A Cruise Industry First, the Program Will Introduce a Points-Based System Featuring Personalized Perks and New Ways to Earn Status, Including Credit Card Spend

  Carnival Cruise Line announced today it will launch its new loyalty program with a cruise industry first, adding new features, new ways to earn status, new reward categories and a new name: Carnival Rewards™. The new program will take effect in June 2026, providing guests plenty of time to learn about the changes while they continue to earn status in the current Very Important Fun Person (VIFP)™ program that will be their entry point into the new program.   Carnival Rewards is introducing a dual-earning structure where guests accumulate both Carnival Rewards points that can be redeemed on Carnival purchases and status qualifying stars that will determine a guest’s tier status. Instead of focusing solely on the number of nights guests sail, which is the model Carnival currently follows under its VIFP program, Carnival Rewards will offer more opportunities to earn rewards and achieve higher status levels based on spend, including cruise fare and onboard activities. The new program will be closely tied to everyday spending on the co-branded credit card with Barclays – the Carnival Rewards Mastercard – giving cardmembers the opportunity to earn points and status even faster. More details on the credit card will be announced later.   “The evolution of our loyalty program to Carnival Rewards represents our commitment to creating more meaningful recognition for our valued guests. Our current VIFP program has served us well for many years and while we’ve enjoyed truly extraordinary growth in our loyal customer base, it has become challenging to deliver the exceptional experience our Diamond and Platinum members deserve,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “By introducing a points-based system, we're enabling greater flexibility so guests can personalize their rewards in ways that matter most to them. This transition honors our past while building a future where loyalty is recognized through both cruising frequency and overall engagement with the Carnival experience, bringing Carnival Rewards into the top tier of travel loyalty programs that provide our guests with ways to earn status and points through their everyday spending on the Carnival Rewards Mastercard."   Guests will earn Carnival Reward points as well as status qualifying stars on every eligible Carnival purchase, including cruise fares and onboard purchases. The dual structure gives guests more control over their rewards and status.  

• Points can be redeemed for almost anything Carnival offers including onboard activities, spa treatments, specialty dining and even toward a future cruise.
• Stars introduce a new way to unlock higher status among four tiers: Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Status is earned over a two-year period and retained for the following two years.

  As part of the transition to Carnival Rewards’ launch on June 1, 2026, members’ existing status will carry over and serve as a new entry point into the program for a two-year period through May 31, 2028. Diamond members will retain their status for a six-year period through May 31, 2032. This ensures that all current loyalty status is honored while giving members time to familiarize themselves with the enhanced rewards. Guests will continue earning VIFP status as usual until the new program launches. In addition, upon launch of the Carnival Rewards program, current cardmembers, as well as any new cardmembers between now and the launch of the updates, will have the balance of their Fun Points converted to Carnival Rewards points in their Carnival Rewards account.   To learn more about Carnival Rewards and explore what’s to come, guests can visit carnivalrewards.com and current Carnival loyalty members will receive emails throughout the transition process ahead of the June 2026 conversion with the latest updates. Carnival will provide detailed information, tools to track status, point balances and tips to maximize rewards under the new system.

