Latest news with #VIFP
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Carnival Cruise Line fixes a big loyalty program problem
Shortly before Carnival Cruise Line made a problematic announcement that its current loyalty program will be replaced with a new spending-based Carnival Rewards program, the cruise line faced another issue with one of its perks for loyal passengers. With the cruise line's current VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club loyalty program, passengers can earn onboard rewards just for spending time cruising on Carnival ships. Related: Carnival Cruise Line promises loyalty will be better rewarded While the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program will allow passengers to earn points and status through spending when it launches in June 2026, the current VIFP Club rewards passengers based on the number of nights they spend at sea. And with the current reward system still in place for nearly another year, passengers are still eligible to receive all their existing VIFP Club benefits when they sail with the cruise line now until June 1, 2026 when the new Carnival Rewards program takes effect. That means that along with taking in passenger feedback about the new Carnival Rewards program, the cruise line also needed to address an issue that recently arose with an onboard reward that most returning Carnival cruisers are currently entitled to redeem during their sailings. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. As Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald responded to questions and concerns raised on his popular Facebook page recently, he uncovered an onboard problem that left some VIFPs frustrated and confused about one of their benefits. Thanks to his attention to passenger feedback, Heald discovered that there was a lack of consistency across the fleet when it came to the process for how to redeem an onboard reward that most repeat passengers are entitled to receive - a complimentary 1.5-liter bottle of water. Although the cruise line used to provide these complimentary bottles of water in staterooms for their VIFPs, Carnival updated its process, requiring passengers to pick up their bottle of water from an onboard bar. Related: Carnival Cruise Line takes on a new passenger problem However, the Carnival Cruise Line website confusingly states that the VIFP bottle of water benefit is "redeemable at any bar, restaurant or stateroom." And as Heald investigated the situation, he found that not all ships in the fleet were handling the benefit redemption in the same way. On his Facebook page, Heald promised passengers that he and his team would quickly sort out the process internally and communicate a resolution to passengers. On June 23, Heald delivered on his promise, providing new direction for VIFPs on how to redeem their complimentary bottle of water. "If you are entitled to a complimentary bottle of water, you may take that from the cabin," Heald shared in his June 23rd three-minute video update for his followers. "Again, you may take it from the cabin. You do not have to go to a bar to get that, but everything else will remain unchanged." Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. In the video, Heald also took a moment to acknowledge the many questions and comments he's received in the wake of the announcement about the new Carnival Rewards program. Heald emphasized that beyond ironing out a better, more consistent process for redemption of the VIFP bottle of water perk, Carnival has changed nothing about the current VIFP Club program yet. The new Carnival Rewards program does not take effect until June 1, 2026 and until that date, Carnival passengers can continue to enjoy all their VIFP benefits. "Between now and June the 1st, if you're entitled to a gift, or your pin, or the Platinum and Diamond Party, the Diamond Lunch - all of that is unchanged," the brand ambassador stressed. More Carnival cruise news: Carnival Cruise Line answers a question cruise lines avoidCarnival Cruise Line's Project ACE vs. Royal Caribbean's Discovery ClassCarnival Cruise Line raises red flag over new cruise 'hack' Heald also noted that as passengers continue to write to him with feedback about the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program, he's passing the comments on to Carnival executives through his detailed weekly reports. But although he's gathering feedback, he doesn't intend to make further statements about the new loyalty program. "I can't really comment, I don't want to comment. I've said everything else that needs to be said. I'm on your side, I'm here to pass on your comments. And thank you to everybody who's taken the time to write to me in such a respectful and kind way," he added. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Travel Weekly
24-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Carnival's loyalty program members react to new rewards structure
Teri West Carnival Cruise Line is restructuring its rewards program, but the change, which includes a new name -- Carnival Rewards -- and a new accrual plan, isn't being embraced by all of its loyalty members. Members of the line's current program, called Very Important Fun Person, or VIFP, have posted complaints about the change on cruise-themed Facebook groups and pages, TikTok videos and posts on X. Objections largely focus on a couple of key points: Under the new Carnival Rewards structure, loyalty program status will only be guaranteed for a finite period of time rather than indefinitely, and status will no longer be based exclusively upon days cruised but also on spend. The change brings the program more in line with airline and hotel loyalty programs. The four biggest airlines in the U.S. base their loyalty programs on customer spending, Nerdwallet says, and status earned for major hotel loyalty programs is only valid for a certain period, which varies by brand, according to The