Carnival Cruise Line currently has 25 cruise ships in service. Carnival Cruise Line is the largest cruise company in the world, based on passengers carried, and the flagship brand of Carnival Corporation & plc. Known as “America’s Cruise Line” for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other cruise line.
Carnival Ships: Biggest to Smallest
Below you will find a list of all carnival ships by size, ordered from largest to smallest.
List of Carnival Cruise Ships By Size
Our list carnival cruise ships by size shows gross tonnage (which is a measure of internal volume, not weight), the total guest capacity of each ship, Length in Feet, ship class and the year the ship entered service:
| Ship Name | Gross Tonnage | Total Guest Capacity | Length (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Celebration | 182,800 | 6,500 | 1,130 |
| Mardi Gras | 180,800 | 6,465 | 1,188 |
| Carnival Venezia | 135,225 | 5,260 | 1,061 |
| Carnival Panorama | 133,500 | 5,146 | 1,055 |
| Carnival Horizon | 133,500 | 4,977 | 1,055 |
| Carnival Vista | 133,500 | 4,977 | 1,055 |
| Carnival Breeze | 130,000 | 3,690 | 1,004 |
| Carnival Magic | 130,000 | 3,690 | 1,004 |
| Carnival Dream | 130,000 | 3,646 | 1,004 |
| Carnival Splendor | 113,300 | 3,734 | 952 |
| Carnival Conquest | 110,000 | 3,756 | 952 |
| Carnival Glory | 110,000 | 3,756 | 952 |
| Carnival Liberty | 110,000 | 3,756 | 952 |
| Carnival Valor | 110,000 | 3,756 | 952 |
| Carnival Freedom | 110,000 | 3,754 | 952 |
| Carnival Sunshine | 102,853 | 3,758 | 893 |
| Carnival Radiance | 101,509 | 3,873 | 893 |
| Carnival Sunrise | 101,509 | 3,873 | 893 |
| Carnival Luminosa | 92,600 | 2,826 | 963 |
| Carnival Miracle | 88,500 | 2,680 | 963 |
| Carnival Pride | 88,500 | 2,680 | 963 |
| Carnival Legend | 88,500 | 2,610 | 963 |
| Carnival Spirit | 88,500 | 2,610 | 963 |
| Carnival Elation | 70,367 | 2,606 | 855 |
| Carnival Paradise | 70,367 | 2,606 | 855 |
List of Carnival Cruise Ships By Age With Photos
Carnival Cruise Line has revolutionized cruising during it’s fifty year history by making cruise travel fun and enjoyable for both families and those new to cruising. Which is why they also carry more children and and families than any other cruise line. We hope you enjoy our comprehensive list of Carnival cruise ships. Here is a list of Carnival cruise ships by size listed with photos and details from largest to smallest:
1. Carnival Celebration
Carnival Celebration is the second ship in the popular Excel Class and sister to Mardi Gras. She is 182,800 GRT’s and carries 5,282 passengers (based on two per cabin).
2. Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is the first ship in the Carnival’s Excellence Class or Excel Class and sister to Carnival Celebration. She is 180,800 GRTs and carries 5,282 passengers (based on two per cabin). Note, The Mardi Gras is the only ship name in the current Carnival Cruise Line fleet without including the word Carnival. This honors Carnival’s original Mardi Gras that first sailed for the brands on March 11, 1972.
3. Carnival Venezia
Carnival Venezia was initially launched in 2019 for Costa Cruises and is 133,500 GRTs and carries 4,977 passengers. She is considered part of the Venice Class and was the former Costa Venezia.
4. Carnival Panorama
Carnival Panorama is 133,500 GRTs and carries 4,008 passengers (based on two per cabin). She is the third ship in the Vista Class. The ship debuted Carnival Kitchen, a first-in-fleet culinary center that offers more than 15 different interactive cooking, baking and decorating demonstrations.
5. Carnival Horizon
Carnival Horizon is 133,500 GRTs and carries 3,960 passengers (based on two per cabin). She is the second ship in the Vista Class.
