Labor Woes Power Carnival Liberty to Change Shipyards, Cruise Cancelled

At the moment present process dry dock refreshment in Europe, Carnival Liberty won’t be returning to service as deliberate on account of labor shortages and a shipyard change.
This implies the ship’s first return crusing from New Orleans, initially scheduled to depart July 6, 2026, is now cancelled. Friends are being notified of the change simply two weeks earlier than they’d have set sail.
The notification was emailed to visitors on June 23, 2025, simply 13 days earlier than embarkation for the now-cancelled cruise. Whereas the abrupt change shouldn’t be the cruise line’s fault, it is going to definitely be a bummer for what would have been incredible summer season trip plans.
“This previous weekend, we have been pressured to maneuver the vessel to a brand new shipyard to finish our work due to a labor work stoppage on the prior facility,” the e-mail defined. “Regrettably, this case will delay the ship’s departure from Europe by a couple of days, impacting its scheduled return to service.”
Carnival Liberty was initially in dry dock in Cadiz, Spain, however satellite tv for pc monitoring information exhibits the vessel en path to Marseille, France, the place one other shipyard facility will have the ability to full the refurbishment work.
This implies the July 6, 2025 cruise is now cancelled. That voyage was to have been a 7-night Bahamas itinerary from New Orleans, with stops at Key West, Freeport, and Nassau.
All booked visitors will routinely obtain full refunds for the cruise fare, port taxes, and any pre-paid add-ons, akin to gratuities, web connectivity, drink packages, and shore excursions. Refunds can be processed again to the unique type of fee.
The 110,400-gross ton, Conquest class Carnival Liberty was final refreshed in October 2021, when she obtained the now-iconic purple, white, and blue hull livery and different common upkeep.
Whereas the updates the ship is at present present process haven’t been revealed, it’s common for lodge and public space upgrades and new venues to be added throughout in depth dry dock operations. Carnival Liberty could also be barely delayed to welcome visitors once more, however she can be recent and looking out like new when she does.
At the moment, the ship’s July 13, 2025 departure – a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary visiting Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel – is on schedule and deliberate to maneuver ahead with out adjustments.
Due to the last-minute nature of the cancellation, Carnival Cruise Line can also be offering visitors with a 100% future cruise credit score (FCC) along with the complete refund. The credit score is only for the cruise fare, however is a approach to entice visitors to rebook on one other Carnival cruise trip.
The FCC have to be redeemed no later than June 30, 2026 however can be utilized on any departure open on the market. This implies visitors can rebook on any ship, not simply Carnival Liberty, for any homeport, itinerary size, or crusing date.
The credit score can’t, nonetheless, be used for a deposit or any onboard costs. If visitors select a brand new cruise with a better value than the FCC, they need to nonetheless pay the distinction – as is customary with these kind of presents.
Learn Additionally: Carnival Ships by Dimension – Greatest to Smallest
Along with the refund and the longer term cruise credit score, Carnival Cruise Line may also reimburse visitors as much as $200 per individual for non-refundable airfare or air change charges.
Supporting documentation have to be offered for reimbursement consideration, which isn’t assured relying on airline insurance policies or journey insurance coverage protection.
Whereas it isn’t commonplace for dry docks to be shifted and overrun deliberate schedules, it does occur. This generally is a threat vacationers take once they need to be on the primary crusing after an replace.
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