Carnival Luminosa

The 2009-built (as Costa Luminosa) cruise ship Carnival Luminosa was Costa Cruises' first of two LUMINOSA-class liners, followed by her sistership Costa Deliziosa (2010).

Under the "COSTA by CARNIVAL" brand, the vessel (IMO number 9398905) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311001201) and registered in Nassau. Before the transfer to CCL, Luminosa was briefly Portugal/Madeira-flagged (MMSI 255804260) and registered in Funchal. Originally, Costa Luminosa was Italy-flagged (MMSI 247257900) and registered in Genoa.

On June 15, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) announced that Costa Luminosa would be transferred from Costa to CCL in September and renamed "Carnival Luminosa". The acquisition followed Carnival Corporation's decision to retain Costa Magica in the fleet.

Since November 2022, Carnival Luminosa has operated roundtrip cruises in Australia and New Zealand from Brisbane, Queensland.

When the acquisition was announced on June 15, 2022, the ship's schedule listed 173 future voyages (departures between June 19, 2022, and April 16, 2024). Following the announcement, all cruises between and including September 4, 2022, and April 14, 2024 (total of 151) were canceled. Luminosa’s last Costa voyage departed on August 28, 2022 (a 7-day roundtrip from Trieste, Italy). Her last refurbishment by Costa was in 2017.

Note: On June 23, 2021, CCL announced plans to add two additional ships to its fleet by 2023. These included an EXCEL-class newbuild (the Carnival Jubilee, originally assigned to AIDA) and Costa Magica.

History - Construction and Ownership

Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) is a US-based cruise company, a trademarked brand, and a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924–1999), co-founder of Norwegian Cruise Line.

CCL operates the Corporation's largest fleet in terms of the number of ships and gross tonnage (GT), representing ship size and passenger capacity. In 2023, CCL held approximately 9% of the cruise industry’s global revenue and 19% of total passengers. In 2024, Carnival Corporation maintained a 51% share of the cruise industry, which exceeded USD 64 billion in value.

The 2800-passenger ship Costa Luminosa is staffed by professional crew and is also supported by Pepper robots—advanced humanoid robots implemented fleetwide in 2016. These robots greet and assist passengers during embarkation and throughout the voyage. They provide information and tips about dining, entertainment, enrichment programs (workshops and events), casino promotions, shopping, and shore excursions. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in English, German, and Italian. They can interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tone and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Luminosa staterooms (total of 1,130 across 27 categories) include 54 Suites, 718 Balcony, 90 Oceanview, 268 Inside, and 56 Spa cabins. There are 23 wheelchair-accessible cabins. Spa accommodations include 4 Spa Suites, 38 Spa Balcony, and 14 Spa Inside staterooms.

The largest accommodations are the Grand Vista Suites (570–735 ft² / 53–68 m²), which also feature wraparound terraces with forward or aft views.

The vessel has 12 passenger decks, with 6 decks housing cabins.

There are 15 elevators (4 forward, 4 aft, and 7 midship), including 3 panoramic glass elevators. The forward elevators provide access to all decks except the Observation Deck (Deck 12).

Shipboard Dining Options – Food and Drinks

(Deck 2) Bonsai Sushi Express – complimentary option at Taste Bar, open 5:00–8:15 PM.

(Deck 2) Plaza Bar – features a stage for live entertainment.

(Decks 2–3) Altair Nightclub – two-deck disco venue with nightly DJ programming.

(Deck 2) Piano Bar 88 – cocktail bar featuring themed music nights, live piano performances, singalongs, and trivia quizzes. A popular spot for pre-dinner drinks and interactive entertainment.

(Decks 2–3) Archipelago Restaurant and Vela Restaurant – complimentary, waiter-served main dining rooms open for breakfast, brunch (sea days only), lunch (sea days only), and dinner. On port days, breakfast is served from 7:30 to 9:30 AM, with no lunch service. Hours may vary depending on itinerary and onboard activities. On sea days, one MDR hosts the Punchliner Comedy Brunch (8:30 AM–1:00 PM), while the other serves breakfast (8:00–10:00 AM) and lunch (12:00–1:30 PM). Afternoon tea (3:00–4:00 PM) is also offered on sea days. Dinner service includes two fixed seatings at 6:00 PM and 8:15 PM, plus "Your Time Dining" (anytime dining) between 5:45–9:30 PM. The Dr. Seuss-themed "Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast" (additional fee, reservations recommended) is held once per cruise (typically on a sea day) at 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM, featuring themed decor, character appearances, and a unique menu.