Carnival Cruise Line has outlined ambitious strategic plans for the next five years. The line's President Christine Duffy provided details on new ships, deployment, fleet enhancements and exclusive destinations at a media briefing at PortMiami. Carnival Cruise Line unveiled plans for its next new ship, Carnival Festivale, which will feature a new outdoor zone on the top three decks, named Sunsation Point. "Since our inception in 1972, we have defined and led the modern cruise industry and our plans for the next five years and beyond are no different," said Duffy. "Having just integrated two ships into the Carnival fleet in Australia, we now stand at 29 ships, the largest in our history." Duffy revealed that the fourth ship in Carnival's Excel class will be named Carnival Festivale,. Debuting in spring 2027, Carnival Festivale will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. Reservation and itinerary details will be released this summer. Carnival Festivale will debut three brand new zones; two of which on Decks 6, 7, and 8 will celebrate music with new themed venues and experiences. One zone is inspired by the process of creating music, while the other zone on deck 8 symbolizes the vibe of outdoor music performances. For families, Carnival Festivale will feature 1,000 interconnecting rooms, nearly 70% more than on the first three Excel ships. The expansion of the interconnecting rooms is in lieu of the Family Harbor staterooms on the existing Excel ships. Carnival Festivale will also introduce a dedicated space for Carnival's Turtles program which is for children six months to two years, and more experiences for them on the open decks. Overall spaces for Carnival's youth programs will also be enhanced. On Deck 18, a main feature of Sunsation Point is Carnival Waterworks Ultra, a family friendly water park at sea. This new area will replace BOLT, the Ultimate Seacoaster that is the top deck feature on the existing Excel ships. The water park will feature six slides, four of which are new to Carnival, including two family raft slides. It includes splash pads and dedicated baby splash areas. There will also be a sports court, ropes course and jogging track along with a new miniature golf course, outdoor games and themed arcade spaces. In the evening, Sunsation will host special evening events that have extended water park hours, in addition to a DJ and other activities. This is a first for Carnival to open Waterworks at night. Duffy also revealed that the name of the line's fifth Excel class ship will be Carnival Tropicale, also one of the original names of early Carnival ships. The homeport and open for sale date will be unveiled well ahead of the scheduled delivery of the ship in spring 2028. Many of the new features on Carnival Festivale will also be included on Carnival Tropicale, as well as some new concepts and theming. Additionally, Carnival has three mega ships which will be delivered in 2029, 2031 and 2033 set to boast over 3,000 guest staterooms, able to accommodate nearly 8,000 guests.

Carnival Corporation just finalised an order for two new ships for Germany based line AIDA Cruises. They will be a new class of mid-sized vessel. The agreement with Fincantieri provides for the design, engineering, and construction of multi-fuel-capable ships, which will be delivered in 2030 and 2032, respectively. "With approximately 2,100 cabins each, these new ships give our guests a completely new class of ship which slot in perfectly between our 1,600 cabin Hyperion Class vessels and our Helios Class vessels," said Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises. "Our next generation of ships will offer multi-fuel propulsion systems including LNG which will future proof our operations into the coming decades." Once the second ship is delivered, AIDA will have a total of 13 ships in its fleet. "The introduction of these next-generation ships, when combined with the AIDA Evolution program, will drive even more demand for our AIDA brand," said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. Including this new order, Carnival Corporation's newbuild pipeline includes eight new ships scheduled to enter service between now and 2033, including Star Princess this year and one each from 2027 to 2033. Design details and itinerary information for the new AIDA ships will be announced in the future.

  Carnival Cruise Line recently held a two-day 'Grand Finale' event in Prague for its group of travel agent Fun Ambassadors.   The trip featured a full day dedicated to analysing the success of the programme across the past 12 months, including developing agents’ brand knowledge and growing awareness of Carnival Cruise Line’s itineraries amongst their clients.   Day two included a tour of Prague followed by a dinner overlooking the Charles Bridge.   Jamie Stephen, from Hays Travel, said: "Being a Fun Ambassador has been a great opportunity to learn about Carnival. There have been many fun activities and events, including the visit to Prague. I am very grateful for the opportunity it has provided."   Jackie Corbett, from Barrhead Travel, said: "It has been an exciting year full of fun and learning. As a store, we have doubled our Carnival Cruise Line bookings."   Iain Baillie, vice-president international sales at Carnival Cruise Line, said: "It's been a pleasure to work with our Fun Ambassadors over the last 12 months and the 'Grand Finale' visit to Prague was the perfect way to thank them for their support. Our trade relationships are vital to our continued success and it is through initiatives such as this that we can develop a deeper level of engagement with agents."   The Fun Ambassadors programme was established in 2019 and sees 11 travel agents - hand-picked each year for their knowledge of the cruise industry - work with Carnival to provide advice, ideas and feedback on how the line collaborates with its agent partners.   Agents attend quarterly meetings with Carnival executives, receive priority access to events and benefit from 10 Loyalty Rocks points per booking, to be used on LoyaltyRocksClub.com, the line’s agent rewards platform.   Further details about the 2025 programme will be revealed shortly.

