Loyalty programs are a good way for a cruise line to reward passengers who decide to continue sailing with the same line. After all, there are so many great cruise lines to choose from that it pays for them to try to keep you loyal.
The Carnival program is called VIFP, and like many other similar schemes, it has multiple levels that you progress through as you navigate. You start with Red for your first cruise and then move on to Blue, then Gold, then Platinum and finally Diamond.
But Platinum is the one to pay special attention to because it’s very affordable if you’re a loyal Carnival customer and has a lot of perks. Gold status doesn’t get you much, so the step up to Platinum is really noticeable.
Let’s dive into what you get when you reach Platinum VIFP status.
How many cruises should be Platinum on Carnival?
To reach Platinum VIFP level with Carnival, you need 75 points. You get one point for every night you spend on a Carnival ship, so it doesn’t matter how many cruises you take, you just need to sail for 75 nights.
Since most Carnival cruises last 3-7 nights, the fastest way to get to Platinum is to take 11 cruises – 10 of them are a week long and then the last one is at least 5 nights. If you’re lucky enough to sail twice a year, that means you’ll reach Platinum status in your sixth year of sailing.
What do Platinum members get at Carnival?
You get many benefits as a Platinum member when you cruise with Carnival. These include priority check-in, boarding and disembarkation, priority spa bookings, special parties exclusively for Platinum and Diamond members and complimentary laundry services.
Here’s an overview of everything you get as a Platinum member:
1. Check-in and priority boarding
Being the first on the ship is always a fun experience – you don’t have to queue for a long time at the port and you can go straight to the fun. While being a Platinum guest doesn’t guarantee you’ll be the first person on the ship, it does mean you can book early check-in and get on the ship sooner.
There have been some changes to this benefit as Carnival adapts to new health and safety protocols, meaning you can’t necessarily choose an early departure time, but get 48 hours notice to book your arrival appointment for check-in.
Boarding times are based on arrival appointments, so if you make sure to catch one of the first ones, then you’ll still be one of the first people on the ship.
2. Disembarkation with priority
While it’s always sad to leave a cruise ship, it still makes sense to be one of the first people to leave on the last day if you can. You’ll beat the rush, which means a smoother journey back through the port and potentially earlier taxi rides or getting to your car and out of the car park faster if you’re parked at the port.
It is worth noting that this benefit is not always available. It depends on how many Platinum and Diamond guests are on board – if there are too many, then the service cannot be provided.
3. Priority access to Guest Services
If you have a problem or question that you need Guest Services to resolve, then you don’t want to spend time queuing and wasting precious fun sailing time. So, as a Platinum guest, there are two ways to get priority access to the Guest Services team.
First, if you visit in person, there is a priority line for Platinum and Diamond guests. Any guest in this line will be seen before others in the standard line.
And if you don’t want to visit in person, you get a priority phone number, so you don’t have to wait in a phone line with other non-Platinum guests.
4. Priority reservations in specialized restaurants
Specialty restaurants on a Carnival ship are always popular. They offer unique dining options and a more varied menu than you would enjoy if you were simply eating in the main dining room or at the buffet.
It’s not very common for specialty restaurants to be fully booked on a Carnival cruise because many people are perfectly happy with the free options. But as a Platinum member, you still get priority reservations, which means you can choose the best nights and times to enjoy the restaurants you want to visit.
5. Spa priority bookings
The onboard spa on a Carnival ship offers a wide range of treatments that are perfect for relaxation. Whether it’s a specialty massage, a detox wrap, or even acupuncture, there are some great options to soothe the stresses of modern life.
And, similar to specialty dining, these tend not to be fully booked most of the time, but it’s still helpful to have prime meals on the best days and times for your treatments. Many people like to book early morning treatments or those about two hours before dinner on a particular night.
When you’re a Platinum member, you have priority access to get your treatments when you want them.
6. Priority boarding on watercraft
Going ashore for an excursion or just a day of independent exploration? You won’t be the only one—hundreds of people will leave the ship a day in port. So on days when you have to use a watercraft to get to shore, it’s a nice perk to have priority access so you can skip the lines and have more time to explore.
