Carnival Cuts Down Cruise Ship’s Famous Funnel to Unlock More Ports
Carnival Freedom has a new version of Carnival Cruise Line’s famous whale-tail funnel, and this one is shorter than before. The company announced on October 8 that the lower funnel will allow the ship to visit additional ports.
The work was done during a 35-day dry dock at Chantier Naval de Marseille in Marseille, France. Crews also redesigned the ship’s casino and added more than 100 gaming machines.
The video arcade and retail spaces got updates, too. Carnival said it made accessibility improvements throughout the ship and added a new “From Sea to Shining Sea” crest to the bow.
Carnival Freedom returns to service October 9 with an eight-day Mediterranean cruise departing from Barcelona, Spain. That will be followed by a 13-day Carnival Journeys transatlantic voyage before the ship returns to Florida.
Why Did Carnival Shorten the Funnel?
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Carnival said the shorter funnel will allow Freedom to enter more ports. The company didn’t identify which ports or say exactly how much height was taken off.
This isn’t the first time Carnival Freedom has needed a new funnel. In May 2022, a fire broke out inside the funnel while the ship was docked in Grand Turk.
Carnival installed a replacement with its signature winged design during a 2023 dry dock in Cádiz, Spain. The company announced the replacement that October, along with several other upgrades to the ship.
Then, in March 2024, the funnel was damaged by another fire while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas. Carnival canceled two upcoming cruises so repairs could be made, according to a statement reported by Cruise Industry News.
Where Will Carnival Freedom Sail Next?
The ship is scheduled to arrive in Port Canaveral on October 30 and will sail from there through May 2027. After that, it will move to Norfolk, Virginia.
Carnival announced the Norfolk move last September, with the ship expected to arrive on May 23, 2027. Some of the itineraries include six-day Bahamas cruises to Celebration Key, Nassau and Bimini, along with six-day trips to Bermuda.
There are also eight-day Eastern Caribbean cruises that visit Amber Cove, Grand Turk, RelaxAway, and Half Moon Cay. Canada itineraries include stops in Halifax, Sydney, Saint John or Charlottetown, depending on the sailing.
Carnival has also opened reservations for its new 2028-29 season from Norfolk, with departures available through April 2029. The six- to eight-day cruises will visit destinations in The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Eastern Caribbean and Canada.
Travelers can see the available dates and itineraries on the Carnival Freedom cruise page.
