Weeks after canceling numerous cruises aboard two ships, Carnival Cruise Line announced more cancellations on Carnival Conquest due to dry dock rescheduling.
The impacted 3 and 4-night itineraries include Conquest's January 5, 2026, departure from Miami, Florida, through and including the January 26, 2026, sailing. The cruises were scheduled to call at ports like Celebration Key, Princess Cays, and Half Moon Cay — all private destinations within Carnival Corporation's portfolio.
In an email sent to impacted guests, Carnival said, “We have had to reschedule Carnival Conquest’s dry dock to January 2026, and we are sorry to inform you that the above cruises, including yours, have been cancelled."
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line cancels sailings
"We have a variety of alternatives and are confident you will find another Carnival cruise that is filled with an equal amount of fun. Our team is ready to discuss options and rebook you on another voyage right away."
Carnival hasn't said why the ship is going into dry dock. However, Carnival Conquest is an older ship, having originally launched in 2002.
Cruise lines perform routine maintenance on their ships to ensure they're operating safely and efficiently. Conquest's last dry dock was in 2022, so it's not surprising that Carnival wants to bring the ship in for more upkeep.
Compensation
Guests booked on Carnival Conquest's canceled cruises were offered compensation options, including a full refund and onboard credit.
Those who wish to cancel their cruise will receive a full refund for their fare, including any pre-purchased items like drink packages or shore excursions.
However, Carnival is committed to making the rebooking process as smooth as possible for those who wish to sail on a different voyage.
Read more: I sailed on Carnival Conquest for the first time: 13 things I loved and hated
As such, the cruise line will protect the booked passengers' cruise fare for comparable sailings. However, "Rate protection will not be applied if rebooking holiday departures, cruises to Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, and chartered sailings. New booking must be of cruise duration not exceeding the number of days of the original booking," states the email.
In other words, guests will need to book another 3 or 4-night cruise with Carnival to take advantage of the rate protection.
Additionally, guests who choose to rebook will receive $50.00 in onboard credit per person, with a maximum of $100.000 per stateroom.
No action is required for those who want to cancel their Carnival cruise vacation. A full refund of the cruise fare and pre-paid items will be issued to the original form of payment after June 10, 2025. This also includes those who booked Early Saver reservations. Carnival notes, however, that refunds could take up to three weeks to process through the bank.
Finally, for guests with independent air, Carnival will reimburse up to $200.00 per person for non-refundable airfare expenses or change fees. Supporting documentation must be submitted via email to [email protected].
Carnival Conquest is hosting adult-only sailings this fall
Last week, Carnival revealed that they're experimenting with adult-only voyages aboard select vessels this year. However, they don't interfere with Conquest's new dry dock plans.
The sailings are special Elite cruises for those who have a significant playing history in Carnival's casino. Along with being invited to exclusive voyages, cruisers get perks like upgraded amenities and generous FunPlay offers.
One Reddit user mentioned that their offer for Carnival's adult-only sailings includes $2,000 in FunPlay to spend in the ship's casino:
"My offer came with $2k FunPlay, and drinks on us everywhere, plus $200 OBC," wrote Taterhater257 on Reddit.
Adult-only cruises aboard Carnival Conquest include:
- August 22, 2025: 9-night Southern Caribbean cruise
- August 31, 2025: 12-day Southern Caribbean cruise
- September 12, 2025: 9-night Southern Caribbean cruise
- September 21, 2025: 10-night Southern Caribbean cruise
Carnival Magic is also offering a series of adult-only cruises in October and November 2025.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