6. Carnival Vista
Carnival Vista is 133,500 GRTs and carries 3,934 passengers (based on two per cabin). This new class of ship came packed with more ways to have fun such as a Multiplex featuring two theatres including a full-sized IMAX movie theatre, the Red Frog Pub And Brewery, a larger Carnival Waterworks, SportSquare including the SkyRide and the Havana Bar & Pool and much more.
7. Carnival Breeze
Carnival Breeze is 130,000 GRTs and carries 4,724 passengers (based on two per cabin). She is the third ship in the Dream Class.
8. Carnival Magic
Carnival Magic is 130,000 GRTs and carries 4,724 passengers (based on two per cabin). She is the second ship in the Dream Class.
9. Carnival Dream
Carnival Dream is 130,000 GRTs and carries 4,631 passengers (based on two per cabin). She is the first ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s popular Dream Class.
10. Carnival Splendor
Carnival Splendor is 113,300 GRTs and holds 3,012 passengers (based on two per cabin). The ship was originally designed and ordered for Costa Cruises but she was transferred to Carnival Cruise Line during construction. Being the only Concordia-class (Costa Cruises) ship in the Carnival fleet, she is referred to as a Splendor class ship.
11. Carnival Conquest
Carnival Conquest is 110,000 GRTs and holds 2,980 passengers (based on two per cabin). She was originally homeported in New Orleans, LA when launched in 2002. She made news at the time due to the power lines as the largest ship and to ever sail from New Orleans at the time.
12. Carnival Glory
Carnival Glory is 110,000 GRTs and carries 2,980 passengers (based on two per cabin). She is the second ship in the Conquest Class and sister to Carnival Conquest, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Valor.
13. Carnival Liberty
Carnival Liberty is 110,000 GRTs and carries 2,980 passengers (based on two per cabin). She is the fourth ship to be built in the popular Conquest Class and sister to Carnival Conquest, Carnival Valor, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Glory.
14. Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor is 110,000 GRTs and carries 2,980 passengers (based on two per cabin). Carnival Valor was the third ship built in the popular Conquest Class and sister to Carnival Conquest, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Glory.
15. Carnival Freedom
Carnival Freedom is 110,000 GRTs and carries 2,980 passengers (based on two per cabin). The ship is the fifth ship to be built in the Conquest Class and sister to Carnival Conquest, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Glory.
16. Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Sunshine is 102,853 GRTs and carries 2,984 passengers (based on two per cabin). This ship entered service in 1996 as the former Carnival Destiny and the first in the Destiny Class of the vessel. Carnival Sunshine is the first ship of the Sunshine Class and sister to Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Radiance. In 2013, the Carnival Destiny received an amazing 49-day 155-million dollar transformation that resulted in it being renamed and reclassified as the first Sunshine Class ship.
17. Carnival Radiance
Carnival Radiance is 101,509 GRTs and carries 2,984 passengers (based on two per cabin). This ship entered service 2000 as the former Destiny Class ship named the Carnival Victory.
18. Carnival Sunrise
Carnival Sunrise is 101,509 GRT’s and carries 2,984 passengers (based on two per cabin). She is the second ship in the Sunshine Class and sister to Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Radiance.
19. Carnival Luminosa
Carnival Luminosa was originally launched in 2008 for Costa Cruises and is 92,600 GRT’s and carries 2,826 passengers. She is considered part of the Spirit Class and was the former Costa Luminosa.
20. Carnival Miracle
21. Carnival Pride
22. Carnival Legend
Carnival Legend is third ship the popular Spirit Class and sister to Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride and Carnival Miracle. She is 88,500 GRT’s and carries 2,124 passengers (based on two per cabin).
23. Carnival Spirit
Carnival Spirit is first ship the popular Spirit Class of ships. She is 88,500 GRT’s and carries 2,124 passengers (based on two per cabin). The Spirit Class ships offer guest the highest percentage of space based on passenger capacity and ship volume in the entire Carnival fleet.
24. Carnival Elation
Carnival Elation is a Fantasy Class ship and sister to Carnival Paradise. She is 70,367 GRT’s and carries 2,052 passengers (based on two per cabin). The ship’s Godmother is Shari Arison.
