With the September 1 launch of its new reward program looming large on the horizon, Carnival Cruise Line’s President, Christine Duffy, sat down with Brand Ambassador John Heald to address guest questions.

Points Based On Days, Not Trips

“I know there’s been a lot of questions,” admitted Duffy, making an understatement as large as the biggest ship in the fleet she oversees. In the widely-circulated YouTube video (which you can watch below), she and Heald then had a carefully scripted (but staged to appear casual) conversation about various Rewards-related topics, starting with Milestone Rewards.

Acknowledging the importance of loyalty, Duffy said that with the new program, Carnival would be “changing the way that we count milestones. So instead of it being the number of cruises you’ve taken, it will be based on the number of days that you sail.” 

While this may sound like a matter of semantics, it’s actually an incredibly important bit of information. “For people who tend to take longer cruises, it used to take them just as long as someone who was taking shorter cruises to get to those milestones.” 

And yes, once a guest opts in to the new Carnival Rewards program, their past cruises are converted to days. In other words, if you had sailed three 7-night sailings under the old program, that would translate into 21 points.

Points, Stars and Those Brand New Sail & Sign Cards

Perhaps recognizing that there’s been more than a little confusion among cruisers where some of the changes are concerned, Duffy and Heald set out to clarify the difference between “points” and “stars”, both of which accumulate over time.

As points accumulate, they can be used in a variety of ways, including to pay cruise deposits or to make onboard purchases or receive statement credits. There are additional points granted at various milestones. For example, once one has sailed 50 days, this milestone will automatically trigger 5,000 Carnival Rewards pointes being added to their account.

In addition, every dollar you spend on Carnival earns points.

The pair also revealed that Carnival’s Sail & Sign cards have been redesigned to include how many days one has sailed. “More than any other cruise line in the world,” said Heald, “our guests love to show their loyalty.” 

Those with unused benefits accumulated under the former VIFP program will have until the end of 2030 after opting into Carnival Rewards.

How to Earn Status

Under the new program, stars are collected to improve status… and those stars are based on the amount of money you spend with Carnival. Three stars are earned for every dollar spent on cruise fares as well as any onboard spending you do. (Think shore excursions, specialty dining, shore excursions, etc)

Gamblers can also earn stars, whether playing table games or slot machines.

Finally, those who opt to use a Carnival World Mastercard will also earn stars based on purchases made.

Essentially, while Carnival’s former program was truly based on loyalty, the new program is designed to provide bigger, faster payoffs to those who are spending more money. This means one can essentially purchase status as opposed to earning it.

The Important Step You Absolutely Must Take

Anyone wanting their VIFP rewards to transfer must make sure to opt into the new program prior to its launching. Why? Because this is in essence an entirely new program, cruisers must accept the terms and conditions under which Carnival Rewards will operate.

“Privacy rules prevent us from automatically enrolling guests,” explained Duffy, “even our longtime cruisers.” The one exception? Carnival MasterCard holders, who accepted the new terms and conditions upon accepting the card.

Neither Duffy nor Heald addressed the numerous complaints from Carnival loyalists who dislike various aspects about the program. Chief among those issues is the loss of lifetime status in favor of a system which must be re-earned every two years. (Only those who have achieved Diamond status before August 31, 2026 will be granted lifetime status.)

Read Next: Deadline looms for Carnival Cruise Line guests

💾

There are many things we think about when the word “cruise” pops up, but darn near the top of that list would have to be food. While we’re big believers that you will never go hungry on a ship, we also manage to get ridiculously excited when a cruise line announces additions to their culinary lineup… which is exactly what Carnival Cruise Line just did. However, there’s a catch…

‘A Bold Step Forward’

In a move designed to whet our appetites, Carnival revealed a program they’re calling The Next Course. And while they’ve shared lots of details about the restaurants and experiences which The Next Course will encompass, they also let us know we’ll have to wait a bit for the biggest and best of these changes. Why? Because they’ll be rolled out starting with the introduction of the Carnival Festivale.

That means that while you might start dreaming about the meals you’ll have tonight, you won’t actually be able to experience them until May of 2027.

That said, Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy believes it’ll be well worth the wait. “Our latest culinary adventure marks a bold step forward to give guests an unforgettable experience with a variety of new, vibrant flavors fleetwide.” 

