Three Points for every dollar. That is the basic earning rate in Carnival Rewards, the loyalty program Carnival Cruise Line launched on Sept. 1, 2026. The line calls it a first for the cruise industry.
Guests earn 3 Points per $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, gratuities included. They also get 1 Point for each Casino Point left at the end of a sailing. Points go toward future cruises and onboard extras such as shore excursions, specialty dining and spa treatments. They post about 14 days after the sailing ends and can be spent as soon as they appear.
“Cruise loyalty has traditionally been built around how often guests sail, and Carnival Rewards was designed to go beyond that,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Simply put: Your cruise, Your rewards. Your way.”
Status runs on Stars
A separate currency, Status Qualifying Stars, decides a guest’s tier. The earning rate is the same 3 Stars per $1 on eligible purchases, plus 1 Star for every Casino Point earned, even if the points were already spent onboard on Funplay.
There are four levels:
- Red, on enrollment
- Gold, at 10,000 Stars
- Platinum, at 50,000 Stars
- Diamond, at 100,000 Stars
Status is earned over a two-year qualifying window and then enjoyed for the rest of that window and a further two years. The first window runs from Sept. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2028. A Milestone Recognition Program also rewards guests by the number of days they have sailed.
The credit card
Carnival is pairing the program with a Carnival Rewards Mastercard, which it also describes as the first of its kind in cruising. Terms apply to the offers below.
- 50,000 bonus points after $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days
- Up to 6X points on Carnival purchases (3X from the card, up to 3X more through the program)
- 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores
- Up to 4 Stars on Carnival purchases, and 1 Star on everything else
- 0% promotional APR for 6 months on Carnival cruise bookings
- A 2,500-point anniversary bonus after $2,000 in purchases
Guests can sign up at CarnivalRewards.com.
