Just like with airlines and hotels, you can book your Carnival cruise months in advance. In fact, Carnival sometimes releases its itineraries over two years beforehand, giving travelers more opportunities to plan and budget for their vacation.
Although you don't have to rush to make your next cruise booking this minute, there are benefits to planning in advance. For example, you'll have more cabin options than if you were to look at a last-minute Carnival cruise.
Moreover, pricing tends to be cheapest right when new sailings are released. You also don't have to worry about paying off your cruise in full for months.
Read more: Carnival Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest
When does Carnival Cruise Line open bookings for future sailings?
Generally speaking, you can book most Carnival cruises around 18-20 months in advance. That said, Carnival will sometimes release itineraries even further out. For example, as of August 2025, Carnival’s website has select sailings available through April 2028.
Typically, though, when they're around two years or more in advance, the selections are more limited. At the time of publication, the only cruises open for April 2028 were short sailings aboard Mardi Gras and weeklong voyages on Carnival Liberty from New Orleans, Louisiana.
So, if you want to plan a spring break cruise on Carnival Jubilee, you'll need to wait for those itineraries to be released.
That said, many people choose to book their cruises around 9 to 12 months ahead of time to make sure the date works with their work and school calendars. This also ensures that the full schedule is available.
The best way to keep an eye out for new Carnival sailings is to sign up for their newsletter, which will let you know when they plan on opening sailings for booking.
You can also work with a trusted travel agent, as they usually have access to sailing announcements and can alert you as soon as new itineraries become available.
Read more: I took my first Carnival cruise on one of its newest ships. Here are my brutally honest thoughts
Why smart travelers book their cruises in advance
First, you'll have more stateroom options. This is a huge advantage if you're eyeing a specific cabin category, such as a suite, or have a certain location in mind.
You'll also have more time to plan and budget for the cruise. Although the cruise itself may be affordable, you can't forget about add-ons like drink packages, shore excursions, and specialty restaurants.
Plus, if you live on the East Coast and are planning a cruise to Alaska, you'll have to book flights and a pre-cruise hotel (because flying in on the morning of embarkation is never a smart idea).
As mentioned earlier, rates are typically at their lowest right after they're released, so if you book your cruise with a refundable deposit, you can keep an eye on the fare and cancel if you notice it drops.
Certain rates, even with non-refundable deposits, are eligible for price matching, too. If this interests you, steer clear of Fun Saver and Early Saver fares, as they don't include price protection.
Moreover, you may want to work with a travel agent, as they can keep an eye on the fares and contact Carnival on your behalf if they notice a decrease.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Ships by Size: Biggest to Smallest
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!
