Carnival Valor Sets Sail to New Orleans After Drydock

Posted on 13 June, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

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.

Refurbished Carnival Miracle Launches Summer Season

Posted on 15 May, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival Cruise Line’s Miracle has commenced its summer 2025 sailing season in Europe after completing a scheduled dry dock in Cádiz, Spain.

The ship returned to service on May 11, embarking its first guests from Lisbon, Portugal.

Notable additions include the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, now featured on 15 Carnival ships, which honours active-duty military personnel and veterans. A new Carnival Adventures store has been added, giving guests an updated space to plan and book shore excursions.

The ship also now features a dedicated Chef’s Table venue on Deck 1, offering a private space for Carnival’s signature multi-course dining experience. A new Dreams Studio was introduced, providing a refreshed setting for professional photo sessions. Several public areas were refreshed with updated designs, including the Cloud 9 Spa, Serenity adult-only retreat, Club O2, Java Blue Café, and the Lido Marketplace.

Additional upgrades include a redesigned mini-golf course and nightclub, both featuring new layouts and an expanded casino area. Youth and teen areas, such as Camp Ocean and Club O2, were also revamped with brighter interiors and new amenities.

Guests sailing on the seven-night itinerary from Lisbon aboard the Carnival Miracle will visit La Coruña and Bilbao, Spain, and Le Verdon (Bordeaux) and Le Havre (Paris), France, before arriving in Dover, England.

From Dover, the ship will operate a series of nine- and 12-day cruises to the British Isles, Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Later this summer, Carnival Miracle will reposition to Civitavecchia (Rome), offering Mediterranean sailings with ports in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey.

In November, the Miracle will return to the U.S. and begin homeporting from Tampa, Florida, offering six- to eight-day cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean.

The World to Undergo Major Refit During Six-Week Drydock

Posted on 4 April, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

The company announced in a press release that the World Residences at Sea is set to undergo a major upgrade.

The refurbishment will take place during a six-week drydock at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.

According to the ship’s operator, the project aims to bring an array of transformative enhancements to the vessel, including environmental, technical and hotel upgrades.

“This extraordinary 40-day, $30+ million outlay in the ship demonstrates residents’ commitment to keeping The World at the forefront of luxury living and represents the next chapter in that journey,” said Jessica Hoppe, president and CEO of The World.

The ship was also recently awarded a “Statement of Extended Life” from Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

“Our resident owners continue to invest in the ship, ensuring that it not only evolves with their needs but also stays ahead of global innovations. Our recent Statement of Extended Life from DNV is a testament to the exceedingly high standards that we set, how hard our deck and engine teams work to meet those standards, and the support that we receive from the resident community,” she added.

As part of its regular schedule, The World is said to enter a planned drydock every three years to conduct routine technology and maintenance upgrades, as well as updates to public spaces based on current design and lifestyle trends.

The DNV statement is a result of the company’s commitment to maintenance.

After the completion of a comprehensive study and extensive evaluation, DNV recognized its commitment to maximizing the sustainable lifespan of the vessel.

“Most notably, The World’s physical condition is that of a ship that is just 5.6 years old, far younger than her chronological age—providing confidence in her long-term quality, efficiency, and environmental responsibility,” the company stated.

The 2025 drydock will focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, ensuring that the World continues to meet and exceed global climate targets.

Among the updates is the installation of shore power, also known as cold ironing, a High Voltage Shore Connection (HVSC) system.

The ship’s bulbous bow will be replaced as part of a decarbonization project.

Originally optimized for a speed of 19 knots, the new design will reduce hull resistance by up to 10 percent and significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The World will also debut a reimagined pool deck, a refreshed spa and more.