Carnival Ships by Size and Age
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Welcome aboard our voyage through the Carnival Cruise Line’s Fleet. Carnival has long been a favorite for its family-friendly atmosphere and budget-friendly options. Whether you’re planning your first sea adventure or a seasoned sailor of the high seas, understanding the diverse fleet of Carnival’s ships can help tailor your perfect cruise experience.
Carnival ships are famous for their signature red, white, and blue whale tail funnel, a symbol of fun and excitement on the open sea. This iconic design marks the ships’ distinctive profile and encapsulates the essence of Carnival’s brand—a world of fun, sun, and exploration.
In this blog post, we’ll navigate the waves of choices within the Carnival fleet. We’ll compare Carnival ships by size, age, and class to help you select the best one for your next cruise vacation.
Carnival Ships by Size
Carnival’s fleet offers a variety of sizes catering to different passenger preferences, from those seeking an intimate experience to a thrill-packed city at sea with endless activities.
Larger Carnival cruise ships have more things to do, while smaller vessels offer a more relaxed and laid-back experience.
Below is a comprehensive guide to Carnival Cruise Line’s ships, categorized by size.
| Ship Name | Class | Gross Tonnage | Length | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Celebration | Excel | 183,900 GT | 344 m | 5,374 |
| Mardi Gras | Excel | 183,900 GT | 344 m | 5,282 |
| Carnival Jubilee | Excel | 183,900 GT | 344 m | 5,347 |
| Carnival Firenze | Vista | 135,225 GT | 324 m | 4,232 |
| Carnival Venezia | Vista | 135,225 GT | 324 m | 4,232 |
| Carnival Horizon | Vista | 133,500 GT | 322 m | 3,960 |
| Carnival Vista | Vista | 133,500 GT | 322 m | 3,934 |
| Carnival Panorama | Vista | 133,500 GT | 322 m | 3,930 |
| Carnival Dream | Dream | 128,251 GT | 305 m | 3,646 |
| Carnival Breeze | Dream | 128,052 GT | 306 m | 3,690 |
| Carnival Magic | Dream | 128,048 GT | 305 m | 3,690 |
| Carnival Splendor | Concordia | 113,573 GT | 290 m | 3,016 |
| Carnival Freedom | Conquest | 110,320 GT | 289 m | 2,984 |
| Carnival Liberty | Conquest | 110,320 GT | 290 m | 2,978 |
| Carnival Glory | Conquest | 110,239 GT | 290 m | 2,984 |
| Carnival Conquest | Conquest | 110,239 GT | 290 m | 2,984 |
| Carnival Valor | Conquest | 110,239 GT | 290 m | 2,984 |
| Carnival Sunshine | Sunshine | 103,881 GT | 272 m | 3,002 |
| Carnival Radiance | Sunshine | 101,509 GT | 272 m | 2,896 |
| Carnival Sunrise | Sunshine | 101,509 GT | 272 m | 2,984 |
| Carnival Luminosa | luminosa | 92,720 GT | 294 m | 2,260 |
| Carnival Spirit | Spirit | 88,500 GT | 292 m | 2,124 |
| Carnival Miracle | Spirit | 88,500 GT | 292 m | 2,124 |
| Carnival Legend | Spirit | 88,500 GT | 292 m | 2,124 |
| Carnival Pride | Spirit | 85,920 GT | 292 m | 2,124 |
| Carnival Paradise | Fantasy | 71,925 GT | 262 m | 2,124 |
| Carnival Elation | Fantasy | 71,909 GT | 260 m | 2,188 |
List of Carnival Ships by Age
The ship’s age is an essential factor when planning your cruise vacation. Newer cruise ships, like Carnival Jubilee, offer newer technology, better amenities, more activities, and a broader range of entertainment options. In contrast, older vessels, like Carnival Spirit, are quieter and focus more on traditional cruise activities.
