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Carnival are usually synonymous with sun, sand and Reggae playlists in the Caribbean. But in 2027 the line is stretching its wings in Europe in a big way. They’ve just dropped plans that shift some of their ships into the Mediterranean and Western Europe for the summer season, including sailings from Barcelona, Rome and even Dover in England.
Although they’ve been dipping their toes in the Med. 2027 feels like the year where they’re diving head first.
Carnival Sunshine in the Mediterranean for 2027
The star of the show here is Carnival Sunshine. Traditionally a ship you’d find cruising from the United States, in 2027 she’s set up a seasonal home in the Mediterranean.
From late May through October 2027, Sunshine will be sailing Mediterranean and North African itineraries out of Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.
These aren’t just quick hops between ports. There’s a mix of week-long and longer voyages that take in classic Med stops like:
- Marseille, France
- Genoa, Italy
- Corfu and Bari
- Capri and Sicily
- Valletta, Malta
- La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia
- Tangier, Morocco
That’s a pretty tasty mix of culture, scenery and history all on one ship. Plus there’s a special solar eclipse sailing leaving Barcelona in late July, timed perfectly to be along the path of the August 2, 2027 eclipse. Imagine watching that from the ship’s deck as you sail past coastal France and Italy.
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Carnival Miracle in Europe
Rather than sitting in one Mediterranean homeport all summer, Carnival Miracle will start the season sailing from Dover, before later repositioning south.
One of the headline sailings is an 11-night Carnival Journeys cruise from Dover in late July 2027, perfectly timed for the August 2 solar eclipse at sea. This itinerary leans into Northern Europe and the Atlantic coast, with calls including:
- Guernsey
- Lisbon and Leixões (Portugal)
- La Coruña, Spain
- Le Havre, France
- Zeebrugge, Belgium
It’s a rare chance to cruise with Carnival straight from the UK, no long-haul flights required.
Later in the season, Carnival Miracle moves to Civitavecchia (Rome) for autumn Mediterranean sailings. These cruises focus more on classic southern European ports, offering a very different vibe from her earlier Dover departures. It’s less of a full-summer Med deployment and more of a strategic late-season shift, but still notable for a line that rarely bases ships in Italy.
Rome and Italian Med Cruises
For folks dreaming of olive groves, piazzas and pasta, Carnival Miracle also has sailings from Civitavecchia (Rome) later in the season. These Mediterranean runs typically explore classic Italian and Adriatic hotspots like Split, Capri and other gems along the coast.
Departing from Rome is such a clever way to combine a city break with a cruise. You could easily spend a couple of days wandering the Colosseum and Vatican before boarding for sea views and onboard entertainment.
Why this is kind of a big deal!!
Carnival dipping its toes into longer Mediterranean seasons isn’t something we see every year. Normally they’re focused on the Caribbean, Alaska and short coastal runs. For 2027 though, they’ve clearly decided to give European cruising a bigger spotlight, especially with Sunshine’s expanded program of 15 sailings from Barcelona alone.
This season feels like a fresh spin on Carnivals usual playbook. It’s relaxed, sunny and open to a mix of classic med routes and quirky itineraries like the eclipse voyages. It might just be the perfect excuse to experience Carnival’s playful vibe against a backdrop of European history and Mediterranean coastlines.
Why the Mediterranean, and why now?
So why is Carnival suddenly eyeing up the Med? A big part of it comes down to what other cruise lines are already proving works.
Royal Caribbean and MSC have seen huge success in the Mediterranean, especially with fly-cruise guests from the UK and Europe who want shorter flights, iconic ports and warm summer sailing.
The demand is clearly there. There’s also an interesting Carnival Corp angle. Costa Cruises, which sits under the same parent company, has traditionally been the Mediterranean specialist, but with fewer Costa ships now based there year-round, something feels missing.
Recently we’ve seen Carnival and Costa collaborate on a hybrid ship concept, blending brands and onboard styles.
These 2027 sailings could be Carnival’s way of quietly filling that gap. Not a full takeover, but a soft replacement that keeps Carnival Corp’s footprint strong in the Med, while introducing Carnival’s fun-first vibe to a market that’s already primed for cruising.
