Cruising thru Life
“Welcome to Carnival Cruise Life 🌴”
“Your ultimate guide to cruising smarter, living freer, and discovering the joy of life at sea.”
“Cruise Tips • Ship Reviews • Destination Guides • Packing Lists • Insider Secrets”
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Onboard Life
“NEW TO CRUISING? START HERE!”
“Start Your Cruise Journey Here” — Beginner’s Hub
Planning your first Carnival Cruise? Don’t worry — I’ve got you covered! Whether you’re dreaming of turquoise waters, tropical cocktails, or just a stress-free escape from everyday life, my step-by-step guides make cruising simple, affordable, and unforgettable.
From choosing the right Carnival ship to understanding onboard credits, dining options, and port excursions — I’ll walk you through every detail so you can cruise with confidence. You’ll learn what to pack (and what to leave behind), how to save money on upgrades and excursions, and the insider secrets that seasoned cruisers swear by.
After more than 20 years of sailing with Carnival, I’ve made every mistake so you don’t have to. My mission is to help you plan smarter, relax deeper, and create those picture-perfect moments you’ll never forget.
Ready to set sail? Explore my beginner’s guides, checklists, and pro tips below to make your first (or next!) cruise your best adventure yet. 🌴
Let’s make it happen!
LET ME SHOW YOU
The Way
YOUR TURN TO
Travel
“Explore the Cruise Life” —
Experience the Fun & Freedom
Carnival Rewards™ is launching September 2026.
More Time to Earn Your Status
To give you extra time — and to let your Summer 2026 cruises count toward your final VIFP Club® status — we are moving the launch of Carnival Rewards to September 1, 2026. All your cruise activity through August 31, 2026 will count toward your final VIFP status, which will become your starting status in Carnival Rewards.
Here’s How Carnival Rewards Will Recognize Our Members
We are keeping the benefits we announced earlier:
• Diamond guests keep lifetime status
• Platinum guests receive a 10,000-star boost every two years
How the New Two-Year Cycle Will Work
We're shifting to a simple, calendar-year schedule:
• When Carnival Rewards begins on September 1, 2026, your new status will match your VIFP status on August 31, 2026, and will last through December 31, 2028. This gives everyone four extra months in the very first cycle to earn status.
• After that, every earning period will run January 1–December 31, every two years.
How You’ll Earn Stars (for Status)
Stars determine your status level. They reset every two years.
You earn:
• 3 stars per $1 spent on cruise fare and anything you buy onboard (+1 extra star per $1 if you use the Carnival Rewards™ Mastercard™)
• 1 star for every casino point
How You’ll Earn Points (for Spending on Rewards)
Points are what you use to "buy" rewards like drinks, excursions, photos — even cruise fare.
You earn:
• 3 points per $1 spent on cruise fare and onboard purchases
• 1 point per casino point
• Extra points with the Carnival Rewards Mastercard
100 points ≈ $1 in value, depending on demand — similar to how cruise fares vary.
Points never expire as long as you earn or redeem points at least once every 3 years.
New Carnival Rewards™ Mastercard® Benefits (coming in September 2026)
Use the card and you can earn points and status in Carnival Rewards even faster:
• 3 points + 1 star per $1 spent on Carnival (to a net total of 6 Points and 4 Stars per $1 spent on Carnival)
• 2 points + 1 star per $1 spent at eligible grocery stores and restaurants
• 1 point + 1 star per $1 spent on all other purchases
Upon launch of the Carnival Rewards program current cardmembers, as well as any new cardmembers, will have the balance of their Fun Points® converted to Carnival Rewards Points with no need to reapply.
Milestones Are Still Here and More Rewards on More Intervals
We'll still celebrate your Milestone cruises.
• The current milestone program ends August 31, 2026
• All milestone awards earned by that date remain valid through August 31, 2030
• The new Carnival Rewards Milestones will be tied to days sailed, with special recognition on the specific cruise where you hit those milestones
• All your past cruising history will carry over
Hello!
“I’m Sherrie — Welcome Aboard!”
Welcome to Carnival Cruise Life, your ultimate guide to exploring the seas with insider tips, destination guides, and real cruise stories from Sherrie — a passionate traveler with over 20 years of Carnival Cruise experience. Learn how to plan smarter, pack better, and enjoy every voyage like a seasoned cruiser.
After sailing with Carnival Cruise Line for over 20 years, I’ve seen it all — from unforgettable sunsets and hidden onboard gems to frustrating moments of overpacking, missed excursions, and confusing booking options. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to plan the perfect cruise, trust me, I’ve been there too.
I remember my first few cruises — I wasted hours searching for tips online, spent too much on things I didn’t need, and missed experiences I didn’t even know existed. That’s why I created this space — to share my real-life cruise insights, destination guides, and travel hacks that actually make a difference.
Whether you’re planning your first Carnival cruise or your tenth, my goal is to help you avoid the common pitfalls, cruise confidently, and create unforgettable memories at sea.
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Carnival Cruise Life is your go-to destination for insider cruise tips, travel guides, and ship reviews from longtime cruiser S. Pollard. After more than 20 years of sailing with Carnival, Sherrie shares real stories, planning advice, and must-know hacks to help you cruise smarter, save money, and make every voyage unforgettable.
The Carnival Cruise Life is an independent fan site created by a passionate cruiser for fellow Carnival Cruise Line enthusiasts. It is not affiliated with the Carnival Corporation.
Please Note: The links within this site are affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
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