Carnival Cruise Line adds better itineraries from smaller ports

Carnival Cruise Line tends to present its longer Caribbean cruises out of larger U.S. ports — specially Port Canaveral and Miami. While it offers cruises from a out of the ordinary deal of different ports within the Southeast, just like Mobile, Alabama, in addition to as Tampa and Jacksonville in Florida, they have an inclination to be rather short trips on Carnival’s smaller and older ships.

Nonetheless it, which is now set to vary. While the smaller ports are still utilizing Carnival’s smaller ships, there are some new and fascinating itineraries which ought to be would becould very well be now on hand to book.

Carnival brand ambassador John Heald shared a series of new itineraries for the 2026-2027 Caribbean cruising season out of Mobile, Alabama, and Tampa, Florida on his renowned Facebook page.

Be the first to see the most effectiv deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Register for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Carnival’s new small-port Caribbean cruises

Out of Mobile, the Carnival Spirit should be offering six-to-eight night agendas from November 2026 through March 2027, all of which encompass stops at the cruise line’s upcoming Celebration Key deepest island, in addition to as ports that encompass Key West, Princess Cays, Bimini, and more. There’s also a 14-day “Journeys” cruise that visits a series of ports, loads of which ought to be would becould very well be within the Southern Caribbean.

From Tampa, Carnival is planning cruises on two ships – the Legend and the Paradise. While the Paradise is basically offering shorter itineraries, the Legend is offering mainly six-to-eight-night cruises, a out of the ordinary deal of which encompass stops in Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman, just to call a few.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line takes a tricky stance on 1 passenger activity

For comparison, we can learn about what these ships and ports are offering for the 2024-2025 season. To be clear, all three ships sail out of these two ports now. That isn’t a change.

Nonetheless it, a out of the ordinary deal of the destinations are a transparent improvement. Cruises from Mobile all getting a stop at Celebration Secret's a gigantic difference, and there currently aren’t itineraries that talk over with the Bahamas on a 6- or 7-day day out. There are also some itineraries that can appeal to cruisers who aren’t comfy navigating foreign countries, just like a 7-night cruise that visits Key West, Florida, and the cruise line’s two deepest islands.

From Tampa, there’s an itinerary on Paradise that allows cruisers to experience Celebration Key in a four-night cruise. And there are some distance more Bahamas options than exist without delay – in point of fact, the Legend is fitter sailing Western Caribbean and Panama Canal itineraries within the 2024 wintry weather months but is adding a new three-stop, 6-night Bahamas itinerary (including both deepest islands) in December 2026.

In a nutshell, the newly-announced itineraries offer more variety to cruisers preferring these smaller ports – specially for those cruisers who enjoy deepest island stops and trips to the Bahamas.

Register for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save cash to your next (or your first) cruise.

These itineraries are using Carnival’s older ships – or are they?

All three of the ships scheduled to sail from Mobile and Tampa for the 2026/2027 Caribbean season are on the smaller side, and all three are relatively old.

Carnival Spirit become the first within the Spirit class and completed its maiden voyage in 2001. Carnival Legend is a member of the same class and launched the following year. Both ships are listed at 88,Five hundred GT (gross tons), and for context, Carnival’s most up-to-date ships, just like the Mardi Gras, are greater than twice this size. The Paradise is an even older and smaller ship, having been in service since 1998 and with volume about 20% smaller than either of the Spirit class ships.

• Carnival Cruise Line shares an R-rated warning for passengers
• Carnival Cruise Line supports a most well liked cruise tradition
• Carnival Cruise Line shares a strict dining policy

Nonetheless it, it’s important now to not necessarily agree with these ships “old.” Really, all three are scheduled to enter dry dock for modernization and upgrades between now and when these new itineraries start. This is in a position to mean additional and up to date dining options, and other upgrades and renovations.

Briefly, while Carnival has no plans to build new, smaller ships, which is some distance surely investing within the modernization of this component to the fleet – and rolling out some attractive new itineraries for cruisers preferring to sail from smaller, less-congested ports.

Are you taking a cruise or eager about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me site to have all of your questions answered.