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Carnival Faces New Lawsuit After Guests Injured on Rough Tender Ride

Carnival Cruise News

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Feb 27, 2026

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Carnival Faces New Lawsuit After Guests Injured on Rough Tender Ride

Key Aspects:

Three Carnival Sunrise passengers injured on a tender boat are suing Carnival Corporation for negligence.
While enroute to Princess Cays, the boat experienced turbulent conditions.
The lawsuit was filed on February 26, 2026, and seeks a jury trial.

Three guests who were injured during a Carnival Cruise Line voyage have filed a lawsuit against parent company Carnival Corporation, citing multiple charges of negligence.

Filed on February 26, 2026, in the US District Court/Southern District of Florida, the suit contends that the guests, Brandi Leber, Patrick Leber, and Carol Susie McCabe, sustained injuries while on a tender boat headed to the private island destination Princess Cays.

The three were passengers onboard Carnival Sunrise and are each seeking damages in excess of $75,000.

According to the lawsuit, the guests are charging three specific acts of negligence tied to the operation of the tender boat, which encountered turbulent conditions as it approached the private island in the Bahamas on March 10, 2025.

The Leber couple and McCabe joined other passengers of the 2,984-guest Carnival Sunrise on the tender, and planned to enjoy a port call at the destination. Instead, the lawsuit charges, heavy seas caused guests to be thrown around the boat, and the bench the plaintiffs were sitting on became unbolted from the floor.

Worth Reading: Carnival Explains Essential Service Is Not From Crew Members

Evidence detailed in the suit, including pictures, indicates that the bench had previously been re-bolted to the floor and that the existing bolts were loose.

The lawsuit describes the ocean conditions at the time as “red flag,” and criticizes the tender boat captain’s actions, which included steering the boat “parallel to heavy wave patterns.”

That, coupled with the boat’s “top-heavy instability and the lack of adequate passenger restraints,” caused the three guests to sustain serious injuries.

Injuries sustained by the guests are described in detail. Brandi Leber hit her head on a metal railing and sustained a traumatic brain injury, while Patrick Leber injured his left knee when it became pinned under the bench, which had collapsed.

Princess Cays Tender Boat (Photo Credit: iralgo74)

McCabe had multiple injuries to her left leg, back, and neck. The lawsuit also charges that, upon returning to Carnival Sunrise, the ship’s medical staff members told the three guests that their injuries “were not serious and required minimal treatment.”

They were also told that the cruise line would follow up with them regarding the event, but the suit states that no follow-up has happened.

Specifically, the lawsuit is charging Carnival Corporation with negligent failure to remedy the subject bench; negligent failure to warn of the danger of the subject bench; and negligence for the acts of Carnival’s tender boat captain.

The three plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial; no date has been set.

Carnival Sunrise, which formerly operated as Carnival Triumph, is based at PortMiami and sails Caribbean and Bahamas cruises. The Sunshine-class ship typically calls at several of Carnival’s private destinations, including Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key, along with Princess Cays.

Lawsuit Joins Others Recently Filed Against Cruise Giant

This latest lawsuit is the third one tied to a Carnival Corporation brand that emerged in February 2026. Two lawsuits, as reported on Cruise Hive, were filed on February 19, 2026.

One involves an incident that happened in March 2025 aboard Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess. In that case, a female guest is charging three counts of negligence after she tripped over some ribbons that had been left on a dining room floor and sustained injuries.

A second lawsuit was filed by a woman who was injured while on Carnival Sunshine, also in March 2025. The guest became injured while riding a water slide. When she reached the bottom of the slide, her feet hit the wall, causing her to break her right foot and sprain her left ankle.

That suit charges that there was insufficient water at the bottom of the slide, but the crew allowed passengers to continue using the thrill ride.

Royal Caribbean Revamps Banned Items List to Cut Confusion for Guests

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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Feb 27, 2026

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Royal Caribbean Revamps Banned Items List to Cut Confusion for Guests

Key Aspects:

Royal Caribbean has reorganized its prohibited items list and now offers greater explanations for some restrictions.
The list also now includes common items guests ask about, such as snacks, baby items, and pets.
The redesign will make it easier to find answers to common questions about what guests can and can’t bring onboard.

