Carnival Splendor's new look for the Australian market

She looked splendid in her signature Carnival red, white and blue livery, with a Southern Cross motif, once the guiding light for seafarers, in recognition of P&0 Cruises Australia being absorbed by Carnival.

Peter Little and Kara Glamore on an upgraded deck aboard Carnival Splendor in Sydney Harbour PHOTO: HELEN HUTCHEON

Carnival Cruise Line VP Australia Kara Glamore and SVP & Country Manager Peter Little hosted media and travel partners to a walk-around to see the major improvements, followed by a sampler lunch with menus from the ship’s numerous food outlets. 

Before that, guests got a sneak peak of the ship’s new stage show ‘Dear Future Husband.’

New show ‘Dear Future Husband,' new Mad Sizzle food spot and expanded Masala Tiger and mini-golf PHOTOS: CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

Every nook and cranny

Just about every nook and cranny of Carnival Splendor, which was home-ported in Sydney in 2019 and in September 2022 was the first ship to enter Australian waters with international passengers after the COVID-19 pandemic, have been rejuvenated.

Cabins have been updated with renewed balconies, new whirlpool tubs have been installed in suites, there is the latest gym equipment and the children’s clubs have new video gaming areas.

There have also been substantial expansions, including the popular Masala Tiger restaurant and new additions, like Mad Sizzle, serving kebabs and satays and slow spit-roasted meats.

Smell of carpet and paint

‘I can almost smell the new carpets and paint,’ Glamore said when she came on board.

Related:Australia ship Carnival Splendor gets new livery with Southern Cross

Glamore declined to give the cost of the dry dock, but said it was a ‘high end’ investment.

P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will join the Carnival fleet in March 2025 and will be renamed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.

Carnival Splendor and Carnival Adventure will be home-ported in Sydney and Carnival Encounter will be home-ported in Brisbane year round, with Carnival Luminosa home-porting in Brisbane during the Australian summer.

This makes Carnival the largest year round home-ported cruise line in Australia.