Carnival Sunshine Moves to Galveston, Carnival Spirit Shifts to Tampa

Carnival Cruise Line changed its 2027-28 deployments, announcing that Carnival Sunshine will homeport in Galveston instead of Carnival Spirit, while Carnival Spirit moves to Tampa with new, longer Caribbean itineraries.

Sunshine Debuts in Galveston

A large Carnival cruise ship, similar to the Carnival Spirit Tampa, sails on calm ocean water at sunset, with a colorful sky and clouds in the background. The ship features multiple decks and is branded with the Carnival logo.

Carnival Sunshine will make its first appearance at the Port of Galveston in November 2027, bringing 3,000-passenger capacity to support growing Texas market demand.

The ship joins Carnival’s four-ship Galveston lineup alongside Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Dream, and Carnival Breeze.

“We’re excited to introduce Carnival Sunshine to Galveston for the first time and bring Carnival Spirit to Tampa,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “This move allows us to serve more guests in Galveston where we continue to see strong demand and introduce new, longer Caribbean itineraries for guests sailing from Tampa.”

The deployment keeps Carnival’s four-ship commitment to Galveston intact, where the cruise line has operated for 25 years and carried more than 10 million passengers through the Texas port.

Galveston Itinerary Options Expand

A large cruise ship, named Carnival Sunshine, sails on a calm ocean near Norfolk. The ship has a blue and white exterior with red accents and a distinctive red funnel featuring the Carnival logo. The sky is partly cloudy, and the horizon is visible in the distance, hinting at exciting 2025 itineraries ahead.

Carnival Sunshine will offer four- to 10-day Caribbean sailings starting in November 2027. Shorter cruises visit Mexican ports, including Cozumel and Progreso, while longer sailings reach destinations such as Celebration Key, RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Limon, Colon, Isla Tropicale in Roatán, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay.

The ship will open eight new sailings, including a special 10-day itinerary visiting Cozumel, Isla Tropicale, Montego Bay, and Grand Cayman.

Spirit Brings Longer Cruises to Tampa

A large Carnival cruise ship named Carnival Spirit sails across calm ocean waters under a partly cloudy sky during daytime, showcasing multiple decks, lifeboats, and its distinctive red funnel. Experience adventure on the Carnival Spirit Tampa voyage.

Carnival Spirit will offer six-, seven-, and eight-day itineraries from Tampa visiting Caribbean destinations including Belize, Isla Tropicale, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Mexican ports Cozumel and Progreso.

The ship will also offer six eight-day Panama Canal itineraries, visiting Limon, Grand Cayman, and Colón. A special 13-day Carnival Journeys cruise departs January 30, 2028, visiting Grand Cayman, Limón, Colón, Aruba, Curacao, and Ocho Rios.

Tampa passengers will see expanded itinerary options compared to typical four- and five-day sailings currently offered from the Gulf Coast port, where Carnival has operated for 30 years.

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Frank M

Frank is a seasoned travel journalist with over a decade of experience covering hospitality, cruise, and air travel. He has traveled extensively by land, sea, and air, collaborating with industry giants like Marriott, Hyatt, Disney, and Carnival Corp. His work has been featured in major international and industry publications across four continents.
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