As we sail into 2025, Carnival Cruise Line is shaking things up in some pretty big ways!
From fleet expansions and exciting new destinations to farewells that might disappoint some loyal fans, there’s actually a fair amount of change on the horizon for the cruise line.
Not every update will have passengers cheering, but there’s plenty to get excited about – whether you’re a seasoned Carnival cruiser or planning your first Fun Ship adventure.
Let’s dive into the eight biggest changes coming to Carnival Cruise Line in 2025.
1. Integration of P&O Australia into the fleet
In a significant shakeup for Carnival Cruise Line, 2025 will see the end of the P&O Cruises Australia brand, with two of its ships being absorbed into Carnival’s fleet.

Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will be rebranded as Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, marking a major expansion of Carnival’s presence in the Australasian market.
The transition, set to begin in March 2025, will double Carnival’s year-round operations in the region.
Carnival Adventure will be based in Sydney, alongside Carnival Splendor, while Carnival Encounter will call Brisbane home, joining Carnival Luminosa during peak seasons. Together, these ships are expected to serve nearly 600,000 guests in 2025.
While both ships will undergo redesigns to align with Carnival’s “Fun Ship” vibe, including features like the Fun Squad, Build-a-Bear workshops, and the Carnival Hub app, they’ll retain popular P&O offerings.
Guests can still enjoy Luke’s Bar & Grill, The Edge Adventure Park, and exclusive suite access to the Byron Beach Club.
With itineraries covering destinations like Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea, there’ll be so many options for Carnival fans in the region and it’s an exciting time for the fleet as a whole, growing to 29 ships.
2. Introduction of Celebration Key in the Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line is set to make waves in 2025 with the opening of its newest private destination, Celebration Key, located on Grand Bahama Island.

Designed to immerse guests in the vibrant culture and natural beauty of the Bahamas, the resort promises a blend of relaxation, fun, and local charm.
Celebration Key will feature five themed “portals,” each offering a unique experience:
- Welcome Portal: The starting point of the resort, complete with live music and a giant sandcastle centerpiece.
- Family-Friendly Portal: Perfect for families, this zone includes a freshwater lagoon, watersports, racing slides, sports courts, and private cabanas with waterslides.
- Adult-Friendly Portal: A lively beach and lagoon area with a swim-up bar, DJ, and an energetic party atmosphere.
- Private Club Portal: A tranquil adults-only retreat with an infinity pool and premium dining options for those seeking a quieter escape.
- Retail Portal: A shopping haven with duty-free stores, artisanal crafts, and local souvenirs.
The resort is built around a new pier that can accommodate two Excel-class ships, allowing guests to walk straight into the action.
It will debut in July 2025, with itineraries already on sale. Over 10 Carnival ships will visit Celebration Key on voyages ranging from 3 to 10 nights, and it’s expected to host up to 2 million guests annually by 2026.
It’s a great time to visit a brand-new destination and be one of the first guests to try everything out!
3. New European and Caribbean itineraries
One of the big highlights of 2025 for the cruise line will be a series of new itineraries, including an exciting return to Europe and an expanded presence in the Caribbean.
These fresh offerings include more than 100 sailings to Celebration Key, as well as a line-up of European cruises on the Carnival Miracle.

Carnival Miracle will spend the summer of 2025 in Europe, offering 16 cruises ranging from 9 to 15 nights.
Departing from Lisbon, Dover, and Civitavecchia, these voyages will visit iconic destinations such as Iceland, Copenhagen, Greece, Istanbul, and Amsterdam, providing a rare opportunity for Carnival guests to experience Europe.
After its European season, the ship will relocate to Tampa, sailing six to eight-night Caribbean itineraries.
And of the 100 sailings that will visit Celebration Key, there’ll be cruises departing from Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, and New Orleans on 18 different ships, including:
- Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, and Carnival Sunrise (Miami)
- Carnival Vista and Carnival Venezia (Port Canaveral)
- Carnival Paradise (Tampa)
- Carnival Valor (New Orleans)
Carnival Venezia will also offer three 14-night Carnival Journeys cruises, including two to the Caribbean and one to the Panama Canal.
4. New year-round cruises from Norfolk, Virginia
Starting in February 2025, Carnival Sunshine will make Norfolk, Virginia, its year-round homeport, offering a variety of itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, and Carnival’s new private destination, Celebration Key.

