Carnival Cruise Line is demanding €4.5 million in compensation from Spain’s Navantia shipyard after a labor strike forced the premature removal of Carnival Liberty from dry dock, derailing a scheduled refurbishment and disrupting upcoming sailings.
The Liberty entered the Cádiz-based facility in early June for technical upgrades and a full interior renovation. However, just days after work began, a strike by the local metalworkers’ union triggered widespread delays. Despite official strike dates on June 18 and 19, work was further disrupted by off-schedule slowdowns and refusal of service by subcontractors—many reportedly using the ship as leverage in their bargaining efforts, according to La Voz de Cádiz.
By June 21, with progress stalled and tensions rising, a skeleton crew of roughly 20 Navantia workers undocked the ship without the support of subcontracted labor. While the move helped avert further escalation, it did not resolve the core dispute. Carnival has since filed a formal claim for damages, citing the financial and operational losses stemming from the disruption.
Ben Clement, Carnival’s Executive Vice President for Maritime and New Builds, traveled to Cádiz to engage with shipyard leadership directly. During meetings, Carnival made it clear that continued instability could put future projects at risk. The company currently has 11 additional ship dockings tentatively scheduled at the Cádiz shipyard, but none have been finalized.
With its Cádiz overhaul cut short, Carnival Liberty is now headed to Chantier Naval de Marseille in France to complete the remaining work, Cruise Industry News reported. The ship is expected to arrive at the Marseille yard on June 24, 2025, according to AIS tracking data. The move mirrors a similar strategy earlier this year when Carnival Spirit also underwent dry dock in Marseille, while Carnival Miracle and Carnival Valor completed work in Cádiz.
The ripple effects of the labor dispute have affected passengers. As first reported by Cruise Hive, Carnival Liberty’s July 6, 2026 sailing from New Orleans has been cancelled. Carnival notified guests via email on June 23—just 13 days before the scheduled departure—explaining that the change was due to the labor stoppage and the resulting delay in the ship’s return from Europe.
