Carnival Spirit Gets Updates in Dry Dock

The Carnival Spirit has just wrapped up dry dock in Barcelona, Spain, bringing a wave of upgrades and changes to the 2001-built Spirit Class ship. Many of the renovations mirror those recently made to its sister ships, Carnival Pride and Carnival Legend, providing a refreshed appearance. While none of the changes are drastic, those familiar with the ships will see a few improvements and also a few cuts.

Guests hitting the gym on Carnival Spirit will notice some big changes. The large hot tub in the center has been removed from the fitness center, making room for brand-new weight and gym equipment. Meanwhile, the spa has added new massage rooms, giving guests more options for relaxation. Thankfully, the steam and sauna rooms remain in the individual locker rooms and are still open to all guests, a setup that new Carnival ships do not have (they charge for access to steam rooms).

One of the biggest changes comes to Dancin’ Dance Club, the ship’s former two-story nightclub. The lower level has been removed and converted into The Captain’s Table dining area along with additional cabins. This means the nightclub is now a single-level venue, similar to changes made on Carnival Pride and Legend. The new design keeps some of the avante-garde elements by Joe Farcus but tones it down and makes it look similar to Limelight Lounge found on other ships.

The SkyBox Sports Bar has been rethemed into the Heroes Tribute Lounge, a space dedicated to honoring military service members. While the space still has massive TV screens showing your favorite games, it also pays tribute to the men and women in the service. The Spirit is the fourteenth ship to receive the Heroes Tribute Lounge.

For those who love outdoor activities, the mini-golf course and basketball courts have been completely refreshed, bringing a new look and feel to these popular spots.

The casino has received a fresh layout along with new machines. The biggest change is the removal of the casino bar. While the change opens up a lot of space for gaming, it makes it much harder to get a drink while playing in the casino. The removal of the bar should help with the smokiness of the area, as during cold weather cruises, the casino would be filled out with people at the bar smoking, which spilled into all the general areas of the ships.  

The cabins have all been refreshed with new carpets and furnishings. In a nice addition, they have also upgraded all cabins with new bedside lamps featuring one 110V outlet and two USB ports (USB-A/USB 2). Additionally, there are extra USB ports near the sofa. It’s a great change for the ship, which used to have only two 110V ports near the mirror.

There are also a few minor changes. The ship’s steakhouse, located under the translucent red funnel, had a minor refresh in decor. Another small but welcome addition is a new premium coffee spot near the Serenity area, giving guests a chance to grab a specialty coffee other than the main promenade.

Also, with the downsizing of the nightclub, they’ve added The Chef’s Table, an exclusive dining experience.

In addition to the changes above, several of the spaces received a refresh. That includes a new look for the kid spaces like Camp Ocean, a new Dreams Studio space, and the additional of a Carnival Adventures shop.

With these upgrades, Carnival Spirit is ready to sail with a fresh look, enhanced amenities, and new experiences for guests. The ship will soon set sail on a unique back-to-back Transatlantic and Panama Canal itinerary before a summer of Alaskan Sailings. After that, it will return to Mobile, Alabama, for its seasonal sailings.

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