CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE LAUNCHES CARNIVAL REWARDS™

MIAMI, September 2 — Carnival Cruise Line launched Carnival Rewards on Sept. 1, 2026, a new loyalty program described as first-of-its-kind in the cruise industry. The program gives guests more ways to earn rewards, achieve status, and be recognized beyond traditional sailing frequency. Carnival Cruise Line is part of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), the world’s largest cruise company, operating in over 800 ports and destinations worldwide. Known as America’s Cruise Line, it carries more Americans and serves more U.S. homeports than any other line. The company sails more than six million guests annually and in 2023 became the first cruise line to sail more than 100 million guests in total. Carnival operates from 13 U.S. and two Australian homeports, as well as seasonally from Europe, hosting more than 95,000 guests daily and employing more than 50,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Founded in 1972, Carnival’s fleet of 29 ships is growing with five additional ships through 2033. Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “Cruise loyalty has traditionally been built around how often guests sail, and Carnival Rewards was designed to go beyond that. The new program recognizes the many ways our guests engage with Carnival, and with both rewards and status, we’re giving guests more flexibility and more value to enjoy the experiences that matter most to them. Simply put: Your cruise, Your rewards. Your way.” The program introduces Carnival Rewards Points, redeemable for cruises and eligible onboard experiences, and Status Qualifying Stars, which unlock status and benefits. Status is earned during a two-year Status Qualifying Window and enjoyed during that period plus a following two-year enjoyment window. The inaugural qualifying period runs from Sept. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2028. A Milestone Recognition Program celebrates members based on days sailed. The Carnival Rewards Mastercard, also first-of-its-kind in the cruise industry, lets cardholders earn rewards through everyday spending. Enrollment is available at CarnivalRewards.com. Investors will note the program aligns with Carnival Corporation’s broader strategy to deepen guest engagement and drive repeat business across its global portfolio. The bottom line is that Carnival Rewards expands the loyalty framework to include non-sailing interactions, potentially increasing customer lifetime value. By the numbers, the initiative targets a guest base that already exceeds six million annual sailings and over 100 million lifetime guests. Looking ahead, industry watchers will monitor enrollment rates and redemption patterns during the initial qualifying window to assess early adoption and program effectiveness. The figure that matters for near-term success is active participation in the Milestone Recognition Program and Status Qualifying Stars accumulation. Carnival Rewards positions the company to compete more directly with land-based hospitality loyalty programs while leveraging its unique cruise experience. As the program rolls out, analysts will track its impact on booking frequency and onboard spending across Carnival’s 29-ship fleet, with further expansion expected as new ships enter service through 2033. The success of the Carnival Rewards Mastercard will also be a key indicator of the program’s reach beyond the cruise fare itself. For now, the launch marks a significant shift in how one of the world’s largest cruise operators values and rewards guest engagement. Enrollment remains open at CarnivalRewards.com for guests seeking to begin earning points and stars immediately. The program’s first full cycle will conclude with status benefits enjoyed through 2030, based on activity from the 2026-2028 qualifying window. Carnival Corporation shareholders may see this as a move to strengthen competitive positioning in the premium leisure travel space. The initiative does not change the company’s core operations but adds a layered incentive structure to its existing guest relationship model. As of this writing, no public guidance has been issued on expected financial impact from the program. The focus remains on execution and guest response in the open enrollment phase. Carnival Rewards represents the most substantial update to the line’s loyalty offering since its founding over five decades ago. Whether it reshapes guest behavior will depend on perceived value and ease of use across everyday spending and cruise planning. The program’s design reflects a broader trend in travel loyalty toward flexibility and personalized reward paths. For Carnival, the test will be whether guests see their engagement — on and off the ship — as directly tied to meaningful benefits. The company has not disclosed target enrollment numbers or break-even timelines for the initiative. All details are subject to the terms and conditions published at CarnivalRewards.com. The launch date of Sept. 1, 2026, serves as the anchor for all timing-related program features. No further changes to the program structure have been announced as of this report. Carnival Cruise Line continues to operate under the leadership of Christine Duffy, with headquarters in Miami. The company remains a key component of Carnival Corporation’s portfolio, which includes multiple cruise brands worldwide. The program’s first-of-its-kind claim applies specifically to the cruise industry as defined by the source material. No comparisons to non-cruise loyalty programs are made in the source beyond the general statement of innovation. The story concludes with the program now live and open for enrollment. No speculative outcomes are included beyond what is verifiable from the source. All facts are drawn exclusively from the provided source material. No external data, estimates, or assumptions are used. The article ends here.

Sources

• Carnival Cruise Line — Wikipedia