Carnival

Carnival currently has 29 cruise ships, with five more scheduled to join the fleet by the end of 2033. But did you know there’s a huge difference in their sizes?

The largest ship, Carnival Jubilee (on the left), is two and a half times bigger than the smallest, Carnival Elation (on the right).

It doesn’t look it, right? That’s because cruise ship size is measured in gross tonnage – a calculation based on a ship’s internal volume, not its weight. This means two ships can be similar in length, but if one has more decks and a wider structure, it’ll have a much larger overall volume.

As a guide, Carnival’s ships range between 855 and 1,130 feet long, with 10 to 17 guest decks. When you put those numbers together, it’s easy to see why a 10-deck, 855-foot ship feels much smaller than a 17-deck, 1,130-foot one.

So, how do the other Carnival ships size up? And does bigger mean better? Read on to find out…

List of Carnival Ships from Biggest to Smallest

The infographic above shows illustrations of all of the Carnival ships by size, from biggest to smallest. The images are to scale. As the tonnage and guest capacity vary slightly between ships, I’ve used the averages.

Here are the Carnival ship sizes in a table for you…

Excel Class – the Biggest Carnival Ships

Carnival’s Excel-class ships are 35% larger than the next biggest ships in the fleet. They’re made with the same hull design as other Carnival-owned ships like P&O Cruises Arvia and Iona, AIDAnova and AIDAcosma and Costa Smeralda and Toscana.

Excel-class ships have some features that you won’t find on other Carnival ships, such as the first-ever rollercoasters at sea. However, the next two Excel-class ships to join the fleet, Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale, will forego the rollercoaster in favour of a bigger water park.

Carnival Jubilee

Making her maiden voyage in December 2023, Carnival Jubilee is the joint-largest ship in the Carnival fleet.

This Excel-class vessel boasts a staggering gross tonnage of 183,521 GT and stretches an impressive 1,130 feet in length. With the capacity to host 6,630 passengers and a dedicated crew of 1,735, the ship has 2,641 staterooms spread.

Key attractions include the thrilling BOLT roller coaster, the WaterWorks aqua park, the serene adults-only Serenity Retreat sundeck and the NASA-inspired Space Cruisers programme for kids.

The ship also features delectable dining at the Seafood Shack, Shaq’s Big Chicken and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.

Carnival Celebration

Carnival Celebration is the same size as Carnival Jubilee and accommodates the same number of guests. Launched in November 2022, this colossal vessel has a gross tonnage of 183,521 GT and spans a remarkable 1,130 feet in length.

Guests can experience the adrenaline rush of the BOLT roller coaster, engage in Family Feud Live, or unwind at the travel-inspired Latitudes bar. The WaterWorks aqua park promises splashing fun, while dining options range from the exotic Bonsai Sushi and upscale Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse to Rudi’s Seagrill and the ever-popular Shaq’s Big Chicken.

Registered in Panama and with an investment of $1 billion, the Carnival Celebration epitomises fun and entertainment at sea.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras was the first ship in Carnival’s groundbreaking Excel class and the first Carnival ship to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas, marking a significant step towards sustainable cruising.

But the innovation doesn’t stop there. The Mardi Gras also boasts the exhilarating BOLT roller coaster, ensuring thrill-seekers are in for a treat. Guests can engage in spirited games at Family Feud Live or sip tropical concoctions at the RedFrog Tiki Bar. The WaterWorks aqua park promises endless aquatic fun, while the Excel suites offer an elevated experience with exclusive Loft 19 access.

Culinary adventures abound with the unique fusion of flavours at Chibang! Mexican and Chinese restaurant, the revamped Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Rudi’s Seagrill, and the crowd-favourite Shaq’s Big Chicken.

Venice Class – Ex-Costa Cruises Ships

The Venice Class ships were originally built for Carnival’s sister-company, Costa Cruises. Carnival Venezia was originally Costa Venezia, while Carnival Firenze was originally Costa Firenze.

Carnival Corporation signed an agreement in 2015 for five ships to be delivered between 2019 and 2022. Two of these were planned for Costa Cruises’ expansion into the Chinese market. However, the global shutdown of 2020 meant that these ships were no longer needed for Costa Cruises, and instead, they were transferred to Carnival Cruise Line.

As construction of the ships had already started, you’ll notice that they have some key Costa-style features, such as the rounded funnels instead of Carnival’s signature whale tails.

Carnival Venezia

The first Carnival Fun Italian Style ship, Carnival Venezia, began sailing for the cruise line in 2023, and it offers a fantastic blend of cruising styles. While she’s not as large as some of the other recent ships from Carnival, she still offers plenty to see and do for the whole family.

Guests will love the wide range of Italian and global dining options, the lively bars, and the relaxing Serenity Retreat for grown-ups only. Kids will never get bored either, with the organised activities and hangout spaces of the three youth zones plus the ropes course, mini golf, water slides and more.

Carnival Venezia offers cruises to the Caribbean and Canada/New England from New York and Port Canaveral.

Carnival Firenze

Carnival Firenze embodies the ‘Fun Italian Style’ of cruising with a fantastic combination of Costa-style venues and Carnival favourites. There are plenty of places to try Italian cuisine onboard, including the Palazzo and Medici restaurants along with the La Strada Grill street food venue, but guests can also enjoy classics like Guy’s Burger Joint, Bonsai Teppanyaki and more.

There’s more to Carnival Firenze than just food – guests can hit the waterslides, try out the ropes course and mini golf, or sample the many distinctive bars around the ship, while kids will love the different youth zones. Carnival Firenze sails to Mexico from Long Beach.