This deployment marks a significant boost to Norfolk’s cruise options and gives passengers more diverse choices without needing to travel to larger ports.
After undergoing a drydock in France, Carnival Sunshine will debut in Norfolk on February 11, 2025, with a five-night cruise to the Bahamas, featuring stops in Freeport and Bimini.

The Sunshine’s 2025 schedule includes:
- Eastern Caribbean: Six eight-night cruises between May and July to Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and San Juan.
- Bahamas: Nine six-night sailings from March to December, visiting Bimini, Nassau, and Freeport.
- Bermuda: Seven six-night summer cruises to King’s Wharf, with an overnight stay and three relaxing sea days, running from July through October.
- Celebration Key: From September, three six-night sailings will include Carnival’s new private port in the Bahamas, along with stops in Nassau and Bimini.
With such a wide variety of options, Carnival Sunshine offers something for everyone, from short getaways to longer escapes.
The addition of Norfolk as a year-round homeport is a significant milestone, making it easier for travellers along the East Coast to enjoy Carnival’s signature Fun Ship experience.
5. Expanded Alaska sailings
Carnival Cruise Line is taking its Alaska offerings to the next level in 2025 with an extensive lineup of cruises on Carnival Spirit and Carnival Luminosa, alongside unique long-haul Carnival Journeys itineraries.

Operating from Seattle, Carnival Luminosa will sail seven-night cruises to Alaska every Thursday from May 1 to September 11, 2025.
These itineraries include awe-inspiring destinations like Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and a stop in Victoria, British Columbia.
Beginning its Alaska season earlier, Carnival Spirit will operate 21 seven-night cruises departing Seattle between April 14 and September 9, 2025, covering similar scenic Alaskan ports.
Special Long-Haul Sailings
Before beginning her Alaskan season, Carnival Luminosa will embark on an extraordinary 29-day voyage from Brisbane, Australia, visiting Japan and Alaska en route to Seattle. Meanwhile, Carnival Spirit will offer unique post-Alaska cruises, including:
- A 15-day Hawaii roundtrip from Seattle, stopping in Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Hilo, and Victoria.
- Two exclusive Carnival Journeys:
- A 14-night cruise from Barcelona to Miami, featuring stops in the Azores and Bermuda.
- A 15-night Panama Canal journey, visiting Colombia, Costa Rica, and Cabo San Lucas.
6. Other itinerary changes for 2025
Carnival Cruise Line has announced several minor itinerary tweaks for early 2025 (and 2026), affecting a number of ships and voyages.
These changes include adjustments to port orders, modified visit times, and the replacement of some destinations.

Impacted ships include Carnival Freedom, Carnival Magic, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Pride, Carnival Spirit, and Carnival Firenze.
While most adjustments are relatively small – such as swapping port days or replacing one destination with another – some may inconvenience passengers.
For example, Carnival Firenze’s itinerary change has upset some sports fans, as its visit to Ensenada now falls on Super Bowl Sunday, which guests often prefer to fall on a sea day so they can fully enjoy the whole pre-game build up.
Despite the changes, Carnival has worked to notify guests well in advance where possible, allowing travellers to adjust their plans if necessary.
7. No more AARP gift cards
As of January 1, 2025, Carnival Cruise Line gift cards are no longer available through the AARP Rewards Program.
The program initially offered a 10% discount on Carnival gift cards, but this was reduced to 8% in November 2024, and then further slashed to 5% in December.