All cruise guests are aware that some obvious items cannot be brought onboard cruise ships. Weapons, illegal drugs, and fireworks – it is not surprising that these items are not permitted.

But guests often have questions about more unique items that a cruise line might or might not allow. What about an iron or steamer to look your best for formal night? Your favorite snacks? Full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner?

Cruise Hive has regularly reported on changes to the prohibited items list, such as the recent ban on smart glasses in certain areas of the ship. Now, Royal Caribbean is making it easier for guests to discover what they can and cannot bring onboard.

The cruise line has revised, updated, and reorganized its prohibited items list specifically to provide answers for guests’ most common questions. Subheadings now make the list easier to scan and explanations are more thorough.

Royal Caribbean’s Prohibited List Before the Changes:

Two key features are unique about the reorganization. First, the very obvious prohibited items, such as illegal drugs and weapons, are no longer at the top of the list. Guests don’t typically ask about these, as it is generally understood that such items are not permitted.

Second, the list also specifies what items ARE permitted in many cases. For example, the second section on the list is about snacks. Snacks are not prohibited and were not previously mentioned on the old list.

Cruise Tools: Create Your Own Customized Cruise Packing List!

Now, the cruise line explains: “You can bring on a sensible amount of your favorite pre-packaged sealed snacks.”

While a “sensible amount” is not defined, the fact that items must be pre-packaged and sealed is important for guests to understand. So pack along the Little Debbies, Doritos, or beef jerky if you wish (oh wait, that’s my luggage!).

Royal Caribbean’s Prohibited List After the Changes:

The section on pets is also new on the list. Royal Caribbean’s policy on pets has not changed and only service animals are permitted onboard, but now guests get that answer right away. Imagine if someone visited the old list to see if pets were prohibited. They weren’t mentioned, so you can bring your pet onboard, right?

While the answer has always been “no” the new list makes it clear and provides links to the relevant policy and accessibility pages for guests to read further.

Other categories on the new list include “Baby Things,” “Sporting Goods,” “Luggage Size,” and “Hair Tools,” all of which are things guests commonly ask about.

List Always Subject to Change

All cruise travelers should be aware that prohibited items lists are continually being revised and updated, particularly as new technologies evolve or new items begin to cause difficulties.

For example, “cybersecurity and deliberate electronic crime equipment” is a relatively recent addition to Royal Caribbean’s prohibited list. Such equipment, including portable routers and doorbell cameras, did not exist years ago when the list was first created.

At the very top of the new list, in fact, Royal Caribbean notes that the list is fluid and always under review.

“Keep in mind – the ship’s security team may prohibit or confiscate any item they determine is not permissible onboard,” the cruise line explains.

Some items also have geographic restrictions. Cruise Hive has already reported that Mexico has banned public smoking and vapes, and Royal Caribbean has listed that ban and the possible consequences on the list.

Similarly, the restriction on camouflage clothing in Barbados is noted, as well as how ulu knives (very popular souvenirs on Alaska cruises) must be handled.

Cruisers should always double check the prohibited items list for their specific cruise line leading up to their sailing date in case of changes and updates. Otherwise their items could be confiscated or there could be other consequences that put a damper on their vacation.

Carnival Luminosa Shifts Itinerary to Steer Clear of Developing Storm

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Feb 27, 2026

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Carnival Luminosa Shifts Itinerary to Steer Clear of Developing Storm

Key Aspects:

Carnival Luminosa missed a visit to Vila, Vanuatu, due to a low-pressure weather system creating unsafe conditions.
The ship had a day at sea instead and will visit Lautoka, Fiji, a day early for smoother sailing.
It is possible the ship may be able to visit Vila later in the sailing if weather conditions improve.

Cruise travelers are accustomed to the Atlantic hurricane season through the summer and fall months, but in the South Pacific, the months from November through April are prime time for typhoons and challenging weather.

Guests aboard Carnival Luminosa are facing exactly that sort of concern at the moment, and their 11-night Fiji and South Pacific itinerary is being adjusted for the safest sailing.