(Deck 3) JavaBlue Cafe – open 7:00–10:00 AM and 4:00 PM–12:30 AM. This specialty patisserie and coffee bar offers a la carte items including espresso drinks (cappuccino, latte, mochaccino), specialty teas, hot chocolate, spiked coffees, bottled water (Perrier, San Pellegrino), and desserts like Blue Velvet Cake, cheesecake, cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, and ice cream scoops.

(deck 3) Alchemy Bar is a vintage-themed cocktail bar/pharmacy where professional mixologists (dressed in lab coats) serve handcrafted cocktails and made-to-order drinks using unique ingredients.

Dining venues on Deck 9 (pool deck) include RedFrog Bar, Carnival Deli, Pizzeria del Capitano, Lido Marketplace, and Ol' Fashioned BBQ.

RedFrog Rum Bar & Grill is an outdoor poolside bar offering premium Caribbean rums, bottled Caribbean beers (Presidente, Kalik, Red Stripe, Corona, Corona Light, Dos Equis), draft beers (ThirstyFrog Red, Presidente), Red’s Beer Cocktail, frozen drinks, cocktails, mojitos, margaritas, and soft beverages. The bar also sells beer buckets and Carnival souvenir glasses. Draft beers are served and priced in pints (19 oz / 560 ml) and tubes (101 oz / 3 L).

Carnival Deli (complimentary, open from 11 am to 11 pm) serves hot and cold sandwiches with sides and has a draft beer dispenser (ThirstyFrog Red and Bud Light).

Pizzeria del Capitano (complimentary, open 24 hours, self-serve) features a wood-fired oven and serves fresh-baked pizzas (Margherita, Pepperoni, Napolitana, Capricciosa, Calzone), pan pizza, Caesar salad, and made-to-order pies.

Lido Marketplace is the ship’s complimentary, self-service buffet restaurant with open seating for Breakfast (7:30 am - 12 noon, includes a made-to-order omelet station), Lunch (12 noon - 2:30 pm), Dinner (6-9:30 pm, Good Eats buffet), and Late Night Snacks (11 pm - 1 am). The Good Eats buffet serves as an alternative to the Main Dining Room, offering items like steaks, prime rib, grilled chicken, pasta, salads, desserts, and a daily Chef’s Special. Lido Marketplace includes various takeaway food stations and themed food bars: Carnival Deli (sandwiches, draft beer dispenser), Mongolian Wok (made-to-order stir-fry), The Captain’s Pasta Bar (3 pastas, 4 sauces, 12 toppings), Salad Bar (35 items), Pizza Pirate (24-hour pizzeria), Chef’s Choice Bar (rotating international cuisine), Hot and Cold Buffet (stir-fry, pastas, carving station), Grille (burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken, sautéed mushrooms/onions, sauerkraut, chili, tortillas with chips and salsa), and Dessert Bar (includes sugar-free options). There are also 24-hour self-serve stations for tea, coffee, soft-serve ice cream, and yogurt. The Chocolate Extravaganza Buffet (complimentary) is held on the last sea day of 7-day and longer cruises and features a wide variety of chocolate desserts, including a chocolate fountain, cakes (pear, orange, cheesecake, dried fruit, diet-friendly options).

Ol' Fashioned BBQ is a complimentary lunch venue offering barbecue specialties such as braised pork butt, smoked beef, grilled chicken, with sides like mac and cheese, molasses baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, as well as sauces and desserts.

