Business · Companies · 1 day ago
Carnival to remove two of its four Australian cruise ships from 2028
Carnival will remove two of its four Australian ships from March 2028: the Carnival Adventure and the Carnival Luminosa.
The Carnival Encounter and Carnival Splendor will remain, making Carnival the only major cruise company with ships operating full-time in Australia.
More than 1.4 million Australians went on a cruise last year, but an industry expert says Australia is costly for cruise companies because of regulation, fees and limited infrastructure.
Other major cruise lines, including Disney and Royal Caribbean, have already withdrawn their full-time ships from Australia.
Carnival says it is weighing long-term operating conditions, while the expert says the ships could be sent to more profitable markets.
The decision follows changes to a temporary exemption from Australian labour laws, which now includes new worker protections.
A union representative says the fleet cut may be a negotiating tactic over crew agreements, but Carnival has announced the ships will leave from March 2028.
Carnival Cruises will remove two of its four Australian cruise ships from March 2028.
The Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa are due to leave the Australian fleet.
The Carnival Encounter and Carnival Splendor will remain.
Carnival said it was considering long-term certainty and globally competitive operating conditions.
A maritime historian said high costs and limited infrastructure make it difficult for cruise operators to stay profitable in Australia.
A Maritime Union of Australia representative said the withdrawal threat could be a negotiating tactic.
- Who
- Carnival Cruises.
- What
- It will remove two of its four Australian cruise ships: the Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa.
- When
- From March 2028.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- Carnival cited long-term certainty and globally competitive operating conditions. A maritime historian pointed to high costs and limited cruise infrastructure.
Carnival Cruises
Maritime Union of Australia
Reason for withdrawal
Carnival Cruises
Carnival said it had greater exposure to changes in local market and operating conditions and cited the need for long-term certainty and globally competitive operating conditions.
Maritime Union of Australia
Union representative Jake Field said the withdrawal threat was a negotiating tactic.
Crew agreements
Carnival Cruises
Not stated as a reason for the decision.
Maritime Union of Australia
Field said the four Carnival ships were the only four of 80 scheduled cruise vessels without collective agreements with their crews.
An ABC News investigation reported allegations by workers about long work days, medical neglect, unsafe drinking water and low wages; Carnival denied the allegations.
A decades-old temporary exemption allowing cruise ships to circumvent Australian labour laws was extended, with new worker protections added.
Carnival is due to remove the Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa from its Australian fleet.
- Australian fleet
- 4 ships currently; 2 to be removed
- Ships leaving
- Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa
- Ships remaining
- Carnival Encounter and Carnival Splendor
- Removal date
- March 2028
- Australian cruisers
- More than 1.4 million went on a cruise last year
- Scheduled cruise vessels
- 80 are due to come to Australia
3 sources
What people are saying
Australia is an end-of-the-line destination, and it's a huge investment.
Berthing fees are higher than other markets, refuelling is higher and provisioning the ship with food is higher, as you just don't have the economies of scale.
We'll still be surrounded by water, and be an international cruise destination. Those 80 other cruise ships will still be coming here.
long-term certainty and globally competitive operating conditions to support itinerary planning and investment