The Carnival Splendor is on her way to Singapore for a dry-dock, in preparation for the upcoming 2024/25 wave season.
The ship which is based in Sydney year-round will return on September 9 with refurbished spaces, updated amenities, and much more.
Carnival Cruise Lines will arrive on August 5 and stay in dry dock for nearly three weeks. The company says passengers can expect new dining options, more amenities, and enhanced experiences for both children and adults.
The ship will then head back to Sydney on August 24.
Part of the reason for the drydock is to prepare the ship for when P&O Australia closes and will be then merged into Carnival Cruise Line.
The move was announced in June. The Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships will be rebranded and operated by the Carnival Cruise Line brand and Pacific Explorer has exited the fleet.
“The world’s largest cruise company, announced that in March 2025, the company will sunset the P&O Cruises Australia brand and fold the Australia operations into Carnival Cruise Line, the most popular cruise line in the world.”
And in an exclusive interview, Carnival President Christine Duffy blamed Australia and New Zealand’s regulation regime and rising costs for the closure. Read our exclusive interview here.
The brand is deeply engrained in the Australian cruise industry and the move is bound to cause sadness and shock among Australians fiercely loyal to the brand. it was known as the “kindergarten” because so many started cruising on the ships.
The statement maintained it was “the latest in a series of strategic moves designed to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, the company’s flagship brand and the highest-returning brand in Carnival Corporation’s global portfolio.”
It is not known when Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will be updated to fit into the Carnival Cruise Line brand but Duffy assured that the ships will have a familiar feel for P&O Cruises Australia guests.
“While we plan to make some technology upgrades and other small changes to the two P&O Cruises Australia ships, they will continue to be geared to the unique Australian market with a familiar feel and much of the same experiences for P&O Cruises Australia guests.
“The most notable change will be the availability of our popular HubApp, enabling guests to make online dining and excursion reservations, request food and beverage delivery, and chat with other guests, among other features. P&O Cruises Australia guests will also be invited to participate in Carnival’s loyalty program and promotional offerings specific to Carnival ships sailing in the region.”
