Carnival Encounter loses Cairns overnight, adds Townsville

Carnival Encounter keeps Cairns on the 26 Sep 2026 Brisbane Great Barrier Reef cruise, but you lose the second day. Cruise Hive published the guest notice language on 17 Sep 2026. TheTravel matched the same revised table a day later. Load-bearing times below rest on those Tier 2 reports of Carnival’s 16 Sep notice.

The revised Cairns and Townsville days

Airlie Beach on 28 Sep still runs 8:00am to 4:00pm. Cairns still arrives at 9:30am on 29 Sep. Departure moves to 8:00pm that evening. The old plan left Cairns at 6:00pm on 30 Sep after an overnight.

Townsville fills 30 Sep from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Willis Island scenic time on 1 Oct shifts one hour earlier, to 9:00am to 10:00am. Brisbane return on 3 Oct is unchanged.

Carnival’s notice, as quoted by Cruise Hive, says channel depths and forecast tides would block a safe Wednesday departure on the old overnight clock.

Tours and money

Cruise Hive says Sep 30 Cairns shore excursions booked through Carnival move to the 29th when space allows. If they cannot move, refunds go to the original payment method. Townsville tours were set to open for online booking before sailing.

Independent Cairns overnight hotels, reef boats, or private transfers are yours to unwind. Attach the Carnival notice when you ask for a cancel or rebook.

Second Cairns hit this month

The same Cruise Hive piece notes Encounter already lost Cairns entirely on the 5 Sep Brisbane sailing and sailed Townsville instead. TheTravel adds that Carnival Splendor also diverted a Sep Cairns call to Yorkeys Knob shuttles for the same depth problem, and that maintenance dredging in Cairns Harbour and Channel began 18 Sep with work into early November.

Carnival has not announced a change to Encounter’s next listed Cairns call on 28 Oct, per Cruise Hive. Treat that date as live until a new letter lands.

What you should do

If you hold the 26 Sep Encounter cruise, rebuild 29 Sep as a single Cairns day and open Townsville tour options for 30 Sep. Confirm whether any Sep 30 Cairns Carnival tours refunded or moved. Pack for one full day ashore in Cairns, not an overnight rhythm. Guests on later Cairns dates should watch the Carnival app until dredging finishes. This write-up follows Cruise Hive and TheTravel coverage of Carnival’s September notices.