25. Carnival Paradise
Carnival Paradise is second ship the Fantasy Class and sister to Carnival Elation. She is 70,367 GRT’s and carries 2,052 passengers (based on two per cabin). Carnival once had a full compliment of eight Fantasy Class ships before scrapping many due to cost-saving measures. The ship’s Godmother is Paula Zahn.
The Biggest Carnival Ship’s
Currently the largest Carnival cruise ship is Carnival Celebration. The Carnival Celebration is the second ship in the popular Excel Class and sister to Mardi Gras. She carries 5,282 passengers (based on two per cabin). The Godmother of the ship is Cassidy Gifford. The ship takes her name from a former Carnival cruise ship, Celebration, that was part of the Holiday class. The name also pays homage to the companies long history as the ship was delivered during Carnival Cruise Line’s 50th birthday year.
Ship Highlights:
- Features on board roller coaster (BOLT)
- Powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Restaurants from partners Guy Fieri (Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Smokehouse Brewhouse where we brew our own beer onboard), Emeril Lagasse (Emeril’s Bistro 1397), Rudi Sodamin (Rudi’s Seagrill) and Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal (Big Chicken)
The Many Different Classes Of Carnival Ships (Biggest To Smallest)
Carnival Cruise Line currently has nine different classes of cruise ships. Each class of ship is a unique architectural design and has it’s own unique layout and features. Most ships in a particular class have an almost identical layout with minor changes.
The table below shows the Carnival ship classes from largest to smallest, based on ship volume.
| Class | Ships | Average Gross Tonnage |
|---|---|---|
| Excel Class | Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee | 181,000 |
| Venice Class | Venezia | 135,225 |
| Vista Class | Horizon, Panorama, Vista | 133,500 |
| Dream Class | Breeze, Dream, Magic | 130,000 |
| Splendor Class | Splendor | 113,300 |
| Conquest Class | Conquest, Freedom, Glory, Liberty, Valor | 110,000 |
| Sunshine Class | Radiance, Sunrise, Sunshine | 102,000 |
| Sprit Class | Legend, Miracle, Pride, Spirit | 88,500 |
| Fantasy Class | Elation, Paradise | 70,367 |
Carnival Cruise Ships On Order
Carnival Jubilee is under construction at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Her delivery date is expected to be in early December 2023.
She will be the newest ship in the Excel class, Carnival Jubilee will share many of the same features guests love on Mardi Gras – including the award-winning BOLT, The Ultimate Sea Coaster. She will also feature unique experiences and signature venues of her own.
Carnival Jubilee will begin sailing from Galveston in December of 2023 and will offer seven-day Western Caribbean cruise vacations with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Honduras.
You view a list of of call the current Carnival Cruise Line ships by age: Carnival Cruise Line Ships Listed By Age
Carnival Ship Size FAQ
What are the three newest Carnival ships?
Currently Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ships are the Carnival Celebration, Carnival Luminosa and Mardi Gras.
When was Carnival’s first cruise?
The original Mardi Gras which was a converted ocean liner and sailed from Port Miami. She left for her first Caribbean cruise on March 11, 1972 with 530 passengers and 200 crew on board. Unfortunately, the loaded ship ran around while exiting Port Miami’s shipping channel. This caused competitors calling the vessel “Mardi Gras On The Rocks”. However, Founder Ted Arison and the Carnival Cruise Line brand he created has had the last laugh. The Carnival Cruise Line brand continued to grow and become what it is part of today in Carnival Corporation & plc. Carnival Corporation & plc is currently the largest cruise vacation company and operates over 87 cruise ships sailing under 9 different brands.
Has a Carnival cruise ship ever sunk?
No, Fortunately none of the Carnival Cruise Line brand ship’s have ever sunk.
What’s the oldest Carnival cruise ship?
Technically the oldest cruise ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet is the Carnival Sunshine. However, Back in 2013 the ship was previously named Carnival Destiny. She was given a 49-day $155-million dollar transformation that resulted in her being renamed and almost like new.
What is Carnival’s biggest ship?
Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship as of March 2023 is the Carnival Celebration. She is the largest ship in Carnival’s fleet, weighing 183,521 gross registered tons with a maximum passenger capacity of 6,631 in 2,687 staterooms.
