The oldest Carnival ship still sailing is Carnival Sunshine, which entered service in 1996 as Carnival Destiny and was rebuilt and renamed in 2013. Next come the two remaining Fantasy-class ships, Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise (both 1998). Older does not automatically mean worse: these ships tend to offer shorter, cheaper cruises from convenient home ports, while the newest Excel-class ships add bigger attractions, more dining and more crowds.
Free: download our 2027 Luxury Cruise Calendar →
This guide looks at the oldest Carnival ship line-up as of November 2026, what the older ships do well, what the newer ones add, and how to pick between them. If you just want the full fleet list in date order, see our complete list of Carnival ships from newest to oldest.
The Oldest Carnival Ship Still Sailing (and the Rest of the Veterans)
Carnival has not retired a ship since Carnival Ecstasy left the fleet in late 2022, and at the time of writing no further retirements have been announced. That leaves a group of ships that are 20 to 30 years old but still very much in service. Here are the oldest Carnival cruise ships sailing today:
| Ship | Entered service | Original name / history | Where it sails (at the time of writing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Sunshine | 1996 | Built as Carnival Destiny; rebuilt and renamed in 2013 | Norfolk until May 2027, then Galveston from November 2027 |
| Carnival Elation | 1998 | Fantasy class, original name | Jacksonville, 4- to 6-night Bahamas cruises |
| Carnival Paradise | 1998 | Fantasy class, original name | Tampa, 4- to 6-night Caribbean cruises |
| Carnival Sunrise | 1999 | Built as Carnival Triumph; rebuilt and renamed in 2019 | Short Caribbean and Bahamas cruises |
| Carnival Radiance | 2000 | Built as Carnival Victory; rebuilt and renamed in 2021 | Short cruises, including Mexican Riviera and Baja |
| Carnival Adventure | 2001 | Built as Golden Princess; later P&O Australia’s Pacific Adventure | Sydney, joined Carnival in 2025 |
| Carnival Spirit | 2001 | Spirit class, original name | Moving to Tampa for 2027-28 |
| Carnival Encounter | 2002 | Built as Star Princess; later P&O Australia’s Pacific Encounter | Brisbane, joined Carnival in 2025 |
A few points worth knowing:
- Sunshine is staying. When Carnival announced that Carnival Freedom would take over Norfolk in 2027, many cruisers assumed Sunshine was leaving. Instead, Carnival confirmed she will move to Galveston from November 2027 with 4- to 10-day Caribbean and Mexico sailings, after a dry dock scheduled for late 2027.
- Only two Fantasy-class ships are left. Carnival’s original eight-ship Fantasy class has shrunk to Elation and Paradise. Both are scheduled to keep sailing through at least spring 2028, with dry docks planned for Paradise in early 2027 and Elation in early 2028.
- Adventure and Encounter are older than they look. The two former P&O Cruises Australia ships came to Carnival in March 2025 when that brand closed. They are Grand-class ships built for Princess in the early 2000s, so they belong with the veterans even though they are new to Carnival.
- Venezia and Firenze are not old ships. Carnival Venezia (2019) and Carnival Firenze (2020) were built for Costa and moved to Carnival under the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” banner. They are among the younger ships in the fleet.
Ship ages change every year, but as a rule of thumb anything built before 2005 counts as an older Carnival ship.
What Older Carnival Ships Do Well
Shorter cruises and lower fares
Carnival uses most of its older ships for 3- to 6-night cruises. That makes them a low-cost way to try cruising or squeeze in a long weekend. Fares on the oldest ships are usually lower than on the newest ships sailing similar routes, partly because demand for the newest ships is so high.
Drive-to home ports
Older ships are spread across smaller and regional ports such as Jacksonville, Tampa and Norfolk, as well as busy hubs like Galveston. If you can drive to the port, you save on flights and a pre-cruise hotel, which can matter more to your total cost than the ship itself.
Refurbished, not tired
Three of the oldest ships, Sunshine, Sunrise and Radiance, were heavily rebuilt rather than just repainted. Their refits added many of the venues guests look for on newer ships, including Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, RedFrog Rum Bar, the Alchemy Bar and WaterWorks water slides. Elation and Paradise have also had regular dry dock updates. The age of the hull does not tell you how fresh the cabins and public rooms feel.
Smaller, easier ships
Elation and Paradise carry roughly 2,000 guests at double occupancy, against well over 5,000 on an Excel-class ship. Fewer passengers mean shorter walks, quicker embarkation, less hunting for a sun lounger and a more relaxed feel. Many cruisers who like a laid-back trip prefer this.
The trade-offs
- Fewer dining options, and some newer concepts such as Emeril’s Bistro and Chibang! are only on the newest ships.
- No headline attractions like the BOLT roller coaster.
- Fewer balcony cabins, especially on the Fantasy-class ships.
- Older layouts, with signs of age in some areas between refits.
- Older ships are usually the first to be swapped to new ports or retired as new ships arrive, so long-term itineraries can change.
