Carnival Responds to Loyalty Backlash, But Guest A...

Since asserting a revamped loyalty program on June 18, 2025, Carnival Cruise Line has been feeling the warmth from angered and damage cruisers.

The brand new program, which is meant to enter impact on June 1, 2026, will transition to a points-based system that rewards visitors for onboard spending in addition to crusing.

Whereas this will sound okay in idea, it eliminates the lifetime standing for VIFP membership members and sees loyalty tiers resetting each two years. Particularly amongst long-time Carnival cruisers, the trend about dropping their everlasting standing has been intense.

After a letter issued by Carnival President Christine Duffy on June 21, 2025, did little to assuage the negativity on-line, the cruise line has issued one other letter to visitors by way of Model Ambassador John Heald.

The letter, which got here from the “Beards,” started by emphasizing that the cruise line is listening to the suggestions from the cruising group.

“We made the choice to share our plans properly prematurely of the launch to offer everybody loads of time to grasp the advantages of the brand new program which can present extra flexibility and methods so that you can earn larger rewards and recognition while you sail with us,” the letter begins.

“Please know we’re studying your feedback and taking in your suggestions. To be clear, no modifications shall be applied till June 1, 2026, practically 12 months from now. We shall be answering all of your questions properly prematurely of this system launch,” it continues.

Considerably curiously, the assertion about no modifications being made for the following 12 months is a bit ambiguous.

It might affirm that the brand new program is not going to be applied till that date, as has beforehand been introduced, or that no modifications to the brand new program will happen till the cruise line sees the way it features as soon as applied.

If the latter is the case, the statement contradicts a post from John Heald following the announcement, during which he wrote that the cruise line has “a 12 months to have a look at it, probably, possibly, effective tune it and alter some issues round.”

Clarifying Confusion Isn’t Serving to

As with all new program or main change, there is a lot that is still unknown and rumors are working wild. However clarifying and reminding cruisers of the advantages of the revamped loyalty program appears to solely be including gasoline to the fireplace proper now.

For instance, the household pleasant model clarified that each one VIFP members retain their membership standing till June of 2028 to assist ease them by way of the transition, whereas elite Diamond members will preserve their standing till June of 2032.

In addition they clarified that the co-branded Carnival Rewards Mastercard, which was additionally just lately introduced, will not be required to earn factors onboard.

Nevertheless, signing up for the Mastercard does imply that cruisers can earn factors by way of on a regular basis spending ,even once they aren’t on trip.

Learn Additionally: Carnival Cruise Gift Cards: What You Need to Know

“We consider these modifications will enable us to cut back the expansion challenges of the present program, which right now usually lead to us being unable to satisfy the present advantages on sailings with giant numbers of VIFP Membership high tier visitors,” Carnival said.

This references one of many beforehand introduced causes behind the change, which was that there at the moment are too many elite VIFP members to reward them correctly.

“Thanks to your continued loyalty as we work by way of this transition collectively. We acknowledge that this can be a large change however consider that this new program will unlock larger alternatives and advantages to you, our valued visitors,” the cruise line continued.

However judging by the comments section on Heald’s Facebook page, the letter has executed little to melt the damaging response. Of the over 4,000 individuals who responded to the publish, the bulk expressed that Carnival had misplaced their enterprise.

The widespread discuss of switching to other cruise lines using loyalty status matching programs has additionally continued.

Moreover, there may be now additionally a petition on Change.org to cease the brand new rewards program from coming to fruition. In only a few days, the petition has obtained greater than 1,000 signatures.

Given the continued frustration, it is going to be fascinating to see how Carnival responds subsequent.