Carnival Cruise Line is doubling down on Baltimore with a historic move.

For the first time in the cruise line’s history, two ships will homeport simultaneously in Maryland’s largest city starting in fall 2027.

Carnival Miracle will join Carnival Pride in Baltimore beginning November 20, 2027, following a 15-day transatlantic crossing from Civitavecchia, Italy.

The addition marks an expansion for Carnival, which has operated from Baltimore for more than two decades since establishing year-round service at the Port of Baltimore’s South Locust Point cruise terminal in 2009.

What Carnival Miracle Will Offer From Baltimore

The 88,500-ton Spirit-class ship will operate a range of Caribbean itineraries, including seven-, eight-, and nine-day sailings to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.

Longer Carnival Journeys voyages of 12 and 14 days will visit destinations like Dominica, Guadeloupe, and St. Maarten.

Carnival Miracle accommodates approximately 2,124 passengers at double occupancy and features Guy’s Burger Joint, a specialty steakhouse, WaterWorks aqua park, Playlist Production shows, Alchemy Bar, and The Punchliner Comedy Club.

Carnival Pride Staying Year-Round

Carnival Pride, which has been the sole Carnival ship based in Baltimore, will continue its year-round operations with seven-day Bahamas and Bermuda cruises, plus extended nine-, 12-, and 14-day Carnival Journeys to Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Antigua, Tortola, and Martinique. The Spirit-class sister ship also carries about 2,100 passengers.

The dual-ship deployment positions Baltimore to compete more effectively with nearby Mid-Atlantic homeports, including Norfolk and Cape Liberty, which have seen increased cruise activity in recent years.

The expansion is part of an industry trend as cruise lines seek alternatives to congested Florida ports and target drive-to markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Carnival Firenze Getting New Homeport

In related deployment news, Carnival Firenze will shift to Port Canaveral starting fall 2027, offering four- to 14-day Caribbean itineraries.

Sailings will include short Bahamas getaways with stops at Celebration Key, as well as longer Eastern and Southern Caribbean voyages.

MSC Cruises is bringing its popular Yacht Club concept to two more ships in its fleet.

The cruise line announced that MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra will both receive the “ship-within-a-ship” concept during scheduled refurbishments between late 2026 and early 2027.

The upgrades will complete the rollout of Yacht Club across the entire Musica class, with all four ships in the series offering the premium enclave once the work is finished.

MSC Musica will get its Yacht Club installation first in late 2026, just ahead of its South American deployment. MSC Orchestra will follow in the first quarter of 2027 before it heads to the Mediterranean for a season sailing from Bari, Italy.

What This Means for MSC’s Fleet

Once both ships are complete, 19 vessels across the MSC Cruises fleet will feature Yacht Club accommodations. The two Musica-class ships join sister vessels MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica, which already offer the premium experience.

Both MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra measure 92,409 gross tons and currently carry 3,223 passengers. They’re considerably smaller than MSC’s newest ships, like MSC World America, which features the largest Yacht Club in the fleet.

MSC Cruises is always looking for new ways to enhance the onboard experience, striving to create exceptional and elevated concepts to ensure that guests will remember their cruise as the ultimate vacation experience,” the cruise line said in a statement.

The company hasn’t disclosed how many Yacht Club suites will be added to each ship or whether other public areas will be modified during the refurbishments. 

What Yacht Club Passengers Get

The Yacht Club concept gives guests access to exclusive areas separate from the ship’s main public spaces. This includes a suite-only restaurant, private lounge, and dedicated sun deck.

Accommodations feature larger suites with 24-hour butler service and concierge assistance. In-suite amenities include daily refreshments, premium bath products, and packing and unpacking services.

Additional perks include private shopping appointments in onboard boutiques outside regular hours, customized shore excursions, and private transportation in select ports.

MSC Cruises plans to continue adding Yacht Club to future ships, including upcoming World-class vessels scheduled to debut through 2031.