Carnival Luminosa departed Brisbane on Sunday, February 22, for the sailing with visits planned in Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Caledonia. Brewing weather along the ship’s route, however, has made the planned itinerary to Vanuatu impossible to keep.

“There is a low-pressure weather system developing over Vanuatu and surrounding areas that we are closely monitoring,” a letter sent to guests onboard explained. “This system is expected to bring strong winds and swell to Vila, and as a result we have had to cancel our planned call there.”

While the weather system is not an official typhoon, it does not take anywhere near typhoon or hurricane intensity to impact cruise itineraries. Cruise Hive has frequently reported on skipped port visits due to winds and swells that make docking or tendering unsafe at ports all over the world.

Carnival Luminosa‘s visit to Vila was to have been on Thursday, February 26. Instead, the ship spent the day at sea en route to Fiji with more schedule changes ahead.

On the original itinerary, Friday was to have been a day at sea as the ship makes her way to Lautoka for Saturday’s visit. Instead, Carnival Luminosa will visit Lautoka a day early.

At this time, there are no changes to the remaining ports on the itinerary, including Dravuni on Sunday, March 1 and Noumea on Tuesday, March 3. Similarly, the ship’s return to Brisbane on Thursday, March 5 is unaffected.

Can Carnival Luminosa Get to Vila Another Day?

The ship’s master, Captain Vittorio Marchi, is hoping to visit Vila on an alternative day later in the sailing, though that cannot be confirmed until the weather patterns are more clear.

The situation is being closely monitored and the safety of the ship and everyone aboard is the highest priority. If the storm were to break up or move off favorably, Carnival Luminosa may yet be able to enjoy a visit to Vila.

In the meantime, any reservations guests have already booked through Carnival Cruise Line for shore excursions in Vila are being held just in case they are able to be moved to a revised date. If a new visit cannot be secured, the standard procedure is that those tours would be automatically cancelled and refunded.

Tours for Lautoka were already adjusted for the new visit date. It’s understandable that guests may be disappointed at the changes. It is always a cruise line’s hope to preserve the original itinerary, but safety must prevail.

Furthermore, cruise lines often consider the overall sailing experience and comfort of guests. Sailing into rough waters can create highly unpleasant onboard conditions, closing outer decks and cancelling entertainment performances.

By choosing a smoother path and adjusting the itinerary, Carnival Cruise Line is seeking to provide the best possible vacation for everyone onboard Carnival Luminosa. Hopefully, guests will be understanding of the changes and patient with such adjustments.

Carnival Issues New Itinerary Changes for Five Ships With Updated Port Lineups

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Feb 26, 2026

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Carnival Issues New Itinerary Changes for Five Ships With Updated Port Lineups

Key Aspects:

Carnival Cruise Line is tweaking select itineraries in late 2027 and early 2028 for five ships.
The impacted ships are Carnival Valor, Conquest, Miracle, Liberty, and Pride.
Changes include port swaps, shifted port visit times, and one completely changed itinerary.

Carnival Cruise Line is now reaching out to guests booked on five different ships to notify them of itinerary adjustments on select sailings. In total, nine different cruises are impacted, with sailing dates ranging from November 2027 through April 2028.

While the cruise line has not indicated any specific reason for the changes, it is not unusual for itineraries to have such minor changes as port schedules and sailing routes are refined. This is especially true when the ship in question does not set sail for more than a year.

Cruise Hive has previously reported on a variety of similar changes from Carnival Cruise Line impacting different ships from different homeports.

Carnival Valor

Three sailings aboard Carnival Valor are now changed. The Conquest Class ship, which can welcome 2,980 guests at double occupancy, is homeported in Mobile, Alabama, at the time of the adjusted cruises.

The November 13, 2027 itinerary will no longer visit Bimini, but will instead head for Key West. The 7-night Bahamas cruise will still visit Nassau and Celebration Key without changes to those destinations.

