Carnival Cruise Line Opens 2025-26 Australia Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line has just announced the 2025-26 cruise season with more departures planned out of Sydney and Brisbane. Guests may now choose from a variety of new cruise choices, including multiple Great Barrier Reef itineraries on both ships, as well as one-of-a-kind sailings to Fiji and New Zealand on the Carnival Splendour and Fiji and Papua New Guinea on the Carnival Luminosa.

Carnival Splendour cruises departing from Sydney.

Carnival Splendour, a Concordia-class cruise ship, will depart from Sydney on several itineraries. These cruises range in length from three days to 12 days and visit popular destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, Moreton Island, Tasmania, and a Melbourne Cup cruise, as well as idyllic international destinations such as Fiji, South Pacific islands, and New Zealand.

Carnival Splendor’s New Zealand cruises, which range in duration from ten to twelve days, are all Carnival Journeys, the cruise line’s unique voyages that provide an in-depth experience of the area. Among the ports of call are Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and a picturesque trip through the Fiordland National Park.

The 3,012-guest Carnival Splendour incorporates several popular Carnival venues, such as Guy’s Burger Joint, Pizzeria del Capitano, and the Alchemy Bar. The ship has something for everyone, from the waterslides at WaterWorks Aqua Park to the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.

Carnival Luminosa cruises from Brisbane.

Carnival Luminosa will cruise from Brisbane to popular destinations such as Airlie Beach and the Great Barrier Reef and exotic South Pacific paradises such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. The cruise durations available range from three to eleven days.

The two 11-day Carnival Journeys to Papua New Guinea, a region few cruise ships visit, are the most intriguing.

The Carnival Luminosa will travel to the Conflict Islands, a location of extraordinary natural beauty; Alotau, steeped in World War II history; Rabaul, perched on the rim of a flooded crater; and Kiriwina Island, famed for its magnificent beaches and crystal-clear seas, before returning to the Conflict Islands.

The two cruises offer an incredible adventure to some of the most beautiful places in Papua New Guinea. For those searching for a shorter holiday, Carnival Luminosa also provides a variety of 3-day cruises at sea and 4-day holiday cruises sailing to Arlie Beach.

The 92,600 gross tons 2,260-guest Carnival Luminosa features many guest-favourite Carnival venues, including Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, RedFrog Rum Bar, Piano Bar 88, and The Punchliner Comedy Club.

Carnival Luminosa originally sailed under the Costa Cruises fleet as Costa Luminosa. In a move to optimize the fleet, Carnival Corporation decided to transfer the Costa Luminosa to Carnival Cruise Line. 

The transition of the Costa Luminosa to become the Carnival Luminosa took place in 2022. This shift marked a significant expansion of Carnival Cruise Line’s offerings and one that kickstarted the Carnival Fun Italian Style program.