Carnival Liberty Returns to New Orleans After Dry Dock Refresh
While losing a ship to dry dock in the heat of summer vacation time tested the patience of Carnival Cruise Line guests sailing out of New Orleans, the wait is finally over – and was well worth it!
The 110,000-gross-ton Carnival Liberty is back in action out of New Orleans, bringing exciting new features and a refreshed look after a major dry dock.
The ship resumed week-long sailings to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean on July 13, 2025, taking up to 2,974 happy passengers back to sea.
The ship now includes the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, a venue designed to recognize US military personnel and their families. First introduced on Carnival Panorama, the addition makes the popular bar available on 15 ships in the fleet.
Also joining in the fun is a new WaterWorks aqua park featuring updated waterslides, including the spiraling AquaTunnel and the long, winding Twister slide.
The ship’s mini golf course, located on the Sun Deck, was also redesigned, while the onboard Arcade on the Promenade Deck received new gaming stations and entertainment options for younger guests.
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Families will find improvements across Camp Ocean and Club O2, the cruise line’s dedicated spaces for kids and teens, while adults looking to relax can do so in the new Cloud9 Spa.
The completely overhauled spa space features new décor, updated beauty stations, modern steam rooms, upgrades to the adjacent fitness center, and a new Elemis Boutique.
Speaking of boutiques, retail areas aboard Carnival Liberty were also reorganized with refreshed FUN Shop displays and a new High Spirits liquor store.
The ship’s casino also got a facelift with a new layout and additional slot machines and gaming tables.
Even guest services got an overhaul with updated photo services, a Dream Studio for personalized sessions, and the addition of a Carnival Adventures desk to provide passengers with a centralized location to learn about and book excursions.
Carnival Cruise Line also made accessibility improvements, expanding accessible pathways and enhancing ADA features in several public spaces and staterooms.
Dry Dock Hiccups
Carnival Liberty’s seven-week drydock began on May 17, 2025, but the refurbishment didn’t go entirely as planned.
Midway through the scheduled work at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, a labor stoppage forced Carnival Cruise Line to abruptly shift the ship to a different facility.
The strike, which involved thousands of metalworkers, disrupted multiple shipyard operations and, as a result, the cruise line was forced to cancel the ship’s planned July 6 cruise from New Orleans.
Carnival Liberty was transferred to the Chantier Naval de Marseille shipyard in France, where refurbishment was finished. (The cruise line has since filed a lawsuit against Navantia for the disruption.)
Her first sailing post-refurbishment is a Western Caribbean itinerary. After departing Port NOLA on July 13, the ship will call in Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico, before returning on July 20, 2025.
The following week, the vessel will sail a Bahamian route that includes its first visit to Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination.
That itinerary also features calls in Key West, Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas.
Carnival Cruise Line has more in store across its fleet with Carnival Mardi Gras set to begin dry dock September 27 to October 15, 2025, followed by Carnival Conquest in January 2026.
Carnival Liberty Returns to New Orleans After Dry Dock Refresh