Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Conquest is back in Miami following a 12-day dry dock at Grand Bahama Shipyard, unveiling a series of new venues and refreshed public spaces ahead of its return to year-round sailings.
The most notable addition is the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, a dedicated venue honoring military veterans and active-duty service members. The space features patriotic design elements and serves as both a gathering place and a fundraising hub. Through the sale of a commemorative souvenir glass and Heroes American Pale Ale, Carnival raises funds for its national partner, Operation Homefront, which supports military families across the United States.
The addition continues Carnival’s broader Heroes Tribute concept across parts of its fleet, giving guests a dedicated onboard space tied to recognition and charitable impact.
The ship’s dry dock also brought changes designed to broaden its appeal for families traveling from South Florida. A newly added Club O2 provides a refreshed environment for teens, complete with updated décor and new gaming areas tailored to older kids. The WAREHOUSE video arcade was renovated, introducing more interactive game options and an upgraded layout aimed at keeping younger cruisers engaged throughout the voyage.
For adult guests, the ship’s casino received a significant expansion. The redesigned layout adds additional gaming options and introduces a dedicated non-smoking area, a feature increasingly sought after by cruise passengers. The expanded footprint allows for more slot machines and table games while creating clearer flow throughout the space.
Retail areas were also part of the refurbishment. Onboard shops including Effy, Pandora, and Swarovski were refreshed with updated displays and layouts, enhancing the shopping experience for guests looking for fine jewelry and branded accessories at sea.
With its upgrades complete, Carnival Conquest has resumed its homeport in Miami, operating short cruises to The Bahamas and the Caribbean. The itineraries include calls at Celebration Key, Carnival’s new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama. The private destination is part of Carnival’s ongoing investment in expanding its proprietary port experiences in The Bahamas.
Carnival Conquest, part of the line’s Conquest-class ships, has long been positioned as a popular option for 3- and 4-day getaways from South Florida. The latest enhancements are aimed at refreshing the onboard experience while maintaining its core focus on short, accessible Caribbean vacations.
The return of the ship also underscores Grand Bahama Shipyard’s continued role as a major hub for cruise ship refurbishment in the region, handling dry dock projects for multiple cruise lines operating in The Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Carnival has continued to update ships across its fleet with new venues and reimagined public areas, particularly in high-traffic homeports such as Miami. For Carnival Conquest, the combination of a mission-driven lounge concept, family-focused upgrades and expanded gaming options positions the vessel for another busy year sailing from one of the world’s largest cruise markets.
Caitlin Sullivan
2026-02-22 20:07:00