Carnival Valor Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: The Hungarian Sailor)

The very next sailing was also to have been a 7-night Bahamas cruise departing on November 20, 2027. That itinerary has been completely revised and will now be a Western Caribbean itinerary visiting Isla Tropicale on Roatan, followed by Belize and Cozumel.

The ship’s January 16, 2028 sailing has just a minor change with the port times adjusted for the visit to Celebration Key. That sailing is a 14-night Southern Caribbean itinerary, and the ship will now arrive at Celebration Key at noon on January 18 rather than 11 a.m. The ship’s departure at 7 p.m. is unchanged, and there are no further changes to the itinerary.

Carnival Conquest

Three sailings are being changed for Carnival Conquest, starting with the ship’s November 15, 2027 departure. Instead of visiting Celebration Key on the last day of the 4-night Bahamas sailing, the ship will be celebrating its visit on the third day of the itinerary, with a day at sea to finish the cruise.

The March 27, 2028 departure is similarly adjusted with Celebration Key moved from the last day to the second day of the sailing.

The ship’s April 10, 2028 departure is also changing a private destination day, but in this case for RelaxAway Half Moon Cay. During the 4-night cruise, Carnival Conquest will now visit Half Moon Cay on the very first full day, followed by a day at sea before arriving at Celebration Key.

For all three sailings, Carnival Conquest is homeported from Miami. She is a sister ship to Carnival Valor and can also welcome 2,980 guests.

Carnival Miracle

Just one sailing is tweaked for the Spirit Class Carnival Miracle while the ship is sailing from Baltimore in late 2027. The November 27 departure is an 8-night Bahamas cruise that will swap the planned days to visit Nassau and RelaxAway Half Moon Cay.

Fortunately, guests will still visit both destinations, though Carnival Miracle will now be departing Nassau at 4 p.m. rather than 5 p.m. as originally scheduled. The call to Celebration Key is unchanged.

Carnival Miracle can host 2,124 guests on every cruise when booked at double occupancy.

Carnival Liberty

Just one minor change is being made to Carnival Liberty‘s December 12, 2027 sailing. That 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary from New Orleans will now visit Cozumel before instead of after Belize, but the time of the visit is unchanged from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cruise will end with two days at sea rather than one because of the port day swap.

Carnival Liberty is a Conquest-class ship with the capacity to offer vacations to 2,980 guests on each cruise.

Carnival Pride

There is just one change for the Spirit Class Carnival Pride, impacting the ship’s January 2, 2028 departure. The 7-night Bahamas cruise from Baltimore is swapping the days to visit Nassau and RelaxAway Half Moon Cay.

Now, Carnival Pride will visit Nassau first on the itinerary, followed by Half Moon Cay. The visit to Celebration Key remains last on the schedule before the ship heads north again with her 2,124 travelers.

Cruise guests should always make sure they have provided their cruise line with updated contact information, just in case of such changes, particularly if they book well in advance of the sailing, and tweaks may be necessary.

MSC Poesia Undergoes Six-Week Refit Ahead of Alaska Season

MSC Cruises News

Donna Tunney

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Feb 26, 2026

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MSC Poesia Undergoes Six-Week Refit Ahead of Alaska Season

Key Aspects:

MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia is undergoing a major refit during a six-week dry dock.
Among the enhancements will be the addition of the MSC Yacht Club.
The renovation will be completed in time for the ship’s first Alaska season.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia entered dry dock on February 19, 2026, at Malta’s Palumbo Malta Shipyard, where several major enhancements are underway.

The renovation will last roughly six weeks, with the 2,550-guest ship scheduled to depart on her next cruise on April 6, 2026.

The most ambitious enhancements will be the addition of MSC Yacht Club, the ship-within-the-ship luxury area, featuring 69 suites, round-the-clock butler service, and other high-end amenities. Guests booking accommodations in the club will enjoy a private restaurant, lounge, and sundeck.

The ship will receive two specialty restaurants: Butcher’s Cut, an American steakhouse, and Kaito Sushi Bar, offering a variety of Asian specialties. Other improvements planned during the dry dock include a refreshed MSC Aurea Spa and fitness program, and a Top 15 Exclusive Solarium.

