Carnival Cruise Line is changing course for one of its upcoming voyages. The November 1, 2025, sailing aboard Carnival Magic has been reclassified as a Casino Event cruise and will now be adults-only, allowing only guests aged 21 and up.
The change was announced via an official letter sent to booked passengers on May 20.
Letter from Carnival
“As one of our valued Carnival Players Club guests, you will be pleased to learn that we have made an operational change for this voyage,” wrote Colleen Oliverio, vice president of guest services, in the letter.
She added that the cruise is now “dedicated to offering our playing enthusiasts thrilling and unique experiences.”
The change is part of Carnival’s Players Club loyalty program, which rewards frequent casino guests with perks like complimentary drinks, cabin upgrades, and invites to exclusive sailings.
Casino Event cruises often feature tournaments, giveaways, and expanded casino programming.
While the letter emphasizes that most brand-specific offerings will remain, the absence of children means Carnival’s youth programs—including Camp Ocean, Club O2, and Circle C—will not be operating.
Guests who plan to sail with children must now revise or cancel their reservations.
Carnival has not confirmed whether rebooking assistance or compensation will be offered, though historically, cruise lines provide future cruise credits in such cases.
Mixed Reactions
The timing is linked to a change in dry dock scheduling. Originally, Carnival Magic was expected to be in dry dock in late 2025, but that refurbishment has been pushed to spring 2026.
As a result, the line opened new sailings, including this Casino Event cruise.
Reactions from guests have been mixed. “I’ve been waiting for an adults-only Carnival cruise,” one cruiser posted in a public forum.
Another guest was more critical: “Seems like a lack of planning on Carnival’s side. Probably a lot of disappointed customers.”
The Eastern Caribbean itinerary departs from PortMiami and visits the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.