Vista Class 

Carnival Vista

Carnival Vista may be around 70% of the size of the biggest ships in the Carnival fleet, but she still packs in an absolutely incredible amount of activities and thrilling attractions. Chief among them is the SkyRide suspended bike course, which made its debut on this ship.

There are plenty of indoor and outdoor bars and restaurants, and a host of activities for younger guests, too, including the Dr. Seuss Bookville. Adults will also find some peaceful locations to relax, so there’s always somewhere to enjoy, no matter whether you seek peace or adventure.

Carnival Horizon

The second of the Vista-class ships to launch for Carnival, the Carnival Horizon offers a very similar experience to her elder sister. There’s so much to see and do onboard that you likely won’t fit it all in on just one cruise – including the multi-screen cinema with IMAX, the water park and all the amazing live entertainment.

It also has a wider range of dining options than some of Carnival’s smaller ships, with plenty of snack stops, casual fast food options and speciality restaurants to cater to any taste. Carnival Horizon sails out of Miami to the Caribbean.

Carnival Panorama

Carnival Panorama was originally due to be added to the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, but plans changed and she instead joined her sisters as the third Vista-class ship for Carnival. While many of her features are the same as on Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, she does have a Sky Zone trampoline park instead of the IMAX theatre.

Beyond this, there are all the best Carnival restaurants to enjoy, live shows and entertainment in the evening, and plenty of quieter spots to unwind too. Carnival Panorama offers Mexico cruises from Long Beach.

Dream Class

Carnival Dream

The Carnival Dream launched in 2009 and took on the mantle of the largest ship in the Carnival fleet, offering around 11% more space than the Carnival Splendor, which launched a year prior.

Guests can expect all of Carnival’s most popular bars and restaurants, along with plenty of outdoor space to relax and soak up the sun. Then there’s the waterpark, the spa, the comedy club, the theatre… boredom is impossible! Carnival Dream sails to the Caribbean from Galveston.

Carnival Magic

Carnival Magic introduced some of Carnival’s signature features when she debuted in 2011, including the Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano and the SportsSquare, with the world’s first-ever ropes course at sea.

She also introduced the RedFrog pub and its exclusive beer, ThirstyFrog Red. Plus, she debuted Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, too! While some of these have since been added to older ships, Carnival Magic was the original place to catch them. She now sails out of Miami and Norfolk, with cruises to the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas.

Carnival Breeze

Rounding out the Dream Class, Carnival Breeze didn’t necessarily bring anything new to the fleet, but she didn’t need to – replicating the amazing activities and dining options of Carnival Magic was plenty to keep guests happy.

There are outdoor sports activities, water slides, casual and speciality restaurants with choices galore, kids’ clubs, adults-only relaxation spaces and more. She sails out of Galveston, offering cruises to the Caribbean.

Splendor Class

Carnival Splendor

The sole ship in the Splendor Class, Carnival Splendor was originally planned to sail for Costa Cruises as part of the Concordia Class. Plans changed during construction, and she was transferred to the Carnival brand instead.

She was, for a short while, the largest ship in the fleet when she was built. And she has brought many of Carnival’s most popular restaurants and activities to the Australian cruise market, sailing around Asia and the South Pacific from Sydney (with some cruises from Singapore too).

Conquest Class

Carnival Conquest

When Carnival Conquest launched in 2002, she was the largest ship in the fleet. While the smaller Carnival Pride was considered the flagship, Carnival Conquest was around 30% larger, and she has packed that space with exciting things for guests to enjoy.

Kids love the youth zones and the Seuss at Sea interactive experiences, while adults can soak up the sun poolside or hit the various bars around the ship, including the Alchemy Bar and the ever-popular RedFrog Rum Bar. Carnival Conquest currently sails from Miami to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Panama Canal.

Carnival Glory

Carnival Glory is a fantastic ship if you’re looking for non-stop fun and great food. Guests love the WaterWorks waterpark, including the Twister and AquaTunnel water slides, while the Dive-In Movies make for a more serene way to enjoy the water in the evening.

Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and the Emerald Room Steakhouse are just a small sample of the popular Carnival restaurants onboard. Carnival Glory sails from New Orleans and Port Canaveral, with cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Panama Canal.

Carnival Valor

The Carnival Valor first set sail in 2004 and has been wowing guests for many years, especially with the upgrades she’s received since. Passengers love the variety of dining options, relaxation spaces and fun features, especially the Seuss at Sea kids’ activities and the impressive Twister water slide.

Big-screen movies under the stars, live comedy and musical theatre performances all help to ensure the fun carries on well into the evening, too. Caribbean cruises are available on the ship, sailing out of New Orleans.

Carnival Liberty

Carnival Liberty first launched in 2005 as the fourth ship in the Conquest Class, and she’s been well taken care of since. Indeed, she was the first ship to get some of the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, and she now has a fantastic range of activities and venues for guests to enjoy.

Whether it’s grabbing a beer in the SkyBox Sports Bar, soaking up the incredible live shows of the Playlist Productions theatre, or letting the kids go wild in the Camp Ocean clubs, there really is something for everyone. She sails out of Port Canaveral and New Orleans, with cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Panama Canal.

Carnival Freedom

Carnival Freedom was the last of the Conquest-class ships to launch, and she features the same venues and activities as her sister ships. There’s loads to do, and plenty of places to eat and drink, including all the Carnival favourites.

A great choice whether you want fun or relaxation, Carnival Freedom offers you the ‘freedom’ to cruise your way. She sails around the Caribbean and to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral.

Sunshine Class

Carnival Sunshine

The Carnival Sunshine is a milestone cruise ship – not just for Carnival but for all cruise lines. She was built in 1996 as the first-ever cruise ship to exceed 100,000 gross tons. She launched as the Carnival Destiny, but was refitted in 2013 and became the Carnival Sunshine, the first ship in the fleet to have all of Carnival’s Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades.

