Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line will homeport four different ships in Australia and New Zealand in 2027-2028.
- Homeports include Auckland, Melbourne, and Adelaide seasonally plus Sydney and Brisbane year-round.
- Carnival Adventure, Encounter, Luminosa, and Splendor will all offer different itineraries and destinations.
Australia can be a dream cruise destination not only for Aussies eager for a vacation, but for travelers worldwide who want to explore Down Under with the ease and convenience of a cruise ship. Now, eager cruisers are getting even more options in Australia.
Carnival Cruise Line will be offering more cruises than ever before in Australia with the 2027-2028 season featuring four ships and five different homeports in Australia and New Zealand.
This includes the first time ever ships will be homeported from Adelaide and Auckland, offering unique and immersive itineraries all travelers can enjoy. In total, more than 200 sailings will be offered, visiting a total of 39 unique destinations.
“Carnival is sailing from five homeports in Australia and New Zealand in 2027/28 and we remain the only global cruise line committed to sailing in this region year-round,” said Peter Little, Carnival Corporation & plc Country Manager.
“Carnival Cruise Line has answered the call from our interstate and New Zealand guests who’ve been asking for more opportunities to book a convenient and great value cruise holiday, and we’re delighted to be offering voyages from Adelaide, Melbourne and Auckland as well as our traditional ports of Sydney and Brisbane.”
When all itineraries are combined, the four ships – Carnival Adventure, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Encounter, and Carnival Luminosa – will be able to welcome more than half a million guests to Australian and New Zealand adventures during their various deployments.
Carnival Adventure
Carnival Adventure will offer the most diverse options for cruise guests, homeporting from four different cities in different seasons.
- Auckland – Guests can enjoy 4-, 9-, and 10-night sailings from the largest city in New Zealand, visiting destinations such as Norfolk Island, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia from May-July 2027.
- Melbourne – At the end of January 2028, Carnival Adventure will homeport from Melbourne for a month with a total of eight sailings ranging from 2-4 nights, the ideal quick getaways for relaxing fun.
- Adelaide – The ship will spend just three weeks sailing from Adelaide with five total departures from 2-5 nights. These short breaks will offer great exploration of the South Australia coast.
- Sydney – Carnival Adventure will begin service from Sydney in March 2028, joining Carnival Splendor to offer a distinctly different experience for eager cruise guests from the most populous city in Australia.
The 108,865-gross-ton ship can welcome 2,600 guests per sailing and is sure to be popular for back-to-back cruises with such diverse offerings.
Carnival Splendor
The 113,600-gross-ton Carnival Splendor (with her, ahem, shall we say “vibrant” pink polka dot decor) will continue sailing year-round from Sydney with a diverse selection of itineraries.
Guests can choose sailings from 3-10 nights, whether they are interested in quick getaways or longer, more laid-back voyages. Depending on the departure date, popular ports of call include Eden, Tasmania, Moreton Island, Noumea, Port Vila, Mystery Island, and more.
Worth Reading: A Month of Carnival Adventure Cruises Cancelled
Of special interest will be the unique Melbourne Cup cruise to celebrate the 3,200-meter thoroughbred horse race, one of the most popular spectator events in Australia.
Other unique sailings aboard Carnival Splendor include a 12-night and a 14-night Fiji voyage, the latter of which has a fun “Mutiny on the Bounty” theme.
The largest Carnival ship based in Australia, Carnival Splendor can welcome 3,012 guests on every sailing.
Carnival Encounter
Sailing year-round from Brisbane, Carnival Encounter also offers a diverse mix of itinerary options. Shorter 3- and 4-night sailings are either cruise-to-nowhere getaways or may visit Airlie Beach for a bit of vacation vibe.
Longer sailings include 6- and 7-night itineraries to the Great Barrier Reef, as well as 8- and 9-night offerings with different calls in the South Pacific. Even longer 10- and 14-night cruises will reach Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Of special note is a brand new 9-night Tasmania itinerary that will feature visits to Hobart, Port Arthur, and Eden, along with scenic cruising in Great Oyster Bay.
Sister ship to Carnival Adventure, Carnival Encounter can also welcome 2,600 guests on every cruise.
Carnival Luminosa
The unique Carnival Luminosa will sail seasonally from Brisbane in the summer (after spending the winter seasons much further north for the Alaskan summer), splitting the itinerary options with Carnival Encounter. This will give guests even more choices for their cruise experience from the capital of Queensland.
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And don’t miss the epic sailings as the ship moves between Alaska and Australia – immense voyages that are once-in-a-lifetime adventures for any cruise fanatic! These 22- and 23-night transpacific cruises are not to be missed.
The 92,720-gross-ton ship can welcome 2,260 guests on every voyage.
