The 5 top destinations to explore on a Carnival Cruise Line ship

While some cruise lines navigate to every part of the globe, others concentrate on specific operational areas.

Carnival Cruise Line, one of the largest cruise brands worldwide, definitely falls into the latter category.

Carnival specializes in short, budget-friendly cruises departing from U.S. ports. You can find at least one of its ships sailing from nearly every major port city in the country, though they are rarely based elsewhere.

Primarily targeting budget-conscious travelers who drive to the ships, Carnival seldom sails to Europe, Asia, or South America — destinations that are central to the itineraries of competing lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Holland America.

Nonetheless, Carnival firmly holds the title of the leading cruise line for voyages from U.S. ports to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, offering a diverse array of sailings from East Coast and Gulf Coast ports.

Several Carnival ships based on the East Coast also travel to Bermuda, New England, and Canada. Meanwhile, vessels on the West Coast typically sail to Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Carnival additionally features some itineraries through the Panama Canal.

The primary strategy behind Carnival's ship allocations is to ensure that a significant portion of the U.S. population can conveniently reach one of its ships by car, thus avoiding flight expenses. As a result, Carnival adopts a more expansive deployment strategy in the U.S. compared to other cruise lines.

Carnival's primary hubs are located at PortMiami and Port Canaveral in Florida, as well as Galveston, Texas; Long Beach, California; New Orleans; and Seattle — all significant cruise destinations. Additionally, Carnival ships can be found in secondary ports like Baltimore; Charleston, South Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; Jacksonville and Tampa in Florida; and San Francisco.

Generally, Carnival vessels embark on shorter journeys lasting between three to eight nights.

Here’s our selection of the top five destinations that Carnival cruises to.

The Caribbean and the Bahamas

Carnival is undeniably the leader in Caribbean and Bahamas cruises. If you’re seeking a quick, convenient, and — most importantly — budget-friendly escape to the region, Carnival is the way to go.

Currently, Carnival has 22 out of its 27 ships — including its latest and largest vessels, the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras, along with Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee — set to cruise to the Caribbean and the Bahamas for part of the upcoming year.

For context, that’s more ships than the entire fleet of Norwegian Cruise Line, which is also a significant contender in Caribbean cruising.

Carnival provides a wide variety of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries departing from at least 11 U.S. ports.

For those seeking a short getaway, the line offers quick three- to five-night excursions to the Caribbean and the Bahamas from Florida ports such as Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Port Canaveral, as well as from Mobile, New Orleans, and Galveston.

Itineraries departing from the eastern ports typically include stops in the Bahamas and Grand Turk Island in the Turks and Caicos. Meanwhile, sailings from the Gulf ports often concentrate on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, with popular stops like Cozumel and Progreso.

Carnival is also prominent in the six- to eight-night cruise market to Caribbean and Bahamas destinations, which can be categorized into three main types:

• Eastern Caribbean cruises
• Western Caribbean cruises
• Southern Caribbean cruises

A standard seven-night Carnival cruise to the Eastern Caribbean usually includes stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos.

However, each of Carnival's six- to eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries varies slightly. Typically, these cruises feature three to four port calls in the Eastern Caribbean.

Carnival's six- to eight-night Western Caribbean cruises typically feature three or four stops at a selection of destinations including Mexico (Cozumel and Costa Maya), Honduras, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Belize.

The line's Southern Caribbean itineraries, usually spanning eight nights, often include visits to Aruba and Curacao, along with one or more northern Caribbean ports such as Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.

Carnival also provides a limited number of longer sailings lasting 10 to 14 nights in the Caribbean, although these are not very common.

The Mexican Riviera

Carnival is a key player in cruises to the Mexican Riviera, which encompasses a series of resort towns along Mexico's west coast.

Carnival offers cruises to Mexico's west coast from California ports, primarily Long Beach and San Francisco, with Long Beach serving as its main hub on the West Coast.

Significantly, Carnival is one of only two cruise lines that operate ships year-round in the Los Angeles area for voyages to Mexico (the other being Royal Caribbean). One of its newest ships, the 4,008-passenger Carnival Panorama, is permanently stationed in Long Beach for six- to eight-night trips to the Mexican Riviera. Additionally, the smaller 2,764-passenger Carnival Radiance runs three- to six-night journeys from Long Beach to Mexico for most of the year, including some sailings to Hawaii.

