Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed the expansion of its presence in Australia with four ships in 2026-27 after the P&O Cruises Australia brand is absorbed.
Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter – transferring to the fleet with the closure of the locally-based sister line in March 2025 – will join Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa sailing from Sydney and Brisbane.
Destinations include Moreton Island, the South Pacific and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Carnival Splendor will offer itineraries ranging from two to 12 days from Sydney. Four-day cruises include calls at Moreton Island and five and six-day cruises will visit Tasmania, taking in Hobart and Port Arthur.
The ship will offer additional longer sailings, including 10-day New Zealand itineraries with multiple departures, taking in ports such as Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch) and Dunedin, along with cruising in Fiordland National Park.
Carnival Adventure will also sail from Sydney on two to 12-day itineraries, visiting Moreton Island and the Great Barrier Reef. A 12-day sailing to Fiji, departing April 2027, will call at Lautoka and Dravuni Island.
Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor will offer cruises to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most popular horse race.
Carnival Luminosa will sail from Brisbane on three to 14-day itineraries. A six-day Great Barrier Reef cruise will visit Airlie Beach and Cairns.
Carnival Encounter, also operating from Brisbane, will cover destinations in the South Pacific and Great Barrier Reef regions.
Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning at Carnival, said: “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.
“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 destinations – all showcasing the diverse beauty of the South Pacific.”