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Carnival Cruise Line’s Loyalty Program: VIFP Club [Review]

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Jessica Merritt
Updated: 
Edited by: Michael Y. Park
& Ben Neighbors-Giles
Carnival Cruise Line’s Loyalty Program: VIFP Club [Review]
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Key Takeaways

  • Carnival’s VIFP Club offers its members a range of benefits, including priority boarding, complimentary gifts, and exclusive member offers.
  • Membership tiers are determined by the number of days sailed, with benefits increasing across the 5 tiers from Blue to Diamond.
  • Carnival is launching a new spending-based program in September 2026, but current VIFP status will be honored through 2028.

One of the most popular cruise lines in the world, Carnival Cruise Line is known for its upbeat atmosphere, affordable itineraries, and large fleet of cruise ships. Carnival’s loyalty program, VIFP Club (Very Important Fun Person Club), rewards repeat guests as they spend days at sea with the cruise line.

Enrollment in VIFP is automatic once you complete your first Carnival sailing, and you can earn points toward valuable perks on future cruises. Your membership level depends on the number of days spent at sea with Carnival. You can unlock benefits as you move up the ranks, including priority services, onboard savings, and complimentary gifts.

Understanding the Carnival VIFP program can help you maximize your rewards benefits. Let’s look at how the VIFP Club works, what you can expect at each tier, and how the program will evolve in 2026 with the launch of the new Carnival Rewards system.

VIFP Club

The Very Important Fun Person Club is Carnival Cruise Line‘s loyalty program. You’re automatically enrolled in VIFP after completing your first cruise and begin earning credits toward your next tier. For each day you sail on a Carnival ship, you earn 1 VIFP point, which determines your membership level and perks.

How To Earn VIFP Points

Your membership level in VIFP is based on a point system, earning 1 VIFP point for each day you sail, regardless of stateroom type. For example, a 3-night cruise earns 3 VIFP points and a 7-night cruise earns 7 VIFP points.

All paid Carnival cruises, including promotional fares, solo cruisers, and children, count toward VIFP points. However, nonrevenue cruises, charters, employee sailings, and cruises you have booked but haven’t completed do not count. You only earn points after finishing your cruise.

Keep Track of Your Points

You can track your VIFP points in your online account. Click on My Benefits to view your points breakdown.

Your account also includes information on your upcoming cruises, your current status level, and available offers.

Carnival Cruise Lines VIFP Club points
See your points in your online account. Image Credit: Carnival Cruise Line

VIFP Membership Benefits [Program Levels]

VIFP benefits are based on your membership tier, which depends on how many points you’ve earned. There are 5 membership levels in the VIFP program.

Carnival Cruise Lines VIFP Club levels
Membership Levels in the VIFP Club. Image Credit: Carnival Cruise Line

Blue: First Sailing

As soon as you book and complete your first Carnival cruise, you start at Blue status.

  • Members-only offers
  • Member e-newsletter

Red: Second Sailing to 24 Points

Once you complete your second cruise, you move into Red status, with the benefits of Blue plus:

  • Complimentary 1.5-liter bottle of water on embarkation day

Gold: 25 to 74 Points

Gold status offers a couple of additional perks for frequent cruisers, in addition to the benefits of Blue and Red:

  • Complimentary first beverage on cruises of 5 days or longer
  • Gold VIFP pin

Platinum: 75 to 199 Points

The perks expand significantly when you reach Platinum status, offering a generous combination of priority services, onboard gifts, and practical benefits, including laundry service. You receive all the cumulative benefits of the previous levels, plus:

  • Priority check-in and boarding
  • VIFP party on cruises 5 days or longer, including complimentary beverages
  • Complimentary first beverage
  • Welcome treat on cruises 5 days or longer
  • Unique collectible VIFP pin and VIFP logo gift on each sailing
  • Priority spa reservations
  • Priority water shuttle boarding
  • $5 in complimentary arcade credits for guests under 18
  • Priority guest services by phone and onboard
  • Priority debarkation
  • Priority reservations at main dining room and specialty restaurants
  • Complimentary wash and fold laundry service (bag limits based on cruise length)

Diamond: 200 or More Points

The top tier of VIFP Club, Diamond, has the most exclusive benefits, including special event invitations, free amenities, and collectibles on each sailing. The new benefits you receive at this level include:

  • Guaranteed main dining time preference for dinner
  • Priority reservations at specialty restaurants
  • Unlimited complimentary wash and fold laundry service
  • Captain’s special event invitation each sailing
  • One-time free cabin upgrade or third, fourth, and fifth guests sail free
  • One-time complimentary meal for 2 at a specialty restaurant
  • VIFP Club luggage tag set
  • Dedicated toll-free number for sales and service

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VIFP Club Partner Benefits

Carnival’s VIFP Club is primarily focused on onboard perks, but members can take advantage of partner benefits that offer savings and perks. These are especially valuable for guests to enjoy Carnival’s onboard casino program.

