By
Alex Smith |
Carnival Cruise Line is to expand its range of itineraries sailing from Australia in 2026-27, following the addition of two ships from sister line P&O Cruises Australia.
After Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter join Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa in March 2025, all four ships will be deployed in Australia. The expanded programme will see Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor sail from Sydney, while Carnival Encounter and Carnival Luminosa will sail from Brisbane.
“As we expand our fleet to four ships in Australia and enrich our overall deployment plan, our 2026/27 itineraries significantly increase the options available for the Carnival experience from Sydney and Brisbane,” said Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning. “Guests interested in a cruise from Australia are bound to find the perfect itinerary, whether they’re looking to explore a new region or revisit key vacation destinations – all showcasing the diverse beauty of the South Pacific.”
From Sydney, Carnival Splendor will offer a range of itineraries from two to 12 days long. Four-day cruises will include visits to Moreton Island and five- and six-day cruises to Tasmania will call at Hobart and Port Arthur, with the latter including an overnight stay in Hobart. Nine- and 10-day South Pacific cruises visit Mystery Island and Port Vila in Vanuatu. The ship will offer several additional longer sailings, including 10-day New Zealand itineraries. Carnival Adventure will also be offering two- to 12-day itineraries, including shorter cruises visiting Moreton Island and longer sailings featuring the Great Barrier Reef. Both ships will also offer cruises to Melbourne, Australia, for the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s biggest horse race.
Carnival Luminosa will offer a variety of three- to 14-day itineraries departing from Brisbane during its seasonal deployment. A six-day Great Barrier Reef cruise will include calls to Airlie Beach and Cairns, with an onboard experience at Willis Island allowing guests to spot local wildlife as the ship passes. Week-long South Pacific cruises visit destinations such as Mystery Island, Port Vila, while an eight-day option includes multiple stops in Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The ship will also embark on a 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise that highlights the locations where Mutiny on the Bounty took place in 1789 featuring ports like Norfolk Island and Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
New sailings for Carnival Encounter will feature destinations in the South Pacific and Great Barrier Reef regions. Short three-day and four-day cruises with stops in Airlie Beach. Longer voyages from six to 10 days long will visit Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, while two 12- and 14-day itineraries will visit the islands of Fiji.