Carnival Encounter Passes Inspection After Claims ...

After an unidentified crew member sounded the alarm, Carnival Encounter obtained a shock go to from officers from the Australian Maritime Security Authority (AMSA) in Darwin, Australia, on February 9, 2026.

However after all of the hullabaloo, Cruise Hive has realized that the inspection turned up completely no indicators of labor deficiencies.

Per ABC News, Carnival stated the AMSA “discovered no deficiencies throughout its inspection”, with “no follow-up motion required.”

Carnival Cruise Line handed the inspection with flying colours and the Grand-class ship was allowed to proceed working usually.

What Had been the Claims?

Cruise Hive previously reported {that a} whistleblower working onboard the two,600-guest ship had contacted the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) to show in a whole lot of employee complaints relationship again to mid-2025.

The allegations included complaints about low pay, contagious pores and skin illnesses being unfold among the many crew, being compelled to work whereas sick, and never gaining access to protected ingesting water.

Nevertheless, the inspection didn’t uncover any crew areas that had been beneath the standard of living requirements for working and dwelling at sea.

Inspectors totally verify that crew quarters are protected, clear, and liveable. The complete check-list to confirm that is lengthy, however this refers to issues like checking that areas are clear, dry, insulated, and freed from vermin.

There should even be a minimum of one set of sanitary amenities for each eight crew members, which should provide ample bathrooms, wash basins, and showers with each cold and warm water.

Carnival Embraces Oversight

For Carnival’s half, the cruise line beforehand said that it had nothing to cover.

Now that it has been cleared by the AMSA’s inspection, the corporate reiterated that it welcomes the oversight and suggestions.

“We respect this course of, and we maintain our shipboard staff members within the highest regard,” a Carnival spokesperson stated in an announcement to ABC.

“We welcome AMSA’s oversight as an vital assurance mechanism for our crew and our operations,” they added.

Much like how the US Coast Guard and the CDC would possibly conduct inspections on cruise ships within the US, the AMSA can and does randomly conduct inspections on Australian-based cruise ships for quite a lot of causes.

These shock inspections will be triggered by complaints, as was the case this time, or just be performed based mostly on routine risk-based focusing on. Cruise ships are eligible for routine inspections each six months.

Crusing Towards Upgrades

Carnival Encounter solely just joined the fleet in March of 2025 as a part of Carnival Company’s determination to shut its P&O Cruises Australia model.

Nevertheless, the 108,865-gross ton ship has truly been in operation since 2002. Her profession began with Princess Cruises, the place she stayed till she was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in late 2021.

Whereas the ship underwent a dry dock stint to be rebranded to slot in with the Carnival model in 2025, she remains to be due for some further upkeep and upgrades. She is now on her approach to get the required work performed. The vessel is presently en path to Singapore through a 13-night repositioning cruise, the place she is going to arrive on February 16, 2026.

That is the place she is going to spend about two weeks in dry dock present process technical work and routine upkeep. Onboard enhancements are sometimes made throughout this time as effectively, though Carnival hasn’t confirmed the specifics but.

On March 5, 2026, the refreshed Carnival Encounter will reenter service with a 15-night, one-way crusing from Singapore again to her homeport in Brisbane, Australia.