Sunday, March 31, 2024

Carnival Ship Finishes Dry Dock, Brings New Features to Guests

dry docked cruise ship

The updates will include such refreshments as all new decking, new carpeting and upholstery in public areas, and all stateroom balconies redone with new windows, doors, and partitions. For greater thrills, travelers of all ages will love the Norwegian Joy Speedway, the ship’s Aqua Park, miniature golf, and much more, including fun entertainment such as the ever-popular, interactive game show, Deal or No Deal. Additional luxury is to be found in the newly expanded Premier Owner’s Suites in The Haven, Norwegian Joy’s exclusive ship-in-a-ship area.

dry docked cruise ship

Cruise ship refurbishment schedule 2020-2023

Phase 2 will touch on enhancements to Amphora, Veranda and further stateroom amenities. Cruise Critic has assembled a list of currently known cruise ship refits and dry-docks. Only cruise lines with current refit plans are listed; check to see if your favorite cruise ship is scheduled for a sprucing-up.

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The ship can host as many as 3,776 guests on each sailing (based on double occupancy), with more than 1,800 international crew members to ensure every traveler has a joyful cruise vacation. “From an expanded spa to additional spacious accommodations, with these new updates, we have given our guests more space to relax, unplug and enjoy their time on board with their loved ones,” said Herrera. On that first post-dry dock sailing, guests may notice not only the improvements and upgrades, but possibly some ongoing work as finishing touches are finalized onboard. Cruise ships are typically renovated with hotel upgrades and fresh public areas every 3-5 years.

Refurbishments and amplifications

Often vessels' need unscheduled repairs - not matching with planned maintenance schedules. In such cases are used teams of underwater specialists for fast, high-quality repairs, thus avoiding potential loss of income due to drydocking. The world's first global underwater ship repair service provider is Wartsila which provides any marine services and maintenance works, regardless of the ship's current location. Therefore, having routine dry dock maintenance to clean the ship’s hull can help negate this problem and assure that large buildups of marine life do not occur on Royal Caribbean’s ships. A dry dock is a narrow basin that can be filled and drained of water to allow for maintenance and repairs on a ship’s hull.

Oceania Cruises

Symphony of the Seas will spend the summer offering Mediterranean sailings with embarkations in Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome), all with the same popular ports of call. This gives interested cruisers plenty of departure dates to choose from throughout the summer. Symphony of the Seas‘ first cruise after the current dry dock will set sail from Barcelona, Spain on Sunday, April 16. That voyage is a 7-night roundtrip Western Mediterranean cruise visiting Mallorca, Marseille, La Spezia, Rome, and Naples, before returning to Barcelona.

Next Norwegian Ship Will Sail with New Restaurants

dry docked cruise ship

Dry docks take cruise ships out of service for around two weeks for routine maintenance, but amplifications can take over a month. Sometimes a cruise line will bring extra workers onto the last sailing before dry dock, and passengers might see certain areas closed off to accommodate the prework. There may be more painting than usual and possibly even power tools in use at times. We’ve been on ships where dining room carpets were rolled up on the last evening as guests finished dining. Cruise lines typically plan routine dry docks far in advance and schedule itineraries around those breaks. Guests booked for a holiday sailing on December 24, 2024, have been notified that dry dock has altered the ship’s schedule.

The hull will also have been cleaned, various decking updated or refinished, and other painting projects completed. Following drydock, each ship now has 2x new dining venues, new shop, new retail space; enlarged Gym, new Spa, larger swimming pool, new tender loading area (midship), 2x new tender boats (90-seats each), expanded and upgraded staff-crew areas and cabins. The two new dining venues are an alternative Spanish specialty restaurant ("Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso") and a casual BBQ space (adjacent to Star Bar). Dry dock is also a time for interior refurbishments such as adding new coats of paint and replacing flooring, bedding, curtains, etc. Anything that cannot easily be done while a ship is in service will be done during dry dock (deep cleaning of onboard spaces, adding new venues, etc.).

Enhancements Revealed for Carnival Ship Now in Dry Dock - Cruise Hive

Enhancements Revealed for Carnival Ship Now in Dry Dock.

Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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Carnival and Holland America are both known for offering guests $50 of onboard credit in such cases. In 2019, Carnival canceled two weeks of cruises and brought the world’s largest floating dry dock from Europe to the Caribbean to repair propulsion problems on Carnival Vista. Also in guest staterooms are new LED lighting upgrades, including bathroom nightlights, which not only improves the guest experience, but helps with the ship’s efficiency as well. While exact details of the ADA adjustments haven’t been announced, this may include more accessible cabins, wider doorways, and similar updates. Technical updates, general maintenance, and basic repairs are also part of these types of dry dock renovations, all of which have been done to make Norwegian Joy updated and amazing for every guest she welcomes. What guests want onboard is more ways to relax, with abundant space to enjoy the ship’s amenities.

