Carnival Cruise Line’s new loyalty program, which is coming in 2026, has been making waves because it was introduced, however not in a great way.
The brand new program, which takes impact in June of 2026 if nothing modifications, has left many cruisers outraged as a result of the “lifetime” loyalty standing has been eradicated.
As an alternative, friends will earn “stars” primarily based on how a lot they cruise and spend onboard and can keep their loyalty tier for 2 years.
Present and long-time members of the VIFP program have been left feeling damage and deserted by the change and at the moment are contemplating aligning their loyalties elsewhere.
In varied on-line boards, now-former Carnival followers have been encouraging others to change to MSC Cruises, which can match Carnival cruisers’ present loyalty standing within the MSC Voyager’s Membership via the Standing Match program.
“Our Standing Match program means that you can be part of the MSC Voyagers Membership by bringing your advantages from one other cruise line with you and immediately having fun with comparable – and even higher – privileges in your subsequent MSC Cruises crusing,” reads the MSC web site.
“As soon as permitted, you’ll instantly qualify for a 5% low cost on any future MSC Cruises crusing, the place you’ll obtain onboard reductions for photographs, Wi-Fi, spa providers, complimentary items, and different priceless financial savings,” continues the knowledge.
Whereas it’s not a brand new program, it’s shortly grow to be very fashionable as a result of it permits Carnival friends to keep up most of the perks they spent their money and time incomes with the opposite model.
Nonetheless, the loyalty standing at MSC Cruises can even expire, however provided that friends go greater than three years between cruises.
As a way to apply for a standing match, all friends must do is submit a fast on-line type on the MSC web site with their identify, tackle, contact info, and details about the loyalty standing they’re making an attempt to match.
The approval time appears to be fast, with many cruisers saying that they discovered of their new loyalty standing at MSC in 24 hours or much less.
Different Standing Match Packages
Though MSC Cruises is this system that has been popping up most within the boards, MSC isn’t the one model to supply standing match applications.
Virgin Voyages, which is an adults-only cruise line, is providing its personal standing matching choice for its loyalty program, known as the Crusing Membership.
Nonetheless, this can solely be obtainable via October 31, 2025, and the cruise line is accepting functions on-line.
As soon as accepted, friends shall be put into the Blue Extras stage, which is the center tier that Virgin Voyages’ friends attain at three to 4 sailings.
This can make them eligible for perks like an unique cocktail occasion, complimentary laundry service, and a devoted Sailor Companies (visitor providers) help system.
Ponant Cruises, which presents expedition cruises on yachts, additionally has a standing matching program that comes with rapid reductions on future bookings, free laundry providers, and onboard credit primarily based on the tier.
Cruise Boards: New Carnival Rewards Loyalty Program Introduced
In the meantime, Carnival has been working to minimize the backlash and alleviate considerations concerning the modifications to the VIFP enjoyable membership.
Lee Mason, a preferred Fleet Cruise Director, responded to the suggestions on Fb: “Perhaps I used to be dwelling in a dream world, however I really believed the bond between our crew and our friends got here from these shared moments. The laughs, the conversations, the connections. That’s what makes cruising particular.”
Model Ambassador John Heald has additionally tried to do injury management on his personal Fb web page.
Heald has been reassuring his greater than 600,000 followers that the cruise line does care about them and that the brand new program was introduced effectively prematurely to offer it time to settle (and to probably even make some extra fascinating tweaks).
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