Carnival Splendor Returns to Sydney with Upgrades After Drydock

The Carnival Splendor is set to return to Sydney on September 9, showcasing a range of new upgrades after undergoing a drydock in Singapore, according to a press release.

The ship now features enhanced dining venues, refurbished staterooms and a new red, white, and blue hull design that includes a Southern Cross motif—an element familiar to P&O Cruises Australia ships that will soon join the Carnival fleet.

Kara Glamore, Carnival Cruise Line Australia vice president, said: “From her beautiful new look outside to the upgraded amenities and new entertainment onboard, Carnival Splendor has more fun to offer our guests sailing from Sydney than ever before.”

Among the ship’s new offerings are the new and updated menus from grill restaurant Mad Sizzle, the Indian restaurant Masala Tiger and other dining venues, such as Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.

Refurbishment extends to the staterooms, where balconies have been fully upgraded and suites now feature new whirlpool tubs.

Wellness amenities have also seen improvements, with updates to the basketball court, jogging track and gym equipment, as well as a refreshed Thalasso therapy pool at Cloud 9 Spa.

Families will find new excitement in the revamped Carnival waterpark, featuring waterslides and the Splashy Cove children’s play area. The mini-golf course has also been fully refreshed, and Camp Ocean and Club 02 now offer new video gaming areas.

The casino and retail shops have been refreshed for more entertainment. Carnival Splendor has also introduced the new Playlist Productions show, “Dear Future Husband,” which premiered in Australia earlier this year. The interactive pop musical follows a wedding adventure onboard a Carnival cruise. After the show, guests are invited to join the cast for a wedding reception-themed party.

By March 2025, the ship will be joined by Carnival Luminosa and two additional sister ships, the Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, which will be renamed the Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter following their transition from P&O Cruises Australia.

Carnival Splendor Resumes Service After Drydock

The Carnival Splendor is resuming service today after undergoing routine maintenance at a shipyard in Singapore.

Sailing from the Marina Bay Cruise Terminal, the Carnival Cruise Line vessel is offering a repositioning cruise back to its homeport in Australia, Sydney.

The 16-night voyage features visits to six destinations in Indonesia and Australia, including Jakarta, Bali, Lombok, Darwin, Airlie Beach and Moreton Island.

After arriving back in Sydney on September 6, 2024, the Carnival Splendor is set to resume its regular schedule in the South Pacific.

Sailing from the port, the 2008-built ship offers a series of three- to 11-night itineraries to various destinations across the region, including New Caledonia, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef.

In addition to regular maintenance, the Carnival Splendor also received new dining options, updated amenities and refreshed spaces during its 19-day shipyard stay.

While in the drydock, the 113,300-ton ship also saw the addition of Carnival Cruise Line’s new livery, which includes a navy-blue hull with red and white accents.

As a nod to its operations in Australia, the hull of the Splendor features a Southern Cross representation near its stern.

Similar to the “Sailing Stars” livery introduced by P&O Australia in 2017, the symbol represents a five-star constellation that is visible in the Southern Hemisphere.

Set to be absorbed by the company in 2025, the brand will play a relevant role in Carnival’s future in the region.

In March, the Carnival Splendor will be joined in Australia by two former P&O ships, the Pacific Encounter and the Pacific Adventure.

Currently sailing from Brisbane and Sydney, the 2,600-guest sister ships will continue to operate a year-round schedule in the region after being transferred to the fleet of the U.S.-based brand.

Completing Carnival’s offerings in the South Pacific, the Carnival Luminosa also operates seasonally out of Brisbane.

Photo: Cruise Beyond SG

Carnival Vista Crosses the Atlantic for Drydock in Spain

The Carnival Vista just arrived in Europe for its upcoming routine drydock.

After leaving Port Canaveral on Jan. 8, the Carnival Cruise Line ship crossed the Atlantic on its way to Spain.

The 2016-built vessel is now set to undergo a two-week drydock at the Navantia shipyard in the Bay of Cádiz.

Work expected to be carried out onboard the Carnival Vista includes the addition of Carnival’s new hull livery, in addition to scheduled maintenance, class surveys and technical work.

The 135,000-ton vessel is also poised to see upkeep of its common areas and staterooms, as well as updates to facilities and venues.

Following the work, the Carnival Vista is set to cross the Atlantic on its back to North America before resuming service on Feb. 15.

On that day, the vessel sails from Port Canaveral for a three-night cruise to the Bahamas that features a visit to Nassau, in addition to a full day at sea.

After repositioning from Galveston in late 2023, the Carnival Vista kicked off a year-round program out of its new Central Florida homeport.

The ship’s regular schedule features six- and eight-night cruises to the Southern and the Eastern Caribbean.

Itineraries include popular ports of call in both regions, such as Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays, Aruba, Curaçao, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Nassau.

First in a series of three ships known as Vista Class, the Carnival Vista offers a series of features, including SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience, and the Dreamscape, a three-deck-high LED sculpture located its main atrium.

The 4,000-guest cruise ship was later followed by the 2018-built Carnival Horizon, and the 2019-built Carnival Panorama.

Originally built for Costa Cruises, the 2019-built Carnival Venezia and the 2020-built Carnival Firenze are also considered part of the Vista Class.