Carnival Valor Sets Sail to New Orleans After Drydock

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Carnival Valor Sets Sail to New Orleans After Drydock

The Carnival Valor sailed from Barcelona on Wednesday to kick off a repositioning voyage back to its homeport in New Orleans.

The Carnival Cruise Line vessel is now offering a 15-night cruise after spending a few weeks at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz.v

Before arriving at the Big Easy, the trans-Atlantic crossing will visit destinations in Portugal and Spain, including Málaga, Cádiz, and Ponta Delgada.

The Carnival Valor is then set to arrive in New Orleans later this month, resuming its regular schedule of cruises to the Western Caribbean.

Sailing from Louisiana along with the Carnival Liberty, the vessel offers a series of four- and five-night itineraries to ports in Mexico, including Progreso, Costa Maya and Cozumel.

As part of its routine drydock in Spain, the Carnival Valour underwent technical work, as well as class inspections and general maintenance.

Public areas and staterooms also received upkeep, including the replacement of items such as carpets, upholstery, and furniture.

In line with other Carnival ships, the 2004-built ship saw the addition of a new Heroes Tribute Bar and Lounge.

Currently being rolled out to the company’s fleet, the military-themed venue pays homage to the sacrifices made by Armed Services personnel and their families.

Taking over the area previously occupied by the Skybox Sports Bar, the lounge serves a special menu, with part of its profits donated to humanitarian organisations.

Following the Carnival Valor, the Carnival Liberty is also being dry-docked at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz.

As the fifth ship in Carnival’s fleet to visit a shipyard in 2025, the vessel is currently undergoing routine maintenance at the Spanish facility.

Other ships that entered drydock this year include the Carnival Sunshine, the Carnival Spirit and the Carnival Miracle.

Almaco Delivers Provision Stores for Utopia of the Seas

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Almaco Delivers Provision Stores for Utopia of the Seas

The project, completed in 2024 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, consisted of approximately 3,000 m² of provision stores, including cold rooms, freezer rooms and refrigerated stores.

The group said in a press release that provision stores and refrigeration machinery are areas inspected by the United States Public Health; therefore, delivering provision stores with the expected quality level was a key focus.

The spaces were required for the first sea trial to accommodate food storage for crew and technicians.

The strong cooperation between Almaco, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Royal Caribbean was essential in achieving the results, according to the group.

Vincent Querard, head of projects management, said: “The fantastic end result of this project reflects the dedication and cooperation of all parties involved. Completing all provision store areas before the sea trial was a significant achievement.”

Samuel Teyssier, project manager, added: “The successful delivery of the refrigeration machinery was a result of thorough planning and collaboration. We are proud of the outcome and the quality of our work. A thank you to everyone involved in making this a successful project.”

In addition to the provision stores, the group was responsible for the engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of the refrigeration machinery.

The scope included cooling units, air coolers, piping, control system and SCADA, ensuring the optimal operation of the refrigeration plant.

The group extended its best wishes to the ship and its guests, adding that it looks forward to continuing its collaboration with Royal Caribbean and Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates 35 Years at Port Canaveral

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Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates 35 Years at Port Canaveral

Carnival Cruise Line marked 35 years of cruises from Central Florida with a special celebration aboard its Mardi Gras on Saturday.

Carnival began sailing from Port Canaveral in 1990, and has grown its operations over the years to homeport more ships than any other cruise line and embark more than 1.2 million guests from the port annually, the company said in a press release.

To commemorate the anniversary and longstanding partnership, Carnival hosted an onboard celebration. The event included several members of the community, such as leaders from the Canaveral Port Authority, the United States Coast Guard, and Brevard County.

David German, Port Canaveral’s vice president of cruise business development, presented Carnival with a framed Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners proclamation, documenting the special resolution the board passed this week to recognize the economic growth created by the 35-year relationship.

The cruise line also announced the charitable donation of a hybrid pickup truck that will support the work of Keep Brevard Beautiful, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental conservation in the area.

The donation coincides with the weekend of World Ocean Day, emphasizing Carnival’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Carnival, which homeports four ships year-round and another ship seasonally at Port Canaveral, recently announced it will enhance offerings further by deploying its next new ship to the port. Sister ship to the Mardi Gras, the Carnival Festival is now under construction and will bring all new features into the Carnival fleet, including music-themed zones and the cruise line’s largest-ever water park, when it debuts in 2027.

Pick up truck

“Port Canaveral has been a cornerstone of Carnival’s success for 35 years,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’re proud to celebrate this incredible milestone alongside the community that has been such an essential part of our growth. Our exciting growth continues with the opening of Celebration Key next month, our exclusive destination that will really be a game-changer for us and for our guests.”

The Carnival Vista, which is homeported in Port Canaveral, will make the first official visit to Celebration Key for the destination’s grand opening. All Carnival ships sailing from Port Canaveral offer sailings that visit Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, which will offer guests the ultimate day in paradise.

With over 300 annual departures from Port Canaveral, Carnival guests contribute an estimated $450 million in economic impact to the region before and after cruises.

“We are proud to celebrate Carnival Cruise Line’s 35th anniversary of sailing from Port Canaveral and humbled by what this milestone represents,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “From the inaugural sailing of the TSS Carnivale in 1990 to having five year-round and seasonal vessels in their homeported fleet today, Carnival Cruise Line is our longest continuous cruise business relationship, contributing economic value over the decades for our Port community, the Central Florida region and our state.”