What the Newest Carnival Ships Add
The newest Carnival ships are the Excel class: Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee (2023). Each is around 180,000 gross tons and runs on LNG. What they add:
- Zones such as Grand Central, Summer Landing and the Ultimate Playground, which spread people around the ship.
- BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, on all three ships.
- More dining, including Emeril’s Bistro, Rudi’s Seagrill, Big Chicken and, on Celebration and Jubilee, Chibang!.
- More balconies and new cabin types, including Excel suites and Loft 19 cabanas.
- Newer tech and fewer age-related issues, along with lower emissions from LNG power.
The downsides are the flip side of the size: busier pool decks, more competition for shows and specialty dining, and generally higher fares, especially in the first few years after a ship launches. Excel-class ships mostly sail 7-night itineraries from Port Canaveral, Galveston and Miami, so they suit a week’s holiday more than a long weekend.
New Carnival ships on order
More newer ships are coming, which will gradually shift the fleet’s average age down:
- Carnival Festivale: the fourth Excel-class ship, floated out at Meyer Werft in September 2026 and due to start sailing from Port Canaveral in May 2027. It debuts the Sunsation Point family area and the WaterWorks Ultra waterpark.
- Carnival Tropicale: the fifth Excel-class ship, due in 2028 and set to sail from Galveston.
- A new, larger class: three ships of nearly 230,000 gross tons ordered from Fincantieri, expected around 2029, 2031 and 2033. Dates and details may change.
For launch dates and the full order book, see our guide to the newest Carnival ships in order.
Carnival Old vs New Ships: Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is how older and newer Carnival ships generally compare. Individual ships vary, so check the details for your sailing.
| Factor | Older ships (pre-2005) | Newest ships (Excel class) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cruise length | 3 to 6 nights, some longer | Mostly 7 nights |
| Typical fares | Lower | Higher, especially on newer launches |
| Guests (double occupancy) | About 2,000 to 3,000 | About 5,000 or more |
| Home ports | Regional and drive-to ports plus major hubs | Major hubs such as Port Canaveral, Galveston and Miami |
| Dining choice | Core favourites, fewer specialty venues | Widest choice in the fleet |
| Headline attractions | Water slides, mini golf, SkyRide on some | BOLT roller coaster, larger waterparks, themed zones |
| Balcony cabins | Fewer, especially on Fantasy class | Many more |
| Crowds | Calmer and easier to get around | Busier, more planning needed |
| Condition | Depends on the last refit | Modern throughout |
Are Newer Cruise Ships Better? Which to Choose by Traveller Type
Newer ships are better at some things, mainly variety, attractions and modern cabins, but they are not better for everyone. The right answer depends on what you want from the trip and how much you want to spend. We cover this question across all cruise lines in our guide to older cruise ships vs new ones; here is how it plays out on Carnival.
- First-time cruisers: an older ship on a 3- to 5-night cruise is a cheap way to find out whether you like cruising. Sunshine, Sunrise or Radiance give you most of Carnival’s popular venues.
- Families with teens and tweens: the Excel class, or Festivale when it arrives, is hard to beat for slides, BOLT and things to do on sea days.
- Families with young children: either works. A smaller ship is easier to manage with toddlers, while newer ships have more splash areas.
- Budget cruisers: older ships from a port you can drive to usually give the lowest total cost.
- Couples and relaxed cruisers: older ships feel calmer, and itineraries such as the Carnival Journeys sailings and Spirit-class routes reach more varied ports.
- Foodies: pick an Excel-class ship for the widest choice of specialty dining.
- Cruisers who care about ship condition: look up the ship’s last dry dock date before booking. A recently refitted older ship can feel fresher than you expect.
One useful check most fleet lists skip: compare the per-night fare and the cost of getting to the port, not just the ship’s age. A 5-night cruise on Carnival Elation from a port you can drive to will often cost far less in total than a 7-night Excel-class cruise that needs flights and a hotel. If your main goal is time at sea and in port, the older ship can be the better deal. If the ship itself is the destination, go new.
FAQs
What is the oldest Carnival ship still sailing?
Carnival Sunshine is the oldest. She entered service in 1996 as Carnival Destiny and was rebuilt and renamed in 2013. She sails from Norfolk until May 2027 and is due to move to Galveston in November 2027.
What ships has Carnival retired?
Recent departures include Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Sensation and Carnival Ecstasy, which left between 2020 and 2022. At the time of writing, no further retirements have been announced.
Is Carnival Elation older than Carnival Sunshine?
No. Carnival Elation entered service in 1998, two years after Sunshine (as Carnival Destiny) in 1996. Elation is the oldest ship that still has its original name and layout, which is why some lists call it the oldest.
What is the newest Carnival ship?
Carnival Jubilee, delivered in late 2023, is the newest Excel-class ship in service. Carnival Festivale is due in 2027 and Carnival Tropicale in 2028.
Are older Carnival ships cheaper?
Usually, yes. Older ships tend to sail shorter itineraries at lower fares. Prices vary by date and demand, so compare per-night fares for your dates.
