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As you earn more points, you'll ascend up the ranks of various programs. The higher the level you reach, the more perks to which you'll be entitled. You can expect things like discounts, thank-you gifts, complimentary laundry, and invitations to exclusive onboard parties. The benefits are generous once you reach the Diamond level (200 cruise days or more). One of the most unique perks is a $100 donation made in your name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. When you initially sign up for the VIFP Club, you’ll be known as a “Blue Card,” a first-time Carnival cruiser.
Benefits
A nice thing about the VIFP Club is that it’s very simple and straightforward. You don’t have to keep track of points based on the stateroom category you book or the type of cruise you’re taking. But if you’re looking to get really good, usable perks as quickly as possible through a cruise line loyalty program, the VIFP Club probably isn’t your best bet. No, VIFP points apply only to Carnival Cruise Line and can only be earned by sailing Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise VIFP Status loyalty program (
And while 75 and 200 nights may seem like a lot to some, the reality is the program has become overcrowded. When they give out the award for Youngest Cruiser at the Platinum and Diamond Party, it regularly goes to someone under the age of 10. In fact, we recently sailed with a Diamond cruiser that was just four years old.
How do I earn VIFP points?
If a cruise is cut short for reasons beyond the control of guests, they will still earn the amount of points that they would have earned with the original itinerary. If a cruise is extended for reasons outside of guests’ control, they’ll receive points for the additional cruise days in addition to the originally scheduled days. Sail more and you’ll earn more points, putting you in a higher status level. From there, each status level comes with more benefits for your cruise. Unlike some airline rewards programs, VIFP Club points don’t expire. So, if you earn 24 points with the program, you’ll always have those points.
My Benefits
Since you are going to be cruising anyway (which is exactly how you earn points toward higher status), not being a part of the VIFP Club doesn’t make much sense. For instance, if you start a 7-night cruise with 23 points at Red-level status and earn enough points to reach Gold status by the end of the cruise, you’ll enjoy Gold-level perks for the entire duration. In this scenario, although you board as a Red member, you’re upgraded to Gold status right from the start, allowing you to enjoy Gold privileges a cruise earlier. Carnival is one of the only cruise lines that award passengers with membership status before they take their first cruise. All you have to do is sign up, and you’ll begin receiving perks as a Blue-tier member. Guests will receive a color-coded Sail & Sign® card during each sailing which will identify their levels in the VIFP Club.
Program tiers and benefits
Carnival VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Cruise Loyalty Program - Cruise Critic
Carnival VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Cruise Loyalty Program.
Posted: Tue, 07 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT [source]
We also go over some frequently asked questions about the program. One thing to watch, however, is that we have personally seen rates actually be higher with the VIFP number entered than when searching without. While we are far from Diamond members, it was strange to see the higher rates.
How to earn VIFP Loyalty Points
That said, given it’s free to join, there’s no real reason not to sign up. At the very least you can get a few freebies, while passengers that sail Carnival regularly can see some even bigger perks. So even if you are only an occasional cruiser or only sail Carnival sometimes, there’s still a reason to be a member and rack up those rewards. The biggest drawback of the VIFP Club is that true benefits don't really kick in until a member has sailed at least 75 days. Welcome to High Seas Cruising, your resource for exploring the exciting world of cruise ship travel. We provide expert advice, insightful reviews, and comprehensive guides to help seasoned and novice cruisers create their ideal sea journeys.
After you’ve sailed on your first Carnival cruise, you’ll be upgraded to Red. In addition to the VIFP Club newsletter and special offers, you’ll receive a complimentary 1-liter bottle of water that you can pick up from any bar on the ship. While Carnival Corporation owns and operates other cruise lines, VIFP Club points and benefits are not reciprocal to Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, or any other cruise brand in the portfolio. The benefits are just about negligible all the way up to Platinum status, which you hit once you reach 75 cruise nights. If you take mostly seven-night cruises, you’ll reach Platinum at around your 11th cruise. If you take lots of shorter sailings, it’ll take much longer to reach that level.
Onboard Experiences
” but Diamond cruisers on Carnival can help others just by cruising. Unlike some cruise lines, the type of cabin you book does not play into how many VIFP points you receive; it’s one per night whether you’re staying in an interior stateroom or a massive suite. Similarly, the cost of your Carnival cruise does not impact the number of points earned. Like many cruise brands, Carnival Cruise Line has its own loyalty program that rewards repeat guests with perks that increase the higher they move up the ranks.
The center of each pin has the classic red, white, and blue Carnival whale tail funnel on the lower right, the instantly recognizable design found on every guest’s Sail-and-Sign card. The new design is a simple circle reminiscent of a ship’s porthole, with the year and “VIFP CLUB” on the outer circle. The gold pin just says “CARNIVAL” while the Diamond and Platinum pins will have each individual ship’s name. There’s almost as much speculation about what happens to existing VIFP Club members as there is about changes to the program! When Carnival announced changes to the VIFP Club in 2012, they gave cruisers until the end of 2013 to achieve status within the then current framework. Each person must earn his or her own VIFP status through the accumulation of points awarded after completing qualifying sailings.
You can find a detailed overview of each cruise line program here. Past guests will receive some special cruise rates, but those will vary from guest to guest. If you are enrolled in Carnival’s casino program Player’s Club, you should check to ensure there aren’t better deals. You’ll move up to a higher tier with more earned points and enjoy more benefits. You’ll receive one (1) VIFP Club point for each day you cruise.
In short, once you're at the Platinum level, you'll suddenly find yourself bumped to the front of the line from the moment you arrive at a ship until the moment you leave. Priority boarding means that you'll get on board the ship more quickly than other passengers, giving you more time on your first day to enjoy its offerings. Priority access to restaurant reservations means you'll get the best table times.
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