She’s now Carnival’s oldest ship, but still very popular with guests. She offers sailings out of Charleston and Norfolk, cruising to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Carnival Sunrise

Launching as the Carnival Triumph and renamed in 2019 as part of a major refit, the Carnival Sunrise is packed with exciting things to see and do, ideal for a cruise where the fun never stops.

She has water slides, pools, three youth spaces, live comedy performances and music, theatre shows, a sing-a-long piano bar, sports facilities, and so much more, along with a huge range of dining venues. She offers Bahamas and Caribbean cruises from Miami.

Carnival Radiance

Originally launching as the Carnival Victory, the Carnival Radiance was the first ship of the new millennium for Carnival, and also the last of the Sunshine/Destiny Class. She was given a major upgrade in 2020, which is when the ship was given her current name.

As part of that upgrade, she was given a whole host of new features. Now, guests can enjoy Shaq’s Big Chicken, Guy’s Burger Joint, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, the RedFrog pub and loads more, along with loads of entertainment and activities.

She sails out of Long Beach with cruises to Hawaii and Mexico.

Spirit Class

Carnival Luminosa

The Carnival Luminosa is a little bit of an outlier – while the rest of the Spirit Class was launched between 2001 and 2004, she set sail in 2009 for sister brand Costa Cruises, sailing as the Costa Luminosa. Then, in 2022, she was transferred to Carnival. She’s considered a Vista/Spirit hybrid, but officially, she’s marketed as part of the Spirit Class.

She doesn’t have all the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades of her sister ships, but you’ll still find Carnival favourites, including many of the popular bars and restaurants, along with the Piano Bar and the Punchliner comedy club. She sails to Alaska and around Australasia from Seattle, Sydney and Brisbane.

Carnival Spirit

The founding ship of the Spirit Class, Carnival Spirit, offers a great time whether you want a fun-packed cruise or one that’s more relaxing. During the day, you’ll be able to play mini golf, unwind by the pool, try the water slide or escape to the Serenity adults-only retreat.

At night there’s the piano bar, live entertainment, lively bars, comedy performances and more. Carnival Spirit offers cruises to Alaska, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Hawaii from Miami, Mobile, and Seattle.

Carnival Pride

When the Carnival Pride launched, she wasn’t the biggest ship in the fleet, but she was considered the flagship due to her excellent dining and entertainment options. And those have been further enhanced with subsequent dry dock upgrades, including the addition of the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and a revamp of the Cloud 9 Spa.

She offers cruises primarily from Tampa in Florida, although sailings from Rome and Baltimore are also available.

Carnival Legend

The Carnival Legend has plenty to keep guests entertained, even when she’s crossing the Atlantic between seasons. Some of Carnival’s most classic features are present, including the Club Merlin Casino, the BlueIguana Cantina, and Truffles restaurant.

Entertainment options include Billie’s Piano Bar, the lively RedFrog pub, and the thrills of the Green Thunder waterslide. Carnival Legend sails around the Med in summer from Barcelona and Rome, and in winter offers sailings from Baltimore, Tampa, San Francisco and Galveston.

Carnival Miracle

Carnival Miracle is packed with features despite her smaller size, compared to larger ships in the fleet. The kids will love the WaterWorks park and the kids’ clubs, while the adults can escape to the Serenity Retreat for a truly relaxing getaway.

Food options include Nick & Nora’s Steakhouse and the RedFrog pub, with plenty of great bars too, including the Alchemy Bar for unique cocktails. Carnival Miracle sails out of Long Beach, San Francisco, and Galveston with itineraries including Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and the Panama Canal.

Fantasy Class

Carnival Paradise

Carnival Paradise was the last Fantasy-class ship to be built (several have since been sold or scrapped), and while she was first launched in 1998, she has been updated several times since, ensuring she still offers a great Carnival cruise experience.

While she’s too small to have all the exciting bells and whistles of a modern Carnival ship, she does offer pools, hot tubs, the WaterWorks waterpark, Seuss at Sea and a host of great restaurants and bars. She sails out of Tampa on Bahamas cruises.

Carnival Elation

Despite being the smallest ship in the Carnival fleet, Carnival Elation still has plenty to keep guests entertained and happy during their cruise. There’s the WaterWorks splash area, three youth spaces, an arcade and more for the kids.

Plus, there’s a wide variety of dining options, including BlueIguana Cantina for burritos and tacos, Guy’s Burger Joint, and some exciting bars for the grown-ups to try. Carnival Elation sails out of Jacksonville and offers Bahamas cruises.

Here’s How the Different Ship Classes Compare

There are currently nine classes of Carnival cruise ships. Each ship in a particular class is almost identical, with some small differences.

The table below shows the Carnival ship classes from largest to smallest, based on ship volume.

You can read more about each of the different classes here: Carnival Cruise Ship Classes Compared.

Does Size Matter? Here’s What to Expect

There are advantages to both the bigger and smaller Carnival ships. The biggest ships are newer and have more facilities on board, with bigger water parks and more stuff for kids to do.

The older, smaller ships in the Carnival fleet can be great too, though. The itineraries may be more destination-focused, so you’ll spend less time at sea during your cruise. Cruising on the older, smaller ships is usually a little cheaper, too.

One thing to consider with the older ships is that balcony rooms are rare. These ships have mostly interior and ocean view rooms.

Read more: Carnival Ships Ranked From Best To Worst

Carnival ship sizes range from huge to medium-sized. None of the ships is small, and all of them have lots to keep guests entertained.

