February 2, 2026 | Long Beach, California
Carnival Radiance (Carnival Cruise Line) was docked at Long Beach Cruise Terminal on February 2, 2026, between the Queen Mary and Queen Mary 2 during their Royal Rendezvous. A five-night Mexican Riviera cruise to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada was scheduled to begin that afternoon. Built by Fincantieri in Italy as Carnival Victory, she returned to service under her current name in 2021.
Carnival Radiance (Carnival Cruise Line) was docked at Long Beach Cruise Terminal on February 2, 2026, during the Royal Rendezvous between the Queen Mary and Queen Mary 2. Her berth placed her between the permanently moored historic liner and Cunard’s visiting flagship, making the Carnival ship part of the harbor setting for their reunion. We photographed Carnival Radiance during our coverage from the water that morning, with this gallery focusing on the ship at her Long Beach homeport.
The morning brought together three passenger ships with different histories and operating roles. The Queen Mary remained at her permanent berth, while Queen Mary 2 approached for the ships’ first reunion since February 2006. Alongside the nearby cruise terminal, Carnival Radiance was preparing for her own scheduled sailing: a five-night Mexican Riviera cruise to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, returning to Long Beach on February 7. Her presence connected the occasion with the regular cruise operations continuing within the harbor.
Originally built by Fincantieri in Italy as Carnival Victory, the ship entered service in 2000 before undergoing a $200 million transformation in Spain and returning as Carnival Radiance in 2021. Her new identity became closely associated with Long Beach, where she was christened in December 2021 and began a year-round cruise programme. By the date of these photographs, she had been sailing under the Carnival Radiance name for more than four years, continuing a passenger career that began a quarter of a century earlier.
Information List
Name: Carnival Radiance
Former Name: Carnival Victory
Operator: Carnival Cruise Line
Type: Cruise ship
Current Class: Sunshine class
Original Builder: Fincantieri, Italy
Original Delivery and Entry into Service: 2000
Major Transformation: Completed in Spain in 2021
Transformation Investment: $200 million
Official Renaming Announced: September 23, 2021
Christened as Carnival Radiance: December 12, 2021, Long Beach
Godmother: Dr. Lucille O’Neal
First Passenger Sailing as Carnival Radiance: December 13, 2021, from Long Beach
Gross Tonnage: 101,509 GT
Length Overall: About 893 feet / 272 meters
Published Guest Capacity: 2,984 at double occupancy
Published Crew Complement: 1,108
Homeport at Gallery Date: Long Beach, California
Gallery Date: February 2, 2026
Gallery Location: Long Beach Cruise Terminal
Status in This Gallery: Docked
Event Context: Royal Rendezvous between the Queen Mary and Queen Mary 2
Position During the Reunion: Docked between the two Queens
Scheduled Cruise Dates: February 2–7, 2026
Scheduled Cruise Length: Five nights
Scheduled Destinations: Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico
Scheduled Return: Long Beach, February 7
Photography Context: Photographed from the water during our Royal Rendezvous coverage
History and Features
Construction as Carnival Victory:
Fincantieri built the ship in Italy, delivering her to Carnival in 2000 under the name Carnival Victory.
Her introduction formed part of Carnival’s expansion of large passenger ships around the turn of the millennium.
The original ship measured about 272 meters long and belonged to the design family that also included Carnival Destiny and Carnival Triumph.
More than two decades of service preceded her transformation into Carnival Radiance.
Her 2000 construction and 2021 return under a new name represent separate milestones within the same ship’s career.
The Transformation into Carnival Radiance:
Carnival undertook a $200 million transformation of the former Carnival Victory in Spain.
The project extensively changed public spaces, dining venues and passenger facilities.
Carnival announced the official change of name to Carnival Radiance on September 23, 2021.
The ship received Carnival’s red, white and blue hull livery as part of her updated presentation.
Her new identity introduced a substantially modernized vessel to Carnival’s West Coast operations.
The Sunshine-Class Connection:
Carnival identifies Carnival Radiance as the third ship in its Sunshine-class series.
The series also includes Carnival Sunshine, formerly Carnival Destiny, and Carnival Sunrise, formerly Carnival Triumph.
Each ship received a major transformation and a new name during her operating career.
Their shared background connects an earlier generation of Carnival construction with the company’s later approach to modernizing established ships.
Carnival Radiance brought that redevelopment programme to a year-round Long Beach deployment.
Scale and Features:
Carnival Radiance measures 101,509 GT and about 893 feet in overall length.
Carnival publishes a capacity of 2,984 guests at double occupancy, supported by a crew complement of 1,108.
The 2021 transformation introduced dining venues including Big Chicken, Cucina del Capitano and Bonsai Sushi.
Public-space changes included the Liquid Lounge and updated spa and entertainment facilities.
Her size and passenger capacity support a continuing programme of cruises departing from Southern California.
Service from Long Beach:
Dr. Lucille O’Neal christened Carnival Radiance during a ceremony in Long Beach on December 12, 2021.
The ship began her first passenger cruise under the new name the following day.
Her initial West Coast programme featured short cruises to Ensenada and Catalina Island.
Long Beach became the homeport associated with her return to service after the transformation.
By February 2026, her schedule also included the five-night Mexican Riviera sailing represented by the departure date of this gallery.
Long Beach Cruise Terminal:
Carnival has operated the Long Beach Cruise Terminal since 2003.
The terminal occupies the distinctive geodesic dome that formerly housed Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose aircraft.
A major expansion in 2018 brought the remaining portion of the dome into Carnival’s terminal operations.
The cruise facilities stand near the permanently berthed Queen Mary, connecting an active passenger terminal with one of Southern California’s best-known historic ships.
On February 2, Carnival Radiance’s position alongside the terminal placed her within the setting of the Royal Rendezvous.
February 2, 2026 — The Royal Rendezvous Setting:
Carnival Radiance remained docked at Long Beach Cruise Terminal as Queen Mary 2 approached the Queen Mary.
Her position placed her between the two Cunard liners during their reunion.
The meeting was the Queens’ first since February 23, 2006, nearly 20 years earlier.
The event also fell during the 90th anniversary year of the original Queen Mary’s maiden voyage.
These photographs feature Carnival Radiance within that morning’s harbor activity, complementing our separate galleries of the two Queens.
The Scheduled February 2–7 Cruise:
A five-night Mexican Riviera cruise was scheduled to depart Long Beach on the afternoon of February 2.
February 3 was listed as a day at sea before Cabo San Lucas on February 4.
Another sea day was scheduled for February 5, followed by Ensenada on February 6.
The itinerary concluded with a scheduled return to Long Beach on February 7.
This gallery shows the ship docked before that sailing, during a morning when her homeport also hosted the Royal Rendezvous.
OLP Social: Docked at Long Beach Cruise Terminal on February 2, 2026, she lay between the Queen Mary and Queen Mary 2 during their Royal Rendezvous that morning.
OLP Social 2: Built by Fincantieri in Italy, she began service in 2000 as Carnival Victory before a $200 million transformation introduced a new identity in 2021.
OLP Social 3: At 893 feet long and 101,509 gross tons, she accommodates 2,984 guests at double occupancy on cruises sailing roundtrip from her homeport in Long Beach.
OLP Social 4: A five night Mexican Riviera cruise was scheduled to begin that afternoon, with Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada ahead before returning to Long Beach on February 7.