You only have priority traveling from ship to shore – on your way back to the ship you will have to queue with everyone else. And it’s also not always available – it varies by destination based on local guidelines and can be withdrawn as a benefit at short notice. So don’t be too disappointed if you have to wait in line with everyone else.
7. VIFP Platinum and Diamond Party
On cruises of 5 days or more, all Platinum and Diamond guests are invited to a special VIFP party. This is a good chance to mingle with other loyal carnival guests and swap stories of your favorite ships.
Oh, and the drinks are free too. So even if you just want to hang out with your travel party, it’s worth a visit just to get a few free drinks.
8. Complimentary Seaday Brunch drink
On some Carnival ships during a day at sea, you have the option to skip breakfast and instead enjoy a special Seaday Breakfast, with a mid-morning menu that includes favorites such as French Toast, various types of pasta , Eggs Benedict, specialty salads, fried chicken and more.
At these brunches, Platinum guests are entitled to a complimentary beverage of their choice. And if your ship doesn’t have a Seaday brunch, then you won’t miss out – you can claim the complimentary drink of your choice at any breakfast or lunch during your cruise. However, only one – not every day.
9. Free water
Bottled water can be expensive on a cruise ship, but it’s always good to have one in your stateroom. And if you’re a Platinum guest, then you get a free 1.5 liter bottle, which is a nice touch.
You just have to redeem it to get the bottle, which you can do at any bar or restaurant on the ship. You can also use room service to claim your complimentary bottle as well.
10. Delivery of chocolate delight
A smaller touch, but sure to be appreciated by any chocolate lover – Platinum guests can request a free Chocolate Confection delivered to their room once during the cruise (regular value $12.50).
Chocolate Delight consists of four chocolate-dipped strawberries wrapped in red velvet cake crumbs. There are also two red velvet macarons and chocolate ganache, and two chocolate truffles. It’s an expensive treat and it’s just a phone call to room service away.
11. Casino and Arcade Benefits
Platinum guests get some extra perks in the casino and sports games, ideal if you’re into gaming.
For adults, you get free buy-one-get-one entry to any blackjack or slots tournament where the tournaments are held. Casino tours are currently suspended while Carnival evaluates the new health and safety guidelines from the CDC, and so for the time being this benefit has been replaced with $25 in Casino FunPlay credit – this is credit that can only be used for fun games.
Guests under 18 are not exempt – those lucky enough to have achieved Platinum status before the age of majority get a free $5 to spend in the onboard arcade.
12. Carnival logo gift and collectible pin
It’s always fun to bring home a special souvenir from your cruise, and as a Platinum guest, you get two!
The first is a Carnival logo gift. These can vary, but are usually small items bearing the Carnival logo. Past examples have included a travel planner with a pen, or even a night light. They tend to change the gift every few months, so unless you’re a super regular surfer, you should always get something new.
The second gift is a collective pin. These are unique to each cruise and are perfect if you already have a pin collection or if you just want something to remember every cruise you take.
Both of these gifts can be requested in the Photo Gallery on the cruise ship – just make sure you visit before the last two days of your cruise, as they no longer offer them.
13. Wash and fold clothes for free
Once you reach Platinum, you are allowed to use the laundry services for free. You get two laundry bags on 3-6 day cruises, 3 bags on cruises up to 12 days and 5 laundry bags on cruises longer than 12 days.
There are already loads of free laundries, although if you reach Diamond status then you’ll also get unlimited laundries.
To finish
The perks you get with each cruise line’s loyalty program are designed to be nice little extras just to make your cruise more special. And Carnival’s Platinum VIFP tier is one of the best when you weigh what you get against the nights you have to travel to earn it.
There are plenty of things here that won’t make or break your cruise, but will just make you feel like a very important fun person on your cruise. And if you combine Platinum Rewards with the Carnival suite benefits you receive when you book a suite for your accommodation, then you’ll get a lot extra for your vacation.
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