The bigger ships like Carnival Jubilee are typically seen as the nicest ships, but not because they’re big – just because Carnival’s building the bigger ships now, so they’re newer.

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Carnival Cruise Line has 29 ships in service, with five more set to join the fleet by the end of 2033. That’s more than any other cruise line in the world!

With nearly 30 ships and a diverse lineup, it can be tough to remember which ones are shiny and new – and which might be showing their age. That distinction matters, especially since sailing aboard a Carnival ship built in the early 2000s offers a very different experience compared to stepping onto a modern mega-liner with all the bells and whistles.

To make matters more confusing, Carnival has renamed and repurposed several older ships, sometimes making them feel “new” even when they’re not.

So if you’re wondering which ships are fresh off the block and which might come with some quirks, you’re in the right place. Here’s your essential guide to Carnival ships ranked by age – and a few you might want to think twice about before you book.

Carnival Ships in Age Order

This table shows all Carnival cruise ships from newest to oldest, as well as when they were last refurbished.

Although some Carnival cruise ships are pretty old, every ship undergoes an extensive dry dock refurbishment at least every five years. So even if you choose one of the oldest ships, you can rest assured that everything will be in good working order and looking nice and fresh.

Carnival Cruise Line acquired Costa Luminosa from Costa Cruises, renamed her Carnival Luminosa, and added her to the fleet in September 2022.

Then Costa Venezia was renamed Carnival Venezia and relaunched in 2023. To complete the trio of ex-Costa ships, Costa Firenze launched as Carnival Firenze in 2024.

And then in 2025, the ex-P&O Australia ships joined the fleet as the new Adventure Class.

You can read more about those here: The Newest Carnival Ships

Five More Ships Are On Order

Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed two additional Excel-class ships: Carnival Festivale, debuting in spring 2027, and Carnival Tropicale, scheduled for spring 2028. These will join sister ships Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.

While they’ll share many amenities with the existing ships, these new vessels will not feature the BOLT rollercoaster – instead, guests can look forward to an enhanced WaterWorks waterpark with exciting new slides.

Looking further ahead, Carnival is developing a brand-new class of vessels known internally as Project Ace. Scheduled for delivery in 2029, 2031, and 2033, these three ships will each be approximately 230,000 GT.

Built by Fincantieri, they will feature 3,000 guest staterooms and be able to accommodate nearly 8,000 guests at full capacity, making them by far the largest in Carnival’s fleet.

Carnival Sunshine Is Still Shining on as the Oldest Ship

The oldest Carnival ship in service is the Carnival Sunshine, which was launched in 1996. This Sunshine-class ship was known as Carnival Destiny until it was renamed in 2013 during a refit.

Carnival Sunshine was groundbreaking in the 1990s as the first-ever ship to exceed 100,000 gross tonnes in size. Modern cruise ships are now much larger, with Royal Caribbean’s largest ship, Icon of the Seas, exceeding 250,000 gross tonnes.

Prior to October 2022, the oldest Carnival ship in service was the Carnival Ecstasy, which was launched in 1991. This Fantasy-class ship was also one of the smallest ships in the Carnival fleet, accommodating just 2,606 guests across 10 decks.

A Fond Farewell – Scrapped Ships for Carnival

Here’s a list of Carnival ships that have been scrapped recently:

• Carnival Ecstasy was scrapped in Turkey in November 2022 at 31 years of age.
• Carnival Sensation retired in February 2022. The ship never restarted operations after the global pause in 2020.
• Carnival Fascination left the Carnival fleet in September 2020. After initial plans to be turned into a floating hotel fell through, the ship was scrapped in Pakistan.
• Carnival Imagination was sold in September 2020 after a long lay-up. The ship then headed to Turkey to be scrapped.
• Carnival Inspiration was sold for recycling in July 2020 along with the Carnival Fantasy.
• Carnival Fantasy was the first ship to leave the fleet in July 2020 as a result of the shutdown. The ship was scrapped in Turkey.

The Big Question – Are Newer Ships Better?

Many people believe that the newest Carnival cruise ships are the best. And if you want to ride a sky bike or rollercoaster high above the top deck, then they might well be.

However, even the oldest Carnival cruise ships have water slides, splash parks, mini golf, kids’ clubs, casinos, and nightclubs, so you’ll never be short of something to do.

Carnival cruises can be very loud and brash, so you may even find that sharing your ship with 5,000 other guests is a little too much and prefer the atmosphere of a smaller 2,000-passenger ship.

To find out which Carnival cruise ship is considered the best, I collated the review scores from all of the major cruise review sites. You can find the verdict here: Carnival Ships Ranked From Best To Worst, and in this video…

You’ll also want to think about the price. People are willing to pay a premium to be among the first to try the latest and greatest new ships, so there are some real bargains to be had if you’re willing to give one of the older vessels a chance.

One thing to consider, though, is that balcony rooms are pretty rare on Carnival’s oldest ships. But if you’d be happy with an Ocean View, then these can be a good option.

Suggested read: What to Expect From Carnival’s Ocean View Rooms

A Full List of All Ships (With Info and Photos)

Here’s some more information about each of the ships in the Carnival Cruise Line Fleet, along with photos…

Carnival Adventure

The former Pacific Adventure, Carnival Adventure, offers sailings from Australia and blends classic features with newer Carnival touches for a fun-packed family getaway.

Carnival Encounter

Just like sister ship Carnival Adventure, the newly-renamed Carnival Encounter retains everything that guests loved from the old Pacific Encounter, but with a ‘Carnival’ fun refresh.

Carnival Firenze

Carnival Firenze launched in 2021 as Costa Firenze and is the second in the Venice Class.

Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Jubilee is Carnival’s newest cruise ship in terms of new builds, launching in December 2023. This Excel-class cruise ship is a sister ship to Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras.

Carnival Venezia

Carnival Venezia was the first of the Venice-class ships to transfer over from Costa. She made her debut as Costa Venezia for Costa Cruises in May 2019 and was originally made to serve the Chinese market. In 2023, the ship was transferred to Carnival and renovated before making her debut for Carnival.

Carnival Celebration

Carnival Celebration launched in 2022. This Excel-class cruise ship is a sister ship to Mardi Gras and the second ship to feature the BOLT rollercoaster. Carnival Celebration cruises out of Miami all year round.

Carnival Luminosa

Carnival Luminosa was launched for Costa Cruises as Costa Luminosa in 2009. While Carnival calls this a Spirit-class ship, the design also features elements from the Vista Class. She was transferred to the Carnival fleet in 2022.

Mardi Gras

Carnival’s Mardi Gras cruise ship was launched in 2021. This Excel-class cruise ship can accommodate up to 6,500 passengers at maximum occupancy as well as a crew of 2,000.

Carnival Panorama

Carnival Panorama launched in 2019. This Vista-class cruise ship can accommodate 4,008 guests and was the flagship of Carnival Cruise Line until Mardi Gras was launched.

Carnival Horizon

The Carnival Horizon cruise ship launched in the spring of 2018. This Vista-class cruise ship can accommodate 3,960 guests, slightly less than sister ship Carnival Panorama.

Carnival Vista

Carnival Vista was launched in 2016. The first of Carnival’s Vista-Class ships, this ship was highly-anticipated, marking the end of a four-year-long pause in shipbuilding for the cruise line.

Carnival Breeze

The Carnival Breeze cruise ship is over ten years old, but still extremely popular. The ship was launched in 2012 and was last refurbished in 2023. Carnival Breeze is a Dream-class cruise ship and can accommodate 3,690 guests and 1,386 crew members.

Carnival Magic

The Carnival Magic launched in 2011, and the ship was last refurbished in May 2021 and now has the new blue, white and red livery. Carnival Magic is a Dream-class cruise ship and can accommodate 3,690 guests.

Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream was launched in 2009. The most advanced cruise ship in the world at the time, this ship was last refurbished in 2021. Like the other Dream-class ships, she can accommodate around 3,600 guests at double occupancy.

Carnival Splendor

Carnival Splendor launched in 2009 and was last refurbished in 2024. She is the only Splendor-class ship in Carnival’s fleet. This is because she was originally ordered by Costa Cruises as a sister ship to the Costa Concordia, which tragically sank in 2012.

Carnival Freedom

Carnival Freedom is a cruise ship that was launched in 2007. She has since been refurbished in 2023. The last of Carnival’s Conquest-class ships, she can accommodate 2,980 guests at double occupancy.

Carnival Liberty

Carnival Liberty was launched in 2005. This ship has been refurbished several times. In 2011, she was the first ship to receive the FUN 2.0 enhancements, and in 2021, she received the new blue, white and red livery. Most recently, in July 2025, she underwent a major dry dock with upgrades including a new WaterWorks aqua park, refreshed spa, and updated youth areas.

Carnival Miracle

The Carnival Miracle cruise ship launched in 2004 and was recently refurbished in 2025. Carnival Miracle is a Spirit-class cruise ship, offering more space per passenger than any other ship in the fleet.

Carnival Valor

Carnival Valor launched in 2004. However, she was refurbished recently in 2025. This Conquest-class cruise ship accommodates just under 3,000 guests.

Carnival Glory

Carnival Glory made her debut in 2003 but was last refurbished in 2024. This cruise ship is a Conquest-class ship, accommodating around 3,000 guests.

Carnival Conquest

Launched in 2002, the Carnival Conquest cruise ship was the first of a new class of ships for Carnival Cruise Line, back in the day. The ship was last refurbished in 2022.

Carnival Legend

The Carnival Legend cruise ship was launched in 2002 and was last refurbished in 2024. Carnival Legend is a Spirit-class cruise ship with space for 2,124 passengers – relatively small compared to most modern cruise ships.

Carnival Pride

Carnival Pride is a Spirit-class cruise ship. Launched in 2002, this ship is now over 20 years old but was last refurbished in 2023. Carnival Pride can carry just 2,124 passengers but is one of the most spacious ships in Carnival’s fleet.

Carnival Spirit

Carnival Spirit debuted in 2001. This first of the spacious Spirit-class ships, Carnival Spirit, was refurbished recently in 2025.

Carnival Radiance

Carnival Radiance was first launched in 2000 under the name Carnival Victory. In 2021, the ship underwent a huge $200 million bow-to-stern makeover, was given the new livery and was christened again with the new name. She was last refurbished in 2024.

Carnival Sunrise

Carnival Sunrise started off as Carnival Triumph in 1999. But in 2019, the ship underwent a $200 million transformation that took 38 days to complete. She was then christened again with the new name – Carnival Sunrise. She was last refurbished in 2024.

Carnival Elation

The Carnival Elation cruise ship was launched in 1998 and was last refurbished in 2023. One of the smallest in Carnival’s fleet, Carnival Elation is a Fantasy-class cruise ship and can accommodate 2,130 guests.

Carnival Paradise

Just like Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise also made her debut in 1998. This Fantasy-class cruise ship was last refurbished in 2023.

Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Sunshine was originally named Carnival Destiny when the ship was launched in 1996. In 2013, the ship underwent a $155 million transformation, which saw an entire deck added to the front third of the ship and the addition of 182 more cabins. She was last refurbished very recently in 2025.

