Carnival Cruise Line’s 29 ships fall into about ten Carnival ship classes. Ships in a class share the same basic design, size and layout. The biggest and newest is the Excel class (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee), followed by the Vista and Venice classes. The Dream, Conquest, Splendor, Sunshine, Spirit, Adventure and Fantasy classes are smaller and older. Knowing a ship’s class tells you a lot before you book: how crowded it may feel, which waterslides and restaurants it has, and roughly what you will pay.
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This guide explains each class as of November 2026. That includes the ships that came over from Costa and P&O Australia, and the new Excel and Ace class ships arriving from 2027. If you only want the fleet in date order, see our list of every Carnival ship ranked from newest to oldest.
Carnival Ship Classes at a Glance
Gross tonnage (GT) and guest numbers below are approximate and based on two people per cabin. Fully booked holiday sailings with lots of families can carry more.
| Class | Ships | Entered Carnival service | Approx. size / guests | Standout features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excel | Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee | 2021-2023 | 181,000-183,500 GT / 5,200-5,400 | BOLT roller coaster, six themed zones, LNG power |
| Venice | Carnival Venezia, Carnival Firenze | 2023-2024 (built 2019 and 2021) | 135,000 GT / about 4,100 | Italian-themed design, ex-Costa ships |
| Vista | Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama | 2016-2019 | 133,500 GT / about 4,000 | SkyRide, IMAX (Vista and Horizon), Havana area, Family Harbor |
| Dream | Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic, Carnival Breeze | 2009-2012 | 130,000 GT / about 3,650 | Wraparound outdoor promenade, large water parks |
| Splendor | Carnival Splendor | 2008 | 113,000 GT / about 3,000 | One-off design, sails year-round from Australia |
| Conquest | Carnival Conquest, Glory, Valor, Liberty, Freedom | 2002-2007 | 110,000 GT / about 2,980 | Classic layout with updated fun features |
| Sunshine | Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Radiance | Rebuilt 2013-2021 (built 1996-2000) | 101,500-103,000 GT / about 3,000 | Rebuilt with modern venues |
| Spirit | Carnival Spirit, Pride, Legend, Miracle (plus Carnival Luminosa) | 2001-2004 (Luminosa 2022) | 88,500 GT / about 2,100 (Luminosa about 92,700 GT) | Panama Canal-sized, used for long and unusual itineraries |
| Adventure | Carnival Adventure, Carnival Encounter | 2025 (built 2001-2002) | About 108,800 GT / about 2,600 | Ex-P&O Australia ships, based in Australia |
| Fantasy | Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise | 1998 | About 71,900 GT / about 2,100 | Smallest and oldest ships, short budget cruises |
Excel Class: Carnival’s Biggest Ships
Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee (2023) are Carnival’s flagships. Each is around 181,000-183,500 GT. They were the first Carnival ships to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Instead of one long main deck, they are split into themed zones. Every ship has the BOLT roller coaster on the top deck, plus Emeril’s Bistro, Rudi’s Seagrill, Big Chicken and a large spa. On Celebration and Jubilee, the zones include 18 Miami and the Central Park-style Gathering area. Our guide to Carnival Celebration’s restaurants shows how much dining choice an Excel ship gives you.
Excel ships have the most to do, but they also have the most people on board, typically 5,200 or more. Expect queues at peak times and higher fares than on older ships doing the same route.
New Excel ships: Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale
Two more Excel class ships are being built at Meyer Werft in Germany. Carnival Festivale is due in spring 2027 and will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. Carnival Tropicale follows in 2028, and published schedules show it sailing from Galveston. Carnival says each will carry about 5,400 guests. The design has been changed for multigenerational groups, with more connecting cabins and better youth areas. A multi-deck water park area called Sunsation Point takes the place of the BOLT coaster. Both names come from older Carnival ships.
Beyond Excel: the Ace class
After that comes a new class, developed under the name Project Ace. Fincantieri cut steel for the first ship, Carnival Destiny, in 2026. It is due in 2029, with sister ships planned for 2031 and 2033. At about 230,000 GT, these will be Carnival’s largest ships by a wide margin. Carnival has promised more balcony cabins than on any of its current ships. Details are still emerging, so check before you plan around them.
Vista and Venice Classes: Big Ships, Slightly Smaller Crowds
The Vista class (Carnival Vista 2016, Carnival Horizon 2018, Carnival Panorama 2019) holds about 4,000 guests. It brought in the SkyRide pedal-powered track, the SkyCourse ropes course, the Havana area with its own pool, and Family Harbor cabins with a private lounge. Vista and Horizon have an IMAX cinema. Panorama, which sails from Long Beach, has the Sky Zone trampoline park instead. Many regular cruisers think Vista class is the sweet spot: plenty of modern features, but with roughly 1,300 fewer guests than an Excel ship.
The Venice class is made up of two ships transferred from Costa Cruises: Carnival Venezia, built in 2019 and in Carnival service from 2023, and Carnival Firenze, built in 2021 and in Carnival service from 2024. They share their basic hull and size with Vista class but keep Italian-inspired décor. Carnival sells them under the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” label. Expect Carnival menus and entertainment in a setting that looks more European. These ships do not have Vista features such as the SkyRide or IMAX.
Dream, Splendor and Conquest Classes: The Mid-Size Workhorses
The Dream class (Carnival Dream 2009, Carnival Magic 2011, Carnival Breeze 2012) is about 130,000 GT. It has an outdoor promenade that wraps around the lower decks, a feature not found elsewhere in the fleet, plus big WaterWorks slide areas. Magic and Breeze have had upgrades such as Guy’s Burger Joint and the RedFrog Rum Bar. These ships cover many short and week-long Caribbean sailings from Texas and Florida.
