Carnival Miracle Drops Santorini for Crete Stop on Oct. 2027 Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line is adjusting the itineraries of two Carnival Miracle Mediterranean cruises in October 2027, replacing a scheduled call in Santorini, Greece, with a visit to Souda Bay on Crete.

The changes apply to the ship’s Oct. 16 and Oct. 26, 2027 departures, which are 10-night roundtrip sailings from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Carnival notified booked guests of the update in late March 2026 and said it also revised port times in Souda Bay and Kusadasi, Turkey.

What’s changing on the October 2027 Carnival Miracle sailings

Both sailings are swapping Santorini for Souda Bay (often marketed as Souda/Chania). In its guest communication, Carnival characterized the update as minor: “We have made slight adjustments to your itinerary,” the cruise line wrote, adding that Santorini was replaced by Souda (Chania), Crete, and that port times for Souda and Kusadasi were modified.

• Oct. 16, 2027: Santorini replaced by Souda Bay (Chania), Crete
• Oct. 26, 2027: Santorini replaced by Souda Bay (Chania), Crete

Aside from the port swap and adjusted hours in port, the broader routing through Greece, Turkey, and Italy remains intact.

What stays the same on the 10-night itinerary

Carnival Miracle’s remaining scheduled stops on the two affected cruises are continuing as planned. Ports that remain part of the itinerary include:

• Mykonos, Greece
• Piraeus (Athens), Greece
• Katakolon, Greece
• Naples, Italy
• Kusadasi, Turkey

Souda Bay added as a gateway to Chania

Souda Bay is a port on Crete commonly used as a gateway to Chania. Carnival described the substitution as a slight adjustment, and the stop gives guests an alternative to Santorini, with access to Chania’s historic areas known for a Venetian harbor and medieval architecture.

Shore excursions, refunds, and updated port times

Carnival said shore excursions tied to the removed Santorini call would be handled automatically. For guests who pre-purchased Carnival-sponsored tours for Santorini, the cruise line said those excursions will be canceled and refunded to the original form of payment. Carnival also indicated new shore excursion options for Souda Bay would be offered for purchase.

The cruise line did not publish revised arrival and departure times for Souda Bay and Kusadasi in the guest notice shared in coverage. Carnival told guests the updated schedule would be reflected on its website and in the Carnival Hub app within 24 hours of the notice.

No reason given for dropping Santorini, but broader pressures remain

Carnival did not provide a reason for removing Santorini from the two October 2027 sailings.

Still, Santorini has faced measures aimed at managing cruise traffic. In 2025, Greece imposed a daily cap of 8,000 cruise passengers in Santorini to address overtourism. Seasonal cruise passenger taxes have also applied to Santorini since 2022, ranging from €12 to €20 (about $13 to $23) per visitor, according to the reporting. Another factor sometimes discussed around the destination is seismic activity; an earthquake swarm affected Santorini in 2025, though reporting said activity has since normalized and Carnival has not indicated tectonic events as a factor in its itinerary change.

How the updated cruises fit into Carnival Miracle’s 2027 Europe deployment

The two adjusted sailings are part of Carnival Miracle’s broader 2027 Europe season. The Spirit-class ship is scheduled to reposition to Europe for summer operations after sailing from Galveston during the 2026-27 winter season.

Beginning in May 2027, Carnival Miracle is set to operate eight- to 12-night itineraries to the British Isles, the Baltic, and Western Europe from Dover, United Kingdom. In September, the ship is scheduled to move south to sail Western and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries from Civitavecchia, including the two October cruises that now feature Souda Bay in place of Santorini.

After the Europe season, Carnival Miracle is scheduled to return to North America in mid-November to sail Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from Baltimore.

For guests booked on the Oct. 16 and Oct. 26 departures, Carnival’s guidance is to watch for updated port hours in its digital tools and for new Souda Bay shore excursions to appear for booking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Carnival Miracle cruises are affected by the itinerary change?

The affected sailings are the 10-night Carnival Miracle cruises departing Oct. 16, 2027, and Oct. 26, 2027, sailing roundtrip from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.

What changed on the itinerary, and what stayed the same?

On both sailings, Carnival replaced Santorini with Souda Bay (Chania), Crete. Carnival also adjusted port times for Souda Bay and Kusadasi, Turkey, while the rest of the itinerary’s listed ports (including Mykonos, Piraeus, Katakolon, Naples, and Kusadasi) remain scheduled.

What happens to shore excursions booked for Santorini?

Carnival said Santorini shore excursions purchased through the cruise line will be canceled and refunded to the original form of payment. The cruise line also said shore excursions for Souda Bay are expected to become available for purchase.

Did Carnival explain why it removed Santorini from these sailings?

No. Carnival did not give a reason for dropping Santorini in its notice to guests. Reporting noted broader context around Santorini, including Greece’s 8,000-passenger daily cap imposed in 2025 and seasonal passenger taxes ranging from €12 to €20 since 2022, but Carnival has not cited any specific factor for this change.

What is Carnival Miracle scheduled to do in Europe in 2027?

Carnival Miracle is scheduled to sail in Northern Europe beginning in May 2027 from Dover, then shift to Western and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries from Civitavecchia starting in September 2027. The ship is slated to return to North America in mid-November to sail from Baltimore on Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.