Carnival Sunshine Drydocking in Europe

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The Carnival Sunshine is drydocking ahead of arriving at its new homeport in Norfolk, Virginia.

After completing a final cruise from Charleston earlier this month, the vessel started a trans-Atlantic crossing to France on January 4, 2025.

The Carnival Cruise Line ship was expected in Marseille for its shipyard stay on January 15, 2025.

During the routine drydock, the 2,964-guest ship will undergo technical maintenance, in addition to class work and general upkeep of its hotel spaces.

After the project, the 1996-built vessel is set to return to North America for a series of cruises departing from Norfolk starting in mid-February.

As part of its new deployment, the Carnival Sunshine is scheduled to sail from the Virginia homeport on a year-round basis, offering six- to eight-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

The Carnival Sunshine is also set to make regular visits to two of Carnival Corporation’s private destinations in the region: Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays.

After offering itineraries to Bermuda during the summer, the vessel adds visits to Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination, Celebration Key, in late September.

Originally built as the Carnival Destiny, the Sunshine underwent a major refurbishment project in 2013, which essentially rebuilt its interiors and public areas.

Carnival to Sail Roundtrip Cruise from Singapore in 2027

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Carnival Cruise Line is set to offer a roundtrip cruise from Singapore in 2027 as part of a series of newly announced itineraries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sailing onboard the new Carnival Adventure (currently the Pacific Adventure, pictured), the nine-night cruise will sail to Southeast Asia in late February 2027.

The itinerary features four first-time visits for Carnival, including Koh Samui and Laem Chabang (Bangkok) in Thailand, as well as Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Before returning to Singapore, the cruise is also scheduled to make a visit to Phy My, which serves as a getaway to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

During its short season in Southeast Asia, the Carnival Adventure offers a repositioning cruise from Sydney.

Sailing to Singapore, the 14-night cruise departs in late January 2027 and sails to destinations in Australia and Indonesia. Ports of call include Airlie Beach and Darwin, as well as Bali and Lombok.

As part of Carnival’s 2026-27 season in Asia-Pacific, the Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to offer cruises from Singapore and Japan as well.

Sailing in late 2026, the itineraries will sail to destinations in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia.

In October, the Carnival Luminosa is also scheduled to make the company’s first-ever visit to the port of Hong Kong.

Transferring from the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, the Carnival Adventure is scheduled to enter service for the Carnival Cruise Line in March 2025.

Originally built for Princess Cruises, the 2001-built vessel will be based in Australia and the Pacific Ocean on a full-time basis.

Before sailing to Southeast Asia, the Adventure offers year-round cruises departing from the Australian port of Sydney.

In addition to the Adventure, Carnival is welcoming its sister ship, the Carnival Encounter, to its fleet in March 2025.

The two ships join the company’s lineup in Australia, which currently includes two ships sailing from local homeports.

MSC USA: Readying for Big Moves

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“We’re excited about how the product is positioned in the U.S. market with very clear points of distinction, with our European style and American comfort, and how we bring that together,” said Lynn Torrent, executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Torrent said MSC had tweaked the product for U.S. passengers and was gaining ground on marketing and driving wider brand awareness ahead of the MSC World America’s arrival in Miami this spring.

“We’re expanding our U.S. deployment,” she continued. “We’re adding Galveston this year, a second ship in Port Canaveral and sailing to Alaska from Seattle in 2026.”

Much of the immediate focus has been revealing feature after feature on the new World America for her Miami-based deployment of week-long cruises. These include a new sports bar concept and a comedy club, in addition to the first Eataly at Sea concept which will feature dishes and cocktails only available on the World America.

A new terminal with shore power will be awaiting World America in Miami, and a second new terminal will be ready for the MSC Seascape in Texas.

“We’re investing significant yin marketing and trade sales support in Texas,” said Torrent.

More ships in the market mean MSC has the attention of travel advisors, said Torrent, and continues to enhance tools and training options. Travel agents can benefit from lunch-and-learn seminars, virtual training, and more. Torrent said the company had a lot of on-the-ground support for advisors in Texas.

While Torrent focuses heavily on North American deployed ships, the company is also busy sourcing guests for cruises in Europe and elsewhere.

“We have a significant offering in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, and the World Europa and Euribia have driven more interest. The Yacht Club is popular with American guests looking for a premium, unforgettable experience.”

2026 brings more deployment and more berths to the U.S. market, as MSC will debut in Alaska, with the Poesia offering a week-long program from May to September.

“Alaska is a marquee destination. It completes our global portfolio,” Torrent said. “We think there is a lot of demand globally for Alaska. There is significant momentum already.”

Excerpt from the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine Winter 2024-25