Carnival Just Sent One of Its Ships to Singapore for a Major Overhaul—Here's What's Coming Back
Carnival Encounter is in a Singapore drydock through March 20 getting a new livery, Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suites, revamped pools, and energy upgrades before returning to Australian routes.
The Carnival Encounter has sailed into a Singapore drydock for a comprehensive refurbishment, and when it returns to Australian waters on March 20, it won’t look quite the same—or feel the same once you’re onboard, according to Cruise Industry News.
What’s Actually Changing
A Fresh New Look
Carnival is refreshing its signature livery on the Encounter, updating the ship’s iconic red, white, and deep blue color scheme. While the classic palette stays, the visual refresh signals a new chapter for this vessel.
A Brand-New Spa Experience
The biggest addition is the Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suites—a dedicated wellness space featuring saunas, steam baths, and heated thermal lounges. Guests will be able to book day passes or full-cruise access, giving cruisers a proper retreat option that previously wasn’t available on this ship.
Pool Area Upgrades
All five of the Encounter’s pools are being refreshed, with Jacuzzi tubs replaced and surrounds revitalized. The Twin Racer waterslides get a polish, and the basketball court is receiving new hoops and netting—small touches that add up to a noticeably sharper experience.
Behind-the-Scenes Improvements
Carnival is also investing in energy-saving upgrades to improve onboard efficiency, along with improvements to crew areas. These investments are invisible to passengers but tend to translate to better, more consistent service.
Why This Matters for Cruisers Down Under
The Carnival Encounter operates year-round sailings from Brisbane to some of the Pacific’s most sought-after destinations: the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea. For Australian cruisers, this is their primary gateway to the region—and a refurbished ship means a meaningfully upgraded experience without changing itineraries.
The ship departs Singapore on March 5, calling at Lombok and Bali before returning to Brisbane on March 20.
The Bottom Line
Ship refurbishments rarely generate headlines the way new builds do, but for passengers who cruise the same vessel year after year, they matter enormously. The Cloud 9 Spa addition in particular is a genuine upgrade—thermal suite access is the kind of amenity that can influence which ship you book. If you’ve been on the Encounter before, the post-March version is worth revisiting.