Miami – September 07, 2026 -- Carnival Cruise Line has launched Carnival Rewards, a new loyalty program that lets passengers earn points on purchases, qualify for status tiers, and unlock a co-branded Mastercard offering bonus points on everyday spending.
Points now reward everyday cruise spending, not just trip frequency
Guests earn 3 points for every dollar spent on qualifying Carnival purchases, including gratuities, and 1 point for each casino point remaining at the end of a cruise. Points post roughly 14 days after a voyage ends and can be redeemed immediately for future Carnival cruises, shore excursions, specialty dining, and spa treatments.
Status now runs on a two-year qualifying window through Status Qualifying Stars
Status is determined by Status Qualifying Stars, earned at a rate of 3 stars per qualifying dollar spent and 1 star per casino point earned. The program has four tiers: Red at sign-up, Gold at 10,000 stars, Platinum at 50,000 stars, and Diamond at 100,000 stars. The initial qualifying period runs from September 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, giving guests an extended window to accumulate stars before status is applied for the following two-year enjoyment period.
A separate Milestone Recognition Program tracks lifetime days sailed
Carnival's new Milestone Recognition Program rewards enrolled members based on cumulative days sailed with the line, independent of the points and status tiers.
The new Mastercard offers a 50,000-point sign-up bonus
The Carnival Rewards Mastercard, described as the first of its kind in the cruise industry, gives new cardholders 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days, subject to terms. Cardholders earn up to 6x points on qualifying Carnival purchases -- cruise fares, shore excursions, onboard activities, spa treatments, and specialty dining -- by combining 3x points from the card with up to 3x points from Carnival Rewards. The card also offers double points on qualifying restaurant and grocery purchases, 1x points on everything else, up to 4 status-qualifying stars on Carnival purchases, a 0% promotional APR for 6 months on Carnival cruise bookings, and a 2,500-point annual anniversary bonus after $2,000 in spending.
"Cruise loyalty has traditionally been based on how often guests travel, and Carnival Rewards was designed to go beyond that," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.