Carnival Liberty Refreshed With New Venues for New Orleans Sailings

July 14, 2025 Randy Young

Carnival Liberty is back in service from New Orleans, bringing more fun along for the ride. After a multi-week dry dock in Cadiz, Spain, the ship has returned with several new features and refreshed spaces. The upgrades bring her closer in line with sister ship Carnival Valor, which completed a similar refurbishment last month.

Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge Honors Military Guests

During the drydock, Carnival switched the SkyBox Sports Bar to the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, a dedicated venue that honors U.S. military service members and their families. With themed décor and a respectful ambiance, it serves as a meaningful space during the day and a relaxed hangout spot at night. Since debuting on the Panorama, the space has become a fleetwide staple that guests have grown to appreciate. Although, you can see Carnival has been going cheaper and cheaper with the upgrades on the last few ships, not bothering to switch out SkyBox’s bright red furniture and instead just changing the wall decor and signage.

New Ways to Play: WaterWorks and Mini Golf

Up top, Carnival Liberty now features a new WaterWorks aqua park. It includes new water slides that add a splash of excitement for kids. Just steps away, the ship’s mini golf course was also revamped, giving families another fun option for sea days.

These additions bring Liberty in line with other Carnival ships offering high-energy outdoor attractions and family-friendly entertainment.

Revitalized Spa Now Branded Cloud 9 Spa

The onboard spa has been fully refreshed and is now officially branded as the Cloud 9 Spa. Updates include a modernized fitness center, refreshed décor, new beauty stations, and upgraded steam rooms and saunas. A new Elemis Boutique was also added, expanding the spa’s lineup of premium products and treatments.

Casino, Arcade, and Youth Areas Get Upgrades

The ship’s casino received an updated layout along with new slot machines and table games, giving players more variety and space to enjoy.

Younger cruisers weren’t left out either. The dry dock added new gaming stations to Camp Ocean, while the Arcade and Club O2 teen lounge were both revamped with fresh looks and more interactive fun.

Photo Studio, Shore Excursions, and Retail Updates

Carnival also added some new stores and spaces. New for this ship is the Dream Studio, where guests can book professional photo sessions throughout the cruise. A new Carnival Adventures venue has also been added, serving as the go-to spot for learning about and booking shore excursions.

Retail spaces saw a refresh as well. The onboard FUN Shops were upgraded with new displays, and a new High Spirits liquor store is now open for guests looking to shop duty-free.

Accessibility Improvements

The dry dock also prioritized accessibility, with sweeping upgrades made to pathways, public areas, and select cabins to improve access for all guests.

Carnival Liberty will sail from New Orleans along with its sister ship, Carnival Valor. It will make its first call to Celebration Key, Carnival’s new exclusive destination in The Bahamas, on July 23.