Carnival shifts loyalty status to spending-based system
Carnival Rewards introduces qualifying stars and two-year cycles as other major cruise lines retain existing thresholds or add milestones.
Carnival Cruise Line replaced its VIFP status system with Carnival Rewards on Sept. 1, 2026, shifting elite qualification toward eligible spending. Under the program, members receive three Status Qualifying Stars for each eligible dollar spent on qualifying cruise fares and onboard purchases. Platinum status requires 50,000 stars, while Diamond requires 100,000.
Members accumulate stars during a two-year Status Earning Window. The status achieved then applies throughout the following two-year Status Enjoyment Period.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards continues to grant one point per cruise night, with extra nightly points available for qualifying suite or The Haven reservations and eligible Insider Offers. Diamond requires 350 points and Ambassador requires 700. Members seeking cross-brand status honoring must submit a request before every sailing, and the honored tier applies only to that cruise.
Celebrity Cruises has kept Zenith at 3,000 Captain’s Club points while adding Double Zenith and Triple Zenith milestones at 6,000 and 9,000 points. Elite Plus begins at 750 points.
Princess Cruises also retained its Captain’s Circle thresholds. Platinum begins after five cruises or 50 cruise days, and Elite requires 15 cruises or 150 days. Holland America Line’s Mariner Society requires 200 Cruise Day credits for Four-Star status and 500 for Five-Star, with additional credits available through qualifying suite fares and eligible onboard spending.