To facilitate social distancing and prevent crowds as cruising resumed after the pandemic shutdown, priority boarding was also not initially available when cruising restarted, but was reinstated in November 2022, several months after Carnival ships began sailing again.

Yes, Carnival Cruise Line has fully reinstated priority boarding for the 2026 season through its VIFP Club and the "Faster to the Fun" (FTTF) program. Priority boarding is automatically granted to Diamond and Platinum members, as well as guests staying in Suites. For everyone else, Carnival offers a limited number of "Faster to the Fun" packages for purchase before the cruise, which grants you the same priority check-in and boarding privileges. In 2026, the boarding order is strictly enforced: Diamond members go first, followed by Suite guests, Platinum members, and then FTTF purchasers. The FTTF program is highly sought after because it also includes "Express Luggage" (getting your bags to your room faster) and a dedicated line at Guest Services, but it frequently sells out months in advance, so 2026 cruisers are encouraged to book it as soon as it becomes available in their "Manage My Cruise" portal.