the dedicated Guest Services line can be just as helpful:
"[T]he special line for guest services is probably one of the best ones. At times the line could be wrapped around with 40 or 50 people waiting, and no waiting at all in the other line."
Other sought-after Diamond perks include:
- A one-time free cabin upgrade, OR third, fourth, and fifth guests sail free
- A one-time complimentary specialty meal for two at the restaurant of your choice
- Special event invitation from the Captain on each sailing
- VIFP Club luggage tag set
- Priority specialty dining reservations
How to maximize your Carnival loyalty benefits
If you are just shy of reaching either Platinum or Diamond status, you may want to see how many cruises you can squeeze into your busy schedule before Aug. 31, 2026.
On Sept. 1, 2026, the new Carnival Rewards™ program will officially go into effect. The only cruisers who will retain their current status for life are Diamond VIFP Club members.
That said, all Carnival loyalty members will keep their current status until Dec. 31, 2028. After that, all two-year earning periods will run from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.
Read more: Carnival overhauls its cruise line loyalty program with first points-based system
Under the new Carnival Rewards™ program, loyalty will be measured by points, rather than nights spent onboard.
The new tiers are as follows:
- Red: Upon Sign Up
- Gold: 10,000 points
- Platinum: 50,000 points
- Diamond: 100,000 points
Although Platinum cruisers won't be grandfathered into the new program, they will receive a 10,000-point boost every two years to help them climb the ranks faster than everyone else. This means that, at minimum, all guests who reach Platinum status by Aug. 31 will be Gold members for life.
Stars will be accumulated through Carnival Cruise Line spending, with guests earning 3 points for every $1 spent on their cruise fare and onboard purchases. Additional points will be awarded to those using the new Carnival co-branded Mastercard.
Gamblers will also be happy to learn that for every point you earn in the ship’s casino, you’ll receive 1 star.
The points can then be redeemed on various add-ons to give guests more flexibility in how they vacation with Carnival Cruise Line.
For example, one couple may choose to redeem points on a drink package to unwind from a stressful period at work, while another family might prioritize booking shore excursions for as much quality time as possible.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
