Carnival Just Cancelled Its 2027 Splendor Sailings and Passengers Are Scrambling

Carnival Cruise Line has canceled a sailing aboard the Carnival Splendor that was scheduled for October 12, 2027. Here’s what affected guests need to know.

Carnival Splendor’s October 2027 New Zealand Cruise Is Canceled

The cancellation is due to a full-ship charter. That means another group has booked the entire ship for that date.

The Carnival Splendor was set to sail roundtrip from Sydney, Australia. The 10-night Carnival Journeys cruise would have visited New Zealand.

The planned stops included Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, and the Bay of Islands. The itinerary also included five days at sea.

What Carnival Is Offering Affected Guests

Carnival reached out directly to booked passengers with two options. You can either rebook a similar sailing or get a full refund.

“We have a variety of alternatives and are confident you will find another Carnival cruise that is filled with an equal amount of fun,” Carnival said in its statement to guests.

Option 1: Rebook a Comparable Cruise

If you choose to rebook, Carnival will protect your original cruise rate. You’ll be placed in a similar cabin category on a comparable sailing.

As a bonus, Carnival is adding a $100 Australian dollars onboard credit per stateroom. That credit will go directly to your onboard account.

Option 2: Receive a Full Refund

If you’d rather not rebook, you don’t need to do anything. Carnival will automatically refund your full cruise fare.

Any pre-purchased items will also be refunded. The money will be returned to your original form of payment.

About the Carnival Splendor

The Carnival Splendor is based in Sydney, Australia, and sails year-round. The ship was built in 2008 and holds around 3,000 passengers.

Beyond New Zealand, the Splendor visits Queensland, the South Pacific, and the Great Barrier Reef. It’s one of several Carnival ships now operating in Australia.

Two other ships, the Carnival Adventure and the Carnival Encounter, joined the fleet from P&O Australia in early 2025. They sail year-round from Sydney and Brisbane. Popular destinations include Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

A fourth ship, the Carnival Luminosa, offers seasonal cruises from Brisbane. It splits its time between Australia and Alaska during the summer months.