Carnival Rewards ties points to eligible spending and guest activity

Carnival Rewards launched Sept. 1 with a structure that recognizes eligible spending and other guest activity rather than relying primarily on sailing frequency, according to Carnival.

Members can earn three Carnival Rewards Points for each $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including gratuities. They also receive one rewards point for every Casino Point remaining at the end of a sailing, regardless of their status level.

Carnival says points are awarded after a cruise and generally appear about 14 days after the sailing ends. Once posted, they can be redeemed toward future Carnival cruises and eligible onboard experiences such as shore excursions, specialty dining and spa treatments.

The program has four status levels. Members receive Red status upon enrollment, while Gold requires 10,000 Stars, Platinum requires 50,000 Stars and Diamond requires 100,000 Stars. The inaugural qualifying period runs from Sept. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2028.

A separate Milestone Recognition Program recognizes enrolled members according to their lifetime days sailed with Carnival. Subject to applicable terms, new Carnival Rewards Mastercard cardholders may also receive 50,000 bonus points after making $1,000 in purchases during their first 90 days.