Carnival cruise cancellations grow after Conquest delay
Carnival Cruise Line has pushed Carnival Conquest's next dry dock from January to February 2026, triggering four additional cancellations on short Bahamas runs from Miami. Guests booked on February 6, 9, 13, and 16, 2026, were notified on August 18 that their sailings are off while the ship heads to the yard. The shift follows earlier 2026 cancellations after a previous reschedule, underscoring how tight shipyard calendars can ripple through near term deployments. Carnival is offering protected fares on comparable voyages, onboard credit, and refunds.
Key Points
- Why it matters: More Carnival cruise cancellations reduce peak winter short-cruise capacity from Miami.
- Travel impact: Four Bahamas departures removed in February 2026, with rebooking and refund options.
- What's next: Conquest returns after yard work, while other brands may still juggle dry dock windows.
- Compensation: Protected rates, up to $100 onboard credit per stateroom, refunds, and air-change relief.
- Context: Busy shipyards and shifting maintenance slots continue to disrupt select 2026 and 2027 trips.
Snapshot
Carnival Conquest, a Miami-based ship that typically sails three and four day Bahamas itineraries, will now be out of service in February 2026 rather than January. The change cancels departures on February 6, 9, 13, and 16. Carnival told guests it would protect cruise fares on similar sailings in similar accommodations, add onboard credit up to $100 per stateroom, and provide full refunds for those who do not rebook. The line will also reimburse up to $200 per person for certain non-refundable air costs with receipts. Separately, itinerary shuffles continue this week as lines divert around Atlantic swells, see our coverage in Hurricane Erin Cruise Updates: Itineraries and Ports.
Background
Cruise ships cycle through yard periods every few years for inspections, coatings, and upgrades. When a yard slot moves, even by weeks, the domino effect can wipe multiple voyages. In early June, Carnival shifted Conquest's dry dock to January 2026, canceling several January departures. The plan now slides again to February, taking four more dates. Similar adjustments have appeared elsewhere in the fleet, including early 2027 trims on Carnival Breeze from Galveston as the brand manages a crowded maintenance calendar. For travelers, these are frustrating, but routine in a sector where yard capacity, parts logistics, and labor dictate timing.
Latest Developments
Conquest dry dock slips to February, four Miami sailings canceled
Carnival emailed guests on August 18, 2025, confirming Conquest's reschedule to February 2026. The affected departures are short Bahamas sailings slated for February 6, 9, 13, and 16. The line did not cite a specific cause beyond schedule adjustments, a common outcome when European yards resequence projects or when work scopes change. Conquest last saw a major refresh in 2022. The February shift should concentrate impacts into a tighter window, then restore the usual three and four day pattern from Miami for late winter and spring.
Options for booked guests, from protected fares to refunds
Carnival is offering several remedies. Guests can move to comparable sailings in similar accommodations with protected cruise fares, and will receive onboard credit up to $100 per stateroom. Those who prefer not to rebook will receive full refunds of cruise fare and pre-purchased items. For independently booked flights, the line will reimburse up to $200 per person for non-refundable air expenses and change fees with proper documentation. If you were affected, contact your travel advisor promptly to secure preferred dates and cabins.
Wider pattern, shipyard congestion extends into 2027
The Conquest change follows a string of scheduling trims tied to dry dock logistics, including five early 2027 cancellations on Carnival Breeze from Galveston. Carnival described those as planned maintenance adjustments amid a busy yard slate. While uncomfortable for guests, these moves aim to cluster downtime, complete regulatory and hotel work, and return ships to revenue service quickly. Keep an eye on brand emails and app notifications, and review travel insurance terms that address schedule changes.
Analysis
Shipyard calendars are tight, especially at European facilities that handle class inspections, hull work, and hotel upgrades for multiple brands. When one project slips, yards rebalance, and late-stage parts or labor constraints can cascade. Lines typically choose the least disruptive option, which is consolidating work into one window rather than piecemeal pauses that would scatter cancellations across months. For Conquest, moving yard time from January to February 2026 concentrates the pain into four additional dates, then clears the deck for spring operations. The compensation package is standard for maintenance cancellations, pairing protected fares with modest onboard credit, full refunds for those who decline alternatives, and limited air-fee relief. Advisers should act quickly to re-accommodate clients onto like-for-like itineraries, watching school breaks and holiday weekends where inventory tightens fast. Travelers who need specific stateroom categories should hold space now, then reattach shore plans when final schedules firm up. Weather remains a separate variable, with hurricane-season reroutes continuing this week, so flexibility is still your best tool.
Final Thoughts
Dry dock work keeps ships compliant, efficient, and guest-ready, but it can upend carefully planned vacations when dates move. Carnival's latest adjustment removes four February 2026 Bahamas departures from Miami while offering protected fares, onboard credit, refunds, and limited air reimbursement. If your plans were affected, move quickly with your advisor to lock comparable sailings, then rebuild add-ons like hotels and excursions. Expect other brands to fine tune winter calendars as shipyards juggle capacity. We will keep tracking Carnival cruise cancellations as the maintenance puzzle evolves.