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You'll soon have a new option for an inexpensive Europe cruise

Feb. 05, 2020
5 min read
You'll soon have a new option for an inexpensive Europe cruise
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Budget travelers, take note: You're about to get a new option for a super-inexpensive cruise in Europe.

Budget traveler-focused Carnival Cruise Line on Tuesday announced that one of its biggest ships, the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic, would head to the continent in 2021 for a series of spring voyages.

The 14-deck-high "fun ship," as Carnival calls its vessels, will join the line's smaller, 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend in sailing out of European ports during the spring. That'll create a rare moment when two of Carnival's low-cost vessels are operating in Europe at the same time.

Carnival Legend already had been scheduled to operate in Europe from April 2021 to October 2021.

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Based in Miami, Carnival is known for affordable, easy-to-reach sailings out of U.S. ports. The line typically doesn't deploy many ships beyond North America. In most years, nearly all Carnival sailings are trips out of U.S. ports to such places as the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska. The company also has a small Australia operation that caters mostly to Australian vacationers.

The new Carnival Magic itineraries in Europe still are being loaded on the line's website.

The trips include a 14-night, transatlantic voyage from Miami to Barcelona that starts at just $669 per person -- less than $48 per night. That's about as low a fare as you can get these days for a two-week cruise that includes Europe calls.

Keep in mind that the above pricing includes not just accommodations on the ship but meals and entertainment, too. Taxes, fees and other incidentals such as drinks are extra.

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The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic. Photo courtesy of Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Lines
The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic. (Photo courtesy of Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)

Kicking off March 3, 2021, the transatlantic voyage is a relatively unusual one for Carnival. The itinerary includes not just a stop at Bermuda on the way over to Europe but a call in the Azores, too. Once in Europe, the ship will visit Lisbon, Portugal; and Malaga and Valencia, Spain; before concluding the sailing in Barcelona.

After arriving in Barcelona, Carnival Magic will be taken out of service for two weeks for an overhaul in a European dry dock. It'll then resume sailing with a short series of seven- and eight-night voyages out of Barcelona that include stops in Valletta, Malta; Marseilles, France; and Livorno, Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Naples and Messina in Italy. Fares and specific itinerary details for these sailings have yet to be loaded onto the Carnival website.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Carnival Magic will return to North America in May via a 12-night transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to New York City. Starting on May 3, 2021, the sailing will feature calls at Cartagena and Malaga, Spain; Funchal, the capital of Madeira; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Fares for the May 3 sailing start at $719 per person -- about $60 per day.

After arriving in New York City, Carnival Magic will operate a summer schedule of four- to nine-night voyages to Bermuda; the Bahamas; the Caribbean; and Canada and New England. The trips will take place between June 2021 and late September 2021.

Carnival Magic's deployment to Europe for several months in 2021 is being driven, in part, by a need for the ship to undergo routine maintenance in dry dock. Carnival typically has routine maintenance of its ships performed in North American shipyards. But a lack of available space at North American shipyards has prompted the line to begin sending its vessels further afield.

Carnival is the world's biggest cruise line by number of ships.

Planning a cruise for 2020? Our planning guide starts here:

Featured image by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line

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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.

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  • 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