As a Royal Caribbean Diamond Plus Crown and Anchor Society member, I get some truly meaningful perks.
They include five free drinks each day (up to $14 each), two free days of internet access, a buy-one-get-one offer for premium dining, and access to the Crown Lounge, which has coffee, snacks, and a concierge who can help in a variety of areas.
Having that status makes me Elite Plus on Royal Caribbean's sister brand, Celebrity Cruises. Those perks aren't quite as good, but there's a dedicated breakfast space and a nightly all-you-can-drink happy hour (albeit from a limited menu and only in certain bars).
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Both cruise lines also offer special receptions, in-room gifts, and a long list of other perks. Diamond Plus and Elite Plus are the next-to-top levels for the two cruise lines. (The top levels are Pinnacle on RCL and Zenith on Celebrity.)
Earning those second-to-top levels required amassing 175 Crown and Anchor Points. Cruisers earn one point per night sailing in a regular cabin, two sailing solo or in a suite, and three for solo cruisers in a suite.
I got a little lucky since I earned double points on certain cruises during the early post-pandemic sailing days, but I also would be only Elite on Celebrity without Royal Caribbean's status match.
MSC Cruises matches my status level (albeit with its own set of perks), and Virgin Voyages does something similar. Carnival Cruise Line does not, but that has never bothered me because Carnival's VIFP perks at the next-to-top level are inconsequential compared to those at Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.
Carnival is aware of that differential, and Brand Ambassador John Heald has said that the Beards, his term for upper management, are looking at an overhaul. He has promised to share any changes as soon they get decided upon, but that has not stopped rumors from running amok.
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Image source: Carnival Corp.
Carnival refutes a VIFP loyalty-program rumor
Heald often gets asked when the Very Important Fun Person loyalty program changes are coming. He generally asks people to be patient. But his promise of quick disclosure of any changes has not stopped Carnival passengers from reacting to rumors spread on various message boards and in Facebook groups.
"Is it true that Carnival is discontinuing this in the near future?" Andrea Eckman asked, sharing a picture of the VIFP program benefits chart.
Heald's response was swift and direct.
"Anything that you have read about this is completely false," he wrote. "There have been no official announcements about anything that we’re doing with the new program, so whatever you have read so far I’m afraid is wrong.
"So please don’t worry, we will share all the information as soon as we can and until then I thank you for your loyalty and truly hope that we will see you soon."
Some other responses to Eckman were less kind.
"Andrea Eckman, Where did you get that information that the program would be discontinued? Who made that statement? First and last name?" posted David Powell.
Eckman admitted that her source was not credible.
"No clue. It was in one of the 50 Carnival groups I belong to. I asked her for the correct answer," she replied.
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John Rhodes had fun with it.
"Absolutely true. CCL is doing away with loyalty status and instead moving to when you get to port, making everyone, wheelchair riders included, stand on one leg. Whoever stands the longest before boarding will get the better status perks," he wrote.
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