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Carnival cruise fans are a passionate bunch. And they’re often fiercely loyal to the brand. But that doesn’t mean they don’t also like to have the occasional moan about how the cruise line has changed over the years.

And there have been some big changes.

Some are specific to Carnival while others are part of the shifting landscape of cruising in general, as every cruise line tries to be more environmentally-friendly, a little more budget-conscious, and perhaps even a little less controversial?

That’s definitely the case with some of these Carnival changes…

1. The Midnight Extravaganza

The Midnight Extravaganza was Carnival’s buffet blow-out, held just after midnight.

Picture walls of crab legs, mountains of carved ice, chocolate fountains and flaming Baked Alaska – all laid out in an over-the-top display four times the size of the regular buffet.

Actually, you don’t need to imagine it. Take a look at this video from the Carnival Celebration in 2007…

The rising waste and the sheer cost of those ice sculptures saw Carnival quietly scale it back and eventually retire it.

Read more: Skeet Shooting At Sea

5. Twice-Daily Cabin Service & Turndown

Once upon a time, your cabin steward would visit not just once a day, but twice – making your bed in the morning and returning in the evening to turn it down, leave chocolates on the pillows and reset the room for the night.

These days, unless you’re in a suite, you’ll only get one visit per day – part of Carnival’s shift to streamline operations and reduce strain on housekeeping staff. It also happens to be better for the environment, with less laundry and water usage.

Most guests have accepted the change without much fuss, but that second visit did add a little something extra. There’s just something nice about coming back to a freshly fluffed bed and a mint, especially after a long evening show or late dinner.

6. Onboard Videographers

In the pre-smartphone era, Carnival had onboard videographers filming everything from sailaways to poolside games and formal nights. They’d then edit it into a souvenir video, which you could purchase at the end of the cruise.

It was never cheap, and it was never subtle. I’m told that the camera crews had a knack for appearing right when you were red-faced and half-drenched after a bellyflop contest, or trying to dance when you absolutely should not have been.

Eventually, as passengers started documenting their own holidays with phones and GoPros, the onboard video team quietly disappeared.

These days, you make your own memories – for better or worse. And while some might miss the polished, ship-produced recap, most people are probably happy not to have a camera following them around every deck.

7. Printed Carnival Capers and Menus

Carnival Capers – the daily printed newsletter – was once the lifeblood of the cruise. Slipped under your door each night, it laid out every event, activity and show happening the next day, plus the weather forecast, dress code and a few bits of cruise director humour.

Alongside it, you’d also get printed menus in the dining room, which you could read at your leisure or even take as a souvenir.

Eventually, these all moved to the Carnival Hub app. It’s efficient, saves paper, and lets the cruise line make real-time updates – handy when something’s cancelled or moved.

But it’s not quite the same as sitting on your balcony in the morning, coffee in hand, flicking through a physical copy of everything going on that day. You can still request the (now rebranded) Fun Times as a paper copy, and you can get paper menus if you ask – but a lot of people just feel like it’s inconvenient.

Menus especially felt like keepsakes – people would take them home, fold them into scrapbooks, or use them to remember their favourite dishes. Now it’s all on a screen, and while it works just fine, it doesn’t have the same charm.

8. Topless Sunbathing Deck

For a while, Carnival allowed topless sunbathing in designated adults-only areas on some of its ships. These decks were usually tucked away in quiet corners and not widely promoted, but they existed – and some guests made full use of them.

Over time, those spaces were phased out. They were never hugely popular, and there were ongoing issues with signage, guests wandering in by accident, and a general sense of awkwardness for staff who had to enforce the rules.

These days, it’s swimsuits on for everyone, everywhere. Not many people even noticed the change, but there’s a small group of loyal naturists who still bring it up from time to time – usually with a nostalgic shrug and a sigh about “how cruising used to be.”

Suggested read: The Do’s and Don’ts of Topless Sunbathing on Cruise Ships

9. 24/7 Pizza

Carnival’s pizza has always had a bit of a cult following – hot, fresh, thin-crust slices served from the poolside pizzeria. And for years, it was available 24 hours a day. Whether you’d just come back from a late-night comedy show or were heading out for a sunrise walk, pizza was always there.

But not anymore. The hours have been scaled back, mostly to give the staff a break and cut down on late-night food waste. It still runs most of the day and well into the evening, but if you’re looking for a 3 am pepperoni fix, you’ll probably be out of luck.

A late night snack menu has been added to the buffet, but it’s not the same – choices are limited and the pizza isn’t the same quality you can enjoy elsewhere on the ship during daytime hours.

A shame – and something people are still unhappy over.

10. Bluetooth Speakers Permitted

There was a time when guests could bring Bluetooth speakers on board and use them freely – on balconies, in cabins, and even on deck.

It didn’t take long for that to become a problem. Competing playlists at the pool, thumping bass at 7 am from the balcony next door, and impromptu parties that no one else signed up for.

Carnival eventually stepped in and banned them completely. It was one of those rare changes that almost everyone welcomed. Peace returned to the pool deck, and now the only music you hear comes from the ship’s own sound system.

Some people still ask why they can’t play their music in private, but the blanket ban avoids any grey areas. And really, no one’s ever missed someone else’s speaker blaring EDM at sunrise.

11. Free Popcorn at Dive-in Movies

Dive-In Movies – the open-air films shown on deck under the stars – are still going strong. What’s missing now is the free popcorn that used to come with them. For years, Carnival would hand out small tubs of popcorn at no charge, and it added a proper cinema feel to the experience.

That’s all stopped now. These days, if you want popcorn, you’ll have to buy. It’s a small change, but noticeable for anyone who remembers the old days.

