Carnival Freedom Prepares to Return as Norfolk Reservations Open
Following a 35-day dry dock in Marseille, the ship is debuting several upgrades as Carnival opens its 2028/2029 season for booking.
Carnival Freedom is preparing to return to service after spending 35 days at Chantier Naval de Marseille in Marseille, France. The ship now features a new whale tail funnel with a lower height, enabling access to additional ports.
The dry-dock work also included a redesigned casino with more than 100 additional gaming machines, a refreshed video arcade, updated retail spaces and accessibility improvements throughout the ship. Carnival Freedom now displays Carnival’s new From Sea to Shining Sea bow crest as well.
The ship will arrive in Barcelona on Oct. 9 for an eight-day Mediterranean cruise. It will then operate a 13-day Carnival Journeys transatlantic voyage.
Carnival has opened reservations for Carnival Freedom’s 2028/2029 season from Norfolk, Virginia. The six- to eight-day itineraries run through April 2029 and visit The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Eastern Caribbean and Canada. Ports and destinations include Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Amber Cove.