Midship on Deck 10 is Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (open 6-9:30 pm), a premium steak and seafood restaurant with a cover charge. Reservations are recommended. The cover fee includes one appetizer, one entrée, one dessert, and gratuity. Menu highlights include starters (escargots, grilled mushrooms, tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail, crab cake, lobster bisque, onion soup), salads (Caesar, spinach with mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, beefsteak tomato), sides (baked potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, creamed spinach, steamed broccoli), and entrées (14 oz NY strip loin, 18 oz rib and ribeye, 9 oz filet mignon, lamb chops, chicken, Maine lobster, market fish). Desserts include cheesecake, caramelized apples, a chocolate sampler, fresh fruits, cheese selections, sherbets, and ice creams. Beverages (bar prices apply) include fresh coffee/tea, dessert wines, and after-dinner drinks. Dishes are presented on a cart before ordering. A cooking demonstration by the chefs is available, and the dress code is Elegant (jeans permitted). The steakhouse also takes reservations for the Chef’s Table (private dinner experience).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

(decks 1-2-3) Luminosa Theater (800 seats) is the ship’s 3-deck main show lounge, featuring grand-scale productions with live music, dancing, tribute acts, and special effects. Evening shows run approximately 30 minutes and include high-definition visuals on LED screens. Entertainment also features family game shows (e.g., "Love and Marriage") and guest performers (comedians, magicians, musicians). The theater hosts "Playlist Productions" (live musical revues) and "Hasbro The Game Show" (interactive games). Daily activities include seminars, expert lectures, multimedia presentations, workshops, and bingo sessions.

(deck 2) Luminosa Casino, with its own bar, is a Vegas-style gaming venue offering 200+ coinless slot machines and table games (Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, dealer-free poker). It provides free gaming lessons and hosts tournaments. Payments can be made with cash or Sail & Sign cards (S&S). Traveler’s checks can be cashed at the cashier’s window. Table games require cash; slots use S&S cards only. Hours vary by itinerary, but on sea days, slots open at 9 am, select tables at 10 am, and all games from 12 noon to 3 am. Casinos are closed in port, except during overnight stays in Nassau. Smoking is allowed only at designated machines and tables. Carnival chips are interchangeable across the fleet. MegaCash is the world’s largest cruise ship jackpot (over USD 1 million).

(deck 2) Carnival Adventures/Shore Excursions Desk offers tour information, booking, and planning services for all ports of call on the current itinerary.

(deck 2) Guest Services (Reception/Purser Desk) provides 24-hour assistance, information, reservations, luggage, and cashier services.

Also on Deck 2 are the Art Gallery, Supernova Atrium’s Lobby Bar (Atrium’s lowest level, 1 of 10). Carnival Luminosa’s 10-deck-high Atrium features a bronze sculpture titled “Reclining Woman 2004” by Colombian artist Fernando Botero Angulo. The custom artwork is over 11 ft (3.5 m) long and weighs approximately 1 ton. The ship also features 120 Murano glass light fixtures and chandeliers.

(deck 3) Limelight Lounge (home to the Punchliner Comedy Club) hosts live performances including vocalists, musicians, comedians, and karaoke.

(deck 3) The Carnival Store / The Fun Shops is a duty-free retail arcade (open 8 am to midnight) offering Carnival-branded merchandise (apparel, ship models), special occasion gifts, souvenirs, luxury items (jewelry, watches, designer accessories, perfumes, cosmetics), and liquor/tobacco products.

(deck 3) Galleria Shops and Gift Shops sell duty-free jewelry, watches, perfumes, apparel, tobacco, and liquor.

(deck 3) The Library is a small lounge with books and Hasbro board games, a large HDTV, armchairs, and bar stools. It has a librarian-bartender and serves alcoholic beverages (whiskeys, bourbons, cognacs, rums, liqueurs, cocktails). Two self-serve wine vending machines offer 8 wines in 2-4-6 oz pours.

Also on Deck 3 are the Pixels Photo Gallery and Shop (sells photo/video gear and displays professionally taken cruise photos) and Dreams Studio (for photo sessions).

Forward on decks 9-10 is the Cloud 9 Spa & Fitness Center, a 2-deck wellness facility (37675 ft² / 3500 m²). Deck 9 houses the Hydrotherapy Pool, Thermal Suites, Treatment Rooms, Beauty Salon & Barber Shop, and locker rooms. Deck 10 features the Relaxation Lounge, Fitness Studio, saunas, and additional locker rooms.

The Cloud 9 Spa and Fitness Center (open 6 am - 11 pm) includes a Gym (complimentary, with floor-to-ceiling windows, weights, treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines, Kinesis wall), Fitness Studio (for classes), Beauty Salon (facials, manicures/pedicures, hair styling, makeup, waxing, teeth whitening, grooming), 15 treatment rooms (for acupuncture, hot stone, Botox, wraps), VIP Couples Suites (with whirlpools), a Thalassotherapy Pool (mineral-rich seawater at 33°C / 91°F, with jets under a glass roof), Spa Reception, and male/female locker rooms with saunas and showers.

