The passengers and crew members on Carnival Splendor, currently sailing a Transpacific Journeys voyage on her way to restart CCL-Carnival Cruise Line’s operations in Australia, can now consider themselves time travelers that the liner has crossed the International Dateline while cruising westward in the southern Pacific.
By crossing the internationally recognized calendar boundary, the vessel skipped a full day of the week thus turning Wednesday into Friday for all onboard.
Captain Francesco La Fauci said that was a special voyage and crossing the International Dateline was a fun milestone to share along the way with their guests and crew as they made "a truly momentous return trip to beautiful Sydney."
“Sydney is my favorite city and embarking soon on my 40th year at Carnival Cruise Line, I am so happy to be sailing there with Carnival Splendor and her crew family so we can continue serving one of the most spectacular ports in the world.”
After Carnival Splendor’s departure from the Port of Seattle WA on September 6, following the ship’s deployment as part of Carnival’s largest-ever Alaska season, passengers onboard have enjoyed an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the South Pacific cruise. Carnival's Splendor made stops across Hawaii, visiting Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua-Kona, and Maui. The ship will soon visit the Fiji Islands, with calls in Suva and Port Denarau-Nadi.
Arriving in Sydney on September 30, Splendor will be the first Carnival cruise ship returning to passenger operations in Australian waters in ~1,000 days. The vessel will homeport in Sydney year-round, with her first journey departing October 1.
The return of Carnival Splendor coincides with the line’s 10th year of operations in Australia. In November, the Carnival Luminosa ship will complete Carnival’s 2-ship deployment to Australia with voyages from Brisbane.