October 5, 2026 — Carnival Radiance is sailing from Long Beach again after a 15-day drydock at the Seaspan shipyard in Victoria, British Columbia. The ship welcomed its first guests back on Saturday, October 3.
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation, used the yard stay mainly for routine maintenance. Guest-facing changes were modest: a renewed Effy jewelry boutique, refreshed interior and open-deck areas, and the line’s new “From Sea to Shining Sea” bow crest, which marks the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Ship and schedule
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drydock | 15 days at Seaspan, Victoria, Canada |
| Back in service | October 3, 2026, from Long Beach, California |
| First cruise back | Eight nights to the Mexican Riviera |
| Regular program | Year-round four- and five-day cruises to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera, with calls including Ensenada and Catalina Island; select 14-day Carnival Journeys sailings to Hawaii |
| Long Beach schedule published | Through at least April 2029 |
| Capacity | 2,984 passengers; 101,509 tons |
The ship entered service in 2000 as Carnival Victory and was renamed Carnival Radiance in 2021 after a $200 million rebuild. Its previous drydock, in September 2024, was the larger of the two, with work on the casino, youth areas and sports deck.
What it means for airline travelers
- Nothing to rebook. The ship returned on schedule and no sailings were reported cancelled or changed.
- Airports: Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the closest to the cruise terminal. Los Angeles (LAX) and Orange County (SNA) are the usual alternatives and give standby travelers far more flights to choose from.
- Short cruises leave little slack. On a four- or five-day sailing, a missed embarkation means most of the trip is gone. If you are flying standby, arrive the day before.
- Do not expect a new ship. This was a maintenance visit. The hardware is the same as before the drydock, apart from the retail and cosmetic refresh.
- Interline rates: None of the reports mention any change to travel-industry rates or eligibility.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News — Carnival Radiance Back in Long Beach After Drydock
- Cruise Critic — Carnival Radiance Returns to Long Beach with New Dry Dock Enhancements
- Cruise Fever — Carnival Cruise Ship Returns to Service After 15-Day Dry Dock
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