If routine cleaning of a ship’s hull is neglected, it can lead to the accumulation of marine line on the hull, known as biofouling. Because ships cannot, of course, be constructed in the water, they are constructed on a dry dock which can later be filled with water to allow the ship to safely sail out once constructed. Whether you've read about it online or heard from another passenger or crew member about a ship's upcoming dry dock, you might be wondering what this entails. The ship last had a major, $54 million refurbishment in 2017, but has since undergone smaller, regular refreshments, most recently in 2022 prior to restarting post-pandemic passenger service. Guests were informed at embarkation that the ship would be entering dry dock on January 2, 2023, and due to the diversion, the scheduled port of call to Lisbon, Portugal, on January 4 would be cancelled.

While the ship is undergoing maintenance, passengers may have limited access to certain areas or amenities on board. However, cruise lines typically plan the dry dock cruise itinerary with this in mind, ensuring that passengers still have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience during their time on the ship. The old diesel engines (7 per ship) were replaced with 4 new engines running on ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel) fuel, thus reducing SO emissions. Each ship received 50 new cabins (to 156 total), which (based on the total investment) meant shipbuilding cost per berth USD 267,000.

That said, travelers looking for a seamless cruise vacation may want to closely consider before booking a cruise that's right before a scheduled dry dock. From Port Canaveral, the ship will offer alternating 3- and 4-night Bahamas sailings, great for quick getaways. The 4-night cruises will visit fun destinations such as Bimini, Princess Cays, and Nassau, depending on departure date, while the 3-night cruises will visit Nassau or Bimini, depending on the sailing date.

The Vista-class Queen Victoria is currently sailing a 15-night round trip, Canary Islands “Celebration” New Year’s cruise. Cadiz was a planned port of call for the vessel – it is a popular destination in southern Spain – but has not quite gone as expected. If the ship is going into a short-notice dry dock to fix a problem (such as a propulsion issue), then your cruise might be affected by the ongoing issue; for example, if the ship can't sail at top speed, your itinerary might be altered to accommodate that.

Rather than docking in the heart of the historic and colorful Andalusian city, Queen Victoria is in dry dock at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz. The location is not so different than the passenger cruise terminals, however, as the dry dock facility is only .8 miles (1.3 kilometers) from the typical port of call dock. Many people have an amazing vacation on the first cruise post-dry dock; others encounter unexpected cancellations and ongoing repair work. If you don't want to take any chances, we recommend not booking a cruise for at least a month post-dry dock.

In rare instances, your cruise might be shortened or canceled so work can be finished. If this happens, your cruise line should give you a full refund, plus added compensation (such as reimbursement for airline change fees, help in finding hotels if you are already in your embarkation city and possibly a discount on a future cruise).

What Is A Dry Dock Cruise

dry docked cruise ship

A virtual reality game center, the Galaxy Pavilion is being transformed into a new thermal suite for the ship’s Mandara Spa. A wide range of new features have been added to the ship, with updates that will appeal to all ages. Now that we have addressed some common questions about dry dock cruises, let’s conclude our exploration of this unique and fascinating aspect of the cruising world.

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Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald discussed the updates to Carnival Glory during a recent social media livestream on his popular Facebook page, noting that a number of great renovations are part of the dry dock plans. A lot of great things are in store for Carnival Glory as she undergoes dry dock, with new venues to be added to the ship. The Vibe Beach Club on Decks 19 and 20 has also been expanded to provide more space for guests to enjoy without feeling crowded. Guests familiar with Norwegian Joy will notice that the new Thermal Suite has replaced the ship’s virtual reality complex, Galaxy Pavilion. Royal Caribbean International has not announced any massive updates for the ship, such as the introduction of completely new venues or removing well-known features, but such surprises are always possible.

More Royal Caribbean

The Heroes Tribute Bar is a space that celebrates all veterans and active military service personnel, with patriotic décor, military memorabilia, and personal messages of thanks and appreciation. Travelers who want to enjoy the ship’s new luxury but aren’t quite ready for the Premier Owner’s Suites can try out the 24 new balcony staterooms taking the place of part of the ship’s Observation Lounge on the port side of Deck 15. From her Florida homeport, she will be offering 6- and 8-night Caribbean sailings to a variety of destinations, and in May 2024, Symphony of the Seas will move to New York for a summer of cruises from the Big Apple to The Bahamas.

P&O Cruises (Australia and UK) drydock refurbishments

dry docked cruise ship

Dry dock time allows the ship’s crew to replace things like carpets, bedding and upholstery, but the ship may also undergo major changes -- from attractions on the top deck to dining venues or staterooms. Behind-the-scenes improvements like changes to kitchen equipment or more fuel-efficient engines and generators may also be on the agenda. Behind-the-scenes technical updates, painting, hull cleaning, and other maintenance tasks are also frequently a part of dry dock renovations to keep ships operating as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Currently in service in Southeast Asia, the Princess Cruises vessel is scheduled to arrive at a shipyard in Singapore soon after disembarking passengers on Jan. 19. In addition to scheduled maintenance and class work, the 2019-built vessel is set to receive a shore power connection during the period spent at the facility. Now that we understand the purposes behind dry dock cruises, let’s explore the benefits they offer to both the cruise line and the passengers.

