Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP Club Loyalty Program

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Waterslides on a Carnival cruise ship with the whale tail funnel in the background

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Millions of passengers sail with Carnival every year. So, it’s no surprise that Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP loyalty program is one of the most popular in the industry.

Whether it’s your first cruise or 100th voyage, Carnival’s VIFP Club offers perks and benefits to all club members. And it’s free to join.

Joining the VIFP Club means you’re not just a passenger but a Very Important Fun Person. With each cruise, you’ll rack up points, climb the tiers, and unlock exclusive benefits designed to make your sea adventures even more memorable.

Carnival Cruise Lines VIP Club Loyalty Program

Carnival Luminosa docked in Skagway Alaska with lush temperate rainforest and snow capped mountains in the backgroundPin

What is the Carnival Cruise Lines VIP Club?

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.

Enrollment is simple and free of charge. You don’t even need to take a cruise to become a blue-tier member.

Once you’re a member, you start accruing points towards moving up in membership tiers—each offering its special blend of perks and privileges. Your tier level shines brightly every time you board, as reflected by the color of your Sail and Sign Card.

Ways to Earn Points

Passengers on the top deck of a carnival cruise ship with the iconic whale tale funnel in the background while docked at Queensway BayPin
Long Beach, California, U.S – November 5, 2022 – Carnival Cruise ship at the dock by Queensway Bay

Carnival makes it simple to earn points. You earn one point every day you cruise on a Carnival cruise ship. It doesn’t matter if it’s a cozy 5-day Caribbean adventure or an epic 7-day Alaskan exploration, each day you’re aboard adds to your point tally.

With VIFP Club, you don’t need to worry about different earning levels, cabin categories, or different types of booking. You simply earn one point for every night you cruise with Carnival.

For example, if you take a four-night cruise, you’ll earn four points. If you sail on a seven-night cruise, that’s seven points.

The more you cruise, the faster you sail through tiers, and the sweeter the spoils.

Unlike some airline rewards programs, VIFP Club points don’t expire. So, if you earn 24 points with the program, you’ll always have those points. Even when you take a few years between cruises, you’ll keep the same points balance and status level.

VIFP Club points are exclusive to Carnival Cruise Line and don’t cross over to other brands within the Carnival Corporation family, such as Princess Cruises or Holland America Line.

Note: Some charter sailings and non-revenue fares don’t earn points.

Carnival Cruise Lines VIP Club Tiers and Benefits

Carnival's VIFP program levels and point requirementsPin

There are five different status levels within the club.

  • Blue: Your first sailing
  • Red: Your second sailing to 24 points
  • Gold: 25 to 74 points
  • Platinum: 75 to 199 points
  • Diamond: 200 points or more

Your status level depends on the number of points you accumulate. The more points you have, the higher your tier.

Each tier has a color represented as the background of your Sail & Sign card.

Passengers on Carnival Panorama enjoying a day on the lido deck during a sea day with water slides in the backgroundPin

Carnival is one of the only cruise lines that award passengers with membership status before they take their first cruise. All you have to do is sign up, and you’ll begin receiving perks as a Blue-tier member.

The Blue tier doesn’t have many perks worth getting excited about. But, being a part of the club is a nice feeling.

Unlike other cruise line loyalty programs, Carnival Cruise Line doesn’t provide a free cruise to the highest tier members. It’s a bit disheartening, but the Diamond level perks are still worth the wait.

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Blue: First Sailing

  • Receive members-only offers, promotions, and discounts
  • Receive member e-letter
VIFP Club Red LogoPin

Red: 2nd Sailing – 24 Points

  • Receives all Blue VIFP perks
  • A complimentary 1.5-liter bottle of water
VIFP Club Gold LogoPin

Gold: 25 – 74 Points

  • Receives all Red VIFP perks
  • A complimentary appreciation drink on sailings of five nights or longer. Available at any bar after 5 p.m. on the last evening of each cruise.
  • Gold VIFP pin on every sailing. Redeemable at the ship’s Photo Gallery no later than two days before the end of the cruise.
VIFP Club Platinum LogoPin

Platinum: 75 – 199 Points

  • Receives all Red VIFP perks
  • Priority check-in and boarding
  • Platinum and Diamond VIFP party on five-night cruises or longer, with complimentary drinks
  • Complimentary beverage at sea day brunch (on ships where brunch is not available, complimentary beverage at breakfast or lunch in the main dining room)
  • A “Chocolate Delight” dessert plate on five-night cruises or longer
  • Unique, collectible pin received on each sailing (Redeemable at the Photo Gallery no later than two days before the end of the cruise)
  • Priority spa reservations
  • Priority tender boarding (from ship to shore only)
  • Buy one get one free entry at a casino tournament (Blackjack or slots only; for passengers 21 years or older)
  • $5 worth of complimentary arcade credits (guests 18 and under)
  • Carnival logo gift on every sailing (Redeemable at the Photo Gallery no later than two days before the end of the cruise)
  • Priority onboard Guest Services phone number
  • Priority line at the Guest Services desk
  • Priority debarkation
  • Priority selection at main dining room seating and specialty restaurant reservations
  • Complimentary wash-and-fold laundry services (Some restrictions may apply)
VIFP Club Diamond LogoPin

Diamond: 200+ Points

  • Receives all Platinum VIFP perks
  • Guaranteed seating time requested in the Main Dining Room for dinner only
  • Priority reservations at specialty restaurants
  • Unlimited complimentary wash-and-fold laundry services
  • Invitation from the Captain to a special event on each sailing
  • One-time free cabin upgrade or free third and fourth passengers sail free 
  • One-time donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, given once upon reaching Diamond level
  • One-time complimentary meal for two at a specialty restaurant of choice
  • Complimentary VIFP Club luggage tag set, given once upon reaching Diamond level
  • A dedicated toll-free number for sales and services

Carnival’s VIFP Club FAQs

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

Unlike some loyalty programs, your VIFP Club Points never expire. So, if you earn 36 points with the program and achieve gold tier status, you’ll still have 36 points when you take your next cruise, even if it’s several years later.

What if I Reach a New Status Level During a Cruise?

If you achieve a higher tier status during a cruise, you will enjoy the benefits of that tier for the whole trip.

For instance, if you start a 7-night cruise with 23 points at Red-level status and earn enough points to reach Gold status by the end of the cruise, you’ll enjoy Gold-level perks for the entire duration. In this scenario, although you board as a Red member, you’re upgraded to Gold status right from the start, allowing you to enjoy Gold privileges a cruise earlier.

Where Can I Find My VIFP Points?

To see the number of VIFP points you currently have on your VIFP profile, simply log into your profile at https://www.carnival.com/BookedGuest.

How Does The One-Time Donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Work?

Each year, Carnival will make a $100 USD donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital for every Diamond level member.

Article by

Marcello De Lio