Carnival Cruise Line has plenty happening in 2027, with new ships, new destinations and some big changes that could affect your next cruise.
Some of these plans have already been confirmed, while others are developments that began in 2026 and will really start to make a difference in 2027. And with Carnival continuing to announce new ships, itineraries and destination upgrades, there could still be more to come.
So if you’re planning a Carnival cruise in 2027, here are the biggest changes to know about so far.
1. Carnival Festivale Will Launch in 2027
Carnival’s biggest new arrival in 2027 will be Carnival Festivale, the fourth ship in the cruise line’s Excel Class.
She’s due to enter service in May 2027 and will sail from Port Canaveral, offering mainly six and eight-night Caribbean cruises. Every sailing will also include a visit to Celebration Key.
But Carnival Festivale won’t simply be another version of Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee. She’ll have several new features of her own, with a particularly big focus on families and music.
One of the biggest additions will be Sunsation Point, home to Carnival WaterWorks Ultra. Carnival says this will be its largest waterpark at sea, with six waterslides, two splash areas and the first family raft rides on a Carnival ship.
There’ll be plenty of new food and drink too, including new restaurants and bars as part of Carnival’s wider Next Course dining changes.
Carnival Festivale is scheduled to begin sailing from Port Canaveral on 19 May 2027, making her easily one of the biggest Carnival changes to look forward to next year.
2. Carnival Sunshine Is Heading to Europe and Africa
Carnival Sunshine is heading across the Atlantic in 2027, with a season of European cruises planned between May and October.
She’ll sail from Dover, Barcelona and Civitavecchia, with itineraries visiting destinations across the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
But the really interesting addition is Africa. Carnival Sunshine will make the cruise line’s first-ever visits to the continent, with calls in both Morocco and Tunisia.
There’s also a special solar eclipse cruise departing from Barcelona on 25 July 2027. The itinerary includes eclipse viewing at sea on 2 August, along with visits to destinations in France, Italy, Malta and Tunisia.
After completing her European season, Carnival Sunshine will cross the Atlantic to Miami before moving to Galveston, where she’ll begin sailing from Texas in November 2027.
For anyone who likes Carnival but wants something a little different from its usual Caribbean cruises, 2027 will bring some much more unusual options.
3. Mardi Gras Will Start Sailing Short Cruises
Mardi Gras is getting a big itinerary change in 2027, with Carnival putting the ship on short cruises for the first time.
From May 2027, she’ll begin sailing four and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral, rather than focusing on the week-long itineraries she’s been known for.
The cruises will head to the Bahamas, with visits to Carnival destinations including Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.
It also means you’ll be able to experience one of Carnival’s biggest ships without committing to a full week onboard. Mardi Gras has attractions including the BOLT roller coaster, WaterWorks and a huge choice of restaurants and bars, so there’s a lot to squeeze into a shorter sailing.
The new programme begins on 22 May 2027, just days after the brand-new Carnival Festivale starts sailing from the same port.
4. Carnival Is Making Some Big Homeport Changes
Carnival is moving several ships around in 2027, giving cruisers some new options from ports across the US.
Carnival Dream will return to New Orleans in May 2027, sailing from the city for the first time since 2019. She’ll offer six and eight-night Caribbean cruises alongside Carnival Liberty, which will continue sailing shorter itineraries.
From May 2027, Carnival Valor will begin sailing year-round from Mobile, giving Carnival a year-round presence at the Alabama port.
Baltimore will also get a second Carnival ship, with Carnival Miracle joining Carnival Pride for a series of cruises from autumn 2027.
There are changes in Florida and New York too. Carnival Firenze will temporarily move from Long Beach to Miami in early 2027 before spending the summer sailing from New York.
It’s quite a reshuffle, and it means cruisers in several parts of the US will have different Carnival ships and itineraries to choose from in 2027.
5. Carnival Will Sail From Auckland for the First Time
Carnival is heading somewhere new in 2027, with the cruise line planning its first-ever season sailing from Auckland, New Zealand.
Carnival Adventure will be based there from May to July 2027, offering a choice of cruises to destinations across the South Pacific.
The itineraries will include visits to Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, giving New Zealand cruisers the chance to sail with Carnival without having to travel to Australia first.
Carnival Adventure will also undergo a dry dock before the season begins, returning to service in March 2027 with refreshed spaces and some new features onboard.
It’s part of a wider expansion for Carnival in Australia and New Zealand, with the cruise line offering more departure ports across the region during its 2027-28 season.
6. Carnival Will Celebrate Its 55th Birthday at Sea
Carnival Cruise Line turns 55 in 2027, and it’s planning some special celebrations to mark the occasion.
Eleven cruises will take part in three ship meetups at sea, bringing Carnival ships together near Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in March 2027.
The celebrations will include special entertainment and activities onboard, with the ships meeting at sea giving passengers something you wouldn’t normally see on a Carnival cruise.
The first meetup is planned for 9 March, followed by two more on 10 and 13 March. In total, 11 cruises will take part in the celebrations.
So if you’re considering a Carnival cruise in March 2027, it might be worth checking the dates before you book if you fancy being part of the birthday celebrations.
7. Carnival Is Launching Its First Dedicated Hawaii Cruise Series
Carnival is making Hawaii a much bigger part of its schedule in 2027, with its first dedicated series of cruises to the islands.
From October 2027, Carnival Legend will sail a series of 14-night Carnival Journeys cruises from Long Beach, with 10 Hawaii sailings planned through 2028.
The itineraries will visit several Hawaiian islands, with calls at Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo and Nawiliwili. They’ll also include a stop in Ensenada, Mexico.
Carnival has offered cruises to Hawaii before, but these have generally been occasional longer voyages rather than a dedicated programme like this.
It gives West Coast cruisers a new way to visit Hawaii with Carnival, without having to fly to the islands to start their cruise.
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Final Thoughts
There’s plenty happening for Carnival cruisers in 2027, and this time there’s a brand-new ship leading the way.
Carnival Festivale will be the biggest arrival, bringing new attractions, food and entertainment to the fleet. But there are changes elsewhere too, with new homeports, new itineraries and more ways to cruise with Carnival from different parts of the world.
And there could still be more to come. I’ll keep this article updated as Carnival announces more changes for 2027, so check back as we get closer to the new year.