Four New Restaurants to Debut

When Carnival Festivale is rolled out, it will feature several new concepts, but not only where food is concerned. There will also be a new lounge dubbed The Spark (which will feature cocktails inspired by iconic songs) as well as a bar called Mix, which sounds like a playful take on the line’s successful Alchemy Bar.

But we’re here to talk about food. So what type of food, exactly, will Carnival’s new restaurants focus on?

First up is Uku Lei Lei, a complimentary restaurant described as a space in which “Hawaii’s vibrant spirit meets bold Asian flavors.” The menu is expected to feature dishes such as poke bowls, Mongolian beef short ribs and tropical desserts, all served in a space with a relaxed island vibe.

Next on our “to eat” list is Le Bistro Musicale, described as having the spirit of a Parisian cafe and “a menu that reads like a love letter to classic French cuisine.” French onion soup, chicken cordon bleu and, of course, crispy steak frites are on the menu at this hot spot, which will come with an upcharge.

Those hungering for something fresh from the ocean will want to head to Emeril’s Coastal Seafood. The menu at this specialty restaurant is described as fresh seafood infused with the celebrity chef’s Creole flair. The atmosphere will be refined but relaxed, offering everything from fresh oysters to chef-driven specialties that “celebrate the best of land and sea.” 

Rounding out the new additions is Fetaccine, a complimentary restaurant “where Greek seaside flavors meet rich Italian culinary tradition. The menu will feature a wide variety of offerings, from chicken parm to Greek lamb chops.

New Menus, Fleetwide

So far, there’s no word on when or if any of these new offerings might eventually find their way onto ships other than Festivale or her sister ship, Tropicale, which will begin welcoming guests in 2028.

However, The Next Course does include the rollout of refreshed menus across the fleet, and the addition of Bagels At Sea. The Chef’s Table Menu will also be revamped with an emphasis on regionally-inspired flavors. Additionally, Carnival is promising fun pop-up concepts, expanded grab-and-go options and the previously announced Express Dining option.

Read Next: What you need to know about Carnival’s Express Dining option

For years, Half Moon Cay has been consistently ranked as one of the most popular destinations out there for Carnival Cruise Line guests. Now, not only has the name been changed to Relax Away Half Moon Cay, but the hot spot has some competition from sister site Celebration Key. But which is right for you?

Different Strokes

While both will offer a family plenty of amenities and ways to have fun in the sun, Relax Away Cay and Celebration Key offer vastly different experiences. While Carnival does offer sailings which visit both spots, many ships will stop at one or the other. That means that as guests begin planning their ideal vacation, they might need to take a closer look at each destination and decide which is right for them.

Half Moon Cay, as we’ll call it moving forward for simplicity’s sake, has been operated by Carnival since the late 1990s, but recently underwent a pretty massive glow-up. Despite the pretty massive expansion, Half Moon Cay does not feature a traditional pool, nor does it boast a water park.

Celebration Key, on the other hand, has two large freshwater lagoons as well as a large waterpark.

And that simple comparison speaks volumes about what each destination is — and isn’t.

Which Is Right For Your Party?

Everything about Celebration Key is bigger, bolder and louder that what you’ll find at Half Moon Cay. Celebration is more in keeping with Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day CocoCay or Norwegian Cruise Line’s currently-expanding Great Stirrup Cay.

Like those other destinations, Celebration Key offers not only more thrills but more opportunities to spend money. While there are many things to do at no charge, the big-ticket items — including the water park — come at a premium price.

Half Moon Cay, meanwhile, is a bit more low key. Its beaches feature thousands of free umbrellas and beach loungers. It’s color schemes are a bit more muted than the bright, fiesta-like structure at Celebration Key.

Even before Celebration Key opened, Carnival was making it clear that these were two very distinct experiences. Amy Martin Ziegenfuss, who at the time was serving as Carnival Cruise Line’s Chief Marketing Officer, explained it this way: “Half Moon Cay is much more of a hang out, have a drink at the tiki bar and enjoy the beach” vibe.

“At Celebration Key,” she added, “you can do that but so much more.” 

Or, as Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said at the opening ceremony for Half Moon Cay’s expansion, “We wanted to keep [Half Moon Cay] a little bit more relaxed and low-key versus what you see at Celebration Key with the big lagoons and swim-up bars and the castle the slides.”

That difference is as intentional as it is, at least for now, permanent. “Would we ever see a Perfect Day CocoCay-like experience at [Half Moon Cay]?” Duffy pondered. “No, I think we really wanted to keep [this] pristine and relaxing, more of a chance to enjoy nature.”