Carnival Players Club

The Carnival casino loyalty program is separate from VIFP status, but available to members. With the Carnival Players Club, you can receive benefits depending on your onboard casino play, including:

  • Discounted or complimentary cruise offers
  • Onboard credit rewards
  • Priority casino invitations
  • Tournament entry offers
  • Special casino-hosted events
  • Cabin upgrades based on play history

Regardless of your VIFP tier, you may receive deeply discounted (or free) sailings from your casino offers. Players Club benefits don’t affect your VIFP tier, though many guests combine the programs to maximize perks. For example, you can combine casino offers with VIFP priority service and benefits.

Hot Tip:

Carnival Players Club has a status match offer with a free or discounted cruise if you upload proof of your casino loyalty program status.

Wyndham Rewards Partnership

Wyndham Rewards members can bundle Carnival cruises with airfare, hotels, car rentals, and activities while earning Wyndham Rewards points.

The partnership is with Wyndham Travel Bundles and offers 1 Wyndham Rewards point per $1 spent on cruises, flights, and car rentals, and up to 10 Wyndham Rewards points per $1 on qualifying Wyndham stays and activities. You can double-dip rewards, earning Wyndham Rewards points and points with the airline, rental car company, or cruise line.

For example, if you book a Carnival Cruise Line cruise through Wyndham Travel Bundles, you can earn Wyndham Rewards points and VIFP points for the cruise segment.

You can get discounts of up to 50% off eligible Carnival Cruise Line sailings. Bundles must include at least a 1-night stay at a Wyndham property.

Hot Tip:

Read our guide for details on the Wyndham and Carnival Cruise Line partnership.

New Carnival Rewards Program Launching in 2026

Canal Grand Restaurant on Carnival Venezia
The centerpiece of the Canal Grand Restaurant is a real gondola. Image Credit: Carnival

In September 2026, Carnival will replace the VIFP Club with Carnival Rewards, a new loyalty program. The most significant shift is moving from determining status levels by cruise days to a spending-based model. Under the new program, members will earn redeemable points that can be used for onboard purchases and experiences.

Current VIFP member tiers will be honored through December 31, 2028. Your cruising history will determine your status in the new system, and VIFP points won’t convert directly to Carnival Rewards points.

Hot Tip:

Learn more about the new Carnival Rewards program launching in September 2026.

Book Your Carnival Cruise

Booking a cruise is a big purchase, so mapping out a smart payment strategy can pay off. Carnival offers a co-branded credit card, but you typically get more value by paying for your cruise with a card that earns flexible travel rewards points and offers stronger travel protections.

Despite the Carnival branding, the Carnival® World Mastercard® probably isn’t the best card to use for your cruise purchase. Although it earns 2x points on Carnival purchases, 1x on everything else, and offers a welcome bonus offer that includes onboard credit, you can only redeem points toward Carnival purchases. The redemption value is low compared to the value you can get from more flexible programs.

Also, the card lacks strong travel protections, which can be particularly helpful with cruise itineraries that have multiple moving parts. For example, trip cancellation and interruption coverage can reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses if you have to cancel or cut short your trip for a covered reason. The Carnival World card doesn’t offer that kind of protection.

A better choice would be a card that earns flexible points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can redeem through the Chase Travel portal or transfer to Chase transfer partners for even more value. It also offers numerous travel protection benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption coverage.

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Hot Tip:

Prepare for your cruise with our printable cruise packing list.

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Final Thoughts

With the Carnival VIFP Club, you can get rewards for sailing with Carnival Cruise Line. Earning 1 point per day at sea makes it easy to understand; however, a new spending-based program that offers redeemable rewards may provide more flexibility and easier-to-attain benefits.

Featured Image Credit: Carnival Cruise Line

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you qualify for the VIFP Club?

VIFP Club enrollment is automatic once you complete your first Carnival cruise. Your tier in VIFP depends on how many cruise days you’ve spent with Carnival Cruise Line.

Do VIFP points expire?

No, VIFP points don’t expire. They aren’t redeemable, but they remain on your account and count toward your VIFP status, even if you go years between cruises.

Can you earn extra VIFP points by booking a better stateroom category?

VIFP points are based on days spent at sea with Carnival Cruise Line, regardless of the stateroom category. However, the new Carnival Rewards program launching in September 2026 is based on spending. Under the new program, you can earn more tier-qualifying points by booking a stateroom that costs more.

Do VIFP perks apply on all sailings?

Yes, you can use your VIFP perks on every Carnival cruise. Benefits such as laundry service, priority boarding, and event invitations are available fleetwide unless otherwise noted.

Should you reach a higher VIFP tier before the new program launch?

If you’re close to moving up from Gold to Platinum or Platinum to Diamond, it may be worth completing another sailing before the new Carnival Rewards program launches in September 2026. Carnival Rewards will honor all VIFP status tiers through 2028, so you can hold your status for years under the new program.

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About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

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