• Showers are glass-enclosed, multi-jet, with one rain head above and four side jets.
• The Thermal Suite includes four chambers: Tepidarium (heated loungers, 38°C / 100°F), Laconium (dry heat, 55-65°C / 131-149°F), Aroma Steam Bath (aromatic steam, 40-50°C / 104-112°F), and Oriental Steam Bath (high-humidity steam, 40-50°C / 104-112°F).
• ZSPA offers treatments for teens (12-17), including facials, massages, scrubs, manicures, pedicures, and hairstyling.
• Access to spa facilities is limited to passengers 18+, except teens (12-17) accompanied by adults. Swimsuits are required during massages and wraps. Daily seminars cover topics like aging, posture, detox, dieting, skincare, and acne (for teens).
• Free classes include aerobics, stretching, abs, body conditioning, Tai Chi. Paid classes include Yoga, Pilates, spinning, boot camp, personal training. Fitness class offerings include: Personal Training (60 min, up to 3 sessions), Nutritional Consultation (60 min), Metabolism Test (30 min), Boot Camp (4-day program), Tour de Cycle (45 min), Pathway to Yoga (45 min), Pathway to Pilates (45 min).
• Thermal Suite access is complimentary for passengers in Cloud 9 Spa cabins. Full-cruise passes are priced based on itinerary length.
• The Cloud 9 Spa menu includes: Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy (50-75 min), Thai Herbal Poultice (75 min), Bamboo Massage (50-75 min), Absolute Spa Ritual (100 min), Face & Body Sensation (50 min), Swedish/Couples Massage (50 min), Reflexology (50 min), Deep Tissue Massage (50 min), Villa Massage & Bath (75 min), Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction (3x/50 min), Bliss fatgirlslim (75 min), Body Sculpting & Colon Therapy (50 min), Lime & Ginger Salt Glow (50-75 min), Seaweed Massage (75-100 min), Tooth Whitening (30 min), Grooming Treatment with Shave (55 min), Express Shave (30 min), Deep Cleanse Grooming with Shave (45 min), Skin IQ Facial (50 min), Urban Cleanse for Men (50 min).
• Medi-Spa treatments include: Acupuncture (50-75 min), Cosmetic Consultations (free), Dermal Fillers (30 min), BOTOX/DYSPORT (30 min, FDA-approved), all administered by a licensed onboard physician.
• Carnival Cloud 9's ZSPA treatments (for teenagers 12-17 years old) include: Fabulously Fruity Facial (50 min), Acne Attack Facial (50 min), Heavenly Massage (50 min), Paradise Massage (25-50 min/mother and daughter), Chill Out Massage (25-50 min/father and son), Surfers Scrub (25 min), Fitness Frenzy (3 boot camp classes), Magical Manicure (25 min), Sole Mate (45 min). Beauty Salon services for teens include: boys (30 min/haircut only), boys and girls (120 min/haircut and coloring), girls (60 min/haircut, 30 min hairstyling). ZSPA services are available from 8 am to 8 pm. When booking treatments, teens must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who completes and signs the ZSPA form.

Aft on Deck 9 is the Serenity Pool & Bar (adults-only sundeck with a swimming pool). The waiter-served bar offers drinks and refreshments, including cocktails, beer (buckets available), wine, frozen drinks, smoothies, shakes, and soda. The sundeck is complimentary and accessible at any time, while the Serenity Bar and whirlpools are available from 8 am to 10 pm. Hours may vary depending on itinerary, port days, sea days, and weather conditions.

(deck 10) Carnival Seaside Theatre is a complimentary outdoor cinema with a large LED screen. It also features a stage for live performances and games. Daily programming includes funny videos, TV shows, concerts, live sports, and nightly movies with complimentary popcorn. A sliding Sky Dome covers the Lido Pool area (deck 9 below).

Aft-starboard on Deck 10 is the Putting Green (9-hole mini-golf course).

Deck 11 features the Sports Court (combined basketball-volleyball court, aft) and the Power Walking/Jogging Track (midship).

Deck 12 is the ship’s top outdoor observation area (aft), furnished with padded loungers and deck chairs for relaxation. The Observation Deck is accessible only via outdoor stairs.