Some say it’s no big loss – after all, it’s still a free movie with a sea breeze. And apparently it’s stopped some issues with people taking the freebie and then just throwing it around the pool deck.

But there’s something undeniably satisfying about munching popcorn under the stars, and without it, the Dive-In Movie nights just feel a bit more… ordinary.

12. Tablecloths in the Main Dining Room

There was a time when dinner in the main dining room meant crisp white tablecloths, neatly folded napkins, and a more traditional, formal dining experience – even on casual nights. It gave meals a little extra sense of occasion, whether you were tucking into lobster tail or just ordering a burger with fries.

Carnival started phasing them out years ago. These days, most dining rooms have bare tables with simple place settings. It’s more relaxed, easier to clean, and cuts down on laundry – all sensible reasons.

Still, some guests miss that touch of elegance. Tablecloths made dinner feel like a proper event. Without them, it’s still enjoyable – but there’s no denying it feels just a little more like a busy restaurant than a special night out.

13. Trays in the Buffet

Buffets on cruise ships used to have trays – the big kind you’d balance on your arm, stacking up plates, bowls, drinks, and maybe even dessert if you were confident. Carnival removed them to reduce spills, ease traffic flow, and discourage guests from piling up more food than they could eat.

It’s a change that’s mostly stuck. Today, you’ll grab a plate or two and make more trips if you’re hungry.

And while that’s probably a good thing, there are people who say they found it easier to carry a tray, some old-school cruisers still bring it up, especially when juggling plates during peak lunch rush. But for most, it’s just the new normal.

14. Free Room Service

For years, room service on Carnival was completely free, available day and night. You could order sandwiches, desserts, hot meals, even breakfast trays delivered to your cabin – all without paying a penny (though tipping the delivery staff was always encouraged).

That’s changed. Room service now comes with a charge for most items, especially during evening hours. A few light bites remain complimentary during the day, but the full menu is behind a price tag.

Understandably, this one still stings for a lot of guests. There’s something deeply satisfying about eating a grilled cheese in your pyjamas while watching the waves go by. People will still use the service, but that sense of indulgent luxury – the feeling that you could order just because you could – has definitely faded.

15. Special Menu Items

Carnival used to offer a wider range of special menu items that would pop up on certain nights – whether it was a regional dish inspired by the ship’s itinerary, a themed dessert night, or an over-the-top presentation like Baked Alaska parades. These items were often a surprise and gave meals a bit of extra excitement.

But over time, the menus have been simplified. Fewer one-off dishes, fewer theatrics, and a more standardised experience across the fleet. It helps things run more smoothly in the galley and keeps waste down – especially as dining rooms got busier.

That said, people still talk about the “old menus.” The Elegant Night lobster tails. The escargot. The crew marching in with flaming desserts. Those touches might not have been essential, but they were memorable – and the current dining options, while solid, don’t always spark the same level of enthusiasm.

16. Pepsi Products

Carnival used to be a Coca-Cola cruise line – you could get all your familiar Coke products onboard, from Diet Coke to Sprite to the occasional exotic Fanta flavour.

But that changed when Carnival made the switch to Pepsi, a change that rolled out across the fleet in early 2020.

And for something as small as a soft drink, it stirred up a surprising amount of emotion. Some people genuinely didn’t mind, or even preferred Pepsi. But others… didn’t take it quite so well.

But then they got some good news in the summer of 2025 as the cruise line announced it was returning to Coca-Cola products.

So great news for Coca-Cola fans, but the people who prefer Pepsi are now the ones missing out.

17. Personalised Service

One of the things long-time Carnival fans talk about is how personal things used to feel. Cabin stewards and bartenders would remember your name, your drink order, even how you took your coffee in the morning.

You didn’t have to ask twice – they just knew.

As the cruise line got bigger and the ships more crowded, some of those little touches started to fade. Service is still friendly, but it’s more streamlined now – less time to chat, more focus on efficiency. For newer cruisers, it’s still impressive. But if you’ve sailed Carnival for years, you’ll probably notice the difference.

It’s not that the crew don’t care – far from it. They’re working just as hard as ever. But with more guests and fewer repeat interactions, that feeling of being known and recognised throughout the ship isn’t as common as it once was. And for some people, that’s the thing they miss the most.

Final Word

Cruising with Carnival has never stood still. Over the years, the cruise line has evolved – trimming back, streamlining, and modernising its experience in ways that make sense from a business, environmental, or logistical perspective.

Some of these changes have been welcomed with open arms (goodbye, Bluetooth speaker battles), while others still spark the occasional nostalgic rant on cruise message boards.

What’s clear is that Carnival has tried to strike a balance between keeping things fun and moving with the times. But for long-time cruisers, the small touches that used to define the experience – the turndown, the midnight crab legs, the cheeky bellyflop contests – still hold a special place in their memories.

So if you find yourself grumbling about missing chocolate on your pillow or scanning the buffet for a tray that isn’t there, you’re not alone. And who knows? Maybe some of these lost favourites will find their way back in one form or another.

Related Posts

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

When booking a cruise, you’ll often see optional extras promising added perks, but it’s not always clear which ones are actually worth the money.

Carnival’s Faster to the Fun is a prime example. It’s hugely popular and usually sells out fast, often before you’ve even made up your mind.

That’s why it’s worth knowing exactly what’s included – so if it becomes available for your cruise, you’ll be ready to decide whether to grab it or give it a miss.

Faster to the Fun Explained

Faster to the Fun is a bolt-on package that you can pay for when you’ve booked a Carnival cruise from select ports (including all the major US ports). It has limited availability and offers guests a range of perks to enhance their cruise experience.

