Carnival Cruise Line to reduce Australian fleet by 2028

Carnival Cruise Line has announced it will reduce its year-round Australian fleet from four ships to two by March 2028. The company will withdraw the Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure from the local market as part of its long-term global fleet planning.

The Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to make its final voyage from Sydney on 15 March 2028, while the Carnival Adventure will depart Sydney on 20 March 2028 and will not return to Australia as previously intended. Following these departures, the Carnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter will remain as the company’s only year-round vessels, operating from Sydney and Brisbane respectively.

Carnival Cruise Line cited the need for long-term certainty and globally competitive operating conditions as key factors in the decision. The move comes as the Australian Federal Government extends the ability for cruise ships to sail between Australian ports until the end of 2028 while a long-term licensing regime is being developed. Peter Little, Carnival Cruise Line country manager, noted that as the only cruise line with ships dedicated year-round to Australia, the company has greater exposure to local market and operating condition changes.