Carnival axes half its Australian cruise fleet by 2028
Carnival will remove two of its four Australian ships in March 2028, ending full-time cruise service here.
Carnival Cruises will remove the Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa from its Australian fleet in March 2028, cutting its four-ship presence in half. Carnival is the only major cruise operator still running year-round in Australia.
Other major cruise operators such as Disney and Royal Caribbean no longer operate full-time here. Despite more than 1.4 million Australians taking cruises last year, the numbers don't work.
Berthing fees, biosecurity requirements and refueling costs are all higher in Australia than other markets. Cruise infrastructure is also limited.
A maritime historian said the company can simply move its ships where they are more profitable. The Maritime Union of Australia claims this is the third time Carnival has threatened to leave.
This may be a negotiating move over labour agreements. Earlier this year an investigation revealed claims of worker exploitation aboard Carnival ships.
- Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa
- Ships to be removed
- March 2028
- Removal date
- 4 ships
- Current Australian fleet
- 1.4 million
- Australians cruising annually
Why it mattersThe move cuts tourism choices for Australians. It shows that even one remaining operator finds the local market barely workable.
AustraliaAustralian cruise passengers will have fewer full-time options for local sailing, and port cities will lose cruise tourism revenue.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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