Carnival Switching from Loyalty to Rewards Program

[dreamer17555]

In another thread, we were talking about how some cruisers would prefer DCL switch Castaway Club from a per sailing system to one based on nights sailed. But Carnival is heading in a completel different direction.

Announced today, Carnival is scrapping their traditional loyalty program and rolling out a new "rewards" system. Instead of tracking how many nights you have sailed, you’ll earn points based on how much money you spend (cruise fare, excursions, drinks, specialty dining, and other onboard purchases all count). The more you spend, the higher your level.

One big change, you’ll now have to requalify for your status every two years. I know there’s been some hand wringing about the idea of Castaway status only lasting five years (something MSC actually does), but so far I haven’t heard of anyone actually losing their DCL status.

So what do you think?

Would you want Disney to move to a spend based model? Do you feel it is more fair?

Does this make you more or less likely to sail with Carnival? (Personally, I think Carnival is making a huge mistake but we will see)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Carnival is scrapping their traditional loyalty program and rolling out a new "rewards" system. Instead of tracking how many nights you have sailed, you’ll earn points based on how much money you spend (cruise fare, excursions, drinks, specialty dining, and other onboard purchases all count). The more you spend, the higher your level.

That's similar to what Holland America (a Carnival cruise line also). You get points for nights (days) onboard, extra points for suites, and one point for every $300 spent "onboard". That's excursions, drinks, specialty dining, everything that you purchase for during the cruise, not the cost of the cruise, however.

 

[Girl of the South]

Some airlines do it on a combination of spend and flights and not miles flown. Hard to keep up. I don’t “chase” status anymore.

 

[dreamer17555]

That's similar to what Holland America (a Carnival cruise line also). You get points for nights (days) onboard, extra points for suites, and one point for every $300 spent "onboard". That's excursions, drinks, specialty dining, everything that you purchase for during the cruise, not the cost of the cruise, however.

Interesting. Carnival is not counting nights at all going forward. It is all about the amount spent on the cruise fare, onboard, excursions, etc. People seem really unhappy about it.

 

[dreamer17555]

Some airlines do it on a combination of spend and flights and not miles flown. Hard to keep up. I don’t “chase” status anymore.

This felt like a move to the airline model to me as well (which I am not a fan of)

 

[Girl of the South]

Yeah, not a fan of the airline “model@. I finally used almost all my miles because they keep devaluing them. I wouldn’t earn even 1 point. I never spend $300 on a cruise - unless they would count the placeholder?

 

[hardcorestitch]

In another thread, we were talking about how some cruisers would prefer DCL switch Castaway Club from a per sailing system to one based on nights sailed. But Carnival is heading in a completel different direction.

Announced today, Carnival is scrapping their traditional loyalty program and rolling out a new "rewards" system. Instead of tracking how many nights you have sailed, you’ll earn points based on how much money you spend (cruise fare, excursions, drinks, specialty dining, and other onboard purchases all count). The more you spend, the higher your level.

One big change, you’ll now have to requalify for your status every two years. I know there’s been some hand wringing about the idea of Castaway status only lasting five years (something MSC actually does), but so far I haven’t heard of anyone actually losing their DCL status.

So what do you think?

Would you want Disney to move to a spend based model? Do you feel it is more fair?

Does this make you more or less likely to sail with Carnival? (Personally, I think Carnival is making a huge mistake but we will see)

(Scrooge McDuck quacking intensifies)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Interesting. Carnival is not counting nights at all going forward. It is all about the amount spent on the cruise fare, onboard, excursions, etc. People seem really unhappy about it.

There's been some rumors on another website about HAL/Princess/Carnival standardizing their rewards programs

 

[justafigment27]

As someone who mainly cruised during peak $easons, if Disney switched their loyalty program around, I would prefer dollars spent vs. nights onboard. Some of the cheapest cruises available (as far as $ per night) are the repositioning cruises. And you can book 7 night cruises in the off season for the same or less than 3-4 night cruises during peak times.

 

[eticketplease]

As someone who mainly cruised during peak $easons, if Disney switched their loyalty program around, I would prefer dollars spent vs. nights onboard. Some of the cheapest cruises available (as far as $ per night) are the repositioning cruises. And you can book 7 night cruises in the off season for the same or less than 3-4 night cruises during peak times.

Yup book during spring break or the holidays and you are almost at pearl status!!

 

[Cfabar1]

I don't know anything about Carnival's program, but I actually think Disney's program, though it emphasizes short sailings, is one of the better ones.

When I read C&A Society number of nights needed for perks I would find meaningful, well, I'm unlikely to ever sail that much in my life.

In general, I find loyalty programs in 2025 to be better than nothing, but hardly worth trying to "chase" status.

 

[o&smom]

In another thread, we were talking about how some cruisers would prefer DCL switch Castaway Club from a per sailing system to one based on nights sailed. But Carnival is heading in a completel different direction.

Announced today, Carnival is scrapping their traditional loyalty program and rolling out a new "rewards" system. Instead of tracking how many nights you have sailed, you’ll earn points based on how much money you spend (cruise fare, excursions, drinks, specialty dining, and other onboard purchases all count). The more you spend, the higher your level.

One big change, you’ll now have to requalify for your status every two years. I know there’s been some hand wringing about the idea of Castaway status only lasting five years (something MSC actually does), but so far I haven’t heard of anyone actually losing their DCL status.

So what do you think?

Would you want Disney to move to a spend based model? Do you feel it is more fair?

Does this make you more or less likely to sail with Carnival? (Personally, I think Carnival is making a huge mistake but we will see)

You missed the worst part...you earn as many points, etc. as you can in two years to reach your level and then retain that for two years, and then it resets to zero! You have to start all over again! Watched a few travel YouTubers discuss it last night. Many people who have cruised with them for years are saying in comments that they will be cruising with other lines. I think this was an awful choice and will negatively impact Carnival. Disney better not get any ideas.

 

[dreamer17555]

More details came out that answered the question how points will be earned with multiple people in stateroom- They will be split (it seems regardless of who is paying but that is more unclear). I wonder if they will count kids in that split because that would make it SO hard to re-earn status.

 

[MartyParty]

We are (soon to be were) lifetime Gold members with Carnival. Gold was just okay—nothing special. The real perks came with Platinum (75–199 cruise days) and Diamond status. Unfortunately, Platinum status will now reset to zero in a year or two. I believe Diamond is grandfathered in for six years, then it also resets.

I totally understand why folks who earned Platinum or Diamond are upset. That’s a lot of cruising—and money—essentially going down the drain. Money already spent.

As for us, it doesn’t really matter. We enjoy Carnival because it’s cheap as chips. We’re just over an hour’s drive from the cruise port and can usually find great deals.

 

[jwalk03]

Yeah this new loyal program on Carnival is a giant dud. People are furious about it. I don’t think I have seen one positive comment.

I have sailed with Carnival 3 times and honestly enjoyed all 3- but the odds of me ever cruising with them again are pretty darn tiny.

I enjoy Disney significantly more and I am also interested in trying out NCL & RC as well.