MSC Cruises has not revealed the stateroom or public areas that will be transformed into the MSC Yacht Club, nor has it put a dollar amount on the renovation, which was announced in September 2025.

However, MSC Cruises did say that the refit is part of the most extensive upgrade and refitting program undertaken by the line in a decade.

MSC Poesia‘s first cruise following dry dock departs on April 6, 2026. The 35-night Panama Canal voyage from Rome will end in Seattle, positioning the ship for her maiden Alaska season.

MSC Poesia Entering Malta Dry Dock (Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises)

The lengthy journey is available for booking in segments, too, giving cruisers opportunities for shorter sailings on the refurbished ship. These range, for example, from a 3-night getaway at the start of the cruise, from Rome to Barcelona, to an 18-night option where guests can join the ship during her call in Miami and remain onboard all the way to Seattle, where the cruise ends on May 11, 2026.

Several segments of varying lengths are offered and include multiple Caribbean destinations.

The Musica-class ship is the second in that class to have the yacht club added; MSC Magnifica underwent a similar renovation in late 2025 at the same shipyard.

First Alaska Season Promises Adventures For Guests

Once homeported in Seattle, MSC Poesia will sail 7-night voyages roundtrip from Seattle, calling at Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Juneau, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia. The voyages will also feature scenic cruising in Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm.

The cruise series will represent the first time that MSC Cruises has committed to a season in Alaska, and reflects the line’s growing presence in North America.

A series of nature-focused excursions is on tap for the line’s first visitors to the Last Frontier State. In Icy Strait Point, for instance, guests can book the Mountaintop Forest Excursion, featuring a gondola ride that takes them 1,500 feet from ground level, providing expansive views of forested areas.

In Ketchikan, cruisers can meet and interact with crab fishermen who fish the Bering Sea, and see and learn about marine life such as octopus and prawns. Following her Alaska debut, the ship will return to Miami and sail a series of winter voyages across the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas Just Hit a Key Construction Milestone

Royal Caribbean News

Donna Tunney

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Feb 26, 2026

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Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas Just Hit a Key Construction Milestone

Key Aspects:

A coin ceremony was held for Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas.
In maritime tradition, the event will bring good luck to a new vessel.
Legend of the Seas is due to enter service in July 2026.

Royal Caribbean’s third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, moved another step closer to launch by holding a coin ceremony, an event aimed at bringing good luck to the ship as she sails global itineraries.

The maritime tradition was held on February 25, 2026, at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where the 250,800-gross-ton ship is under construction. The ceremony involves placing a set of coins, usually silver, beneath the keel of the ship.

Meyer Turku revealed details of the ceremony in a social media post, noting that the coins are sealed inside a brass box and enclosed within the ship.

“Legend has entered the phase where the vessel is being finalized for delivery. The next major milestone in the project are the sea trials, preparations for which are now underway,” said Sami Kouvonen, project manager at Meyer Turku.

“The coin ceremony is one of our traditional practices which we want to honor and uphold,” added Kouvonen.

Legend of the Seas Coin Ceremony (Photo Credit: Meyer Turku)

Legend of the Seas, which follows Icon of the Seas (2024) and Star of the Seas (2025), has a capacity for 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew members. The ship is due to enter service in July 2026.

With completion of the ship just four months away, work is undoubtedly furiously under way at the shipyard, where the design and building of interior spaces are being finalized.

The outfitting stage for Legend of the Seas began with her float out in August 2025, when her hull touched water for the first time.

As the project manager noted, the next major event will be the ship’s sea trials, when key operational elements will be tested and evaluated. These systems include navigation, propulsion, and other technical programs, as well as safety measures.

Following sea trials, the ship will be formally delivered to Royal Caribbean, and onboard crew members will prepare for the first guests.

Maiden Season Offers Western Mediterranean Cruises

The ship’s maiden voyage is set for July 4, 2026. The 7-night cruise will operate roundtrip from Rome and call at Marseille, France; Barcelona and Palma De Mallorca, Spain; and La Spezia, Italy.

