Carnival’s announcement today about changing itineraries caused me to do a double-take. What jumped out at me was a headline including the words “through April 2023.” Lately, in the world of cruises, an announcement like this would be a shock, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned during the last 12 months, it’s “anything can happen.”

I’ve also learned to control my reactions until gathering as much information as possible. So before having a complete meltdown, I read the rest of the announcement. Fortunately, those words were attached to a specific ship, Carnival Miracle, and not a delay but a change in where she sails.

Related: Carnival Suspension Extended Again

Carnival Cruise Line today released plans for additional ship deployments as it continues to refine its phased in approach to a return to guest operations for 2021, resulting in some ship-specific cruise cancellations and movements. Those plans include:

Related to already-announced dry dock plans for Carnival Magic, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Valor, those ships’ return to operations will be delayed until November 2021. Consequently, voyages on Carnival Magic from Norfolk (embarkations from Sept. 29-Oct. 30), Carnival Paradise from Tampa (embarkations from June 5-Oct. 28) and Carnival Valor from New Orleans (embarkations from Sept. 16-Oct. 28) have been cancelled.

Carnival Miracle’s planned seasonal service from San Diego has been suspended until further notice, and sailings out of San Diego that were available for sale through April 2023 have been cancelled, with the exception of seven voyages to Hawaii, which will move to Long Beach.

Carnival Radiance’s dry dock and transformation has been moved to September, with a planned arrival to Long Beach in November 2021.

With Carnival Miracle’s reposition to Long Beach, the ship will assume the three- and four-day itineraries for Carnival Radiance from May 3-Nov. 1, 2021 as well as the seven Hawaii Carnival Journeys referenced above. In addition, Carnival Miracle will launch a new program of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico during the winter season, beginning November 2021 and continuing through April 2023.

Carnival

Based on this announcement, where possible, West Coast guests are being accommodated in a transfer to Carnival Miracle (from Carnival Radiance), or the retention of their Hawaiian itinerary via a Long Beach embarkation instead. With this change, Carnival will eventually run a three-ship operation from its port facility at Long Beach: Carnival Panorama sailing seven-day Mexican Riviera itineraries and Carnival Radiance operating three- and four-day itineraries year-round, with Carnival Miracle operating four- and five-day Mexico and 14-day Hawaii itineraries during the winter.

Carnival Miracle Cancellations From San Diego
As a result, Carnival Miracle’s planned seasonal service from San Diego has been suspended until further notice. Sailings out of San Diego that were available for sale through April 2023 have been cancelled, except for Carnival Journey cruises to Hawaii between November 2021 and February 2023, which will now operate from Long Beach as 14-day cruises departing one day later than originally scheduled.

• Guests will receive a 1-day pro-rated reduction in their cruise fare, and taxes, fees and port expenses will be adjusted accordingly. Pre-paid gratuities and pre-purchased beverage and Wi-Fi packages will also be adjusted to reflect the shortened duration.
• In addition to the adjustment in cruise fare, Carnival is offering a US$200, per cabin, onboard credit.
• All pre-purchased items such as Carnival Vacation Protection, gratuities and Fun Shop items will automatically transfer. Any pre-purchased shore excursions, including Faster to the Fun will be cancelled and refunded to the original form of payment.
• If guests find this is not satisfactory, a request for refund will be honored until March 31, 2021. After that date, Carnival’s regular fare rules will apply to any further changes or cancellations.

Carnival Radiance Guests Moving To Carnival Miracle

Carnival Radiance’s dry dock and transformation has been moved to September, with a planned arrival to Long Beach in November 2021. As a result, Carnival Miracle will be moving to Long Beach to take up itineraries previously assigned to Carnival Radiance. Reservations will be automatically moved to Carnival Miracle.

• All pre-purchased items such as Carnival Vacation Protection, gratuities and Fun Shop items will automatically transfer. Any pre-purchased shore excursions, including Faster to the Fun will be cancelled and refunded to the original form of payment.

Carnival Miracle Itinerary Change – Moving To Long Beach

Carnival Radiance’s dry dock and transformation has been moved to September, with a planned arrival to Long Beach in November 2021. As a result, Carnival Miracle will be moving to Long Beach to take up itineraries previously assigned to Carnival Radiance. Reservations will be automatically moved to Carnival Miracle, departing November 1, 2021, on a 3-day cruise sailing to Ensenada. Recognizing that the original cruise was a 4-day voyage, Carnival is making an adjustment to the cruise fare as referenced below.

• Guests will receive a 1-day pro-rated reduction in cruise fare, and taxes, fees and port expenses will be adjusted accordingly. Pre-paid gratuities and pre-purchased beverage and Wi-Fi packages will also be adjusted to reflect the shortened duration.
• All pre-purchased items such as Carnival Vacation Protection, gratuities and Fun Shop items will automatically transfer. Any pre-purchased shore excursions, including Faster to the Fun will be cancelled and refunded to the original form of payment.
• Requests for a refund will be honored until March 31, 2021. After that date, Carnival’s regular fare rules will apply to any further changes or cancellations.

If you had a reservation on these sailings, Carnival is extending their offer of future cruise credit and onboard credit. For cruises 6+ days, 100% FCC plus $600 per stateroom onboard credit. Cruises 5 days or fewer, 100% FCC and $300 per stateroom onboard credit. Guests also have the option to request a 100% refund.