Points Guy. Lines like Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line still base loyalty status on nights customers book rather than total spending. Amidst robust discussion about the change in the 117,000-member Melanin at Sea Facebook group last week, some Carnival customers indicated that they had stayed loyal for years with the expectation that it earned them a valuable status that they could keep for life. Amongst the current perks for Diamond members, which is the highest status within VIFP, are priority check-in, an exclusive party on sailings that are five days or longer and unlimited free laundry. Once Carnival Rewards launches in June 2026, Diamond members will retain that status through 2032, and all other members are guaranteed to retain theirs for two years. From then on, status will be based on points earned in a two-year qualifying period and be guaranteed for a two year "enjoyment period." Carnival said that there are now more ways to earn and accumulate points, including through spending with its branded Mastercard credit card. And it indicated that it expected the change would result in fewer loyalty program members at the highest tiers. "When so many guests have elite status, it is much more difficult to make everyone feel special," Carnival president Christine Duffy wrote to customers. "These realities will only continue to erode the recognition and rewards of the current VIFP Club program, and we feel that change is necessary in order to better recognize our guests." Still, Carnival brand ambassador John Heald wrote on Facebook this weekend that an "unprecedented" number of comments and questions had been directed to him. Heald said he had been tirelessly responding and posting updates following the announcement Wednesday. Heald told his Facebook followers that he has been relaying their concerns to senior members of the leadership team. Carnival did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but on Monday Heald posted a message from Carnival to its guests, which promised them that "we are reading your comments and taking in your feedback." Carnival emphasized that new program won't launch until next June and said it announced the change well in advance to give guests time to understand it. Carnival will continue to listen and answer questions, it said. "Thank you for your continued loyalty as we work through this transition together," Carnival said. "We recognize that this is a big change but believe that this new program will unlock greater opportunities and benefits to you, our valued guests."
Business Insider
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Carnival Stock (CCL) Dips on Loyalty Program Changes
Carnival (CCL) stock slipped on Monday after the cruise line company announced controversial changes to its loyalty program. The company will nix its Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program next year in favor of a new rewards program. This issue with this is that it will change how passengers earn rewards. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter The new program will allow customers to earn benefits over two years, and retain those benefits for another two. For comparison, the current loyalty program offered benefits for life. Another change is how points are earned: the new system offers points for money spent, while the current one gives points based on nights booked. These changes are designed to limit the number of guests who have access to the highest level of rewards. The decision to switch to this system was made after the current loyalty program become inflated with members who have benefits for life. While the new system alleviates this issue, it isn't going over well with loyalty members. Carnival Stock Ratings and Movement Today James Hardiman. This suggests a possible 19.91% upside for CCL stock. CCL shares were down 1.72% on Monday following the new loyalty program reveal. Investors will note the stock is also down 6.4% year-to-date but has rallied 45.03% over the past 12 months. Is CCL Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold? Turning to Wall Street, the analysts' consensus rating for Carnival is Moderate Buy, based on 13 Buy and five Hold ratings over the past three months. With that comes an average CCL stock price target of $28.73, representing a potential 23.04% upside for the shares.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Carnival Cruise Line's loyal customers could lose their VIFP status by 2028 due to a new rewards scheme
Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled plans to overhaul its reward scheme in a move that has raised concerns among some loyal passengers. The cruise brand, which is mainly targeted at the US market but has regular summer sailings from Dover in the UK, currently lets passengers earn points under its Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) scheme based on the number of nights sailed. However, a new Carnival Rewards programme will shift the focus to spending and could eventually reset the position of loyal passengers. The change by Carnival Cruise Line is similar to how British Airways changed its tier status last year. The cruise line said Carnival Rewards will offer more opportunities to earn rewards and achieve higher status levels based on spend, including cruise fare and on-board activities such as spa treatments and speciality dining. Rather than focusing on the number of nights travelled, from 1 June 2026 passengers will be able to earn three points for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, which provides access to rewards such as drinks packages and internet plans. Points will also be earned through everyday spending on the co-branded credit card with Barclays – the Carnival Rewards Mastercard. This is only available in the US, though. All guests can also earn tier status based on a star system. Guests will earn three stars for every $1 spent, which