The table below shows Carnival’s cruise ships from newest to oldest.
| Ship Name | Class | Year Built | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Jubilee | Excel | 2023 | Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany) |
| Carnival Celebration | Excel | 2022 | Meyer Werft (Turku, Finland) |
| Carnival Firenze | Vista | 2021 | Fincantieri (Marghera, Italy) |
| Mardi Gras | Excel | 2021 | Meyer Werft (Turku, Finland) |
| Carnival Venezia | Vista | 2019 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Panorama | Vista | 2019 | Fincantieri (Marghera, Italy) |
| Carnival Horizon | Vista | 2018 | Fincantieri (Marghera, Italy) |
| Carnival Vista | Vista | 2016 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Breeze | Dream | 2012 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Magic | Dream | 2011 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Dream | Dream | 2009 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Luminosa | luminosa | 2009 | Fincantieri (Marghera, Italy) |
| Carnival Splendor | Concordia | 2008 | Fincantieri (Sestri Ponente, Genoa Italy) |
| Carnival Freedom | Conquest | 2007 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Liberty | Conquest | 2005 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Miracle | Spirit | 2004 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Helsinki, STX Finland) |
| Carnival Valor | Conquest | 2004 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Glory | Conquest | 2003 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Legend | Spirit | 2002 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Helsinki, STX Finland) |
| Carnival Conquest | Conquest | 2002 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Pride | Spirit | 2001 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Helsinki, STX Finland) |
| Carnival Spirit | Spirit | 2001 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Helsinki, STX Finland) |
| Carnival Radiance | Sunshine | 2000 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Sunrise | Sunshine | 1999 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
| Carnival Paradise | Fantasy | 1998 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Helsinki, STX Finland) |
| Carnival Elation | Fantasy | 1998 | Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Helsinki, STX Finland) |
| Carnival Sunshine | Sunshine | 1996 | Fincantieri (Monfalcone, Italy) |
Although the cruise ships at the bottom of the list are very old, they receive regular refurbishments every three to five years. So, even if you aren’t sailing on the newest vessel, the ship won’t show its age.
Carnival Cruise Ship Classes
Carnival Cruise Line has eight cruise ship classes.
| Class | Gross Tonnage (GT) |
|---|---|
| Excel Class | 180,000 GT |
| Vista Class | 133,500 GT |
| Dream Class | 130,000 GT |
| Splendor Class | 113,300 GT |
| Conquest Class | 110,000 GT |
| Sunshine Class | 102,000 GT |
| Sprit Class | 88,500 GT |
| Fantasy Class | 70,367 GT |
Carnival Cruise Ships on Order
Carnival Cruise Line currently has one unnamed Excel-class ship on order. We’re expecting Carnival’s fourth Excel-class ship to arrive in 2027 and be identical in size to the previous Excel cruise ships.
The 180,000 gross-ton cruise ship will be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) and is under construction at the Meyer-Werft shipyard in Germany.
FAQs
Which Carnival Cruise Ship is the Biggest?
The biggest Carnival cruise ship is the Carnival Jubilee. The Excel-class cruise ship has a gross tonnage of 183,900 GT, a length of 344 meters, and can accommodate 5,374 passengers.
Which Carnival Cruise Ship is the Smallest?
Carnival’s smallest cruise ship is the Carnival Elation, which has a gross tonnage of 71,909 GT, a length of 260 meters, and a 2,188-passenger capacity.
What is the Newest Carnival Ship?
Carnival’s newest cruise ship is the Carnival Firenze, which entered service for the cruise line in 2024. Firenze was built in 2021 for Carnival’s sister brand, Costa Cruises. Carnival acquired the cruise ship, and it entered service in 2024.
What is the Oldest Carnival Ship?
The oldest Carnival ship is the Carnival Sunshine, which launched in 1996.
How Many Cruise Ships Does Carnival Have?
Carnival operates the largest ocean cruise ship fleet with 27 cruise ships.
What Was the First Carnival Cruise Ship?
The first Carnival Cruise ship was the TSS Mardi Gras.
The vessel (named RMS Empress of Canada at the time) was built for Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd. in 1960 before being bought by the newly formed Ted Arison Carnival Cruise Line.
Empress of Canada was a little over 27,000 gross tons, a considerable difference from the 180,000 Excel-class ships.
