Carnival Rewards to Count Milestones by Days Sailed

Carnival Cruise Line will calculate guest milestone recognition by days sailed and display each passenger’s Carnival sailing-day total on redesigned Sail & Sign cards when Carnival Rewards replaces the Very Important Fun Person Club on Sept. 1, 2026. President Christine Duffy outlined the changes in an interview with Brand Ambassador John Heald, adding details to the loyalty overhaul first introduced in 2025.

The change moves milestone recognition away from cruise-count thresholds while the broader program uses Status Qualifying Stars for tier status and Carnival Rewards points for redemption value. Current VIFP members will need to opt in under the new terms before benefits and converted sailing history apply.

Milestone rewards move to days sailed

Under VIFP, guests received Milestone recognition at 25, 50, 75 and 100 Carnival cruises, with perks including a special Sail & Sign card, non-refundable onboard credit equal to a percentage of cruise fare on the corresponding sailing and, at the 100-cruise level, a restricted free cruise. VIFP status points were based on days sailed, but Milestone recognition was tied to the number of sailings completed.

In Carnival Rewards, the first day-based Milestone bonus is 5,000 points at 50 days sailed, followed by 10,000 points at 100 days. Guests receive another 10,000 points for each additional 100 days sailed after that, including the 500-day level Duffy identified.

“We know how important it is to recognize our guests’ loyalty,” Duffy said, adding that Carnival is “changing the way we count milestones.” For passengers who tend to book longer itineraries, she said, counting days lets them reach recognition levels faster than a cruise-count system.

Carnival also plans onboard recognition, commemorative coins, onboard credit and other rewards in the milestone structure. The company has not disclosed the complete level-by-level reward schedule, and the former automatic onboard-credit percentages tied to 25-, 50- and 75-cruise milestones are not the announced formula.

Redesigned Sail & Sign cards will show each guest’s total

The redesigned cards move to a vertical format and add a Carnival Rewards logo, tier-color treatment and a “Carnival Days Sailed” emblem showing the guest’s individual total from their first Carnival cruise. The Sail & Sign card remains the onboard ID, room access and cashless payment card, with information such as muster station, guest number, ship name, sailing date and dining assignment still included.

Card colors in the new program align with Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond, the four Carnival Rewards tiers. The current VIFP Club has five tiers: Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. It awards one VIFP point per day sailed.

Status and points operate on separate tracks

Carnival Rewards separates redeemable points from Status Qualifying Stars. Guests earn 3 stars and 3 rewards points per eligible dollar spent on Carnival cruise fares and onboard purchases, while casino play and Carnival Mastercard activity can add earnings under separate rules. Taxes and fees, Fly2Fun air, certain fare types, and purchases made with points or with some onboard or future cruise credits are excluded from star earning.

Tier thresholds are Red upon enrollment, Gold at 10,000 stars, Platinum at 50,000 and Diamond at 100,000. At the three-stars-per-dollar rate for eligible cruise and onboard spending, those thresholds above Red equate to about $3,333, $16,667 and $33,333 over a two-year Status Qualifying Period for a nongambler without Carnival Mastercard star earnings. Carnival has not announced the card’s star-earning rates.

Redeemable Carnival Rewards points can be used toward cruise fares, deposits, shore excursions, spa treatments, specialty dining, beverages, onboard shopping and casino play. Carnival’s examples include 13,499 points for a 50-minute Swedish massage, 5,500 points for a steakhouse dinner and 1,357 points for a single frozen pina colada, but the line has not posted a full redemption chart.

Duffy said members will also be able to earn points at Celebration Key and RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay, as well as through everyday spending on the Carnival Mastercard. Existing Mastercard holders are already opted in under the card’s terms, while guests without the card must manually accept Carnival Rewards terms.

VIFP transition runs beyond the launch

Guests’ prior cruises will be converted into days once they opt in, and Duffy said current loyalty members have until the end of 2030 to use unused benefits from the existing program. “It is a brand new program,” she said. “Privacy rules prevent us from automatically enrolling guests, even our longtime cruisers.”

Existing VIFP status as of Aug. 31, 2026, will serve as the guaranteed starting tier under Carnival Rewards for the initial transition, with members who reach Diamond by that date keeping Diamond for life. Existing VIFP Platinum members are due a 10,000-star boost in each two-year earning period.

The first full Status Qualifying Period begins Jan. 1, 2027, and runs through Dec. 31, 2028. Status earned during that cycle will apply from Jan. 1, 2029, through Dec. 31, 2030.

Compare Carnival Cruise Line sailings by price on Cruise Lookup.