Are Carnival Loyalists Switching to Norwegian?

Q: Can I transfer my Carnival loyalty status to NCL?

Not directly. NCL's loyalty status matching program applies across Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas - brands within Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. It does not extend to Carnival. If you switch to NCL, you would start building Latitudes points from your first Norwegian sailing.

Carnival just changed the deal - and loyalists are not happy

For years, dedicated Carnival cruisers worked their way up the VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) loyalty ladder with one understanding: once you earned your status, you kept it for life.

That understanding is now gone.

Carnival is rolling out a completely restructured loyalty program called Carnival Rewards, and the change that has upset the most people is simple - status no longer lasts forever. Under the new system, loyalty points reset on a rolling two-year cycle, meaning cruisers who stop sailing frequently will lose the tier they spent years building up. Carnival became the first major cruise line in the industry to eliminate lifetime elite status.

The reaction from long-time Carnival fans has been strong. Cruise Critic forums and travel communities filled up quickly with cruisers saying they felt the loyalty relationship had changed, with some canceling unpaid bookings and looking elsewhere.

So where are they going? For a meaningful number of them, the answer appears to be Norwegian Cruise Line.

Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is subject to change. Loyalty program structures, benefits, and terms are subject to revision by the cruise lines at any time. Always verify current program details directly with your cruise line before making booking decisions based on loyalty considerations. This article is for informational purposes only.

What Carnival actually changed (and why it stings)

The old system

Under the original VIFP program, Carnival guests earned points based on sailing days. Once you hit a tier - Blue, Red, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond - you kept it. Platinum and Diamond guests had effectively earned a permanent badge of loyalty that came with real perks: priority boarding, onboard discounts, and recognition.

The new Carnival Rewards system

The new program works differently. Points (now called "stars") are earned through a combination of cruise days and onboard and credit card spending. The tiers reset at the start of each new two-year earning period.

For cruisers who sail regularly, this may be manageable. For the large number of Carnival fans who cruise once or twice a year and had already reached mid-to-upper tiers, it feels like starting over.

The partial rollback

After significant backlash, Carnival made one concession - guests who achieve Diamond status by May 31, 2026 will retain that status for life under the new program. This was a real adjustment, and it did quiet some of the anger for the highest-tier members.

But for most Carnival loyalists - those sitting at Platinum or below - the change stands. They will be re-earning their status on a two-year cycle, indefinitely.

Are Carnival cruisers actually switching to Norwegian?

Reports from Cruise Critic and Travel Weekly confirm that some Carnival customers canceled bookings that hadn't been paid in full and re-booked with Norwegian and MSC. The volume is hard to quantify precisely, but the trend is real.

A few things make Norwegian a natural destination for cruisers leaving Carnival:

Norwegian occupies a similar price range to Carnival, making it accessible rather than a dramatic step up in cost
NCL's "Freestyle Cruising" model - no fixed dining times, relaxed onboard structure - appeals to the same kind of independent-minded vacationer that Carnival attracts
Norwegian's Latitudes loyalty program has not undergone the kind of disruptive restructuring that Carnival's has, which matters to cruisers who feel burned by a program change

Carnival is the largest cruise brand by passenger volume. Even a small percentage of loyal customers shopping around represents a large pool of potential new Norwegian customers.

Why NCL's loyalty program stands out right now

Latitudes: stable and tiered

Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards program assigns points based on sailing days and cabin type. Tiers progress from Bronze through Silver, Gold, Platinum, Sapphire, and Ambassador. Each tier comes with a set of benefits - priority check-in, onboard credits, dining discounts, and more - that grow as you advance.

Critically, Latitudes has not announced the kind of reset structure that Carnival just introduced. For cruisers who want to feel like their loyalty is building toward something permanent, Norwegian's current program offers that stability.

The status match advantage

In October 2025, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings launched a loyalty status honoring program that matches your status tier across its three brands - Norwegian Cruise Line's Latitudes Rewards, Oceania Cruises' Oceania Club, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Society.

This means a Norwegian Latitudes member can receive matching status on an Oceania or Regent sailing, and vice versa. It's a meaningful perk for cruisers who want to try a different style of cruise without starting their loyalty history from scratch.

Carnival currently offers no equivalent status matching program.

Free at Sea

Norwegian's "Free at Sea" promotion - which typically offers packages like free specialty dining, beverage packages, or shore excursion credits depending on the sailing - is a bundled perks model that Carnival cruisers are already comfortable with. Carnival fans who are used to bundled drink packages and dining credits will find Free at Sea familiar.

The specific offers and terms of Free at Sea vary by sailing and are subject to change - always verify current promotions directly with Norwegian or a travel agent before booking.