Next Norwegian Ship Will Sail with New Restaurants

Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips. 6, the 2004-built vessel will see a series of interventions, which include scheduled maintenance, technical overhauls, regular upkeep, and class inspections. Work onboard the 500-guest vessel, which is scheduled to resume service in early February, includes the replacement of damaged windows on the bridge, as well as repairs to electrical circuits and technical systems. In addition to the highly visible updates to public areas and venues, behind-the-scenes renovations have also been part of Carnival Glory‘s dry dock. Another major renovation now completed is an overhaul and upgrade to Camp Ocean, the dedicated youth space for cruisers ages 2-11.

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Seeing when it was last dry docked can help you get a pulse on the onboard experience and whether it might feel outdated or if you can expect the industry's latest and greatest. A dry dock cruise is a specific type of cruise where the ship undergoes maintenance, repairs, and upgrades while docked in a dry dock facility or shipyard. Unlike traditional cruises that primarily focus on providing a luxurious and relaxing experience for passengers, dry dock cruises shift the spotlight to the ship itself.

Cruise Ship to Remain Out of Service After Damage Found During Dry Dock - Cruise Hive

Cruise Ship to Remain Out of Service After Damage Found During Dry Dock.

Posted: Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

In most cases, "refurbished" is synonymous with "maintenance and repairs", "freshened up" and "overhauled". Cruise Critic keeps a list of all the upcoming cruise ship refurbishments confirmed by the cruise lines. In addition, you can look for gaps in a cruise ship's sailing schedule and reach out to the line; sometimes, this indicates a dry dock, but it could also be a full charter of the vessel. One of the key benefits of a dry dock cruise is the opportunity to witness the ship’s transformation, with enhancements to facilities, updated décor, and innovative features. Passengers also have the chance to engage with crew members and learn about ship maintenance, engineering, and technology, enhancing their knowledge of the cruise industry.

dry docked cruise ship

Guests aboard Queen Victoria have a rare opportunity to witness dry dock operations while an unexpected repair is made to the ship. Another new venue that will be added to Carnival Glory is the Dreams Photo Studio, which offers private photo sessions for incomparable cruise vacation memories. “We are proudly putting these Heroes Bars on as many ships as we can,” confirmed Heald. All of Carnival Glory’s pools are also having a new “beautification” which may include resurfacing, new colors, and accent decorations to create a fun vibe for swimmers and splashers of all ages. The ship will return to Florida in the fall, alternating sailings from Miami and Los Angeles before the 2025 Alaska season, after which she will sail from Port Canaveral. “Our internal policy ensures an average of two stops per ship every five years, although this may be adjusted according to the deployment and itineraries of individual vessels,” he said.

Carnival Debunks Rumors About Ship Drydock Plans - Cruise Hive

Carnival Debunks Rumors About Ship Drydock Plans.

Posted: Fri, 02 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

At that time, she will move to New York to offer outstanding cruises to Bermuda for the summer. Norwegian Joy is boasting amazing new luxury following a 3-week dry dock, including the largest Thermal Suite of all her sister ships. “We book the dry dock availability in five-year time frames because the vast majority of work that needs to be conducted cannot be done when the vessel is in operation. The ships are the Armonia, Opera, Musica, Magnifica, Splendida and Grandiosa,” said La Scala. Other enhancements around the ship include areas receiving new flooring and a new flooring mat in the water park. From regular maintenance work to major update jobs and repair work, several drydocks are taking place in January.

They can observe the maintenance crew in action, see the repairs being done, and gain insight into the extensive work that goes into keeping a cruise ship safe and operable. It’s a chance to explore areas of the ship that are usually off-limits to passengers and learn about the various systems and components that make cruising possible. While dry dock cruises are not as common as regular cruises, they offer a unique and educational experience for those interested in the behind-the-scenes aspects of the cruise industry.

Now that we know the benefits of dry dock cruises, let’s discover how to prepare for one of these unique voyages. Drydock 2023 was for routine maintenance/regularly scheduled classification works, hotel and technical overhauls (Azipods, bow thrusters), hull cleaning/painting. In 2018, the ship was drydocked for maintenance works done by Seaspan (Canadian shipbuilder). Among the upgrades were a new stabilizer (ducktail, on the stern), propeller repairs and polishing, blast painting of the underwater hull. By this project will be fully redesigned all public areas and venues (changing layouts, furniture, wall coverings and flooring, lighting, artworks). All passenger staterooms will be fully refurbished (interiors, furniture, smart TVs).

The suites have been expanded to three bedrooms, with three-and-a-half bathrooms, renovations throughout, and a separate dining room overlooking the forward-facing Horizon Lounge, exclusive to The Haven. The most outstanding of the numerous updates is the addition of the new centralized Thermal Suite in the Mandara Spa and Salon on Deck 16. Featuring brand new four senses loungers, a sauna, an ice room, and an aromatic steam room, along with other luxurious amenities, the Thermal Suite is the largest such facility among Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway-Plus vessels. The newly rejuvenated ship has returned to her homeport in Miami, Florida, and is now offering Caribbean sailings through the end of March.

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