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The Carnival Splendor of Carnival Cruise Line has recently finished a nearly three-week dry dock at Sembcorp Marine’s Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore. She has emerged not only revitalized and renovated but also with a brand new aesthetic.
As the ship departed the shipyard, she showcased a striking new red, white, and blue hull design. This color scheme was first introduced with the Mardi Gras in 2021 and has since been implemented across the entire fleet as various ships receive refurbishments during their dry dock periods.
Prior to this, the Carnival Splendor underwent her last dry dock in 2019, before the launch of the new livery. Therefore, the recent renovation, completed between August 5 and 23, 2024, marked her first opportunity to switch from a classic white hull to this vibrant, new pattern.
In addition to the fresh colors, the 113,573-gross-ton Carnival Splendor has unveiled a distinctive new feature on her midship hull: a stylized swoop adorned with stars, representing the Southern Cross constellation.
The Southern Cross is a renowned constellation found in the southern hemisphere, located near the southern edge of the Milky Way. It consists of five prominent stars—Acrux, Mimosa, Gacrux, Imai, and Ginan—that have served as navigational aids for Australian sailors for countless generations.
“Carnival Splendor has left Singapore following dry dock, and we’re excited to showcase her amazing new livery!” Carnival Cruise Line Australia announced via social media.
“She now proudly displays the red, white, and blue hull introduced by Carnival in 2021, complete with a special Southern Cross design—a tribute to our strong ties to Australia. The Southern Cross has been a guiding symbol for sailors coming to Australia for centuries, and now the Carnival Splendor shares this artistic emblem with her future sister ships, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter.
The two P&O Cruises Australia vessels, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, also feature a similar star pattern on their bows, though they currently lack the updated hull colors that are now featured in the Carnival fleet.
There has yet to be any confirmation regarding whether the two ships will receive new hull designs when they transition to Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter before joining the Carnival fleet in March 2025, but such an update appears probable.
Notably, the Southern Cross is also prominently featured on Australia’s national flag, serving as a recognized emblem of the country’s pride and identity.
The Carnival Splendor homeports year-round from Sydney, offering voyages around Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the South Pacific. With a capacity to accommodate 3,012 guests at double occupancy, she also hosts over 1,100 international crew members.
Currently, the ship is on a 16-night itinerary, visiting ports in Indonesia and Australia, before returning to Sydney for her scheduled arrival on September 9.
More Unique Carnival Hulls
For many years, vessels in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet sported simple white hulls with only the ship’s names identified. The cruise line relied on the classic “whale tail” funnel design, first introduced with the Tropicale in 1982, to signify its brand.
However, with the arrival of the Mardi Gras, the cruise line opted for a more colorful hull while still keeping the patriotic red, white, and blue theme associated with “America’s Cruise Line.”
Presently, only one other ship in the Carnival fleet features a unique hull design. Upon its launch in July 2023, the Carnival Jubilee showcased the Texas Lone Star on her bow, symbolizing her connection to the Lone Star State and her Galveston homeport.
It is somewhat uncommon for cruise ships to sport a distinctive icon on their hulls linked to a single homeport, especially since many vessels relocate throughout their operational lifetime.
Read Also: Beneath the Surface – Exploring the Cruise Ship Hull
Moreover, hulls can be repainted if necessary, meaning that having unique designs does not preclude a ship from transitioning to other regions in the future.
While Carnival Cruise Line has not announced plans for further customizations of its fleet, it will be interesting to see if more vessels will adopt distinctive designs in the years ahead.
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