Carnival Cruise Line Removes Key Loyalty Benefits on Longer Voyages
Carnival Cruise Line is quietly making waves in its loyalty program — for select sailings departing October 18, 2025, the line has notified Diamond and Platinum guests that several of their usual high-tier perks will not be honored onboard.
The change affects three Carnival Journeys cruises on Carnival Dream, Carnival Radiance, and Carnival Venezia.
Which Sailings Are Impacted — and Why
The affected sailings are:
- Carnival Dream from Galveston — 14-night Eastern Caribbean
- Carnival Radiance from Long Beach — 14-night Hawaii
- Carnival Venezia from New York — 12-night Southern Caribbean
Carnival says the cuts are due to the exceptionally high number of Diamond and Platinum members booked on these voyages. In the email sent to guests, the cruise line explained:
“Due to the high number of Diamond and Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide the following benefits.”
In other words, the sheer concentration of top-tier loyalty members makes it operationally unfeasible to deliver on every priority perk.
Which Loyalty Benefits Are Being Removed
On the affected sailings, Diamond and Platinum guests will lose access to several priority and guaranteed perks. The following benefits are being temporarily suspended:
- Priority embarkation and debarkation at the homeport and all ports of call
- Early stateroom access for dropping off luggage
- Priority luggage delivery to individual staterooms
- Priority guest line at Guest Services
- Priority phone assistance from Guest Services representatives
- Guaranteed main dining room seating requests for Diamond guests
Not all loyalty perks are being removed, however. Guests will still receive their VIFP logo gifts, ship-specific pins, priority spa reservations, and complimentary laundry services. Carnival noted that this type of adjustment is not uncommon on sailings with a very high number of elite-status cruisers.
How Common Is This — and How Many Elite Cruisers Are Onboard?
Carnival has not revealed exactly how many Diamond and Platinum guests are booked on these three voyages, but it’s likely to be in the hundreds or even thousands. Recent sailings have shown just how top-heavy some cruises have become with loyal guests.
For example, during a recent 14-night transatlantic cruise aboard Mardi Gras, there were nearly 2,000 Platinum guests and more than 1,000 Diamond guests — almost 60% of the ship’s total passenger count. On shorter or more standard cruises, that percentage typically drops to around 4–20%.
With longer and more immersive Carnival Journeys sailings attracting many repeat cruisers, it becomes challenging for the cruise line to offer every elite perk to everyone simultaneously. This ongoing issue is part of why Carnival is preparing to overhaul its entire loyalty system.
What This Means for Carnival’s Loyalty Overhaul
The temporary removal of benefits on these three ships comes as Carnival works on its upcoming loyalty redesign, set to replace the current VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) program with the new Carnival Rewards system in 2026.
Under the new structure, loyalty status will reportedly be tied more closely to spending rather than just the number of nights sailed. Earning periods will become rolling two-year windows that require requalification, and a co-branded Carnival Rewards Mastercard will allow guests to earn credit toward perks through everyday purchases.
The upcoming system is expected to give guests more flexibility in how they redeem benefits — before or during their cruise — and is being designed to prevent the fulfillment challenges seen on sailings with unusually high numbers of elite guests.
Guest Reactions and What to Expect Next
As expected, the move has drawn mixed reactions from Carnival loyalists. Some understand the logistical limits of offering priority perks to so many guests at once, while others see it as a sign that loyalty is being devalued.
Concerns have also been raised about the elimination of lifetime status under the new rewards model and the shift toward spend-based tiers. Carnival has said it’s still collecting feedback and is open to refining the new program before it launches.
For now, Diamond and Platinum members sailing on the affected October 18 voyages should review their pre-cruise notifications carefully. While the changes won’t impact the overall cruise experience, travelers should plan accordingly for embarkation, dining, and port days without their usual priority access.
As the new Carnival Rewards program approaches, cruisers can expect more updates in the coming months — and hopefully, a smoother, more consistent loyalty experience on future voyages.
