Carnival Cruise Line is making a big bet on one of the East Coast’s most consistent cruise ports — and it’s a move that could mean a lot more Caribbean options for travelers who want to skip the flight.

The cruise line just announced new sailings for the 2027-28 season, led by a major first: Carnival will homeport two ships in Baltimore for the first time ever, with Carnival Miracle joining Carnival Pride beginning in fall 2027.

At the same time, Carnival is reshuffling deployment for Carnival Firenze, adding new options out of Port Canaveral, Miami and New York City across the 2027-28 schedule.

Two Carnival Ships, One Baltimore Homeport

Carnival has been sailing out of Baltimore for more than two decades, and now the port is getting a second year-round-style boost.

Starting in fall 2027, Carnival Miracle will arrive in Baltimore and begin operating alongside Carnival Pride, creating a bigger mix of Caribbean itineraries out of the Mid-Atlantic.

Carnival Miracle is set to arrive on Nov. 20, 2027, after a 15-day transatlantic voyage from Civitavecchia, Italy.

The ship will run seven-, eight- and nine-day cruises to the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean, along with longer 12- and 14-day Carnival Journeys sailings that reach deeper into the region, including ports like Dominica, Guadeloupe and St. Maarten.

Why This Matters for Caribbean Travelers

Baltimore has always been one of the most practical homeports in the country for Caribbean cruises, especially for travelers across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and even parts of the Midwest.

It’s a drive-to port for millions of people — which means you can start a Caribbean trip without dealing with airport connections, baggage rules, or the rising cost of flights to Florida.

With two ships now based there, the big change is variety. More ships means more itineraries, more sailing lengths, and more options across the calendar — including longer voyages that reach islands many ships from Baltimore don’t regularly serve.

Carnival Miracle: The Ship Coming to Baltimore

Carnival Miracle is a Spirit-class ship, a category that tends to work especially well for longer, destination-heavy itineraries.

Onboard, Carnival is leaning into the kinds of features that matter on a seven- to 14-day cruise: multiple dining choices, plenty of bars, and entertainment that holds up across sea days.

Carnival highlighted onboard venues like Guy’s Burger Joint, the ship’s Steakhouse, WaterWorks, Playlist Production shows, Alchemy Bar and The Punchliner Comedy Club.

Carnival Pride Is Staying in Baltimore, Too

The announcement also builds on another key piece of news: Carnival Pride is staying in Baltimore year-round.

That means Baltimore travelers will continue to see a mix of seven-day Bahamas cruises, seven-day Bermuda sailings, and longer nine-, 12- and 14-day Carnival Journeys itineraries.

Those longer routes are expected to include a deep list of Southern Caribbean ports, with Carnival mentioning destinations like Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, Tortola, and Martinique.

Carnival Firenze Gets a New Caribbean Game Plan

The other major update in Carnival’s 2027-28 announcement is Carnival Firenze, which is being positioned for a more flexible Caribbean schedule.

Beginning in fall 2027, Carnival Firenze will be based in Port Canaveral, offering four- to 14-day Caribbean itineraries.

That includes short Bahamas sailings that stop at Celebration Key, Carnival’s new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama, plus longer Eastern Caribbean cruises and Carnival Journeys sailings into the Southern Caribbean.

A One-Time Miami Sailing Before New York

Carnival also added a one-time 11-day Carnival Journeys Southern Caribbean sailing for Firenze departing Miami on May 16, 2027.

That itinerary is set to include Celebration Key, Aruba, Curaçao and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, before the ship repositions north for a seasonal run out of New York City.

New York City Summer 2028 Sailings

Carnival Firenze will then operate seasonal summer 2028 sailings from New York, giving travelers in the Northeast another way to reach the Caribbean without heading south to Florida.

After that summer season, the ship will return to Port Canaveral for what Carnival is calling its ongoing year-round program.

The Takeaway

Carnival’s new 2027-28 schedule is a clear signal of where the cruise line sees demand growing: drive-to cruising from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, longer itineraries that reach beyond the usual “quick-hit” ports, and more flexibility in where ships are based seasonally.

For Caribbean travelers, the headline is simple: Baltimore is about to become a much bigger gateway to the islands — and you’re going to have a lot more ways to get there