Carnival Adjusts Cruise Itineraries in 2025 and 2026 for Six Ships

Posted on 28 December, 2024 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival Cruise Line is adjusting itineraries for cruises set to take place onboard six ships in 2025 and 2026.

According to a statement sent to booked guests, 15 sailings onboard the Carnival Celebration, the Carnival Sunshine, the Carnival Vista, the Carnival Magic, the Carnival Sunrise and the Carnival Spirit saw minor changes.

Four sailings onboard the Carnival Celebration were adjusted, including the cruises scheduled to depart on March 23 and Nov. 16, 2025, which will now operate with a revised order of port visits.

The departures scheduled for Nov. 28, 2025, and Feb. 22, 2026, will see a visit to San Juan replaced with a stop in Amber Cove.

Onboard the Carnival Sunshine, the cruises set to depart on Nov. 9 and Nov. 15, 2025, will see Half Moon Cay replacing a previously scheduled visit to Bimini.

The vessel’s Dec. 13, 2025, cruise also saw an itinerary change, with a visit to Bimini replaced with Princess Cays.

A similar change was made to the Carnival Vista’s Nov. 15, 2025, departure, with Grand Turk replacing a previously scheduled visit to Half Moon Cay.

The Nov. 21, 2025, and Feb. 21, 2026, cruises onboard the Carnival Magic were also adjusted, with a visit to St. Croix replacing a previously scheduled call to St. Thomas.

The itinerary of the ship’s Nov. 29, 2025, departure was revised and is now scheduled to sail to Princess Cays instead of Half Moon Cay.

Three cruises onboard the Carnival Sunrise, which are scheduled to depart on Dec. 4 and Dec. 13, 2025, as well as Feb. 26, 2026, will visit Princess Cays instead of Half Moon Cay.

The Feb. 22, 2026, cruise onboard the Carnival Spirit was also adjusted and is now scheduled to sail to Nassau instead of Bimini.

According to Carnival, shore excursions purchased through the company will be automatically adjusted based on these changes.

For cancelled ports, the excursions will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment, the company added.

Key Ship Conversions in 2024

Posted on 28 December, 2024 by Spacejunkie2

2024 was a strong year for the drydock and secondhand ship market, which led to a number of ships debuting for new operators.

These are some of the key conversion jobs that took place during the year:

Celestyal Discovery
Former: AIDAaura
Capacity: 1,270 guests
Year built: 2003
Previous operator: AIDA Cruises
New operator: Celestyal Cruises
Debut: March 2024

After being sold by Carnival Corporation in late 2023, the former AIDAaura underwent a conversion project before debuting for Celestyal Cruises.

Previously operated by AIDA Cruises, the 2003-built vessel saw a complete transformation for its new market.

Carnival Firenze
Former: Costa Firenze
Capacity: 4,232 guests
Year built: 2020
Previous operator: Costa Cruises
New operator: Carnival Cruise Line
Debut: April 2024

After being transferred to Carnival Cruise Line, the former Costa Firenze underwent a major refit at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz in early 2024. In addition to receiving Carnival’s branding and livery, the 4,232-guest vessel was updated with Carnival’s public areas, with various spaces converted into the company’s trademark venues, such as the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and the Limelight Lounge.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander
Former: Costa Atlantica
Capacity: 2,100 guests
Year built: 2000
Previous operator: Adora Cruises (never debuted)
New operator: Margaritaville at Sea
Debut: June 2024

After a long refurbishment at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Northern Ireland, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander debuted for its new operator in June 2024.

Villa Vie Odyssey
Former: Braemar
Capacity: 977 guests
Year built: 1993
Previous operator: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
New operator: Villa Vie Residences
Debut: September 2024

The former Braemar of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines was turned into Villa Vie Residences’ first residential ship in 2024. After a refit at the Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, the ship emerged as the Odyssey in September, welcoming guests for a continual world cruise.

Aroya
Former: World Dream
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Year built: 2017
Previous operator: Dream Cruises
New operator: Aroya Cruises
Debut: December 2024

The Aroya entered service in December as the first cruise ship dedicated to the national market in Saudi Arabia.. According to Aroya Cruises, several venues onboard the ship were essentially rebuilt during a long conversion that included shipyard visits in the Netherlands and Germany.

Others:

Mitsui Ocean Fuji (former Seabourn Odyssey) – now in service for Mitsui Ocean Fuji
Celestyal Journey (former Pacific Aria) – now in service for Celestyal Cruises
Marella Voyager (former Mein Schiff Herz) – now in service for Marella Cruises
Ambition (former AIDAmira) – now in service for Ambassador Cruise Line
Resorts World One (former Explorer Dream) – now in service for Resorts World Cruises
Carnival Venezia (former Costa Venezia) – now in service for Carnival Cruise Line
Exploris One (former Silver Explorer) – now in service for Exploris Expeditions & Cruises

Carnival Salutes America’s 250th on 10 Sailings

Posted on 27 November, 2024 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled details about 10 sailings for 2026 that will commemorate America’s 250th birthday.

The sailings comprise ship meetups and unique patriotic experiences, the line announced in a press release.

The cruises include itineraries ranging from three to eight days. They will sail from six homeports: Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, New York City, Long Beach, and San Francisco.

On July 4, 2026, America’s 250th birthday, seven ships sailing from east coast homeports will meet up near Celebration Key for a celebration at sea, while three ships will unite off the west coast near Ensenada.

During the meetups, each ship will host patriotic birthday-themed deck parties. The cruises will also feature patriotic entertainment and food and drink offerings.

“We’re America’s cruise line, and we’re commemorating this milestone in a big way! Uniting our ships will multiply the fun and make America’s 250th birthday even more memorable for guests who celebrate at sea,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

From the East Coast, guests can choose from short getaways that include sailings on the Carnival Conquest or the Carnival Glory, both departing on July 3, 2026. These will offer three-day escapes to Celebration Key at Grand Bahama from Miami and Port Canaveral respectively.

Departing July 2, 2026, the Carnival Sunrise will sail a four-day Bahamas cruise from Miami, and the Carnival Elation will sail to the Bahamas on a four-day cruise from Jacksonville.

Guests looking for a longer sailing can select a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Celebration from Miami, departing on June 28, 2026. They will visit Celebration Key, Nassau, Amber Cove and Grand Turk.

An eight-day Eastern Caribbean sailing on Carnival Vista from Port Canaveral, departing on June 27, 2026 – calling at San Juan and St. Thomas – is also available.

For northeastern guests, the Carnival Venezia will leave New York City on July 1, 2026, for an eight-day cruise that visits Celebration Key, Nassau, and Half Moon Cay.

Guests can join the celebration from the West Coast with three cruise options departing from California.

On July 3, 2026, the Carnival Firenze will sail a three-day Baja Mexico cruise from Long Beach over the July 4th weekend, while the Carnival Luminosa sails a four-day option, departing July 2, 2026, from San Francisco. Each feature stops in Ensenada.

On June 30, 2026, the Carnival Radiance will sail a five-day Mexican Riviera cruise from Long Beach, visiting Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. The three ships will also unite at sea on July 4, 2026.