lasts for two years and provides extra perks based on their level, ranging from a bottle of water for the lowest status to early check-in and complimentary laundry at higher levels. Passengers will need a minimum of 10,000 stars to move from the basic red tier to gold, and then 50,000 for platinum status and 100,000 for diamond. But concerns have been raised as the scheme will eventually reset the current status among loyal passengers after a transition period. From 1 June 2026, VIFP members' existing status will carry over and serve as a new entry point into the programme for two years until 31 May 2028. Diamond members will retain their status for a six-year period until 31 May 2032. This essentially means all passengers, regardless of their current level, will eventually have to monitor their spending and stars to maintain their status. Guests have raised concerns to Carnival Cruise Line's brand ambassador John Heald. Defending the changes on his Facebook page, he said the current scheme was becoming 'top heavy' and highlighted that passengers have been given time to prepare, while there is still a year to 'fine tune' the offering. He said feedback has been passed on to management. Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: 'Our current VIFP programme 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. "By introducing a points-based system, we're enabling greater flexibility so guests can personalise their rewards in ways that matter most to them.' Carnival Cruise Line said it recognised that passengers would be concerned that their status is being removed but said there were still opportunities to maintain their position, adding: 'It will, however, be tied to spending activity, consistent with loyalty rewards programs across the travel sector. We recognise that change can be difficult, but the current programme based on cruise frequency makes it difficult to properly recognise our loyal guests.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnival shakes up cruise loyalty; Royal Caribbean to revamp ships
Carnival shakes up cruise loyalty; Royal Caribbean to revamp ships originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Complaints are pouring in on social media after Carnival Cruise Line announced details of its completely overhauled loyalty program on June 18. Although Carnival has been talking about a planned loyalty program revamp for months, the cruise line had not yet revealed any details about the changes until now. And it appears that the structure of the new program is not sitting well with many loyal new Carnival Rewards program, which rolls out in June 2026, follows a completely different model than Carnival's current Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) loyalty program. Many Carnival cruisers who have been building their VIFP status for many years to reach Platinum or Diamond levels in the program worry that the new Carnival Rewards system won't value their long-time loyalty as well as the current program. However, Carnival says that the new loyalty program reflects a commitment to creating more meaningful recognition for its loyal passengers. The new rewards model will put the cruise line loyalty program on par with popular travel loyalty programs offered by airlines and hotels. Doug Parker shared more details on the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program, and other cruise news including Royal Caribbean's 2026 ship modernization projects, on the June 19th edition of Cruise News This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Thursday, June 19th. Carnival Cruise Line is overhauling its loyalty program. Starting next June, the current VIFP Club will be replaced by Carnival Rewards, meaning lifetime status is ending. Passengers must now re-qualify every two years, and this will be based on spending, not the amount of cruise nights you have. This puts the company more in line with airline and hotel loyalty also dropping the Blue tier as far as their loyalty program, and all guests will start at Red. Higher tiers like Gold, Platinum, and Diamond will require more spending to earn and keep your perks. Some benefits, like the gold pins and the complimentary dining and unlimited laundry for Diamond members, are also being scaled back during this change. There is a lot to unpack here, and it's fully detailed on I'm curious what you think about Carnival moving towards a more pay-to-play model. Let me know in the a follow-up to the story we brought you yesterday of Celebrity Edge breaking loose while it was docked in Juneau, Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard is now investigating the near-collision between two cruise ships after a storm broke Edge loose from its moorings. High winds pushed Celebrity Edge toward Carnival Luminosa as it was leaving port, forcing Luminosa to back up to avoid being hit. Celebrity Edge did drop the anchor just in time to avoid a crash. No injuries or damage were reported. Coast Guard officials are reviewing public video submissions and say a probe is now Royal Caribbean is set to overhaul three of its ships next year — Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas — as part of its ongoing modernization program. The upgrades will include new dining options, enhanced entertainment, and redesigned pool areas. Ovation will debut in Alaska, Harmony will shift from Europe to Florida, and Liberty will sail from England before heading to Galveston, Texas. All three ships will debut fully cruise stocks ended higher on Wednesday. Carnival Corporation: up 1%, 23.61. Royal Caribbean: up 2%, 267.78. Norwegian: up 1%, 18.39. And Viking: up 2%, 48.66. If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@ And this week's Cruise Radio Podcast: a review of Carnival Panorama, where you listen to your favorite podcasts. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Thursday. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