What Carnival loyalists should know before switching to Norwegian

The onboard vibe is different

Carnival has a well-known party-ship reputation - lively entertainment, a younger demographic mix, a festive atmosphere. Norwegian leans more toward a relaxed, independent style. The ships are fun, but the energy is generally a bit more low-key.

If you're coming from Carnival specifically for the atmosphere, temper expectations. If you're coming because you want solid itineraries, good food options, and a loyalty program that feels stable - Norwegian is likely to satisfy.

How Latitudes points work

Points are earned per sailing day, with multipliers based on cabin type. Studio and inside cabins earn 1 point per day. Balcony, mini-suite, and suite cabins earn higher multipliers - typically up to 3 points per day for The Haven suites. Points accumulate over time and never expire as long as you sail at least once every four years.

Always verify current point structures with Norwegian directly, as program details are subject to change.

How to find good NCL deals if you're ready to explore

The best time to look at Norwegian sailings is when prices are below approximately $100 per night per person for inside cabins - that's generally where the value-to-experience ratio becomes difficult to beat. CabinSaver tracks Norwegian Cruise Line deals daily and ranks sailings by price per night, making it straightforward to spot when a sailing is genuinely priced well.

You can browse current Norwegian deals at CabinSaver's deal finder.

A brief note on other lines in the mix

Norwegian is not the only line benefiting from Carnival's loyalty changes. Royal Caribbean expanded its own loyalty matching program in response to the situation, and MSC has also attracted some Carnival defectors. Both are worth considering depending on your travel style.

That said, for Carnival cruisers specifically - in terms of price range, onboard flexibility, and loyalty program stability - Norwegian is arguably the closest comparable option that doesn't feel like a dramatic change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Carnival still offer lifetime loyalty status?

For most members, no. Under the new Carnival Rewards program, loyalty status resets on a rolling two-year cycle. The one exception is guests who achieve Diamond status by May 31, 2026 - those members are grandfathered into lifetime Diamond status. All other tiers must be re-earned each two-year period. Always verify the latest program terms directly with Carnival, as details may change.

Does NCL's Latitudes program ever expire?

Norwegian Latitudes points do not expire as long as you sail with NCL at least once every four years. There is currently no announced reset cycle similar to Carnival's new structure. That said, loyalty program terms are subject to change - verify current expiration policies directly with Norwegian before making booking decisions based on them.

Can I transfer my Carnival loyalty status to NCL?

Not directly. NCL's loyalty status matching program is cross-brand within Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings - meaning it applies across Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas. It does not extend to Carnival. If you switch to NCL, you would start building Latitudes points from your first Norwegian sailing.

Is Norwegian more expensive than Carnival?

Not necessarily. Norwegian and Carnival occupy a similar price range in the mainstream cruise market, though specific fares vary widely by itinerary, cabin type, timing, and promotions. Inside cabin deals on Norwegian can typically be found at approximately $100 per night per person or less when pricing is favorable. CabinSaver tracks NCL pricing daily and ranks sailings by price per night to help identify when a sailing is genuinely well-priced.

What is NCL's "Free at Sea" and does it compare to Carnival's deals?

Free at Sea is Norwegian's promotional package system that typically bundles perks like specialty dining credits, beverage packages, shore excursion credits, or Wi-Fi into the fare depending on the sailing. Carnival has its own bundled promotions as well. The specific offerings and terms of Free at Sea vary by sailing and are subject to change - always verify what is included on a specific sailing directly with Norwegian or your travel agent before booking.

Is the onboard experience similar between Carnival and Norwegian?

There are real differences. Carnival is known for a lively, party-focused atmosphere with a younger demographic mix. Norwegian leans toward a more relaxed, flexible style - its "Freestyle Cruising" format means no assigned dining times or formal schedules, which appeals to independent travelers. The ship sizes are comparable across both lines, and both offer a wide range of entertainment and dining options. The right fit depends on what you're looking for from a cruise.

What happened to Carnival's VIFP program?

Carnival's original VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) program is being replaced by Carnival Rewards. The core change is the shift from lifetime status to a rolling two-year earn-and-reset model, plus a new points structure that incorporates onboard and credit card spending rather than just sailing days. The tier names and some benefits have also changed under the new structure.

Conclusion

Carnival's decision to eliminate lifetime status is a calculated business move, and it may prove to be the right one for the company long-term. But for the large number of Carnival loyalists who built their status over years and expected it to last, the program change genuinely shifted the terms of the relationship.

Norwegian Cruise Line - with a stable Latitudes program, a status matching offering, and a similar price range - is a logical place for those cruisers to land. The onboard experience is different, but the value is there, and for many Carnival veterans, the loyalty stability alone is reason enough to take a serious look.

If you're one of the Carnival loyalists weighing your options, browse current Norwegian Cruise Line sailings at CabinSaver - deals are updated daily and ranked by price per night so you can quickly see where the best value is right now.