Carnival Splendor arrives home alongside Pacific Adventure

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Carnival Splendor approaches Fort Denison as she enters Sydney Harbour on September 30, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Splendor has returned to Sydney Harbour after almost three years away. Eighteen ships from Carnival Australia's eight brands are set for a peak summer cruise season, making a combined 667 turnarounds and port calls across Australia. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images for Carnival Cruise Line Australia)

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Splendor arrived home today escorted by sister brand ship P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Adventure as the official summer cruise season gets underway for Carnival Australia’s eight brands.

Carnival Splendor and Pacific Adventure met off the coast sailing together before separating to enter the harbour in majestic single file and momentarily pausing adjacent to Fort Denison, and the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge providing a stunning backdrop.

This spectacular Fort Denison ‘moment’ signified the fact that Carnival Splendor and Pacific Adventure are now both home-ported in Sydney to resume cruising on itineraries in Australia and to the South Pacific.

Carnival Splendor’s return also fulfilled a promise made by the crew of Carnival Spirit the night before their ship left Sydney in March 2020 as the two-year cruising pause began. They used cabin lights along the length of the ship to spell out the message: ‘WE WILL BE BACK’.

Carnival Splendor is welcomed into Sydney Harbour on September 30, 2022 in Sydney, Australia | Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images for Carnival Cruise Line Australia

Eighteen ships from Carnival Australia’s eight brands are set for a peak summer cruise season in 2022-23 making 667 turnarounds and port calls to 33 destinations across the country.

The number of ship turnarounds and calls eclipses the 625 that were announced prior to the 2019-20 season, which was curtailed due to the onset of the COVID pandemic.

In addition, Cunard will base Queen Elizabeth in Australia for its longest-ever local season of cruises, while two Holland America Line ships and a Seabourn ship will also spend significant periods in Australian waters.

“We are seeing the rapid recovery of cruise tourism in Australia and Carnival Australia’s brands are set to make an important contribution during the 2022-23 summer cruise season,” president of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald said.

“The resurgence of cruising and the revitalisation of the $5-billion-a-year cruise industry has happened at a faster rate than could have been expected after more than two challenging years.

“As Australia’s main cruising organisation, we are grateful to our guests and suppliers who kept the faith and to federal and state government authorities that backed the resumption of cruise operations.

“As our ships have progressively returned to service, we have experienced the excitement of regional destinations as they have seen cruise visitors and opportunity return.”

Carnival Splendor returned to Sydney after a 23-night Transpacific voyage from Seattle. Her arrival comes near to a thousand days since her last Australian sailing.

Six of the 18 Carnival Australia ships sailing local waters will be making their maiden visit to Australia this summer, including P&O Cruises Pacific Adventure, Princess Cruises Grand Princess and Island Princess, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Luminosa and Holland America Line’s Westerdam and Zuiderdam.

Featured Image: Carnival Splendor escorted into Sydney Harbour by Pacific Adventure | Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images for Carnival Cruise Line Australia

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