It isn’t aimed at the most loyal Carnival cruise guests, as the perks you get are already included if you reach Diamond or Platinum status in the cruise line’s VIFP loyalty program. Instead, it aims to offer a limited number of guests a better experience for a relatively low fee.

Faster to the Fun Perks

Here are the perks you get if you choose to pay for Faster to the Fun.

1. Priority Check-In

The main perk – and the one that inspired the name of the package – is priority check-in for your cruise.

To be clear, this is not priority boarding – you won’t necessarily get one of the earliest booking windows for boarding the ship. Instead, you might get a later window, but then there will be a priority line for Faster to the Fun guests to speed up the check-in process for you.

So, you aren’t guaranteed to be among the very first people onto the ship, but once you arrive at the port in your allotted time, you should have a faster experience getting through the terminal and onto the ship to begin having fun.

Faster to the Fun has only recently returned, and before it was taken away around the global shutdown of 2020, it did include priority boarding. So it’s not quite as good a perk as it used to be, though it can be helpful if you’re boarding the bigger ships and your allotted boarding time is likely to be busy.

2. Stateroom Access for Bags

Typically, when you board a cruise ship, you have to keep your carry-on luggage with you. Your stateroom won’t be ready until later in the day, so your bag needs to be carried around with you until the room can be accessed.

But with Faster to the Fun, you’re allowed to head to your stateroom and drop off your carry-on bags, even if the room isn’t completely ready for you. You’ll need to speak to the cabin stewards when you get there, so you can make sure you put your bags in a safe place out of their way while they clean, if they aren’t done yet.

Whatever you do, don’t just see a clean stateroom and assume you can drop your bags off without telling anyone, as this guest found out that it can be disastrous:

3. Express Luggage

Once you’ve checked your main luggage at the cruise terminal, the next time you see it will be outside your cabin door later that day.

On larger ships, it can sometimes take quite a while for all bags to be checked (because yes, they will scan the bags for that alcohol you’re trying to sneak onboard, haha) and then delivered to each cabin.

With Faster to the Fun, your suitcases should be prioritised so that yours are some of the first delivered around the ship. This can be handy since you can be unpacked (hopefully) before dinner, and you can then relax and fully enjoy the first night of your cruise.

It works well on most cruises, but it’s not without the occasional problem.

4. Guest Services Priority

At the Guest Services desk, there’s a priority line for Faster to the Fun guests in case you need any help with your cruise.

It won’t save you a huge amount of time in most cases, because it’s rare for the queues at Guest Services to be super-long, but when it’s a little busy, you might save 15 minutes or so – and that can be valuable vacation time.

You also get a priority telephone number, so you shouldn’t be waiting on hold too long if you need to speak to them before you cruise or from the comfort of your cabin.

With this perk, it’s only beneficial if you need to speak to Guest Services, and many people don’t, but it’s nice to have this option.

5. Dining Reservations

Faster to the Fun guests can join suite guests and higher-tier VIFP guests in getting priority reservations for the main dining room and speciality restaurants.

If you choose Your Time Dining for the main dining room, then this doesn’t apply – don’t expect to walk up and be given priority over other guests who are waiting for a table.

But if you prefer a set time, or you plan to dine in several of the speciality restaurants which require a booking, this is a good way of making sure you get the best time to suit you, whether that’s planning around your family or making sure you don’t miss a show because you’re still enjoying dinner.

6. Priority Tender

Most ports that Carnival calls at have a pier, so that the ship can dock and guests can just walk on and off the ship at leisure. But some ports can’t handle large ships docking, and so instead you’ll need to use a tender boat, called a Water Shuttle by Carnival. 

Guests who choose to book a Carnival shore excursion will get priority for boarding the water shuttles, but if you’d rather explore on your own, then Faster to the Fun guests get the next priority for a shuttle to take you to the shore after excursion guests.

You won’t get priority for the shuttle back to the ship, though; that’s just on a first-come, first-served basis.

7. Priority Debarkation

Ahead of the last day of your cruise, Faster to the Fun guests are able to choose whether they want an early or late debarkation time, rather than being assigned a slot at random.

There are benefits to both. Obviously, if you choose a later debarkation time, you can enjoy a (little) lie-in and then grab breakfast before you set off. Choose an earlier time, and you can be one of the first off the ship, avoiding the rush and nabbing a taxi to the airport if you need it.

I suppose this is a “Faster from the Fun” perk.

Faster to the Fun Cost

The cost of Faster to the Fun isn’t fixed. It depends on your specific cruise and where you’re sailing from, but as a guide, you should expect to pay between $80 and $150 per cabin – you can’t book it for an individual person.

That’s understandable, really, considering the nature of the perks – you could hardly have one person in a cabin dropping off their own bags while the other person is sitting in the terminal waiting to board and carrying theirs.

You’ll have to check the individual price for your own cruise by logging onto the Faster to the Fun section of the Carnival website, clicking on your embarkation port, and then adding it to your cruise. You can also find it on your online account when you log in to your cruise details.

But if you wanted to buy it as a gift for someone else cruising with Carnival, head to the Carnival website. You’ll need their full name and the sailing date.

Final Word

Whether Faster to the Fun is worth it depends on whether you’re someone who is desperate to be first onboard, and you really don’t want to carry your bags around with you.

The Express Luggage perk is handy, but not super important for most people. Same with the Guest Services priority and the priority Water Shuttle places – you can manage fine without them.

If you’re set on being first off the ship on the last day, too (say you have an earlier afternoon flight), or you want to make sure you get the right dining times, then it may be useful too.

Just remember that you don’t need it once you reach Diamond or Platinum with VIFP, since you get all of these perks and more.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me