Thursday, April 11, 2024

Carnival Cruise Line Makes Changes for Platinum and Diamond Guests

carnival cruise line vifp levels

We’re hopeful these changes reflect wanting to get the program right the first time. I’m sure they’re taking a lesson from the backlash against Delta Airlines received when they overhauled their status program. We’re ok with the cruise line taking a little extra time to make sure they get it right. But the best elite perk of the VIFP Club program in our eyes is the unlimited wash-and-fold laundry service that comes with Diamond status.

Platinum Level (75 to 199 points)

Whether or not one believes $$$ equals loyalty is likely irrelevant to Carnival as they look to bring in as much income as they can to pay down debt taken on during the pandemic. One of the nice little surprises of Carnival's loyalty program is that you hit the first tier level, Blue, the moment you walk on board your first cruise with the brand. Unlike many lines, you don't have to complete a cruise to get to the first level. In fact, you can get to the Blue tier even before taking a cruise. When it comes to Carnival’s loyalty program, there is really no reason not to join. Membership is completely free and can only benefit you by providing rewards.

carnival cruise line vifp levels

Carnival Ship Rescues 27 People Adrift at Sea in the Caribbean

carnival cruise line vifp levels

” but Diamond cruisers on Carnival can help others just by cruising. The benefits are generous once you reach the Diamond level (200 cruise days or more). One of the most unique perks is a $100 donation made in your name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. When you initially sign up for the VIFP Club, you’ll be known as a “Blue Card,” a first-time Carnival cruiser.

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Carnival VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Cruise Loyalty Program.

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What kind of cruise deals will I receive with the VIFP Program?

Another Carnival Cruise Without Loyalty Benefits - Cruise Hive

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Is Carnival Cruise Line looking to change how points are earned in the VIFP loyalty program? For those who have reached the Platinum and Diamond levels, the Carnival Cruise Loyalty Program truly shines. These members benefit from exclusive events and parties, allowing them to celebrate their loyalty with fellow cruisers and Carnival staff. If you have sailed with sister cruise lines, such as Princess, your travel agent may have secured past passenger rates that Carnival does not account for since they occurred before 1990. In these cases, you may be wondering if you can still earn points for those past cruises to improve your membership tier and get better perks during your future voyages. Sometimes, you might have cruised with Carnival before the VIFP Club was introduced or in the early days when the recognition program had not yet started tracking points.

Moreover, priority access to restaurant reservations ensures that you secure the best table times. Keep in mind that every day you spend on a Carnival cruise earns you one VIFP Point, helping you rise through the ranks of the club and earn increasingly exclusive benefits. Designed with both convenience and recognition in mind, the cruise card acts as your room key, payment method for onboard purchases, and identification for getting on and off the ship. Each person must earn his or her own VIFP status through the accumulation of points awarded after completing qualifying sailings.

Do VIFP Club Points Expire, or Does the Status Level Drop?

If a cruise is cut short or extended for reasons out of the guests control, how many points will the guests earn since we are basing it on the actual number of days sailed? As a gesture of goodwill we will never decrease the number of cruise days earned as a result of extenuated circumstances. In cases where an additional day is added we will increase the number of cruise days.What is the difference between Past Guest and the VIFP Club membership? Benefits are meant to recognise individual members and are therefore not transferable to travel companions.Can a guest bring another guest to membership functions on board? Generally, benefits requiring an invitation are designated per member.

Platinum Tier – 75 to 199 Days At Sea

This milestone reward benefit is in addition to the wide range of amenities and privileges that guests already receive as part of the VIFP Club. However, Carnival's terms and conditions state the line, at its discretion, might choose to honor the bump during the sailing on which you receive it. It doesn't hurt to ask at the guest services desk if you have questions. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. The Platinum level of the VIFP Club is where your loyalty to Carnival finally starts paying off.

