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Carnival unveils epic Asia-Pacific cruise itineraries

Jan. 17, 2025
3 min read
Kyoto, Japan (1)
Carnival unveils epic Asia-Pacific cruise itineraries
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Carnival Cruise Line fans craving longer sailings to new destinations will soon have their wish granted.

Carnival has added four new Asia-Pacific sailings to its 2026 and 2027 schedules as part of its Carnival Journeys program, which features cruises of nine nights or longer. The voyages will include calls across Japan, Australia and Southeast Asia. Seven stops will be first-time ports for Carnival.

The new Asia-Pacific itineraries will be available on Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure, two vessels Carnival acquired from other cruise lines. Formerly a Costa Cruises vessel, Carnival Luminosa joined the Carnival fleet in 2022. (Costa Cruises is Carnival's sister line.) Carnival Adventure was previously P&O Cruises Australia's Pacific Adventure before the line was absorbed by Carnival.

Carnival Luminosa Asia-Pacific itineraries for 2026 include:

  • 14-night Tokyo to Singapore: Features first-time visits for Carnival to Hong Kong, Osaka (Kyoto) and Fukuoka (Hakata) in Japan, South Korea's Seogwipo (Jeju), and Keelung (Taipei) in Taiwan. The ship will also call at Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City) in Vietnam. Fares start at $1,194 per person (based on double occupancy).
  • 14-night Singapore to Brisbane: Includes stops in Bali, plus Darwin, Cairns and Airlie Beach in Australia. Fares start at $1,199 per person (based on double occupancy).

Carnival Adventure Asia-Pacific voyages for 2027 include:

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  • 14-night Sydney to Singapore: Features visits to Australia's Airlie Beach and Darwin, plus Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. Fares start at $1,010 per person (based on double occupancy).
  • Nine-night Southeast Asia, round-trip from Singapore: Inaugural visits for the line on this sailing include Koh Samui and Laem Chabang (Bangkok) in Thailand, plus Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The ship will also call at Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City) in Vietnam. Fares start at $901 per person (based on double occupancy).

Carnival Journeys itineraries are special for the line, as they run longer than typical Carnival sailings. They feature a series of onboard offerings that include enrichment courses (such as photography and celestial navigation classes) and special dining events that showcase the cuisine of the destination.

Longtime Carnival cruisers will likely appreciate the Throwback Sea Day, which pays homage to the line’s early days with old-school events like a captain’s cocktail party, food-carving demonstrations and AquaFrog Racing pool contests.

Travelers can book Carnival Luminosa sailings directly with Carnival or by calling a travel agent. Cruises on Carnival Adventure are currently bookable through P&O Cruises Australia and will be available to book through Carnival beginning in March.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.