The vessel, due to undergo a $200 million refit and currently operating as Carnival Victory, will embark on a 10-day Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona on April 29, 2020, after its renovation in Cadiz.

Following nine- and 12-day departures visiting destinations including Italy, France, Croatia, Greece, Malta and Spain, Radiance will make a 13-day transatlantic crossing, repositioning from Barcelona to New York in June.

Radiance will be the first of the fleet to feature Big Chicken, a seagoing version of a new restaurant created by the line’s “chief fun officer”, US basketball star Shaquille O’Neal.

Meanwhile, Carnival cut the steel for its first 5,200-passenger Excellence-class vessel in Finland last week, due to enter service in 2020.

The as-yet-unnamed ship will be Carnival’s largest, with a sister vessel to be delivered in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of the line’s launch.

To mark the steel-cutting, the line unveiled a new red, white and blue hull and paint design.

Carnival has also announced the appointment of Danielle Kerton as UK account manager, international sales.

Kerton, who has joined from Thomas Cook, will report to head of international sales Luke Smith and look after agent accounts including Barrhead Travel, Cruise Nation, Travel Counsellors and Cruise.co.uk.