After this milestone cruise, they will revert to the card that corresponds to their VIFP level. Even at the highest Diamond level of its VIFP Club program, Carnival still is a little stingy with the perks. Unlike Royal Caribbean and some other lines, for instance, it doesn't give members a free cruise upon reaching this pinnacle of loyalty status. If you always book seven-night sailings, you'll reach the Gold tier after three cruises.

Travel Documentation and Online Check-in

If you take lots of shorter sailings, it’ll take much longer to reach that level. If you’ll reach the next tier during a sailing, you will receive the privileges of that higher tier for the entire duration of the cruise. This means that even if you were going to cross over from the red tier to the gold on the second to last day of a cruise, you will be assigned a gold card (and get gold privileges) starting on day one. With Gold, you’ll get everything from the Red level plus a free beverage on 5+ day cruises (redeemable at any bar on the last evening of the cruise after 5 pm) and a Gold VIFP pin on every sailing. To receive your pin, head to the onboard Photo Gallery no later than two days before the end of the cruise. More and more, we’ve seen Carnival limit the benefits to Platinum and Diamond cruisers as the cruise operator struggles to deliver based on the number of loyal cruisers on board.

Today is the third time Heald has referenced changes to the program. It’s also the third timeframe he’s shared for when changes would roll out. Originally, changes were set to roll out in the spring of 2024. In today’s live stream, Heald shared that we would see a new program before the end of the year. Such "forever status" is one of the great allures of cruise line frequent cruiser programs.

It won't get you across-the-board discounts on cruises, shore excursions and beverage packages, as some lines offer higher-tier members. But it does bring some worthwhile perks at higher levels, and it's relatively easy to rise through the tiers of the program. So if you earn 25 points within the program but then don’t sail for a few years, you’ll still have the same point level and status as before.

Right now, Carnival’s VIFP program operates on a days cruised basis, with each day equal to one point in the program. All guests are automatically enrolled in the “Blue” level from their very first cruise, receiving members-only offers and an emailed newsletter. This program is designed to reward and recognize the loyalty of Carnival cruisers, offering a range of benefits and perks based on a passenger’s level of loyalty to the cruise line. In this article, we will explore the Carnival Cruise Loyalty Program in detail, covering its various levels, benefits, and how it enhances the cruise experience. The benefits are just about negligible all the way up to Platinum status, which you hit once you reach 75 cruise nights. If you take mostly seven-night cruises, you’ll reach Platinum at around your 11th cruise.

Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP Club—or Very Important Fun Person Club—is their exclusive loyalty program designed to reward you, for each time you set sail. The loyalty club offers exclusive perks for Carnival passengers, including coveted Diamond level benefits like priority water shuttle boarding and a complimentary dinner at a specialty restaurant. I have already sailed with Carnival before and previously received a color-coded Sail and Sign card. Guests who sailed with Carnival on more than 10 cruises by December 31, 2013 were automatically included in the Platinum level of the VIFP Club. Additionally, some guests who previously received Platinum cards advanced to the VIFP Club's Diamond level.

To restrict the free drink to the last night of a cruise, in our eyes, seems like an inordinate effort on the part of Carnival to discourage customers from using what already is a pretty paltry perk. You don't have to worry about different earning levels for different cabin categories or different types of bookings, as is the case with some lines. Perks and rewards range from a free bottle of water in your room to priority check-in/boarding, Carnival souvenir gifts, collectible pins, priority debarkation, and priority reservations. That’s not to say that Carnival couldn’t do something like award double points to suite guests as an incentive to book a higher-grade cabin.

When you log into your Carnival account with your email/username and password, click on your name in the top right corner of the screen on the blue bar next to the ‘logout’ button. On your profile, your VIFP number will be located under your name on the left sidebar. Here's everything you need to know about the Carnival VIFP Club including how to become a member, how to earn points, and the benefits. Note that all information contained in this article is updated as of September 2022. Per Carnival's webpage, "Carnival Cruise Line® reserves the right to change terms/benefits [of the VIFP Program] at any time."

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