Kids and Teens

Below are the venues and activities onboard Carnival Luminosa specifically designed for kids and teenagers.

(deck 2) The Warehouse (video arcade) is open 24 hours for both kids and adults. Supervised by dedicated staff, the arcade features foosball (air hockey) tables, a photo kiosk, popular merchandising games (including skeeball), and various arcade machines. All games are coinless and payable only with Sail & Sign cards. Parents/guardians can set a daily spending limit. Game types include Redemption Games (E-ticket rewards loaded to the Sail & Sign card, redeemable at a self-serve prize hub), Self-Merchandisers (games of skill with electronic prizes), and popular arcade games (car racing, dance, bike simulators, first-person shooters).

(deck 3) Circle C (for ages 12-14) is a teens-only lounge offering video games, movies, themed parties, and scheduled activities. All programs are supervised and complimentary.

(deck 10) Camp Ocean (formerly Camp Carnival) is the ship’s kids’ complex, offering age-appropriate activities and supervised entertainment by trained counselors. It is divided into three age groups: 2-5 (Penguins), 6-8 (Stingrays), and 9-11 (Sharks), with each group having a dedicated room and staff. Night Owls (babysitting for kids 6 months to 11 years old) is available at an additional charge. Camp Ocean offers themed evening parties (at surcharge) such as "Owl Jams" (ages 2-11, 10 pm - midnight, with challenges, music, and games), "Fun Til One" (ages 6-8, 10 pm - 1 am, with video games, dancing, singing), and "Fun At Sea" (ages 9-11, 10 pm - 1 am, with games, sports, and pizza). Snacks and drinks are provided. An outdoor playground is located on Deck 11 above Camp Ocean.

Aft on Deck 10 is Club O2, a lounge exclusively for teens, offering movies, video games, karaoke, themed parties, and booking for teen-only shore excursions.

CARNIVAL Luminosa Itineraries

Carnival Luminosa’s itinerary program includes Australia-New Zealand cruises (roundtrip from homeport Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) and Alaskan cruises from Seattle, Washington, USA. Seasonal repositioning cruises (via Hawaii) between Australia and Alaska are also available (see RepositionCruises.com).

Departing from Brisbane, Carnival Luminosa visits top Queensland destinations like the Great Barrier Reef, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas, and Willis Island. Other stops include New Caledonia (Noumea, Lifou Island), Vanuatu (Port Vila, Mystery Island), Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.

In the summer, the ship is deployed in Alaska (inaugural season started May 2023) offering 7-day roundtrips from Seattle WA, visiting Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Victoria (BC Canada). Transpacific crossings between Australia and the USA (via Hawaii and Honolulu) are included in the seasonal repositioning program.

In 2023-2024, Carnival Luminosa offers cruises to New Zealand. The 8- to 11-night itineraries include calls to Wellington and Dunedin/Port Chalmers, often combined with stops in Vanuatu and New Caledonia. New 3- to 4-night short break cruises are also available, visiting Airlie Beach.

COSTA Luminosa Itineraries

Costa Luminosa’s itinerary program initially featured 10-day Caribbean roundtrips from Miami, Florida, USA. In summer, the ship sailed in Europe on Mediterranean and Baltic routes, departing from Stockholm and St. Petersburg, Russia, with seasonal Transatlantic crossings.

In January 2018, Costa Luminosa launched a 106-night / 107-day World Cruise (January 6 - April 22) roundtrip from Venice, Italy. The voyage included 41 ports across the Caribbean, Panama Canal (transit), Pacific Mexico, California, Hawaii, South Pacific islands, Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia (2 overnights in Singapore), and Suez Canal (transit). Full itinerary details are available in the ship’s Wiki section.

For winter 2020-2021, Costa planned a South America program with 7-night roundtrips from Santos (Brazil) visiting Buenos Aires (Argentina), Itajai (Brazil), and Montevideo (Uruguay). This was canceled and replaced with Eastern Mediterranean cruises from Italy to Greece and Croatia.

The 2022-2024 schedule listed mostly 7-day Mediterranean cruises from Italian ports (Trieste, Venice-Marghera, Genoa), as well as Barcelona (Spain) and Marseille (France). The program also included a 108-day World Cruise (roundtrip from Genoa) — see the ship’s Wiki section for details.