Carnival Cruise Line Plans First Ever African Port Visits in 2027

Carnival Cruise Line has announced a major expansion of its European plans for the 2027 summer season, marking its first-ever visits to destinations in Africa. According to an official press release, the Carnival Sunshine will become the cruise line’s first ship to sail to the African continent, with scheduled calls in Tunisia and Morocco. This move adds new cultural experiences to Carnival’s growing list of Mediterranean itineraries and offers guests fresh options beyond traditional European ports.

Carnival Sunshine to Sail 7 to 10-Night Mediterranean Cruises

The Carnival Sunshine will operate a series of seven to 10-night Mediterranean cruises between June and September 2027. One of the highlighted itineraries sails round-trip from Barcelona in Spain, making it easy for guests to plan extended European vacations. The 8-night cruise includes stops in Italy, Tunisia, and France, giving travelers a chance to visit historic cities, coastal towns, and North African culture.

Ports of call on this sailing include La Goulette in Tunisia, along with Naples and Palermo in Italy. The ship will also visit Ajaccio in Corsica and Marseille in southern France. These destinations bring together ancient history, local food, and scenic coastlines, all within one itinerary.

Morocco Added During Transatlantic Repositioning Cruise

In addition to its Mediterranean sailings, the Carnival Sunshine will visit Tangier in Morocco during its transatlantic repositioning voyage back to North America. This 13-night cruise is scheduled for mid-October 2027 and sails from Barcelona to Miami. Along the way, the ship will stop at several ports in Spain, including Alicante and Malaga, before crossing the Atlantic.

The voyage also includes a visit to Grand Turk in the Cayman Islands, adding a Caribbean stop to the long sailing. This itinerary offers guests a rare combination of European, African, and Caribbean destinations on one extended cruise.

Back-to-Back Vacation Options Across Europe and North Africa

Carnival stated that the 2027 summer deployment was designed to support back-to-back vacation options. Guests can combine multiple sailings to explore destinations across Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, Montenegro, Tunisia, and Morocco. The overall deployment includes more than 15 departures, with cruises sailing from Barcelona, Civitavecchia near Rome, and Dover in the United Kingdom.

The European season runs from May through October 2027. One standout sailing includes a special solar eclipse cruise in August 2027. During this voyage, the Carnival Sunshine will be positioned along the path of maximum visibility, giving guests a rare chance to view the celestial event from the sea.

Carnival Doubles Its European Fleet for Summer 2027

Carnival Cruise Line is also doubling its presence in Europe during the 2027 summer season. Alongside the Carnival Sunshine, the Carnival Miracle will also operate itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. This expanded fleet reflects growing demand for European cruises and longer summer deployments.

After completing its European season, the Carnival Sunshine will reposition to Galveston. From there, it will operate 10-night and 4-night cruises to the Caribbean, continuing its year with warm weather sailing.