Carnival Is Bringing Two Ships to Europe for an Entire Summer Season
Carnival Cruise Line will deploy Carnival Miracle and Carnival Sunshine across Europe for the full 2027 summer season, offering Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and first-ever African port calls.
Carnival Cruise Line just announced a major expansion of its European presence, revealing plans to deploy not one, but two ships across Europe for the entire 2027 summer season. The move marks a significant shift in the cruise line’s deployment strategy and opens up new possibilities for North American cruisers looking to explore the Old World.
According to Cruise Industry News, Carnival will position both the Carnival Miracle and Carnival Sunshine in European waters starting in late spring 2027, offering a diverse range of itineraries spanning from Scandinavia to Africa.
Two Ships, Two Very Different European Experiences
The deployment strategy reveals Carnival’s approach to capturing different segments of the European cruise market.
Carnival Miracle will kick off the European season with a 14-night trans-Atlantic crossing from Galveston to Lisbon. Once across the pond, the ship will operate 9-12 night cruises from both Lisbon and Dover, exploring Northern Europe’s most sought-after destinations. Passengers can expect itineraries featuring Scandinavia, the Baltic region, the British Isles, and the Iberian Peninsula, with calls in Portugal, Spain, France, and Belgium.
Later in the season, Carnival Miracle will shift south to operate 8-10 night Mediterranean cruises from Civitavecchia (Rome’s port). These sailings will visit iconic Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos, along with Croatia’s stunning Dubrovnik and Turkey’s ancient port of Kusadasi.
Carnival Sunshine takes a different approach, repositioning from Norfolk to Dover in late May before heading to Barcelona. The ship will then spend the summer operating 7-10 night cruises from both Barcelona and Civitavecchia, exploring the Western and Eastern Mediterranean with calls in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Malta, Tunisia, and Montenegro.
A First for Carnival: African Ports
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this announcement is Carnival’s venture into North African waters. The Carnival Sunshine’s itineraries will include stops in Morocco and Tunisia, marking the first time Carnival Cruise Line has offered cruises to African ports.
This expansion into Africa positions Carnival to compete with European cruise lines that have long included North African destinations in their Mediterranean itineraries. For American cruisers, it offers an accessible way to add exotic new stamps to their passports while maintaining the familiar Carnival experience.
What This Means for Cruise Travelers
This double deployment signals Carnival’s growing confidence in European demand and creates several opportunities for travelers:
More Choice, More Flexibility: With two ships operating different itinerary patterns, Carnival passengers now have significantly more options for exploring Europe. Whether you prefer the longer, immersive Northern Europe experience or shorter Mediterranean hops, there’s an itinerary that fits.
Competitive Pricing: Carnival has built its brand on delivering value, and expanding European capacity could mean more competitive pricing compared to traditional European cruise lines. The variety of port options and sailing lengths gives budget-conscious travelers more flexibility in planning their European cruise vacation.
Extended Season Access: By keeping both ships in Europe for the full summer season before returning them to North America in November, Carnival provides American travelers with months of departure options to find dates that work with their schedules.
Transatlantic Alternatives: The Carnival Miracle’s repositioning cruise from Galveston offers an attractive option for travelers who want to turn their transatlantic crossing into part of the vacation experience rather than just a flight to Europe.
The Broader European Cruise Picture
This announcement comes as the cruise industry continues to see strong demand for European itineraries. While much of the industry’s capacity growth has focused on the Caribbean and newer markets like Asia, Europe remains a perennial favorite for cruise travelers seeking cultural enrichment and historical exploration.
Carnival’s decision to maintain two ships across an entire European season demonstrates the company’s confidence that American cruisers will embrace the brand’s more casual approach to European cruising. Unlike some competitors that position their premium brands for European service, Carnival is bringing its signature fun-ship atmosphere directly to the Mediterranean and beyond.
Both ships are scheduled to return to North America in November 2027 for their winter deployments, giving Carnival maximum utilization of these vessels in their most appropriate seasonal markets.
Looking Ahead
For cruise enthusiasts planning their 2027 vacations, this announcement opens up exciting new possibilities. The combination of Carnival’s accessible pricing, the diversity of ports across two ships, and the historic first venture into African waters makes next summer’s European season particularly compelling.
Whether you’re a Carnival loyalist curious about exploring Europe on your favorite cruise line, or a European cruise veteran looking for a new way to experience the Mediterranean, these deployments offer fresh options worth considering for your 2027 travel plans.