Carnival Cruise Line recently held a two-day 'Grand Finale' event in Prague for its group of travel agent Fun Ambassadors. The trip featured a full day analysing the success of the programme across the past 12 months, including developing agents’ brand knowledge and growing awareness of Carnival Cruise Line’s itineraries. Day two included a tour of Prague followed by a dinner overlooking the Charles Bridge. Jackie Corbett, from Barrhead Travel, said: "It has been an exciting year of fun and learning. As a store, we have doubled our Carnival Cruise Line bookings." Iain Baillie, VP international sales at Carnival Cruise Line, added: "It's been a pleasure to work with our Fun Ambassadors over the last 12 months and the 'Grand Finale' visit to Prague was the perfect way to thank them for their support.” Our trade relationships are vital to our continued success." The Fun Ambassadors programme was established in 2019 and sees 11 travel agents - hand-picked each year for their knowledge of the cruise industry - work with Carnival to provide advice, ideas and feedback on how the line collaborates with its agent partners. Agents attend quarterly meetings with Carnival executives, receive priority access to events and benefit from 10 Loyalty Rocks points per booking. Further details about the 2025 programme will be revealed shortly.  

Carnival Spirit has returned to service following a month-long dry dock in Cadiz, Spain. The 2,124-guest Carnival Cruise Line ship has now departed Barcelona for a two-week transatlantic voyage to Miami. From South Florida, it will transit the Panama Canal en route to Seattle, as it repositions for the upcoming Alaska summer season. Following the dry dock upgrade, Carnival Spirit now features a new Heroes Tribute Bar and a Cloud 9 spa, fitness center and retail shops, including a new Carnival Adventures Shop plus a Dreams Studio. Also new is a dedicated space for the Chef’s Table and a new mini golf course as well as new gaming machines installed in the casino. The ship’s nightclub was refreshed and all youth program spaces upgraded. Lisa McCabe, VP of refurbishments at Carnival, said: “The new Heroes Tribute Bar and all the other upgrades to Carnival Spirit are part of our ongoing enhancement effort with features we know our guests appreciate and enjoy.” From April 14, Carnival Spirit will operate week-long Alaska cruises, visiting destinations such as Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Victoria, Canada. In September, the ship will sail a 15-day round-trip cruise from Seattle to Hawaii, followed by a one-way voyage from Seattle to New Orleans in October. It will then return to its seasonal homeport of Mobile, Alabama.

  Carnival Cruise Line’s Christine Duffy has marked 10 years as the line’s president.   Christine joined the operator in 2015, following a spell as CEO of Cruise Lines International Association. Prior to that she worked in the travel agency and meeting planning sectors.   In her time leading the cruise line, she has overseen the launch of nine ships and 70 ship refurbishments. During her tenure, 13,500 cruises have departed, with 42.5 million guests sailing with Carnival.   In October 2024, Christine took part in a skydive for Hurricane Helene relief efforts and has supported fundraising work for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.   In July 2025, Carnival will open its new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, and additional expansion is taking place on the newly renamed RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.   The Carnival Cruise Line fleet will also expand with five new ships on order, for delivery through to 2033, and the transfer of Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter from P&O Cruises Australia in March 2025.   To watch a video of Christine’s 10-year highlights, click here.

  Carnival Cruise Line has announced the appointment of Peter Clarke as chief operations officer, effective from November 4, 2024.   Clarke, who is originally from Ireland, joins the cruise line from IHG Hotels & Resorts, where he was vice president of luxury and lifestyle hotel operations, Americas. He previously held similar positions at brands such as Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels and Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts.   Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “I am excited about Peter’s addition to an already-strong team that delivers business results along with the great guest experience that Carnival is known for. We will benefit from his broad knowledge in managing the many complexities of the hotel business with different owners across multiple properties and brands delivering world-class customer service, while also building and maintaining a strong culture that allows our team members to take pride in their work, enjoy their jobs and build a career with Carnival.   “We talked a lot about the importance of our culture during the interview process and Peter’s reputation as a strong leader will help us continue to excel as we continue to grow with new ships and new destinations in an increasingly competitive industry.”   Peter Clarke said: “Carnival has long had a reputation for delivering great service to their guests and building a strong culture amongst its employees – priorities I share.  Joining the cruise industry leader at a time of significant growth and innovation is a very exciting opportunity.”

  Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Panorama has returned to service following a 24-day dry dock.   The 4,000-guest ship set sail from Singapore on October 12 on a 25-day transpacific ‘Carnival Journeys’ voyage, featuring the line’s first-ever stop in Manila, Philippines, on October 18.   Carnival Panorama now has the line’s signature red, white and blue hull livery, as well as a non-smoking casino. New Effy Fine Jewellery and Carnival Adventures stores are now located in the refurbished Fun Shops area, the latter selling travel essentials, fragrances and cruise-themed clothing.   Elsewhere, a Dreams Studio, where guests can schedule photoshoots with the ship’s professional photographers, has been added, as well as a new mini golf area. Additionally, the ship received a number of other technical updates.   Following its arrival in Long Beach on November 5, Carnival Panorama will sail a selection of five, six and seven-day itineraries to the Mexican Riviera.

  Carnival Cruise Line has added to its departures from Miami throughout 2026 and early 2027.   Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunrise will sail from PortMiami, visiting destinations across the Bahamas. These include Carnival’s upcoming exclusive destination, Celebration Key, as well as other ports in the eastern, western and southern Caribbean.   Carnival Magic will operate six and eight-day cruises, several of which will visit Celebration Key, which will be located on the island of Grand Bahama and open in July 2025. Six-day ‘Eastern Caribbean’ cruises will take in Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Celebration Key or Half Moon Cay.   Meanwhile, six-day ‘Western Caribbean’ departures will feature stops in Montego Bay and Grand Cayman, as well as Celebration Key, while eight-day ‘Southern Caribbean’ itineraries will explore Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Additionally, eight-day ‘Eastern Caribbean’ voyages will call at San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay.   Carnival Sunrise will offer four and five-day options, with the former calling at Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays, Celebration Key or Nassau. Various five and one six-day itineraries will feature destinations such as Grand Turk, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios.   Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning at Carnival, said: “These sailings build on our strong deployment plan from the cruise capital of the world for 2026/27. Year-round from PortMiami, our guests have an incredibly diverse range of itineraries to choose from as they plan their next fun and memorable cruise holiday.”   Also departing from Miami for the 2026/27 season are Carnival Celebration and Carnival Horizon. Carnival Celebration will offer a variety of seven-day cruises exploring the eastern and western Caribbean, visiting Celebration Key, Nassau, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Cozumel, Mahogany Bay, St. Thomas and San Juan.   Carnival Horizon will sail a 13-day ‘Carnival Journeys’ sailing from Barcelona to Miami on June 15, 2026, calling at Alicante, Malaga, Gibraltar and Celebration Key after transiting the Atlantic Ocean. The ship will sail six and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Miami.

 

Carnival Luminosa to Reposition from Brisbane to San Francisco for 2026 Alaska Season