Carnival Splendor (2008) is a class of one. It was based on a Costa design and is slightly bigger than the Conquest ships. In November 2026 it is one of Carnival’s Australian ships, sailing year-round from Sydney.
The five Conquest class ships (Conquest, Glory, Valor, Liberty and Freedom, 2002-2007) are about 110,000 GT with around 2,980 guests. Their layouts and décor are more old-fashioned. Over the years, though, refits have added many of the Fun Ship 2.0 venues, including Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and Alchemy Bar. They often have some of the best value fares on short Caribbean and Bahamas cruises. Carnival Freedom was in dry dock in September and October 2026.
Sunshine, Spirit and Fantasy Classes: Older but Updated
The Sunshine class is the only class created by rebuilding existing ships. Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory were rebuilt and returned as Carnival Sunshine (2013), Carnival Sunrise (2019) and Carnival Radiance (2021). The hulls date from the late 1990s, but the public rooms are much newer than the ships’ age suggests.
The Spirit class (Carnival Spirit, Pride, Legend and Miracle) is narrow enough to fit the original Panama Canal locks. With about 2,100 guests on 88,500 GT, these ships feel more spacious per person than many larger ships. Carnival often uses them for Alaska, longer “Carnival Journeys” voyages and departures from less busy ports. Carnival Luminosa, the former Costa Luminosa, joined in 2022. It is a slightly larger version of the same design. It splits its year between Brisbane and the US West Coast, and its last Australian season is due to end in March 2028.
The Fantasy class once had eight ships. Only Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise remain. The other six were retired between 2020 and 2022. At about 71,900 GT these are Carnival’s smallest ships, mostly used for three- to five-day budget sailings. Paradise was given a water park, extra cabins and new poolside venues during a 2018 refit. At the time of writing, Carnival has not announced a retirement date for either ship.
Adventure Class and Carnival in Australia
The newest class name belongs to two older ships. Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter sailed for P&O Australia as Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, and were originally built as Golden Princess and Star Princess. In 2025, Carnival Corporation folded P&O Australia into Carnival Cruise Line, and the two ships were renamed. Each is about 108,800 GT with roughly 2,600 guests. They kept P&O features such as the Waterfront dining space and a large top-deck pool area. Carnival added its own bars, food and entertainment.
In the 2026-27 season, Carnival has four ships in Australia: Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor from Sydney, Carnival Encounter from Brisbane, and Carnival Luminosa for part of the year. Carnival has announced that Adventure and Luminosa will leave Australia after the 2027-28 season. Adventure is set to reposition to North America after its final Sydney cruise in March 2028. Splendor and Encounter will stay year-round.
Which Carnival Ship Class Is Right for You?
- Families with teens and thrill-seekers: Excel class for BOLT, the most dining and the biggest kids’ areas, or Vista class for SkyRide and the ropes course with fewer people.
- Families with young children: Vista class (Family Harbor cabins) or the new Festivale and Tropicale once they arrive, which are designed for multigenerational groups.
- Value seekers: Conquest, Sunshine and Fantasy class ships usually have the lowest fares, especially on short sailings where a mid-size ship is plenty.
- Couples who dislike crowds: Spirit class ships have the most deck space per guest and the more interesting longer itineraries.
- First-timers unsure about cruising: a three- or four-night cruise on a Dream or Conquest class ship lets you try the Carnival style without paying flagship prices.
- Travellers who want something different: Venice class ships have European-style looks with American-style service.
Newer is not always better. Our look at whether a ship’s age really matters explains why a well-refitted older ship on a great itinerary can be the better buy. Itinerary, price and cabin choice usually make more difference to your trip than the class itself.
A useful check before you book
Ships in the same class can still differ. Refits are done at different times, so one Conquest class ship might have a newer bar or restaurant line-up than its sister. Before booking, check the “Ship Features” page for that exact ship on Carnival’s official site. Also check whether a dry dock is scheduled shortly before your sailing. Carnival has published dry docks for 2027 for ships including Carnival Glory, Sunrise, Paradise, Breeze, Celebration and Horizon. These sometimes bring new venues.
FAQs
How many Carnival ship classes are there?
As of November 2026, Carnival’s 29 ships are split across about ten classes: Excel, Venice, Vista, Dream, Splendor, Conquest, Sunshine, Spirit, Adventure and Fantasy. Carnival Luminosa is usually grouped with the Spirit class. The new Ace class begins with Carnival Destiny in 2029.
What is the newest Carnival ship class?
Excel is the newest class in service. Carnival Jubilee (2023) is the newest ship built for Carnival, and Carnival Festivale is due in 2027. The Adventure class name dates from 2025, but it is used for two ships built in the early 2000s.
Which Carnival ship class is the best?
There is no single best class. Excel has the most to do, and Vista has many modern features with fewer guests. Conquest and Spirit ships often give the best value or the most interesting itineraries. Pick the class that suits your budget, your group and your route.
What is the difference between Vista class and Excel class?
Excel ships are about 50,000 GT bigger and carry roughly 1,300 more guests. They have themed zones, the BOLT roller coaster and LNG power. Vista ships have a more traditional layout, with SkyRide, the SkyCourse and IMAX cinemas on Vista and Horizon.
Which Carnival ships sail from Australia?
In 2026-27, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor sail from Sydney, Carnival Encounter from Brisbane, and Carnival Luminosa for part of the year. Adventure and Luminosa are due to leave Australia after the 2027-28 season.
