Carnival reveals an updated loyalty program perk
Top-tier loyalty program members have a special dining benefit.
Carnival’s loyalty program, officially called the VIFP Club (stands for Very Important Fun Person), is designed to reward the cruisers who have sailed with Carnival the most.
Members get exclusive cruise offers, as well as a list of perks that depend on their membership level. Earning points is straightforward, as you’ll get one VIFP point for each day you cruise – so a 5-night cruise would earn you five points.
Related: Carnival cruisers reveal their favorite meal on the ship – and it’s not even close
There are five different levels of the VIFP club loyalty program:
- Blue – This is the level first-time cruisers are.
- Red – From the cruiser’s second sailing through 24 VIFP points.
- Gold – From 25 to 74 VIFP points.
- Platinum – From 75-199 VIFP points.
- Diamond – 200 or more points.
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Each level has progressively higher benefits. At the lower level, the benefits are rather small – for example, Red VIFP members get a complimentary 1.5-liter bottle of water per cruise. However, at the higher levels, the perks can be very valuable, such as priority boarding for Platinum and Diamond guests, complimentary wash and fold laundry service, and priority reservations at specialty restaurants. 
Diamond guests have a delicious perk
Carnival brand ambassador John Heald recently shared an updated Diamond member perk on his widely followed Facebook page for Diamond guests. The new Diamond lunch menu is offered to the highest-tier members, and Heald shared the brand-new menu.
The menu has a selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts to choose from:
Appetizers:
- Citrus-Cured Salmon
- Teriyaki Pork Bites
- Roasted Pumpkin Salad With Feta and Almonds
- Beer Cheese Broccoli & Potato Cheddar Soup
Entrees:
- Artichoke Blue Cheese Fettuccine
- Grilled Jumbo Shrimp (Rudi’s Seagrill item)
- Free Range Chicken
- Petite Steak and Fries (Emeril’s Bistro item)
Dessert
- Chocolate Crema
- Pear Almond Crostata (Sugar Free)
- Seasonal Fresh Fruit
To be perfectly clear, the Diamond lunch isn’t a new perk, but this menu is new. It is listed on the VIFP Club perks list as a “Special event invitation from the captain on each sailing.”
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It’s also worth mentioning that Diamond guests can bring a guest who doesn’t have Diamond status (but only one). Most of the comments on Heald’s post were positive in regard to the menu. However, many people said that in practice, the lunches aren’t restricted to Diamond members and one guest each.
“They need to ask for our cards or invitation because there's tons of people who have no integrity at all and just walk right in knowing it's a private party!!!” commented Heald follower Jackie Hilovsky. Cynthia Nash Cantrell said “Why are the staff allowing people to bring more than 1 guest? They should say no. The problem with carnivals “rules” lately is they aren’t enforced and people know that. If they start enforcing it, that would help!”
Will the VIFP club perks change in the near future?
While there are some valuable perks available through Carnival’s VIFP Club loyalty program, the reality is that the program is significantly less valuable for higher-tier guests than some rivals. For example, Gold members and higher get one complimentary beverage per cruise, while Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society awards four free drinks per day to members at the 80-point level and above.
More Carnival cruise news:
- Carnival Cruise Line shares suspicious item warning
- Carnival Cruise Line makes big main dining room announcement
- Carnival Cruise Line passengers reject key cabin change
The good news is that Carnival is well aware that its loyalty program has fallen behind. Heald has mentioned several times on his Facebook page that a new, revamped program is in the works. To be clear, we have absolutely no idea at this point what it will look like, or when any official news will be revealed, but it’s coming.
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