Key Aspects:
- Carnival Splendor has cancelled its October 16, 2026 visit to Napier, New Zealand, due to unfavorable weather in the forecast.
- Instead, the ship will visit Tauranga one day earlier than planned, while the subsequent visit to Auckland has been extended into an overnight stay.
- Napier excursions booked through Carnival will be refunded while tours at other ports have been adjusted.
Guests aboard Carnival Splendor have received a major adjustment to their itinerary on the second day of sailing. Adverse weather in the forecast has led to a port cancellation and changes to two other ports of call.
The 3,012-passenger ship departed from Sydney, Australia on October 12, 2026 for a 10-night New Zealand sailing. This voyage was scheduled to call at Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, and the Bay of Islands before returning to Sydney on October 22.
On October 13, however, guests received a notice from Captain Mario Imbimbo explaining that unfavorable weather conditions in the forecast necessitated an itinerary adjustment. As a result, the scheduled October 16 call in Napier has been cancelled.
“A weather system that is forecast to bring unfavourable conditions is expected to impact the Napier area over the next few days,” the notice read. “With your safety and comfort in mind, we have made the decision to cancel our visit to Napier.”
Instead, Carnival Splendor will call at Tauranga one day early on October 16. At 11.5 hours in port, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the call at Tauranga is now 3.5 hours longer than the original 8-hour Napier call and half an hour longer than the original 11-hour Tauranga call on October 17.
Carnival Splendor will then continue to Auckland, arriving a day early on October 17 at 8:00 a.m. This port call has now become an overnight visit, staying until its original departure time of 6:30 p.m. on October 18.
This visit has more than tripled from its originally planned 10-hour-and-15-minute call. Guests will now have 34.5 hours to explore the New Zealand port.
The scheduled call in the Bay of Islands on October 19 remains unchanged, arriving at 7:00 a.m. and departing at 4:00 p.m. The return to Sydney on October 22 is likewise unchanged.
Carnival is also refunding Napier excursions booked through Carnival to guests’ Sail & Sign accounts. Tours scheduled for the original calls to Tauranga and Auckland have been adjusted to reflect the revised itinerary.
What Weather Led to the Change?
The notice sent to guests did not specify what weather conditions led to this change. However, forecasts for Hawkes bay on October 16 from MetService show swells rising to 4 meters with wind gusts up to 46 miles per hour.
Safe wind speeds for docking depend on the exact conditions at the particular port. Ultimately, whether an itinerary adjustment is necessary is up to the discretion of the ship’s captain.
Captain Imbimbo and Carnival’s Fleet Operations Center determined, in this case, that the conditions presented too much risk to continue as scheduled. In the notice sent to guests, the captain apologized for the change and expressed that the safety of those onboard is always a priority over maintaining the itinerary.
“I know you may be disappointed to miss our visit to Napier, and I am sorry the weather has disrupted our plans,” the notice said. “While these changes are never ideal, your safety must always come first.”
Carnival Splendor has faced difficulties with New Zealand weather before. In March 2026, Cruise Hive reported when guests aboard a similar 10-night New Zealand voyage aboard the ship were warned that weather in the region could impact their sailing.
The Concordia-class ship, which entered service in 2008, is based year-round out of Sydney. It offers regular 2- to 10-night sailings visiting destinations throughout Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu.