Legend of the Seas will sail Western Mediterranean cruises through late-October 2026 before the ship begins her inaugural transatlantic journey to Florida’s Port Everglades, for seasonal winter cruises to the Caribbean.

The ship’s maiden voyage in Europe has been twice pushed forward, thanks to the smooth construction process at Meyer Turku.

Originally set to launch on August 2, 2026, the debut was pushed ahead to July 11, with three cruises added during that month. In January 2026, the ship’s introduction jumped ahead again, by another week, and the July 4 voyage was announced.

Guests booked on the July 11 cruise were offered the chance to move their reservation to July 4 instead, since a ship’s maiden voyage is typically in high demand.

Icon-Class Attractions Will Suit All Ages

Guests booked to sail on all Legend of the Seas cruises will enjoy spectacular attractions, such as the Category 6 waterpark, the largest at sea, offering six thrilling slide rides. Crown’s Edge will tempt adventurers with high-altitude thrills, including a skywalk, ropes course, and zip line.

Indeed, Legend of the Seas was named the Most Anticipated New Ship in the 2026 Cruise Hive Awards. Like the other Icon-class ships, Legend of the Seas will feature eight themed neighborhoods: AquaDome, Central Park, Chill Island, Royal Promenade, Surfside, The Hideaway, and Suite Neighborhood.

A fourth Icon ship, as yet unnamed, is under construction. A fifth ship is on order, and Royal Caribbean has options in place for a sixth and seventh vessel.

Carnival Cruise Ship to Quit Year-Round Australia Sailings

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Feb 26, 2026

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Carnival Cruise Ship to Quit Year-Round Australia Sailings

Key Aspects:

Carnival Adventure will offer seasonal sailings from North America beginning in 2028.
The ship will no longer be homeported year-round in Australia but will still be Down Under for the Aussie summer.
There are no announced changes for the other three Carnival ships that sail in Australia and New Zealand.

Carnival cruise fans eager to sail new adventures will welcome the arrival of Carnival Adventure for her first time ever in North America in 2028.

Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the ship will leave her year-round deployment in Australia following her already released itineraries and will instead offer summer seasons in North America.

The news comes as a shock to the Australian cruise market, which is always looking for new and updated options. There is no word whether or not a different vessel might take Carnival Adventure‘s place Down Under.

Carnival Cruise Line cites “more favorable market conditions elsewhere” as one of the driving forces for the deployment change, along with “the uncertain regulatory environment in Australia and New Zealand.”

Cruise Hive has previously reported on several instances when cruise ships have been denied visits to ports in New Zealand due to hull contamination and similar circumstances. Because such ships are often homeported from Australia, the entire market is impacted when such incidents occur.

In the meantime, the global cruise market continues to expand. By shifting Carnival Adventure to another homeport, Carnival Cruise Line can capitalize on growing interest in different locations.

Worth Reading: Carnival Raises the Bar Down Under With New Homeports

“Carnival is adjusting its deployment to better capture greater opportunities elsewhere, while continuing to champion a more competitive and certain operating environment – matters we’ve long emphasized,” said Peter Little, Country Manager for Carnival Cruise Line.

Carnival Cruise Line is clear that its current commitment to Australia remains strong and there will be no change in already published deployment plans.

“It is business as usual with Carnival Cruise Line operating from more homeports across Australia and New Zealand in 2027/28 than ever before, so there are plenty of attractive itineraries for our guests,” said Little.

Roughly 400 voyages are already scheduled for the Australia market through spring and summer 2028. In total, the four ships Carnival Cruise Line has based in Australia will welcome roughly 1.2 million guests.

Carnival Adventure is scheduled for a diverse deployment with sailings from 3-16 nights from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Adelaide. Her last departure Down Under is a 3-night itinerary from Adelaide to Sydney with no ports of call, setting sail on March 14, 2028.

Carnival Encounter is homeported year-round from Brisbane with 3-15 night itineraries, while Carnival Splendor also sails year-round in Australia, offering 3-12 night sailings from Sydney.

Carnival Luminosa sails seasonally from Brisbane with 3-14 night cruises, but moves to San Francisco for the northern summer to offer both Mexican Riviera and Alaska itineraries. Her transpacific repositioning cruises are epic and offer a rare opportunity for Carnival cruise guests to set sail to Japan and Hong Kong.

