Cruise loyalty for family trips and company reward sailings: the 2026 changes

What changed

• 1 September 2026: Carnival Rewards replaced the VIFP Club. Status is now earned on spending (3 Stars per $1 on eligible Carnival purchases) over a two-year window, with tiers at Red, Gold (10,000 Stars), Platinum (50,000) and Diamond (100,000).
• Sailings from 30 January 2026: Royal Caribbean Group's Points Choice lets members direct the points from a sailing on one brand to Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity's Captain's Club or Silversea's Venetian Society, at published exchange rates.
• 11 June 2026: Celebrity added milestone perks from 1,500 points and two levels above Zenith: Double Zenith at 6,000 points and Triple Zenith at 9,000, the latter including a complimentary seven-night sailing in a Sky Suite.
• March 2025: Carnival Corporation retired the P&O Cruises Australia brand. Two of its ships moved to Carnival Cruise Line, and P&O Australia passengers were invited into Carnival's loyalty program.

Why it matters

For a family, cruise status is held person by person, and the rules on who earns in a shared cabin differ by line. Carnival Rewards does not admit guests under 18; their share of points goes to the responsible adult. Families who sail more than one Royal Caribbean Group brand can now choose where their points count, which makes it easier to build status in one place.

For a company, a reward or incentive sailing earns points and status for each employee who sails. On night-based programs the effect is modest. On Carnival's spend-based program, a company-paid cabin and onboard account can add noticeably to an employee's status. Whether employees keep that benefit is worth deciding before the trip, not after.

Who is affected

• Families who cruise regularly, especially on Carnival, where status now depends on spending rather than days sailed.
• Owners planning incentive or reward sailings for staff, clients or extended family.
• Former VIFP members: Diamond status earned under VIFP is recognised for life, and Platinum status earned by 31 August 2026 carries through December 2028.
• Australian families who sailed with P&O Cruises Australia.

What we recommend

1. Choose the line for the trip: ship, itinerary, cabin type and children's facilities. Loyalty perks are rarely large enough to outweigh a poor fit.
2. Enroll each eligible family member and put every membership number on the booking before sailing.
3. If the family sails more than one Royal Caribbean Group brand, enroll in all three programs and decide which one Points Choice should feed.
4. On Carnival, remember that onboard spending counts and is credited to the account that is charged. Decide in advance whose account carries family spending.
5. For reward trips, decide before booking whether employees keep the points and status earned on a company-paid sailing, and check with your accountant on how the trip itself should be treated.