Carnival Cruise Line today announced that it will move two ships out of the Australian market after the 2027-28 winter season.

According to a press release, the Carnival Adventure and the Carnival Luminosa will complete their planned deployments in the region before moving to other areas.

The company said that the change is part of its long-term global fleet planning and “reflects a range of factors.”

Carnival mentioned the importance of long-term certainty and globally competitive operating conditions to support itinerary planning and investment, noting that ship deployment decisions are made years in advance.

The company stated that it is the only brand sailing year-round from Australia, adding that it has a “larger and more direct commitment to the local market.”

Carnival noted that the Australian Government recently extended the cruise industry’s ability to sail between Australian ports until the end of 2028 while continuing to develop a long-term licensing regime for cruising, but noted that long-term regulation is still needed.

“The extension is a welcome but interim step while the long-term operating framework for the Australian cruise sector is developed over the next two years,” Carnival Cruise Line Australia Country Manager Peter Little said.

“As the only cruise line with ships dedicated year-round to Australia, Carnival has greater exposure to changes in local market and operating conditions than cruise lines with a seasonal or more limited presence,” he added.

Little noted that Carnival will continue to work with the Australian Government to develop future arrangements for cruise ships operating in the country.

He added that guests should take advantage of sailing over the next 18 months, as the Carnival Adventure and the Carnival Luminosa operate their scheduled itineraries from Australia.

Sailing seasonally from Brisbane since being incorporated into Carnival’s fleet in 2022, the Luminosa will complete its final season from Sydney on March 15, 2028. Further itineraries for the ship were not revealed by the company.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the Carnival Adventure will reposition to North America after embarking on a final cruise from Sydney on March 20, 2028.

In a change of plans, the 2,600-passenger ship is no longer returning to Australia for the 2028-29 winter as originally planned.

“The Carnival Luminosa and the Carnival Adventure have both played an important role in our Australian story, and many guests have enjoyed sailing on them to destinations across the South Pacific, including Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea,” Little added.

Carnival will continue to operate the Carnival Splendor and the Carnival Encounter in Australia year-round, with sailings from Sydney and Brisbane, respectively.

Little said deployment for the 2028-29 season onboard the two vessels will be released in the coming weeks.