Where Will Carnival Adventure Homeport in North America?

It has not yet been announced where Carnival Adventure may be homeported during her summers in North America.

It is possible the ship may offer Alaska or Mexico sailings similar to her fleetmate, Carnival Luminosa. With Alaska cruises growing ever more popular, Carnival Adventure might homeport in either Seattle or Vancouver for a full Alaskan season.

Long Beach would be another West Coast option. From there, the 109,000-gross-ton ship could offer a wide range of Mexican Riviera itineraries or even longer sailings to Hawaii.

A Caribbean deployment would mean Carnival Adventure would likely pass through the Panama Canal, but that would bring her to any number of homeports, from Texas to Louisiana to Alabama to Florida, and even up the east coast.

Wherever she sets sail, Carnival Adventure and the up to 2,600 guests she can welcome aboard are sure to have fine adventures with all the Carnival fun travelers enjoy.

Carnival Warns PortMiami-Bound Guests of Heavy Weekend Traffic

Carnival Cruise News

Catie Kovelman

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Feb 26, 2026

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Carnival Warns PortMiami-Bound Guests of Heavy Weekend Traffic

Key Aspects:

Carnival is warning soon-to-be guests of heavy traffic in PortMiami this weekend.
Three sailings will be impacted, including on Carnival Horizon, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Magic.
The traffic is related to a high number of ships arriving and construction taking place in and around the cruise port.

As one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, PortMiami is no stranger to heavy traffic.

Lately, Carnival Cruise Line has been issuing travel alerts for passengers embarking on sailings from the Florida port, and this coming weekend, February 28 to March 1, 2026, is expected to be another busy one.

“While you prepare for your cruise, we’d like to inform you that PortMiami will be operating with a high number of ships the day of your embarkation, amidst construction in the downtown area and within the port premises,” Carnival advised.

“Consequently, there will be detours and heavier-than-normal traffic in and around the area,” the alert noted.

Three Carnival ships could be impacted by the congested conditions, starting with Carnival Horizon on February 28. The 3,960-guest ship will embark on an 8-night Southern Caribbean voyage.

Carnival Celebration and Carnival Magic will be in the port the following day on March 1. The 5,362-guest Carnival Celebration will begin a 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyage, while its 3,690-guest fleet-mate will embark on a 6-night sailing to the Eastern Caribbean.

How Many Ships Will Be in PortMiami on February 28?

On February 28, a total of seven cruise ships will be in PortMiami for scheduled turnaround days.

In addition to Carnival Horizon, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas – the world’s largest cruise ship with room for a maximum of 7,600 passengers – will also be present.

Carnival Cruise Departing Miami (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze)

These ships will be joined by MSC Cruises’ MSC World America, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Pearl.

For context, PortMiami can accommodate around 10 to 13 cruise ships at once.

Last year, Cruise Hive reported that the South Florida hub broke its record for welcoming the most cruise passengers in a single day. On November 30, 2025, 75,201 passengers from ten cruise ships passed through the busy port.

How Many Ships Will Be in PortMiami on March 1?

The following day, March 1, will be even busier. Eight cruise ships are expected in Miami, including Carnival Celebration and Carnival Magic.

Royal Caribbean will have a healthy presence in the port, with Independence of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas expected. Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Beyond, which is a sister-brand to Royal Caribbean, will also be present.

Rounding out the list will be Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, MSC Cruises’ MSC Divina, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Aqua.

Why is the Traffic So Bad?

Avid cruisers know that PortMiami has struggled with congestion for years and may be wondering why the traffic now warrants early advisories and warnings.

The answer to this is that not only are thousands of cruise passengers navigating the massive cruise port, but there is construction taking place both in and around the port.

For example, Cruise Hive reported in January that Royal Caribbean broke ground on a new terminal, which is expected to open in late 2027.

Meanwhile, Downtown Miami has been undergoing a multi-phase development project focused on adding new residential towers, offices, and retail spaces. Infrastructure improvements, such as the creation of a new suspension bridge, are also in the works to improve connectivity.

