Carnival Cruise Line hosted an exclusive event for 50 of its valued trade partners to celebrate Carnival Splendor’s return to Sydney following her dry dock in Singapore. The event, a special onboard tour, entertainment and lunch, showcased the ship’s impressive new upgrades, highlighting Carnival’s commitment to enhancing guest experiences as Carnival prepares to become Australia’s largest cruise brand next year.
To start the day, trade partners were welcomed into main theatre, Spectacular Spectacular, for speeches by Kara Glamore, Vice President of Carnival Cruise Line Australia, and Captain Ivan Mladina who also celebrated his 15th anniversary with the cruise line on the same day. The festivities continued with an exclusive performance of Carnival Splendor’s latest production, “Dear Future Husband,” which recently made its Australian debut following its introduction on Carnival Jubilee.
Guests were divided into groups for guided tours of the ship’s new upgrades including the newly introduced dining venue Mad Sizzle and a refurbished Masala Tiger restaurant, which was expanded to accommodate its popularity among cruisers.
Trade partners were also shown upgraded staterooms, fitness and wellness amenities, including Cloud 9 Spa, gym, pools and basketball court. For families and the young at heart, the tour highlighted the fully refreshed mini-golf course and revamped Carnival WaterWorks™ and Splashy Cove as well as upgraded kids’ clubs with Camp Ocean and Club 02 boasting new video gaming areas. Outside, guests had the opportunity to see the ship’s new hull design, featuring the Southern Cross motif – a signature element of P&O Cruises Australia ships that will soon join the Carnival fleet.
The day concluded with a delicious 3-course lunch at Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse. Following the recent dry dock, the restaurant now boasts signature dishes like T-bone steak and fresh New Zealand pink snapper. Guests enjoyed a special menu showcasing a variety of the ship’s offerings, including a tasting plate from Mad Sizzle, Fahrenheit 555’s new pink snapper main, and the famous Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake as well as a surprise performance from Carnival’s dancing waiters.
Partners who enjoyed the festivities included Flight Centre, Helloworld, I Love Cruising, Global Travel Group and more. Carnival Cruise Line’s Senior Vice President and Country Manager Peter Little as well as Senior Director of Sales & Marketing Anton Loeb, National Sales Manager Mark Richards and the Carnival Cruise Line trade team were in attendance hosting valued partners.
Beginning March 2025, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa will be joined by two additional sister ships operating in Australia when P&O Cruises Australia transitions to Carnival Cruise Line. Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will be and will be renamed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.
Bookings across a variety of destinations in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific are open through 2026. For more information on Carnival Cruise Line and bookings call 13 31 94, see your travel agent or visit https://www.carnival.com.au/
Image assets of the newly refurbished ship and trade event are available here.