Carnival Sunrise Sets 70+ Bahamas Cruises From Miami for 2027-28

Carnival Cruise Line has published its 2027-28 deployment for Carnival Sunrise from PortMiami, keeping the ship on a short-cruise schedule to The Bahamas starting May 6, 2027.

The program centers on four- to six-day itineraries that regularly call at Carnival’s private destinations Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, with the season running through spring 2028. Carnival said bookings are now open for the newly announced sailings.

Short Bahamas cruises built around private-destination stops

Across the 2027-28 season, Carnival Sunrise is slated to operate more than 70 departures from PortMiami. Many itineraries pair stops at Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay with an additional call at Nassau, creating a rotation that mixes private-destination days with a major port stop in The Bahamas.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, framed the deployment around both the Miami homeport and the destination mix.

“Miami has long been a premier departure point for Carnival guests,” Duffy said. “With Celebration Key and RelaxAway now part of our 2027/28 sailings, guests can create two of the premier beach destinations in the Caribbean while enjoying some of The Bahamas’ most beautiful destinations.”

What Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay offer

Carnival’s updated itinerary lineup highlights two private destinations positioned as distinct experiences. Celebration Key, launched in 2025, is designed around a high-energy, resort-style atmosphere with themed zones, restaurants, and entertainment facilities.

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is positioned as a quieter alternative focused on tranquility, with serene beaches, private cabanas, and classic island experiences. Carnival has renamed its 2,400-acre Half Moon Cay destination under the RelaxAway branding, and the company has said the site is undergoing a comprehensive revamp aimed at emphasizing a more natural, peaceful environment.

Two six-day sailings anchor Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks

While the core program focuses on shorter Bahamas getaways, Carnival Sunrise is also scheduled to operate two six-day cruises timed for Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2027. Each includes Celebration Key plus additional ports outside The Bahamas.

• Thanksgiving cruise (Nov. 22, 2027): Celebration Key, Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands), and Montego Bay (Jamaica).
• Christmas cruise (Dec. 20, 2027): Celebration Key, Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), and Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos Islands).

Ship profile, Miami role, and a refit that reshaped the vessel

Carnival Sunrise is a 101,509-gross-ton ship with a stated passenger capacity of 2,984. The 2027-28 deployment extends the ship’s Miami presence through April 2028, as Carnival continues to operate multiple vessels from PortMiami, including Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Magic.

The ship previously sailed as Carnival Triumph and is closely associated with the widely publicized 2013 “poop cruise,” when an engine-room fire left thousands of passengers stranded at sea. Carnival later invested $200 million to refurbish and reposition the ship, sending it to dry dock in Cádiz, Spain, on March 1, 2019, for a bow-to-stern overhaul before re-entering service as Carnival Sunrise within the line’s Sunshine Class.

The refit added eight new restaurants and four bars, along with features that included a suspended ropes course, a waterpark, an expanded spa, youth and teen facilities, and redesigned staterooms. At the time of the relaunch, Duffy said, “The introduction of Carnival Sunrise will provide our guests with an array of exciting dining, bar, and entertainment choices,” describing the work as part of the company’s wider ship-enhancement effort.

Corporate footprint in South Florida

Beyond ship deployments, Carnival Corporation has also pointed to a larger South Florida presence, including plans announced in 2025 to relocate its North America shoreside teams to a centralized campus near Miami International Airport.

Carnival Sunrise’s 2027-28 schedule begins May 6, 2027, and runs through spring 2028, with the two late-2027 holiday cruises providing longer options within a season otherwise built around short Bahamas itineraries that feature Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When do Carnival Sunrise cruises from PortMiami start for the 2027-28 season?

The schedule begins May 6, 2027, with four- to six-day itineraries sailing from PortMiami.

What are the two special holiday itineraries for Carnival Sunrise in 2027?

The ship will sail a six-day Thanksgiving cruise on Nov. 22, 2027, visiting Celebration Key, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay, and a six-day Christmas cruise on Dec. 20, 2027, visiting Celebration Key, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.

How many sailings will Carnival Sunrise complete during the 2027-28 season, and how long does the deployment run?

Carnival Sunrise is scheduled to operate more than 70 departures during the newly announced program, which runs through spring 2028 and extends the ship’s Miami schedule through April 2028.

What amenities were added during the Carnival Sunrise refurbishment?

Carnival’s $200 million refit added eight new restaurants and four bars, along with a suspended ropes course, a waterpark, an expanded Cloud 9 Spa, youth and teen facilities, and redesigned staterooms.

How does RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay differ from Celebration Key?

RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is positioned as a quieter, more natural beach escape with serene beaches and private cabanas, while Celebration Key is designed as a higher-energy, resort-style destination with themed zones, restaurants, and entertainment facilities.