Carnival Cruise Line guests who embarked on Carnival Spirit in Barcelona this weekend are the first to sail on the ship following its month-long dry dock that brought several upgrades and enhancements on board. The ship is now sailing the first of two one-way back-to-back cruises, first crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Miami and then sailing through the Panama Canal to Seattle as it repositions for the Alaska summer season

Carnival Spirit returns to service with a new Heroes Tribute Bar, which serves as a gathering place for the many active-duty military and veterans that sail with Carnival. With this new venue on Carnival Spirit, Heroes Tribute Bar is now featured on 14 Carnival ships.

“The new Heroes Tribute Bar and all the other upgrades to Carnival Spirit are part of our ongoing effort to continually enhance our existing fleet with features we know our guests appreciate and enjoy,” said Lisa McCabe, Carnival’s vice president of refurbishments.

The ship’s Cloud 9 spa, Fitness Center and retail shops were refreshed, including a new Carnival Adventures Shop and a Dreams Studio. A dedicated space for Chef’s Table was added and a new mini golf course. The casino was updated with a new look, layout and added gaming machines and the ship’s nightclub was refreshed. In addition, all youth program spaces were upgraded.

Carnival Spirit’s guests sailing from Barcelona will spend 14 days on board, visiting Malaga and Cadiz, Spain; Ponta Delgada, Portugal and then Bermuda after crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The ship will arrive in Miami on March 30, and then embark guests on a separate special 15-day journey to Seattle. In addition to transiting the Panama Canal, guests will also visit Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. On April 14, the ship arrives to Seattle and begins a series of week-long Alaska cruises, sailing to the glaciers of the Tracy Arm Fjord and visiting destinations including Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan as well as Victoria, Canada. In September, the ship is also set for a 15-day round-trip Carnival Journeys cruise from Seattle to Hawaii and will sail a one-way voyage from Seattle to New Orleans in October before returning to its seasonal homeport of Mobile, Ala. To see all available sailings on Carnival Spirit, click here.