Another Carnival ship, the 4,125-passenger Carnival Firenze, offers year-round four- to seven-night sailings to Mexico from Long Beach.

A standard seven-night Carnival cruise to the Mexican Riviera includes stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.

Carnival's three- and four-night voyages to Mexico's west coast usually include just one stop in Ensenada, and occasionally a visit to Catalina Island off California's coast.

Alaska

While Carnival isn't the leading cruise line in Alaska, as that title goes to Princess Cruises and Holland America—sister lines that dominate the market—it has increased its presence in recent years. For the upcoming year, Carnival plans to send three ships to Alaska.

Carnival's family-friendly, budget-friendly ships are a popular choice for families wanting to explore Alaska during the short cruise season, which typically runs from May to September.

In 2025, Carnival intends to send the following ships to the Alaska market:

• Carnival Luminosa: This 16-year-old ship will offer seven-night round-trip voyages to Alaska from Seattle. Most itineraries will include stops at Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan in Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia. It will also feature a visit to the Tracy Arm fjord for glacier viewing, with some sailings offering alternative port lineups.
• Carnival Legend: This 21-year-old vessel will provide 10-night round-trip journeys to Alaska from San Francisco. It will stop at Skagway, Juneau, and Icy Strait Point in Alaska, along with Victoria, British Columbia, and will visit Tracy Arm for glacier viewing.
• Carnival Spirit: This 24-year-old ship will mainly operate seven-night round-trip cruises to Alaska from Seattle, visiting Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan in Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, and will also include a stop at Tracy Arm for glacier viewing.

Unlike some lines, including Princess, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean, Carnival does not offer cruisetours that combine an Alaska cruise with extended overland excursions.

Bermuda

Several Carnival ships typically make trips to Bermuda each year from May to October.

While the line doesn’t provide a vast number of departures to Bermuda, it generally runs cruises from at least three ports annually: New York, Baltimore, and Norfolk, Virginia.

Most of these sailings span six or seven nights, allowing for two or three days in Bermuda. The line also commonly features shorter four- and five-night options to the island.

Be aware that the shorter Bermuda sailings can result in very limited time in the destination, with stays sometimes as brief as eight hours.

In 2025, Carnival will have sailings to Bermuda on three ships: the 3,002-passenger Carnival Sunshine, the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride, and the 4,208-passenger Carnival Venezia. The latter is a Costa Cruises ship that Carnival began operating in May 2023. Costa is a sister line to Carnival, featuring similarly designed vessels.

Australia

While Carnival primarily focuses on cruises from U.S. ports, not all of its ships are exclusively based in North America.

In a surprising move for a line known for its short, accessible, and affordable voyages catering to Americans, Carnival has stationed two of its ships in Australia in recent years to run cruises from Sydney and Brisbane.

The two vessels — the 2,260-passenger Carnival Luminosa and the 3,012-passenger Carnival Splendor — generally offer a variety of sailings ranging from three to ten nights along the Australian coastline and to New Zealand.

Carnival's cruises in Australia are primarily designed for Australians, not Americans. A few years back, Carnival recognized that Australians enjoy the same fun-focused, affordable cruises that appeal to Americans, prompting the company to develop a market in Australia tailored to their preferences.

However, this doesn't mean that Americans can't book these cruises.

A standard Carnival cruise along the Australian coast typically includes stops at Airlie Beach, Cairns, and Willis Island. Longer voyages may also feature additional stops at Port Douglas or Moreton Island.

Shorter Australian cruises might only visit one of the mentioned destinations or even none at all — referred to as a "cruise to nowhere."

Carnival is expected to expand its Australian operations in the coming years. Earlier this year, the line announced plans to acquire two Australia-based vessels currently operated by P&O Cruises Australia, a sister line under the same parent company as Carnival.

In 2025, the two ships — the 2,636-passenger Pacific Adventure and the 2,600-passenger Pacific Encounter — will join the Carnival fleet, and it's anticipated that they will primarily serve Australian travelers.

Key Takeaway

Carnival primarily concentrates on cruises within North America. If you're seeking a journey to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, or the west coast of Mexico, Carnival offers an unmatched variety of options. However, if your interest lies in cruising to Europe, Asia, or South America, you might want to consider other cruise lines.