CCL-Carnival Cruise Line has lodged an EUR 4.5 million compensation claim against Spain’s Navantia shipyard following a labour dispute that led to the early departure of Carnival Liberty from dry dock in Cádiz (Spain).
The vessel, which had entered the yard in early June for technical upgrades and interior refurbishment, was forced to undock on June 21 when a strike by the local metalworkers’ union—along with service withdrawals by subcontractors—halted progress. In response, Carnival sought damages for the financial and operational setbacks caused by the disruption.
Carnival’s Executive Vice President for Maritime and New Builds, Ben Clement, travelled to Cádiz to meet with shipyard management and emphasized that the instability threatened the future of additional ship dockings—11 of which remain tentative at the facility.
To ensure all scheduled work is completed, Carnival Liberty has been rerouted to Chantier Naval de Marseille, with an expected arrival on 24 June 2025 as indicated by AIS tracking. This mirrors earlier actions taken earlier this year, when sister ship Carnival Spirit was also redirected to Marseille, while Carnival Miracle and Carnival Valor remained in Cádiz.
The repercussions of the strike have extended to passengers, with the ship’s July 6, 2025 departure from New Orleans cancelled. Guests were informed of the discontinuation via email on June 23—just 13 days ahead of embarkation—in what was described as a consequence of the labour stoppage and subsequent delay in returning the vessel to service.
Carnival has assured those affected of full refunds, 100% future cruise credit, and reimbursement of up to $200 per person for non-refundable travel expenses—measures resembling the response to the Carnival Liberty disruption.
This incident illuminates the complexities of maritime project management, where shipyard labour disputes can cascade into rerouted dockings, altered refit plans, and itinerary disruptions—highlighting the need for greater contractual resilience in cruise dry dock schedules.