Carnival Adventure and Encounter Complete First Year of Service

Two Carnival ships recently hit a major milestone. The Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter have completed their first full year sailing under the Carnival Cruise Line flag.

From P&O Australia to Carnival: A New Chapter

These two ships have an interesting backstory. They were originally built for Princess Cruises in the early 2000s. Later, they sailed for P&O Cruises Australia as the Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter starting in 2021.

When P&O Cruises Australia shut down, Carnival took over the ships. They officially joined the Carnival fleet in March 2025. The transition kept both ships sailing in the same region — the South Pacific — without missing a beat.

What Changed Before They Set Sail for Carnival

Before their debut, both ships went through a refresh. Carnival added some of its signature onboard features and updated the exterior paint scheme. The ships also got new names with the Carnival prefix added.

These weren’t massive overhauls, but the changes gave both ships a fresh Carnival identity while keeping what passengers already loved.

Carnival Adventure: Sailing From Sydney

The Carnival Adventure — formerly known as the Golden Princess — is now based in Sydney. It sails alongside the Carnival Splendor. Together, they give Australian cruisers plenty of options year-round.

The Adventure offers voyages ranging from three to 12 nights. Popular destinations include the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. Carnival recently announced plans to expand its reach even further.

More Homeports Coming Soon

New departure cities are being added to the Adventure’s schedule. These include Melbourne, Adelaide, Auckland, and Singapore. That’s great news for travelers who want more flexibility in where they start their trip.

Looking further ahead, the Adventure is set to reposition to North America in April 2028. It will spend the summer sailing in that region before heading back to Australia for the 2028-29 season.

Carnival Encounter: Fresh Out of Drydock

The Carnival Encounter — originally built as the Star Princess — just returned to its home port of Brisbane. It completed a major refurbishment in Singapore. This was a more significant upgrade compared to the initial refresh both ships received in 2025.

The refit included a revamp of the ship’s pool decks. The Cloud 9 Spa also received upgrades, along with several technical improvements. The 109,000-ton ship now sports Carnival’s updated livery and looks better than ever.

Back on Schedule in Brisbane

The Encounter has resumed its year-round schedule from Brisbane. Like the Adventure, it offers three- to 12-night itineraries to South Pacific destinations. Carnival also operates the Carnival Luminosa out of Brisbane on a seasonal basis, giving travelers even more sailing options from that port.

Why This Matters for Cruise Fans

It’s been a busy first year for these two ships under the Carnival banner. Both have found their footing in the South Pacific market. With new ports, a recent drydock, and a future North America deployment on the horizon, there’s a lot to look forward to from this duo.