Carnival Quietly Pulls Popular Diamond And Platinum Benefits On Two Cruises

Carnival loyalists are once again learning that top-tier status does not always guarantee top-tier treatment. On two upcoming sailings, some of the most valued perks for Diamond and Platinum guests are quietly being taken off the table, and for many cruisers, the news feels frustratingly familiar .

Carnival Radiance cruise ship with its distinctive red funnel cruising through the deep blue ocean under a clear sky, with a puff of white clouds in the distance — Carnival Radiance

This latest change adds fuel to the growing conversation around whether Carnival’s loyalty program can still keep up with its most dedicated guests. Especially on longer, more immersive cruises, expectations and reality are increasingly drifting apart.

Which Carnival Cruises Are Affected

The changes apply to two separate Carnival Journeys sailings in January 2026, both popular with experienced cruisers who prefer longer, more immersive itineraries .

The first is Carnival Radiance, sailing January 10, 2026, on a 14-night roundtrip voyage from Long Beach to Hawaii. The second is Carnival Venezia, departing January 11, 2026, on a 14-night Panama Canal and Caribbean itinerary from Port Canaveral.

The majestic Carnival Venezia cruise ship sails the ocean at dusk, its multiple decks glowing warmly against the fading light, with the vast sea stretching into the horizon.

What Loyalty Benefits Have Been Removed?

Guests sailing on these two cruises have been informed that several of the most sought-after Diamond and Platinum perks will not be available during their voyage .

Among the benefits being removed are priority embarkation and debarkation at the homeport and ports of call, along with early stateroom access on embarkation day, including the ability to drop off luggage. Priority luggage delivery to staterooms has also been cancelled.

In addition, Diamond guests will no longer have guaranteed main dining room seating requests, and access to priority Guest Services lines and phone assistance may be limited or unavailable during busy periods.

Why Carnival Says These Changes Are Necessary

The image features Carnival Breeze's red VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club card and promotional materials laid out on a textured orange and white striped surface, highlighting the exclusive perks and information provided to members. This represents a welcoming gesture for guests, enhancing their onboard experience with a personal touch.

According to Carnival, the decision comes down to numbers. With a very high concentration of Diamond and Platinum guests booked on these longer voyages, the cruise line says it is simply not operationally possible to deliver certain priority services to everyone .

In the notification sent to guests, Carnival explained that these adjustments are consistent with other sailings where top-tier loyalty participation is unusually high. The company acknowledged the disappointment and thanked guests for their understanding.

Importantly, Carnival has stressed that these changes are limited to specific loyalty perks only, and are not connected to any itinerary changes or reductions in the overall cruise experience.

What Benefits Guests Will Still Receive

While the removal of priority perks will disappoint some loyal cruisers, Diamond and Platinum guests will still receive several familiar benefits during these sailings .

Remaining perks include complimentary bottled water, collectible VIFP pins, and onboard program gifts. Guests will also continue to receive complimentary wash-and-fold laundry service, with five bags for Platinum members and unlimited laundry for Diamond guests.

Carnival will still host VIFP parties during the cruise, giving loyal guests dedicated social events even as other benefits are scaled back.

This Isn’t The First Time Carnival Has Done This

The Carnival Miracle cruise ship sails in the open ocean, its blue and white exterior gleaming under the clear blue sky, with the ship's red funnel adding a pop of color to the serene marine scene.

These benefit removals are far from an isolated case. Carnival has increasingly scaled back top-tier loyalty perks on sailings where large numbers of Diamond and Platinum guests are onboard .

Similar changes have recently appeared on shorter cruises as well, including an 8-night sailing on Carnival Spirit from Mobile and a 7-night Carnival Miracle cruise from Tampa. Longer repositioning voyages, transatlantic crossings, and specialty itineraries have also frequently seen priority perks removed.

For many loyal guests, this pattern has made it clear that the issue is no longer about itinerary length alone, but about how many top-tier cruisers are sailing at the same time.

Guest Reactions: Frustration, But No Surprise

Reaction from experienced Carnival cruisers has been mixed, but surprise is not one of the dominant emotions. Many guests say they have come to expect these kinds of changes, especially on longer or specialty sailings .

Some cruisers have pointed out that with so many guests now holding Diamond and Platinum status, the value of priority perks has naturally diminished. Others argue that Carnival continues to promote and incentivise loyalty levels it can no longer consistently support.

The timing has also frustrated some guests, as Carnival continues to encourage cruisers to earn points rapidly through bonus offers, even as benefits are increasingly restricted.

What This Says About Carnival’s Loyalty Program Future

These repeated benefit removals are adding pressure to Carnival’s loyalty program at a time when major changes are already on the horizon .

With Diamond status now guaranteed for life and aggressive bonus-point promotions still running, more guests than ever are reaching the top tiers. The result is a rewards system that struggles to deliver the exclusivity it once promised.

For many loyal cruisers, these adjustments feel like further proof that the current program is no longer sustainable without a significant overhaul.

Final Word

There are no itinerary changes planned for either sailing, and Carnival maintains that the overall cruise experience remains intact. However, for Diamond and Platinum guests, the steady erosion of priority perks is becoming harder to ignore.

As the loyalty program revamp approaches, cruisers booking longer or specialty sailings may want to manage expectations carefully. For now, these latest cuts suggest that status alone no longer guarantees the benefits it once did.