Too Many Platinum and Diamond Passengers? Carnival Sends Email, Explaining Lack of Perks

A social media post recently highlighted why Carnival has had to adjust its loyalty program as more cruisers reach status. 

The legacy loyalty program has really been a victim of its own success as more cruisers come back to Carnival, but it’s also making crystal clear that the changes Carnival is making are definitely needed for the program to offer any real benefit.

The Reddit post titled “Just too many Platinum and Diamond” got the attention of the Carnival cruise community after an email was shared that went out to Diamond and Platinum guests. 

The ‘Guest Advisory’ was sent to passengers booked on two upcoming 14-day sailings: Carnival Radiance departing for Hawaii on January 10, and Carnival Venezia embarking from Port Canaveral on January 11.

The email said that because of the high volume of Platinum and Diamond members on board, several perks would be unavailable.

The message went on to list three popular perks that were stripped, stating that following would be unavailable for the two sailings:

• Priority Embarkation
• Early Stateroom Access
• Priority Luggage Delivery

“In addition, we may not be able to offer a priority line and phone assistance by Guest Services.  Related to Diamond guests, due to capacity limitations, we cannot guarantee main dining room seating requests for dinner,” the email stated.

The Problem: “When Everyone is Special, No One Is”

This issue can be more common on Carnival Journeys (longer itineraries) and specialty cruises, which naturally attract Carnival’s most loyal fans. When 30% or more of a ship holds elite status, the “priority” lane can become too long to feel like a perk.

The reaction to the post and email was a mix of frustration and realism in the comment section. One user was blunt about it all: “when everyone is special… No one is special.”

New Carnival Rewards Program Coming in September

This status overcrowding is exactly why Carnival is officially retiring the 13-year-old VIFP Club system and replacing it with Carnival Rewards on September 1, 2026.

The cruise line is moving from a “nights sailed” model to a “spend-based” system, similar to how airlines and hotels operate.

Carnival President Christine Duffy explained that between 2021 and 2024, the number of Platinum guests more than doubled and Diamond guests tripled. In a message to guests, she stated:

“On our Excel-class ships, on average, more than 1,200 guests are Platinum or Diamond, making it nearly impossible to provide meaningful priority benefits.”

How the New System Works

Under the new 2026 program, status won’t be permanent. Here is how it will look.

Passengers will earn three Stars for every dollar spent on cruise fares and onboard purchases, requiring 50,000 Stars to reach Platinum and 100,000 for Diamond status.

These tiers have to be re-earned every two years. If a guest doesn’t meet the spending target within that window, their status will drop. Cruisers will also earn points that act as a currency, allowing them to buy their own rewards, such as specialty dining, shore excursions, or spa treatments

What Happens to Current Status Holders

After some pretty severe backlash in the initial days of the announced changes to the reward program, Carnival has made a few big concessions for those who hit status before the cutoff date on August 31, 2026.

• Lifetime Diamond: Anyone who achieves Diamond status by the cutoff date will be given Lifetime Diamond status.
• The Platinum “Boost”: Existing Platinum members will receive a 10,000-Star “head start” every two years, ensuring they stay at least at the Gold level even if they don’t cruise during that period.

The Bottom Line

Carnival doesn’t have an easy job of keeping everyone happy when so many on specific cruises have reached Diamond and Platinum status.  A change to the old program was inevitable and so was the pain that comes with it.

As one Reddit user said in the comments, “Status level entitlements are no longer guaranteed. Pay for the accommodations and service you want because it’s valuable to you.”