Three Carnival-Owned Cruise Ships Undergo Major Dry Dock Renovations Ahead of Busy 2026-2027 Seasons

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Three popular cruise ships from Carnival Corporation & plc brands – Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, P&O Cruises’ Iona, and Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess – are each undergoing significant dry dock refurbishments and technical overhauls ahead of major deployments in 2026 and 2027.

Three ships undergoing drydock

The projects, taking place in shipyards across Europe and North America, reflect Carnival Corporation’s continued investment in maintaining and enhancing its global fleet – including upgrades to guest experiences, sustainability, and ship performance.

Mardi Gras Receives First Dry Dock in France

Carnival Cruise Line’s flagship Mardi Gras is currently in dry dock at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France – her first since entering service in 2021.

The image shows the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship sailing through open ocean, leaving a light trail of wake behind it. The ship’s distinct red and blue hull stands out, with multiple decks featuring balconies, pools, and recreational areas. The clear blue sky and expansive sea emphasize the grandeur and luxury of the vessel on its journey.

The LNG-powered ship, which accommodates around 5,200 guests, arrived at the yard in late September following a transatlantic crossing from Port Canaveral.

Routine maintenance, class inspections, and general upkeep are being carried out, including a new coat of antifouling paint and a refreshed Carnival livery.

Minor updates to public spaces and onboard features are also expected, with brand ambassador John Heald teasing that more details will be revealed soon.

Once the work is complete, Mardi Gras will return to service on 16th October 2025, offering a 14-night repositioning voyage from Barcelona back to Port Canaveral.

The transatlantic sailing includes calls in Málaga, Cádiz, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as well as a stop at Carnival’s new Bahamian destination, Celebration Key. From Florida, the ship will resume her popular six- to nine-night Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.

Mardi Gras was the first of Carnival’s Excel-class ships built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, followed by Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee (2023). Two more ships – Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale – are due in 2027 and 2028 respectively.

P&O Cruises’ Iona Undergoes First Major Refit in Rotterdam

P&O Cruises’ Iona is also in dry dock – her first since debuting in 2021. The 183,900-ton LNG-powered ship is currently undergoing technical maintenance and routine servicing at a shipyard in Rotterdam.

Iona Cruise

P&O has confirmed that Iona will return to service on 23rd October 2025, beginning a busy winter season featuring voyages to Northern Europe and the Canary Islands.

To accommodate the refit, two cruises originally scheduled for October 2025 were cancelled, with affected passengers offered full refunds and a £100 onboard credit for future bookings.

Following her return, Iona will operate a mix of short breaks and longer itineraries, including a 35-night Caribbean sailing departing Southampton in early 2026.

Destinations include St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, and two visits to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Built at Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard, Iona is part of Carnival Corporation’s shared Excel-class platform, used by multiple brands including Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises.

Sapphire Princess Debuts Two New Restaurants After Portland Dry Dock

Meanwhile, Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess has emerged from a two-week dry dock in Portland, Oregon, showcasing a refreshed interior and the introduction of two new specialty restaurants – Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill.

Sapphire Princess

The enhancements are part of Princess Cruises’ continued culinary evolution, bringing popular dining experiences from the Sun Princess and Star Princess to more of the fleet.

Makoto Ocean, replacing the former Internet Café on Deck 7, offers Chef Makoto Okuwa’s Edomae-style sushi, including truffle salmon, toro tartare, and snow crab temaki.

Crown Grill, taking over the Savoy Dining Room on Deck 5, serves premium aged beef, chops, and seafood – a Princess signature experience now priced at $60 per person, or included with the Princess Premier package.

Following the dry dock, Sapphire Princess will sail Mexican Riviera itineraries before repositioning to South America and Antarctica. She’ll then head to Europe for spring and summer 2026, before returning to North America for a Canada and New England season in autumn 2026.

A major highlight comes in 2027, when Sapphire Princess and her sister ship Diamond Princess will reunite for a historic dual deployment in Japan – the first time the two Japan-built ships have operated together from Tokyo since their launch.

Continued Investment Across Carnival’s Global Brands

While each dry dock differs in scope, together they represent Carnival Corporation’s ongoing commitment to maintaining its diverse fleet across multiple brands – from large-scale technical work to carefully curated guest experience upgrades.

These enhancements also follow a wave of new ship orders and refurbishments across the company’s portfolio, as Carnival Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Costa, and AIDA continue to expand and modernise their offerings ahead of a packed 2026–2028 cruise calendar.

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