Carnival Radiance completes refit and refurbishment, name officially changed

Carnival Radiance has been officially renamed, marking the end of her transformation from Carnival Victory.

Carnival Victory went into the shipyard in Spain several months ago and has undergone a major $200 million refit and refurbishment that saw every aspect of the vessel updated or transformed.

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She has now been renamed as the Carnival Radiance and is expected to leave her dry dock in Cadiz, Span, and return to sea in October.

Carnival Radiance will resume operations on October 18th with a seven-week voyage to her eventual homeport in Long Beach, Calif., with stops in Miami and a transit of the Panama Canal along the way.

The third in the line’s Sunshine-class series, Carnival Radiance will make her Southern California debut on December 13th, kicking off a year-round schedule of three- and four-day cruises to Baja Mexico from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.

On this route, three-day cruises depart Fridays and visit Ensenada, Mexico, while four-day cruises sail on Mondays calling at Ensenada and Catalina Island.

“The transformation of Carnival Victory has been in the works for quite some time but we’re delighted that she can now be officially be called Carnival Radiance — the newest member of our fleet,” said Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line.

“Carnival Radiance features all of our most popular spaces and provides a truly unique and exciting vacation option for the Southern California short cruise market,” she added.

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A traditional naming ceremony will be held once Carnival Radiance arrives in Long Beach.  Additional details will be announced in the near future, the cruise line said.

Carnival Radiance joins Carnival Miracle, which will reposition to Long Beach on September 27th to operate short cruises to Mexico, as well as Carnival Panorama sailing week-long voyages to the Mexican Riviera.

The Sunshine-class includes Carnival Sunshine (which was formerly Carnival Destiny), and Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Triumph). They underwent their total transformations in 2013 and 2019 respectively.

The refurbishment of Carnival Victory and her renaming to Carnival Radiance completes a massive US $2-billion 20-ship fleetwide enhancement program undertaken by Carnival Cruise Lines in 2011.

The ships now feature new dining concepts, new bars and lounges, expanded and revamped waterparks and top deck attractions, as well as new adults-only relaxation areas.