While some cruisers still found value in the reduced discount, the complete removal of the gift cards has left many loyal Carnival guests frustrated.
AARP attributed the decision to Carnival, though the cruise line has not provided a clear explanation.
Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald previously commented that AARP operated independently in managing the discounts, but the ultimate decision to discontinue the cards remains unclear.
If you’re not too familiar with the gift cards, it’s important to be clear that a huge number of Carnival cruise guests would use these schemes to get significant discounts.
So their removal is pretty big news – and one of the worse changes for Carnival fans in 2025 by some distance.
There are some other options for discounted Carnival gift cards, but not quite as regular/good as the AARP offer was. They’re still worth checking out though, if you want to save money.
8. No more Sandra’s Tours
Sandra’s Cruise Tours, an independent operator that has long offered shore excursions to Carnival Cruise Line guests, has cancelled its entire 2025 season with the cruise line.
Known for offering refunds if a ship misses a port, the company’s practices have drawn scrutiny in the past, with many travellers reporting difficulties in receiving full reimbursements.

Sandra O’Leary, the company’s founder, announced the decision on her website, citing changes in Europe’s tour operator policies as the primary reason.
According to O’Leary, many operators now refuse to offer full refunds when ships miss ports, a risk she no longer wishes to take on.
Despite her claims, the cancellation only applies to Carnival Cruise Line, leaving travellers questioning whether tours will still be offered for passengers on other cruise lines. This selective approach has added to the scepticism surrounding her services, and many Carnival fans are unimpressed.
Carnival’s own shore excursions won’t be impacted but many people prefer to book independent excursions to save money, even with the increased risk of the ship leaving them behind if there are any delays in getting back to the port.
Things that may happen in 2025 (but there’s no guarantee)
1. More info on new ships
Carnival has announced five new ships coming to the fleet between 2027 and 2033, including two more Excel-class ships and then a brand-new class with three ships between 2029 and 2033.

So at some point in 2025, we can probably expect to learn more about some of these ships – especially the first new Excel-class ship since she launches in just two years.
It’s not uncommon for cruise lines to keep some details under wraps until closer to a ship’s launch but I’d be highly surprised if we didn’t at least know the name of the ship by the end of the year.
2. Revamp of the VIFP loyalty program
It’s long been rumoured that Carnival’s VIFP loyalty program could be undergoing a revamp, with potential new tiers as well as a change to the perks that loyal guests can enjoy.

Nothing’s been confirmed, but people have asked John Heald about it in the past and there are no definitive answers as to whether smaller changes are on the way or a complete overhaul of the program.
2025 could be the year for big changes – but we’ll have to wait and see.
3. Price increases
Unfortunately, price increases could be on the way during 2025 for certain features of Carnival cruises.
Firstly, there are plans in place for some cruise destinations, including Mexico and some ports in Europe, to begin levying extra taxes on cruise passengers.
This would likely be passed onto guests, and could see fares rise. It’s not exclusive to Carnival, but would impact any cruise passengers visiting these destinations.
And Carnival raised prices on its Drinks and WiFi packages in December 2024, so it wouldn’t be a shock if the prices then increased again towards the end of the year.
Suggested read: Carnival Cruise Drink Packages Guide

The cruise line took a bit of a battering on social media for making the changes without announcing them in advance this time, so perhaps they’ll revert back to their old methods and give guests a warning, so that they can book their packages early and secure the lower prices.
Something that definitely won’t happen in 2025
One of the most talked-about cruises coming in 2025 doesn’t involve Carnival at all – it’s the dog-friendly cruise Tails of the Seas being organised by Cruise Tails and sailing on Margaritaville at Sea.

Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has been asked about the potential of Carnival hosting their own dog-friendly cruises in future, and has closed the idea down pretty quickly.
So, don’t hold your breath over the idea of a canine-friendly Carnival cruise this year. Or anytime soon.
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Final word
2025 is shaping up to be a year of big changes for Carnival Cruise Line. From exciting new ships and itineraries to the introduction of Celebration Key and expanded Alaska sailings, there’s plenty for cruisers to look forward to.
However, not all news will be welcome – farewells to popular perks like AARP gift cards and the cancellation of Sandra’s Tours will surely disappoint some loyal fans.
Whether you’re a seasoned Fun Ship fan or considering your first Carnival cruise, staying informed about these changes will help you make the most of what’s ahead and make the best of your 2025 Carnival cruise.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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