Cruise giant Carnival just announced what may be its most unusual — and epic — itinerary ever
Carnival Cruise Line is about to operate what just may be its most off-the-beaten-path itinerary ever.
The world's second-largest cruise brand on Wednesday announced that its 2,826-passenger Carnival Luminosa would sail a one-time voyage from Brisbane, Australia, to Seattle, following an epic, roundabout transpacific route that would take it all the way up to Japan and then to Alaska.
Starting on April 1, 2024, the voyage will last 31 days, making it one of the longest cruises in Carnival's 50-year history.
For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.
Such far-ranging itineraries are extremely rare for Carnival, which is known for its focus on short cruises out of U.S. ports.
Nearly all the line's ships sail out of U.S. ports. The only regular exceptions are a small number of vessels deployed in Australia to offer mostly short cruises aimed at the local market; occasionally, the line will offer one-off cruises from European ports.
Transpacific cruises that start in Brisbane are rare for any line, not just Carnival. And transpacific cruises that start in Brisbane and include stops in Japan and Alaska are even rarer.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival cruise
A pricey transpacific cruise
In another twist, the cruise will come with a price tag that, compared to the typical Carnival cruise, might seem astronomical.
As of Thursday morning, Carnival was listing the sailing on its website starting at $3,449 per person for the least expensive windowless inside cabin, based on double occupancy and not including $389.20 in taxes and fees.
That means booking the least expensive cabin on the sailing will set you back a minimum of $7,676.40. That's many times the typical starting rate of a Carnival cruise. Some of Carnival's most popular itineraries regularly sell at starting rates under $800 for two people.
Even when analyzing the cost on a per-day basis, the starting rate is more than double the cost of many Carnival cruises.
The route
Carnival Luminosa will make the journey as it repositions from Australia to Seattle to operate Alaska sailings for the summer of 2024.
The 31-day itinerary will kick off with six sea days in a row (yeah, you better like sea days) as the vessel heads across the Pacific to the American-owned Pacific island of Guam, a destination that draws relatively few cruise ships, for a day stop.
Then come two more sea days as the ship continues on to the Japanese island of Okinawa — a destination that no Carnival vessel has visited in the line's 50-year history.
From there, Carnival Luminosa will travel north to the Japanese ports of Hiroshima, Yokohama (the port for Tokyo), Aomori and Kushiro.
Four more sea days — and a crossing of the international date line (where you will lose a full day of your trip in an instant, alas) — will bring the ship to Alaska.
Alaska port calls include Seward, Juneau and Ketchikan, and Carnival Luminosa also will visit Alaska's Hubbard Glacier.
The trip ends in Seattle on May 1, 2024.
The voyage is just the latest unusually long, Pacific-focused voyage that Carnival has announced. Just last week, the brand revealed plans for a one-time, 18-night voyage from Long Beach, California, to Yokohama that also will take place in 2024.
Additionally, the line plans a 25-night voyage in 2024 from Singapore to Long Beach.
Both of the latter sailings will take place on the 4,008-passenger Carnival Panorama as it repositions to Asia for an overhaul at a shipyard.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- The 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees