Carnival's 2027-28 sailings open, with a solar eclipse cruise
Carnival Cruise Line has opened bookings for its 2027-28 sailings, highlighted by an 11-day solar eclipse cruise aboard Carnival Miracle departing July 29, 2027. Miracle homeports in Galveston beginning March 29, 2027, then repositions to Europe for a summer season from Dover, before moving to Civitavecchia in late September. Carnival Paradise continues from Tampa, and Carnival Elation continues from Jacksonville, offering short Caribbean getaways. "Seeing it from Carnival Miracle will definitely be the most fun," said Carnival president Christine Duffy, referring to the August 2, 2027 eclipse.
Key Points
- Why it matters: High-demand 2027-28 sailings are now on sale, including a rare solar eclipse cruise.
- Travel impact: Added variety from Texas and Florida homeports, plus expanded Europe choices.
- What's next: Summer 2027 Northern Europe and fall Mediterranean programs follow Miracle's transatlantic.
- Miracle's eclipse viewing day at sea is scheduled for August 2, 2027.
- Elation and Paradise continue four- to six-day Caribbean itineraries from Jacksonville and Tampa.
Snapshot
Carnival Miracle, a 2,100-passenger Spirit-class ship, begins Galveston service on March 29, 2027, with short Cozumel runs and longer Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings. The ship crosses the Atlantic on May 6, 2027, to Lisbon, then operates from Dover May through September with eight- to 12-day itineraries across the British Isles, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, and Baltic regions. An 11-day Carnival Journeys voyage departing July 29, 2027, includes a dedicated day at sea for the August 2 solar eclipse. In late September, Miracle shifts to Civitavecchia for eight- and 10-day Mediterranean cruises. Meanwhile, Carnival Paradise remains in Tampa on four- to six-day getaways, and Carnival Elation continues from Jacksonville with four- and five-day options.
Background
Carnival has been sequencing its 2027-28 deployment in waves, layering Texas, Florida, and Europe programs to maximize itinerary variety. The new tranche centers on Miracle's spring 2027 Galveston start, a May transatlantic to Lisbon, and a Dover homeport through summer before moving to Civitavecchia on September 29, 2027. The eclipse cruise leaves Dover on July 29 with calls in Portugal, Spain, France, and Belgium around a day at sea timed for the August 2 event. For Southeast U.S. cruisers, Elation and Paradise extend familiar short-break patterns to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean, many including Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay. The mix balances marquee Europe routes for seasoned travelers with drive-to convenience from Florida for new cruisers and families.
Latest Developments
Solar eclipse cruise and Europe program headline Carnival 2027-28 sailings
The headline itinerary is an 11-day Carnival Journeys sailing aboard Miracle departing July 29, 2027, from Dover with a planned day at sea for eclipse viewing on August 2. Surrounding calls include Guernsey, Lisbon and Leixões in Portugal, La Coruña in Spain, Le Havre for Paris, and Zeebrugge for Brussels. Before Europe, Miracle runs from Galveston beginning March 29, 2027, with two four-day Cozumel trips, plus 10-day Eastern and Western Caribbean routes touching Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, Belize, Cozumel, and Roatán. A May 6 transatlantic to Lisbon precedes a nine-day Lisbon-to-Dover cruise. From May through September, Dover hosts eight- to 12-day itineraries across Northern Europe, followed by a September 29 redeployment to Civitavecchia for Greek Isles, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro cruises.
Analysis
Carnival's 2027-28 plan threads three strategic needles. First, it leverages Galveston's strong drive-market demand by placing Miracle there for spring, satisfying short-break and longer-voyage interest before sending the ship to Europe. Second, it positions Miracle in peak-season Northern Europe, where eight- to 12-day itineraries offer higher yields and appeal to repeat cruisers who want iconic capitals and cooler summer weather. Third, the brand creates a marketing tentpole with the August 2, 2027 eclipse at sea, an event cruise likely to book early among astronomy fans and cruise collectors. Keeping Paradise and Elation in Tampa and Jacksonville, respectively, preserves reliable short-duration capacity for families, first-timers, and regional travelers who prize convenience over complexity. The mix of Celebration Key calls, classic Western Caribbean ports, and Europe's big-city draws aligns with Carnival's value-plus positioning, while Journeys-series touches add novelty without abandoning core price points.
Final Thoughts
For travelers planning ahead, Carnival's 2027-28 slate blends drive-to ease in Florida with a seasonal European portfolio and a buzz-worthy eclipse day at sea. Expect the July 29, 2027 departure to be a fast mover given its timing and variety of ports, while Dover-based Northern Europe itineraries will attract repeat cruisers seeking longer vacations with cooler weather. Families and first-timers can still find short, affordable getaways from Tampa and Jacksonville, many with private-destination stops. With bookings now open, advisors should match clients to date patterns, school calendars, and cabin preferences early, especially for balcony demand on the eclipse sailing. The upshot is more choice and better timing across regions in Carnival's 2027-28 sailings.