Carnival’s Holiday Decorating Season Begins in Brisbane, Not Miami

Carnival Cruise Line has published its 2026 holiday decorating schedule for all 29 ships in its fleet, and the first ship in line is not sailing from a U.S. port. Carnival Encounter, based in Australia, is set to be decorated on her November 22 departure from Brisbane.

The last ship on the list is Carnival Luminosa, which will be decorated for her December 14 departure from Brisbane after a dry dock refurbishment. Most of the remaining ships are grouped by date, with decorated departures falling between November 27 and December 5. The schedule was shared by Carnival’s brand ambassador, John Heald.

The work is done by professional decorators rather than the ship’s crew, and it happens at each vessel’s homeport, which is why the dates follow departure schedules. The decorations stay up through New Year’s Eve sailings and typically come down soon after January 1.

For holiday cruisers, the schedule offers a practical planning tool. If a festive atmosphere matters, check your ship’s date against your sailing, since a departure just before a ship’s decorating day will sail without the full seasonal look. The published dates apply to departures, so confirm details with Carnival if your trip falls near a boundary.

Sources: Cruise Hive