Read Next: Carnival addresses drink package related rumor

Sure, Celebration Key has been getting a lot of attention since opening. But this week, Carnival Cruise Line gave that private destination spot’s big sis, Relax Away Half Moon Cay, some love as they unveiled some big changes which have recently been made to the much-loved hot spot.

What’s New at Relax Away, Half Moon Cay

Already one of the most popular destinations visited by Carnival’s ships, the latest additions have majorly upped Half Moon Cay’s game. And perhaps the most important change is one which guests have long awaited: A new pier which puts an end to the need for tendering.

Just in case you haven’t eaten enough on the ship, Relax Away, Half Moon Cay has also upped their food and beverage game with venues such as the Orchid Beach Grill, Hibiscus Beach Grill and several other locations.

Our personal favorite upon a recent visit? The Luna Tide Beach Bar, with its potent cocktails and the kind of view that vacations (and great Instagram pics) are made for.

Getting From Here to There

With the island having majorly expanded its footprint, there’s a lot to see. Those wanting to take in all the sites at their own pace can walk along the Papaya Pathway. But never fear, there are also regularly-running trams which run from the Coconut Line Tram Station (stop No. 1) to the Avacado Station (where you’ll find the great bar we mentioned above).

According to the map, walking the entire route would take approximately an hour… which should give you some idea of just how big the newly-expanded destination is.

While there are plenty of free loungers and umbrellas scattered about, there are also cabanas of varying sizes which can be rented for the day.

Everything Old Is New(ish) Again

The already existing side of the island has also received a bit of a makeover. The existing amenities have been upgraded, while many activities and excursions will still be found here.

With 22 ships currently making calls to Relax Away, Half Moon Cay, Carnival says the Paradise Collection — including Celebration Key — now comprises the largest portfolio of exclusive cruise destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Read Next: Celebration Key marks a major milestone

By now, you likely have heard the shocking news that Carnival Corporation experienced a data breach potentially impacting millions of people. How, exactly, did the information get leaked and what can be done to prevent yourself from being further victimized by the hackers?

What Carnival Is Saying

It’s important to note that the incident in question involves Carnival Corporation, meaning it stretches far beyond Carnival Cruise Line customers. While Carnival Cruise Line may be the best known of the impacted entities, the breach also impacts such subsidiary lines as Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard and more.

According to a letter being sent to those impacted, Carnival’s IT team first identified a potential issue involving an employee’s account being accessed by an “unauthorized actor” back on April 14. And while soon after, rumors began circulating, it was not until May 27 that Carnival began informing people via a letter.

“We have determined that your full name, address, email address, phone number and passport number were obtained” by the hackers, reveals the letter.

How Experts Say This Happened

ShinyHunters, the group which has claimed responsibility for the hack, is well known for having pulled off similar data breaches in the past. Ismael Valenzuela, the Vice President of Labs Threat Research and Intelligence at cybersecurity group Arctic Wolf, says that ShinyHunters “has been wreaking havoc across major brands, and the Carnival data breach shows just how effective their tactics have become.” 

So what exactly is their preferred method? “By compromising a single employee account, the group gained access to internal systems and extracted large volumes of customer data,” explains Valenzuela.

He adds that the group’s playbook “hasn’t changed because it continues to work. They gain a foothold through identity-based attacks, move quickly to [remove] data at scale, and then use it for leverage under a pay-or-leak model.” 

What You Should Do… Immediately!

“Anyone potentially impacted should assume elevated exposure,” says Valenzuela. As for what actions they should take, he suggests it’s best to “reset passwords, tokens and API keys that could have been exposed, enable phishing-resistant multi-factor authentification and closely monitor for suspicious or unauthorized account activity.” 

To that end, those whom Carnival is reaching out to with word that their information was potentially breached are being offered “a complimentary 24-month membership to TransUnion’s credit monitoring.” 

To do so, consumers must head to the TransUnion website armed with an activation code provided by Carnival Corporation. Codes can only be activated by August 31, after which they will no longer work.

It’s crucial that those potentially impacted monitor their email inboxes for an email from Carnival Corporation. These emails contain information about the breach, but may unintentionally wind up being directed to one’s spam email box.

Read Next: Carnival Reveals “Cut Off” Notice Scam