Exciting Europe! Carnival Cruise Line announces new distant itineraries — including a unique twist

Great news for Carnival Cruise Line enthusiasts: You now have more sailing options in Europe!

On Tuesday, the Miami-based cruise giant revealed plans to station one of its 27 ships, the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend, in the region for nearly six months in 2026.

This deployment will feature Carnival's inaugural solar eclipse cruise — an 11-night journey from Dover, England, starting on August 9, 2026. The cruise will include a day at sea dedicated to viewing a rare total solar eclipse, primarily visible from a small area of the Atlantic Ocean.

The total solar eclipse is set to take place on August 12, 2026, along a narrow path of the ocean between the coasts of Spain and Iceland.

The Carnival Legend's eclipse voyage will also include stops at Le Havre and Le Verdon (the port for Bordeaux) in France; St. Peter Port in Guernsey; Vigo in Spain; Lisbon and Leixoes (the port for Porto) in Portugal; and Zeebrugge (the port for Brussels) in Belgium.

Alongside the solar eclipse cruise, Carnival Legend will embark on eight additional Northern Europe voyages from Dover, with itineraries lasting between nine to 12 nights. It will also conduct six Mediterranean cruises departing from Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) in Italy.

These Mediterranean cruises will last either nine or 12 nights.

While Carnival is primarily known for its North American sailings, it offers a limited number of European itineraries, making these new routes quite special.

Carnival has also positioned the Carnival Legend in Europe for this summer and intends to send one ship (the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle) for an extended summer season in Europe in 2025.

Two additional Carnival vessels — Carnival Valor and Mardi Gras — will operate transatlantic cruises to and from Europe in 2025 as they undergo renovations at shipyards.

In its announcement on Tuesday, Carnival revealed that the Carnival Legend will begin its 2026 European season on May 24, 2026, with a 14-night transatlantic journey from Miami to Dover.

Along with sea days, this transatlantic voyage will include stops at Liverpool, England; Holyhead, Wales; and Dun Laoghaire (the port for Dublin) in Ireland.

Voyages departing from Dover will feature stops in Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Some itineraries will also include visits to the British Isles, while one journey will highlight Iceland with four stops in the country.

The Scandinavia and Baltic cruises included in this deployment will explore Germany, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium.

The six sailings from Civitavecchia will visit various destinations throughout Italy, several Greek islands, Turkey, and Croatia.

Notable highlights of the Mediterranean routes will include stops in Istanbul and Kusadasi, Turkey, the latter being the gateway to the renowned ancient site of Ephesus.

The itinerary also includes visits to Piraeus (the port for Athens) and Mykonos in Greece, along with stops in Naples, Italy, and Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia.

Carnival Legend will conclude its 2026 European season with a 14-night transatlantic journey starting on November 1, 2026. This sailing will depart from Civitavecchia and finish in Tampa, making stops at Cartagena and Malaga in Spain, as well as Gibraltar and Bermuda.

Carnival joins a growing list of major cruise lines announcing solar eclipse voyages for 2026. Recently, Holland America has unveiled three eclipse-watching cruises, while Windstar Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Atlas Ocean Cruises have also shared plans for similar sailings.

Carnival Legend is part of Carnival's four Spirit Class ships, which the cruise line frequently utilizes for its more adventurous itineraries.