Guests on two upcoming Carnival sailings have been notified that the most coveted Diamond and Platinum benefits will not be available. This has become typical of Carnival Cruise Line in the past few years and is a strong indication of why the loyalty program must change.

The two impacted sailings are:

• Carnival Radiance – January 10, 2026 – 14-night Hawaii sailing from Long Beach
• Carnival Venezia – January 11, 2026 – 14-night Panama Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral

Both of these 2-week itineraries are more immersive Carnival Journeys cruises. These sailings are very popular with experienced guests as they offer more unique ports of call that aren’t always available on more common itineraries.

Nevertheless, when there are hundreds of Diamond and Platinum cruisers on a voyage, it is impossible for Carnival Cruise Line to adequately offer certain loyalty benefits.

“Due to the high number of Diamond and Platinum guests joining us on this voyage, we will not be able to provide [some] benefits,” the notification email confirmed.

For both of these cruises, the following benefits are now cancelled:

• Priority embarkation and debarkation, both at the homeport and all ports of call
• Early stateroom access, including dropping off bags even if leaving the stateroom
• Priority luggage delivery to staterooms on embarkation day
• Guaranteed main dining room seating requests for Diamond guests

Furthermore, the priority line at the Guest Services desk, as well as priority Guest Services phone assistance, may also be unavailable on either ship during these cruises. That determination may fluctuate for busier times at the Guest Services desk throughout each sailing.

“These operational changes are consistent with other voyages where we have a very large number of Diamond and Platinum guests,” the email notification explained. “We apologize for any disappointment and thank you for your understanding.”

Read Also: Carnival Pushes Back Launch of New Loyalty Rewards Program

To be clear, there are no itinerary changes or other adjustments for either sailing.

Carnival Radiance is still planned to enjoy some Aloha State hospitality in Kahului, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, and Hilo (along with Ensenada), while Carnival Venezia will enjoy the modern wonder that is the Panama Canal, along with visits to Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.

What Benefits Remain?

While the loss of these very popular benefits will be disappointing to some guests, there are still great perks that remain for both cruises, including:

• Complimentary bottles of water
• Collectible VIFP pins as well as program gifts
• Complimentary wash-and-fold laundry (5 bags for Platinum, unlimited for Diamond)
• VIFP parties during the cruise

Carnival has frequently cancelled high-level loyalty benefits on a variety of cruises, and not always the 10-night or longer Journeys voyages or more unusual itineraries.

Most recently, similar benefits were removed from an 8-night Carnival Spirit sailing from Mobile to the Bahamas, as well as a 7-night Carnival Miracle itinerary from Tampa, calling at Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Cozumel.

Benefits are also often removed from transatlantic cruises, repositioning voyages, and limited offer itineraries such as sailings to Greenland.

Changes Not Unexpected

Guests commenting on Reddit are not surprised by the change, but not necessarily pleased with it either.

“This is why they are changing the loyalty program. There are just too many of us. It sucks, but it makes sense. This seems to be the case on any cruise that is either longer than 7-8 days and/or some sort of specialty cruise,” one guest commented.

What is frustrating to some guests is that, in the past few months, since it was announced that guests with Diamond VIFP status would keep that loyalty level for life, Carnival continues to promote and encourage guests to reach a level the cruise line cannot adequately serve.

“Offer a service based on a rewards program that you must qualify for,” one guest noted. “Deny that service because too many of you qualified for it.”

Many previous Carnival guests have been receiving frequent offers for deeply discounted sailings that will count twice or even three times for loyalty points, helping them quickly “chase Diamond” before the VIFP program ends on August 31, 2026.

More Benefits Lost on Two Carnival Ships, No One Surprised Now