Sarah Bretz, ContributorCarnival Cruise Line’s ship Carnival Splendor has just completed her dry dock in Singapore and is debuting with a new livery. The vessel now features the red, white, and blue hull design that Carnival introduced in 2021. In addition, both sides of the ship now feature a Southern Cross design — a signature marking from the P&O Cruises Australia ships that will soon be joining the Carnival fleet.
Throughout history, the Southern Cross constellation helped early sailors find their way as they crossed oceans to reach Australia. The five stars were useful nighttime companions and became one of the first symbols of the Great Southern Land. By incorporating this design, Carnival Splendor will share that symbolic heritage with soon-to-be sister ships Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure. They both also display the Southern Cross on the bow, and will be renamed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Explorer when they join the Carnival fleet in March 2025.
Carnival announced in June that it will transition the P&O Cruises Australia operations into the Carnival Cruise Line brand next year. Plans are underway for technology upgrades and other systems investments as the vessels prepare to join the fleet.
In anticipation of the changeover, Carnival has also been communicating with and offering positions to thousands of P&O Cruises Australia crew members effective when the ships join Carnival this coming March.
Along with the new livery, Carnival Splendor will return to service with a number of upgrades for guests to enjoy. These enhancements will be revealed upon her return to Sydney on September 9th.
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