Carnival Adds Adelaide and Auckland Homeports for 2027-28

Carnival Cruise Line has detailed an expanded Australia and New Zealand program for the 2027-2028 season that adds two new homeport cities, Adelaide and Auckland, alongside its established year-round bases in Sydney and Brisbane.

The 12-month schedule spans more than 200 cruises across four ships, visiting 39 destinations, with Carnival projecting more than 500,000 guests over the season. Carnival Corporation & plc Country Manager Peter Little said the company will remain “the only global cruise line committed to sailing in this region year-round.”

The plan follows Carnival Cruise Line’s merger with P&O Cruises Australia in March 2025, which positioned the brand as the primary Carnival operator in the region.

2027-2028 program snapshot: ships, homeports and scale

• Homeports: Five cities are scheduled to host departures, with Sydney and Brisbane operating year-round and seasonal homeporting in Auckland, Melbourne and Adelaide.
• Ships: Carnival Adventure, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Encounter and Carnival Luminosa are slated to operate across the network, with Carnival Adventure rotating among the most ports.
• Itineraries and reach: The season includes more than 200 cruises calling at 39 destinations across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, with Carnival forecasting more than 500,000 guests.

New homeports in Adelaide and Auckland, plus a return to Melbourne

Carnival’s new homeport seasons in Adelaide and Auckland are set to broaden access for local travellers, while Melbourne re-enters the deployment after an eight-year gap. Little said, “Carnival has answered the call from our interstate and New Zealand guests who have been asking for more opportunities to book a convenient and great value cruise holiday. We are delighted to be offering voyages from Adelaide, Melbourne, and Auckland alongside our traditional ports of Sydney and Brisbane.”

In Adelaide, the announcement drew a local reaction from Adelaide resident and grandmother Shirley Van Hout, described as a Carnival fan. “When I heard the news, I was ecstatic,” she said, adding that homeporting in Adelaide provides easier access to cruise holidays.

Melbourne’s return is tied to the movements of Carnival Adventure: after the ship completes a dry dock in March 2027, it is scheduled to homeport in Melbourne starting in early 2028, with an additional Melbourne season also confirmed for 2028.

Carnival Adventure’s rotating schedule across four homeports

Carnival Adventure is the ship that shifts most frequently in the 2027-2028 plan, appearing in Auckland, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. The ship is listed at 108,865 gross tons and is designed to carry 2,600 guests per sailing.

Auckland: May to July 2027

Carnival Adventure’s Auckland season begins in May 2027 and totals nine departures. The lineup includes a new four-night itinerary to Norfolk Island, plus longer nine- and 10-night sailings to Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

The Auckland deployment is scheduled to finish with a four-night one-way sailing to Sydney departing July 29, 2027.

Melbourne: starting January 31, 2028

Beginning January 31, 2028, Carnival Adventure is scheduled to homeport in Melbourne with a mix of short getaways. These include two- and three-night cruises, along with four-night itineraries that feature Kangaroo Island.

The Melbourne season is set to include eight departures and conclude with a two-night one-way sailing from Melbourne to Adelaide departing February 25, 2028.

Adelaide: February to March 2028

Carnival Adventure’s inaugural Adelaide homeport season follows in late February 2028, with five departures ranging from two to four nights, plus a five-night South Australia coastal itinerary calling at Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln.

The Adelaide program is scheduled to end with a three-night one-way voyage from Adelaide to Sydney departing March 14, 2028.

Sydney: from March 2028

After the Adelaide season, Carnival Adventure is slated to join the Sydney schedule, sailing alongside Carnival Splendor and expanding the range of departures available from the city.

Sydney year-round: Carnival Splendor, with themed and event-linked sailings

Sydney remains a year-round base, anchored by Carnival Splendor, which Carnival describes as its largest ship deployed in Australia. The ship is listed at 113,600 gross tons with capacity for 3,012 guests.

Depending on departure date, the Sydney program includes short sailings of two or three nights and longer holidays that extend up to 14 nights, with scheduled ports including Eden, Tasmania, Moreton Island, Noumea, Port Vila and Mystery Island, as well as other South Pacific calls such as Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Notable options include a six-night Melbourne Cup cruise, a 12-night Fiji and South Pacific itinerary, and a 14-night “Mutiny on the Bounty & Fiji” sailing.

Brisbane year-round: Carnival Encounter, with Carnival Luminosa adding summer capacity

Brisbane is Carnival’s other year-round hub, led by Carnival Encounter, which is listed with capacity for 2,600 guests. The schedule includes three-night getaways and four-night itineraries that can include Airlie Beach, along with longer voyages such as six- and seven-night Great Barrier Reef trips and eight- and nine-night sailings to the South Pacific.

The Brisbane plan also includes longer itineraries reaching Fiji and Papua New Guinea, including a 10-night Papua New Guinea cruise and a 14-night “Mutiny on the Bounty & Fiji” sailing.

One of the new itinerary features highlighted for the season is a nine-night Tasmania sailing from Brisbane, calling at Hobart, Port Arthur and Eden and including scenic cruising in Great Oyster Bay.

Carnival Luminosa’s seasonal moves, including long transpacific voyages

Carnival Luminosa, listed at 92,720 gross tons with capacity for 2,260 guests, is scheduled to operate seasonally from Brisbane during the Australian summer. The ship is also set to reposition to Alaska in winter, with 22- and 23-night transpacific cruises as it moves between regions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which homeports will Carnival use in Australia and New Zealand in 2027-2028?

The 2027-2028 program lists five homeports: Sydney and Brisbane year-round, plus seasonal homeporting in Auckland, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Which ships are part of Carnival’s 2027-2028 Australia and New Zealand program?

The deployment includes four ships: Carnival Adventure, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Encounter and Carnival Luminosa.

Which ship will be homeported in Adelaide and Auckland, and when?

Carnival Adventure is scheduled to homeport in Auckland from May to July 2027 and in Adelaide from February to March 2028.

What is new in the Brisbane program for 2027-2028?

Carnival is introducing a nine-night Tasmania itinerary from Brisbane that includes calls at Hobart, Port Arthur and Eden, along with scenic cruising in Great Oyster Bay.

The first sailings under the expanded homeport plan are scheduled to begin from Auckland in May 2027, followed by Carnival Adventure’s Melbourne season starting January 31, 2028 and the ship’s first Adelaide departures in late February 2028, before it shifts to Sydney in March.