Carnival Cruise Line has officially launched their new rewards program and credit card that drastically changes how Carnival cruisers earn and maintain status.
Carnival Cruise Line has switched away from a traditional cruise rewards system that awards days at sea and moved to a program that is similar to what airlines and hotels offer. The Carnival credit card now plays a major role in earning status, along with onboard spending and points earned in the casino.
Carnival Rewards
The new program introduces both Carnival Reward Points and Status Qualifying Stars for the first time. The new Carnival Rewards Mastercard includes 50,000 bonus points for new cardmembers when they make their first purchase.
For the first time, Carnival cruisers can accelerate their status when using the credit card every single day of the year.
Here is a breakdown of Carnival Rewards and everything you need to know about this new program.
Points
Carnival cruisers will earn points that they can use towards future Carnival cruises, shore excursions, specialty dining, and spa treatments.
- 3 points for every $1 spent on all eligible Carnival purchases; this includes gratuities
- 1 point for every point earned in the casino
- Points for using Carnival Rewards Mastercard (more on that down below)
Points will be added to accounts approximately 14 days after a cruise. Carnival cruisers can redeem points at any time, once they are posted to their accounts.
Points won’t be redeemed at a flat rate, but on a dynamic scale and vary from cruise to cruise.
Stars
Status Qualifying Stars will be how Carnival cruisers earn status as they cruise on Fun Ships. They will earn three Stars for every $1 spent on Carnival purchases, including daily gratuities. One Star will also be earned for every casino point, even if they have been redeemed for Funplay.
Carnival will have the following four status levels:
- Red: Upon enrollment
- Gold: 10,000 Stars
- Platinum: 50,000 Stars
- Diamond: 100,000 Stars
Status is now earned over a two-year Status Qualifying Window, with the first running from September 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028. If a Carnival cruiser earns Platinum status in July 2027, it will be good for the rest of the year and the following two years.
Milestones
The new Milestone Recognition Program will celebrate enrolled Carnival Rewards members’ lifetime relationship with Carnival Cruise Line based on days sailed, enabling cruisers to achieve Milestones faster.
Credit Card
Carnival Cruise Line and Barclays have launched a new Carnival Rewards Mastercard that offers more perks than ever before. Those who had the previous Carnival credit card will be transitioned to the new card during their next billing cycle.
All existing Fun Points balances will convert 1:1 into new Carnival Rewards Points, and the credit card will continue to have no annual fee.
Carnival cruisers can earn the following points by using the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard:
- Up to 6x points on eligible Carnival purchases; this includes 3x points from the card and 3x points through Carnival)
- 2x points on eligible restaurant and grocery stores
- 50,000 bonus points for new cardmembers after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- 1x points on everything else
- 2,500 bonus points each year if you spend at least $2,000 on the card
You will also earn up to 4 Status Qualifying Stars on Carnival purchases when combined with the Stars earned through Carnival Rewards and 1 Status Qualifying Star on all other purchases.
In addition, the card will offer 0% APR for six months on all Carnival bookings.
Cruisers will also be able to redeem points for cruise upgrades.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said the following about the new rewards program:
“Cruise loyalty has traditionally been built around how often guests sail, and Carnival Rewards was designed to go beyond that. The new program recognizes the many ways our guests engage with Carnival, and with both rewards and status, we’re giving guests more flexibility and more value to enjoy the experiences that matter most to them. Simply put: Your cruise, Your rewards. Your way.”
Doug Villone, Head of US Cards and Partnerships at Barclays US Consumer Bank, added:
“More and more, today’s travelers are looking for rewards programs that deliver true value as they venture away from home. Our partnership with Carnival is rooted in a shared commitment to meeting those evolving needs. With the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard, we’re giving cardmembers more ways to earn on everyday purchases and making it easier to turn everyday spending into rewards for their next cruise.”
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