  Carnival Cruise Line today announced a wide variety of new 2026/27 cruises from both the east and west coasts of the U.S. The new sailings opening today feature popular destinations from the homeports of Miami, Port Canaveral and Norfolk as well as cruises to Alaska and Mexico from San Francisco. “In addition to extending our successful deployment schedules in Miami, Port Canaveral and Norfolk, Carnival Luminosa will bring a new experience to our seasonal homeport of San Francisco for the 2026 Alaska season. These new sailings also introduce some truly stellar additions to our Carnival Journeys program of longer sailings, with a transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Miami on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Luminosa’s transpacific voyages from Brisbane to San Francisco visiting Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii, and San Francisco to Yokohama (Tokyo) visiting Alaska and Japan,” said Fred Stein, vice president of deployment for Carnival Cruise Line.   Cruise from San Francisco on Carnival Luminosa   Carnival Luminosa will homeport in San Francisco for the first time in 2026, following a 22-Day Tahiti and Pacific Islands transpacific Carnival Journeys cruise from Brisbane, Australia in April 2026 that includes visits to Fiji, Tahiti, Moorea, and Honolulu. From San Francisco, the ship will sail to Alaska from April 27 through Sept. 10, 2026. A series of 10-day cruises, with both Monday and Thursday departures available, includes stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Prince Rupert, as well as scenic glacier cruising through Tracy Arm Fjord. The ship will also sail ten 4-day long weekend Baja Mexico cruises, visiting Ensenada, from April 23 through August 27, 2026. An extended 18-day Alaska and Japan transpacific Carnival Journeys cruise departing San Francisco on Sept. 20, 2026, will visit Alaskan ports and sail to Japan, with stops including Otaru and Kobe before concluding in Yokohama. Carnival Luminosa schedule from San Francisco is part of Carnival’s 53-sailing deployment to Alaska in 2026, which also includes Carnival Miracle and Carnival Spirit sailing from Seattle.   Cruise from Miami on Carnival Horizon   New cruises on Carnival Horizon include a special 13-day Carnival Journeys sailing from Barcelona to Miami on June 15, 2026, and features visits to Alicante and Malaga, Spain; Gibraltar; as well as a visit to Carnival’s new exclusive destination Celebration Key in The Bahamas after transiting the Atlantic Ocean. Cruises from the ship’s Miami homeport between the summer of 2026 and spring of 2027 offer both six- and eight-day options exploring vibrant destinations across the Caribbean. Six-day Western Caribbean itineraries, departing on Sundays, include stops at Celebration Key in the Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay or Ocho Rios in Jamaica. Eight-day Southern Caribbean options, departing on Saturdays, feature stops in Aruba, Curacao, and either Bonaire, Amber Cove, or Celebration Key.   Cruise from Port Canaveral on Carnival Vista   Carnival Vista will offer an array of itineraries from Port Canaveral, including six-day cruises with stops at Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay, along with Grand Turk or Amber Cove. Eight-day sailings expand the variety of destinations with visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan and Aruba.   Cruise from Norfolk on Carnival Sunshine   Carnival Sunshine brings a diverse selection of itineraries to Norfolk including four- to seven-day cruises to Bermuda and five- to seven-day cruises to The Bahamas, which include stops in Half Moon Cay, Bimini, Nassau and Celebration Key as well as Grand Turk. Longer eight-day itineraries offer more variety, with sailings to the Eastern Caribbean and others that sail to Canada and include the ports of Halifax, Saint John and Sydney. A nine-day Carnival Journeys cruise features visits to Amber Cove, San Juan and St. Thomas.

Carnival Cruise Line’s ‘Your Peek at Paradise’ events for travel advisors focused on the upcoming opening of Celebration Key, have garnered an overwhelming response this summer. The final event in Chicago brought hundreds of travel advisors together in person and thousands more virtually. Throughout the series, which also made stops in Miami, Baltimore and Atlanta, 10 travel advisors won a VIP early-access trip to Celebration Key, before it opens to the public. All advisors in attendance learned insights about the inspiration behind Celebration Key from Carnival executives, including Adolfo M. Perez, SVP of global sales and trade marketing; Amy Martin Ziegenfuss, CMO; and Glenn Aprile, senior director of brand experience and product development. “Seeing the enthusiasm from our travel advisors during the Your Peek at Paradise series reaffirms how special Celebration Key will be,” said Perez. Presented in collaboration with The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, the series gave attendees a taste of Celebration Key’s offerings. Each event featured a Bahamian Junkanoo band, Bahamian flavors and a peek into Celebration Key. At each stop, Carnival also gifted commemorative Travel Agents Rock t-shirts for donations to support the cruise line’s charitable partner St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Earlier this year, Carnival met its previous $33 million fundraising goal for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and set a new pledge goal of $50 million by 2030. Celebration Key is the first port destination exclusively designed for Carnival Cruise Line guests on the island of Grand Bahama. It welcomes its first guests in July 2025. It will offer cruise ship guests two of the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons, a white-sand beach, a 10-story-high “Suncastle” featuring two waterslides and various Bahamian-operated retail, food and beverage options. Celebration Key consists of five portals for all types of travelers including adults-only Calypso Lagoon, Starfish Lagoon, a family-friendly portal for all ages and Pearl Cove Beach Club, an exclusive adult retreat. More than 500 sailings are open that feature Celebration Key across 10 homeports and 19 ships. 

Related News Stories:  Carnival Cruise Line teams up with USAirtours     Air Astana grows fleet to 50 aircraft - TravelMole     Carnival to shut down P&O Cruises Australia brand     Cunard - TravelMole     Gastro outbreak on P&O Cruises ship     Bali hotels discuss tech challenges at Trip Affiliates roadshow     Partner News - TravelMole     HX expands UK trade team     Preserving Mexico's Beauty: A Conversation with Doris Patiño from ...     Fiji Airways joining oneworld as full member airline