Carnival’s New Loyalty Program Sparks Mixed Reactions

Carnival Cruise Line’s newly introduced loyalty program, now named Carnival Rewards, has stirred a range of responses since its announcement earlier this week.

A major change within the revamped program is the introduction of temporary status tiers. Under the updated system, members will earn status points through a dual-tracking model, with all points resetting every two years.

The shift has drawn criticism from many longtime Carnival cruisers, particularly on social media platforms where devoted guests expressed concern about losing their hard-earned status.

“I’ve been sailing with Carnival since I was a teenager … we’ve spent decades with this cruise line; not because we had to, but because we chose to. We travel often,” one guest wrote in a Facebook group.

“Most of us in this group can afford to sail with any cruise line. And yet, we’ve continued to choose Carnival out of loyalty, which is no longer being returned,” the same post continued, warning that the update could push customers away.

Another guest echoed the sentiment, stating, “Spent 43 years being loyal to this company only to have them slap all of us in the face to earn back our status after two years. The ones this will hurt are the ones who can only travel once a year. They should have never changed anything.”

Despite the criticism, some passengers on Reddit defended the upcoming changes, which are set to take effect on June 1, 2026.

“If you read the FAQ and the material they are putting out on this, frankly, it all just makes sense,” said Reddit user baltinerdist.

“They are pretty upfront about the fact that the main reason they are doing this is because it’s a lifetime loyalty program and too many people are in the top tiers,” the user added, citing the operational difficulties in managing such a large volume of high-tier members.

“When everyone is special, no one is,” he concluded.

In a video statement released by Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald, company President Christine Duffy addressed the changes, describing them as a progression of the company’s longstanding loyalty initiatives.

“The cruise industry overall has grown and evolved immensely, and so have we. Rewards programs have evolved as well across the entire travel industry, especially for airlines and hotels, but not so much for cruises,” Duffy said.

She emphasized that Carnival aims to lead the industry by launching a more modern and adaptable loyalty program.

“When it comes to loyalty, we believe that rewards should be flexible and personalized, and that’s exactly what Carnival Rewards will deliver,” Duffy added.

She also reassured customers that guest loyalty remains a priority and that the new program is designed to offer valuable and meaningful benefits.