Celebrating 25 Years of Carnival Radiance: A Journey Through Time at Sea

The Carnival Radiance recently celebrated 25 years of service since its delivery to Carnival Cruise Line on July 28, 2000. This impressive vessel was built by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard in Italy and originally debuted as the Carnival Victory, the third ship in Carnival’s Destiny class.

The ship launched its inaugural season with a trans-Atlantic voyage that took it from Italy to New York City, followed by a series of cruises to Canada departing from the Big Apple, including visits to St. John’s and Halifax. Additionally, it operated cruises from Charleston, South Carolina.

After years of sailing from various U.S. ports, the Carnival Victory returned to Europe in early 2020 for a significant refurbishment. This refurbishment, originally planned to take 45 days, faced delays due to the pandemic and was ultimately completed in late 2021. The $200 million upgrade introduced several new features and a refreshed look.

Rebranded as the Carnival Radiance, the ship resumed service in December 2021 with a naming ceremony officiated by Lucille O’Neal, the ship’s godmother. Currently, the Carnival Radiance is part of Carnival’s West Coast fleet, offering short cruises to destinations such as California, Baja Mexico, and the Mexican Riviera. It operates from Carnival’s cruise terminal in Long Beach, with itineraries including three- to five-night journeys to places like Catalina Island, Ensenada, and Cabo San Lucas.

In 2025, the Radiance is set to expand its offerings with 14-night cruises to Hawaii as part of the Carnival Journeys program, with sailings scheduled for October and November that will include stops in Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, and Nawiliwili.

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