While construction traffic may be frustrating, guests will need to take a deep breath and plan for delays. Guests are also advised to sign up for Carnival text alerts in case the cruise line needs to issue updates on embarkation day.

Carnival Cruise Line Drops Puerto Vallarta Amid Ongoing Unrest

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Feb 25, 2026

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Carnival Cruise Line Drops Puerto Vallarta Amid Ongoing Unrest

Key Aspects:

Carnival Cruise Line is cancelling all visits to Puerto Vallarta for the next few weeks.
Carnival Panorama was to have visited on March 3, but instead her itinerary has been adjusted.
The decision likely impacts all Carnival Corporation cruise lines, and no return date has been set.

Carnival Cruise Line has now become the fourth cruise line to cancel the popular port of call of Puerto Vallarta in the Mexican Riviera due to major unrest. In fact, the cruise line has gone a step further and, instead of cancelling just one call, it seems future visits are no longer an option for now.

Guests booked on the Saturday, February 28, 2026 departure of Carnival Panorama have received the news, including the open-ended nature of the cancellation.

“Our team has been closely monitoring the situation in Mexico and while the cruise industry has largely sailed itineraries as planned this week, Carnival Corporation has made the decision to wait a few weeks before returning to Puerto Vallarta,” the notification read.

This particular sailing of Carnival Panorama is an 8-night Mexican Riviera voyage leaving Long Beach on Saturday. Port visits were scheduled for Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas.

The ship will now be skipping the visit to Puerto Vallarta and another port visit is rearranged to accommodate the change. The visit to Cabo San Lucas will now be on Tuesday, March 3, instead of Friday, March 6, and Friday will now be a day at sea.

The adjusted schedule does give guests extra time in both Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. While the change in Mazatlan is just an extra 30 minutes, a full extra hour has been added in Cabo San Lucas, giving guests a great opportunity to better enjoy the beautiful resort city at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.

The letter notes that if guests have already booked shore tours through Carnival Cruise Line, those excursions will be cancelled and refunded to guests’ accounts if necessary or else readjusted to the new port visits.

While these changes are confirmed only for Carnival Panorama‘s February 28 departure, the ship does visit Puerto Vallarta on all of her 8-night itineraries. The cruise line has not indicated how many itineraries will be impacted, but the language that visits will now “wait a few weeks” does seem as if multiple sailings will be adjusted.

Individual adjustments will likely vary based on berth availability at other Mexican Riviera ports and Carnival should reach out to booked guests as changes for their cruises are confirmed.

The Vista-class ship’s 6-night sailings visit Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas and therefore need no adjusting. On each cruise, Carnival Panorama can welcome up to 5,146 guests and the cruise line will do everything possible to keep each one of them safe.

Why The Unrest and Why Cruise Lines are Cancelling

The recent violence follows the death of renowned drug cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera on February 22 in Tapalpa, roughly 105 miles away from Puerto Vallarta.

The US has Jalisco, the Mexican state where both Tapalpa and Puerto Vallarta are located, listed as a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping between cartels and gangs, where bystanders can easily be affected.

View Across to the Port (Photo Credit: Sumerdita_Dphots)

Unrest has spread to other parts of the country as well, and violent incidents can occur anywhere, including in tourist areas.

In addition to Carnival Cruise Line’s changes with respect to Puerto Vallarta, Cruise Hive has already reported on similar reactions by Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises.

Because the decision has been made not by Carnival Cruise Line individually but by Carnival Corporation, all cruise ships on other lines owned by Carnival will also likely cancel any upcoming visits to Puerto Vallarta for at least the next few weeks.

At this time, there is no confirmed date for when visits to Puerto Vallarta may resume. Cruise lines always keep safety as the top priority and are constantly monitoring local issues that might endanger their guests or crew members.

At this time, no other ports in Mexico are facing similar cancellations, though Carnival Cruise Line has proactively cancelled mainland shore excursions for ships visiting Cozumel. The Cozumel visits themselves are not cancelled, and all tours on the island continue to operate as normal.