Key Aspects:
- Carnival Adventure’s visit to Mystery Island on July 11, 2026 was cancelled due to a delay.
- The delay was caused by a technical issue closing the ship’s pontoon door before departing from Port Vila.
- Guests were compensated with onboard credit, and all shore excursions on Mystery Island were refunded.
Guests aboard Carnival Adventure received a disappointing update on July 11, 2026.
The 9-night Vanuatu and New Caledonia cruise that departed from Sydney, Australia on July 6 got through the first leg of its journey without issue. However, Cruise Hive has learned that, due to a technical issue closing the ship’s pontoon door, the 2,636-passenger vessel’s departure from Port Vila on July 10 was delayed.
As a result, the scheduled visit to Mystery Island in Vanuatu the following day was cancelled. The uninhabited island destination was subsequently replaced by an additional sea day.
Guests were notified by a ship-wide announcement the night before the visit on July 10, as well as by letter the following morning.
“As shared in my announcement last night, I’m sorry to advise that we will be unable to visit Mystery Island today and will instead spend the day at sea,” Captain Francesco Bencivenga wrote in the letter. “We sincerely apologise for this disappointment and any inconvenience caused.”
The rest of Carnival Adventure’s sailing was unaffected, stopping in Noumea, New Caledonia on July 12 before returning to Sydney on July 15.
Affected guests were compensated for the loss with AU$100 of onboard credit per stateroom. Guests who had booked prepaid shore excursions on Mystery Island were also refunded to their Sail and Sign accounts.
The 108,865 gross ton vessel, formerly known as Pacific Adventure sailing under P&O Australia, has since departed on a 4-day, round-trip sailing from Sydney, with a single stop at Moreton Island.
Why Was The Visit Cancelled Instead of Delayed?
The issue was not just the delay in departing Port Vila. The timing very well could have allowed the ship to dock at Mystery Island later than planned, with a shortened stop. However, Vanuatu biosecurity regulations meant that the ship was unable to legally dock at the island after sunset.
“Vanuatu’s biosecurity regulation states that vessels are unable to travel to another island within Vanuatu after dark because of the potential risk of transporting a beetle that can damage coconut trees,” the letter to guests reads.
“We appreciate your understanding of the importance of these measures in protecting the local environment and economy.”
The beetle in question is likely the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle, an invasive species first detected on the island of Efate in Vanuatu in 2019. In recent years, the beetle has since spread to several of Vanuatu’s outlying islands. The beetle burrows into the crown of coconut palm trees, severely weakening the structure and leaving them vulnerable to damage and disease.
This rich ecological landscape in Vanuatu is isolated and fragile, and invasive species such as the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle have the potential to decimate it.
Vanuatu took a major blow to its environment and economy after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake shook the region in December 2024, putting a halt on cruise tourism for months.
Carnival Adventure was the first ship to dock in Vanuatu following the earthquake in August of last year. Carnival Cruise Line maintains a very good working relationship with the island nation, and clearly has no interest in souring that relationship by ignoring regulations.
While the loss of Mystery Island surely came as a blow to cruise guests, Carnival and other cruise lines’ cooperation with the Republic of Vanuatu’s biosecurity regulations helps to keep the islands beautiful and healthy for visitors for years to come.
