Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line is the largest cruise line in the world by passengers carried each year and the biggest brand in Carnival Corporation & plc. Ted Arison founded it in 1972 with a single former ocean liner, the Mardi Gras, sailing from Miami, and the company is now based in Doral, Florida.
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About Carnival Cruise Line
The fleet of 29 ships spans nearly three decades, from the Fantasy-class Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise of 1998 to the LNG-powered Excel-class Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, each over 180,000 gross tons. Several ships came from sister brands: Carnival Venezia, Carnival Firenze and Carnival Luminosa from Costa, and Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter from P&O Cruises Australia, which was merged into Carnival in March 2025. Carnival Festivale (2027) and Carnival Tropicale (2028) will complete the Excel class, and Carnival Destiny, the first of the larger Ace class, is due in 2029.
Most cruises last three to eight nights and leave from more than a dozen US ports, with ships also based in Sydney and Brisbane. Itineraries focus on the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico, including Carnival's Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, with seasonal Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, Canada and Europe programs. Life on board is casual and busy: water parks, comedy clubs, Playlist Productions shows, poolside rum and tequila bars, and branded casual food such as Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina, with steakhouses and sushi bars on most ships.
What Carnival Cruise Line is known for
Carnival is known for affordable, high-energy cruises and for bringing many people to cruising for the first time. Its newest ships get attention for features such as BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, and themed zones, while Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze offer an Italian-themed variation. The line keeps refreshing older ships: in 2025 and 2026 more than a dozen went through dry docks that addedvenues, water parks, updated casinos and youth spaces. The trade-offs follow from the model. Ships are lively rather than quiet, and the fleet still includes ships from the late 1990s alongside the new Excel class, so the experience varies a good deal from ship to ship. The September 2026 switch from the VIFP Club to Carnival Rewards also changed how loyal guests are recognized: status now comes from spending, and some earlier perks, such as a free specialty dinner for new Diamond members, were replaced by point redemptions.
Who it's for
Mainstream · big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets
- Families
- First-time cruisers
- Friends and groups
- Value seekers
Carnival suits families, groups of friends and first-time cruisers who want an affordable, sociable vacation with plenty to do, especially a short trip from a nearby US port. Families get supervised youth programs, Dr. Seuss-themed activities and water parks, and the Excel-class ships add roller coasters and themed zones. Travelers in Australia have ships sailing from Sydney and Brisbane. Those after a quiet ship, an adults-only atmosphere, more inclusive fares or long, port-intensive itineraries may be happier with a premium or luxury line; Carnival's Serenity adults-only retreats offer a break, but the overall tone is upbeat and busy.
Cruising solo on Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival has no cabins designed for one, and its brand ambassador John Heald said in 2025 that there were no plans to add them, so solo travelers pay a single supplement on a standard stateroom. Most cruises last three to eight nights from more than a dozen US ports, and the busy, social atmosphere, with singles mixers, trivia, comedy clubs and poolside bars, makes it easy to meet people. Solo travelers who want a cabin priced for one will find better options on other lines.
- Single supplement
- Fares are quoted per person based on double occupancy, and a solo guest pays a single supplement that varies by sailing and cabin. In a 2025 check by CruiseHive, a solo interior cabin on a Carnival Jubilee sailing cost 92 percent more than the per-person double fare.
- Meeting other solo guests
- Carnival lists a Singles Mixer, including one for singles over 40, among the mixers and meetings offered fleetwide unless otherwise noted; times appear in the daily schedule in the HUB app.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 3.1/5
- Dining
- 3/5
- Entertainment
- 4/5
- Service
- 4/5
- Pools & decks
- 2.9/5
- Value
- 5/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 29 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Carnival Cruise Line sails
Ships
Best rated
#14.0 ★Carnival Celebration2022 · 183,521 GT · 5,374 guests · CaribbeanCarnival Celebration is the second Excel-class ship, built by Meyer Turku and completed in November 2022. Unlike Mardi Gras she carries the Carnival prefix, and her name honors…
#24.0 ★Carnival Jubilee2023 · 183,521 GT · 5,228 guests · Bahamas · CaribbeanCarnival Jubilee is the third Excel-class ship and the first built by Meyer Werft at Papenburg, Germany; she was originally ordered for AIDA Cruises. Delivered on 4 December…
#34.0 ★Mardi Gras2021 · 181,808 GT · 5,282 guests · Caribbean · BahamasMardi Gras is the lead ship of Carnival's Excel class, part of Carnival Corporation's larger Excellence class, built by Meyer Turku in Finland and named after the line's first…Every ship, by class
Excel class
3 ships · 2021–2023 · 181,808–183,521 GT · avg 4.0 ★
Vista class
5 ships · 2016–2021 · 133,596–135,225 GT · avg 3.7 ★
Dream class
3 ships · 2009–2012 · 128,250–130,000 GT · avg 3.7 ★
Spirit class
5 ships · 2001–2009 · 88,500–92,720 GT · avg 3.7 ★
Concordia class
1 ship · 2008 · 113,573 GT · avg 3.7 ★
Conquest class
5 ships · 2002–2007 · 110,000 GT · avg 3.7 ★
Grand class
2 ships · 2001–2002 · 108,865–109,000 GT · avg 3.7 ★
Destiny class
3 ships · 1996–2000 · 101,509–102,853 GT · avg 3.7 ★
Fantasy class
2 ships · 1998 · 71,909–71,925 GT · avg 3.4 ★
Coming soon
Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Ecstasy | 1991–2022 | 70,367 | October 2022 |
| Carnival Sensation | 1993–2022 | 70,367 | March 2022 |
| Carnival Fascination | 1994–2020 | 70,367 | November 2020 |
| Carnival Imagination | 1995–2020 | 70,367 | August 2020 |
| Carnival Fantasy | 1990–2020 | 70,367 | July 2020 |
| Carnival Inspiration | 1996–2020 | 70,367 | July 2020 |
Where to fly in
- Miami International (MIA)5 Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from Miami, Florida10 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Orlando International (MCO)5 Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from Port Canaveral, Florida6 lounges on Lounge Frog
- George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)4 Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from Galveston, Texas12 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Los Angeles International (LAX)2 Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from Long Beach, California21 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY)2 Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from New Orleans, Louisiana3 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)2 Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from Seattle, Washington11 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD)2 Carnival Cruise Line ships sail from Sydney, Australia15 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)1 Carnival Cruise Line ship sails from Baltimore, Maryland2 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Brisbane Airport (BNE)1 Carnival Cruise Line ship sails from Brisbane, Australia9 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)1 Carnival Cruise Line ship sails from Jacksonville, Florida1 lounge on Lounge Frog
- John F. Kennedy International (JFK)1 Carnival Cruise Line ship sails from New York, New York26 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF)1 Carnival Cruise Line ship sails from Norfolk, Virginia
- San Francisco International (SFO)1 Carnival Cruise Line ship sails from San Francisco, California18 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Tampa International (TPA)1 Carnival Cruise Line ship sails from Tampa, Florida3 lounges on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Carnival Cruise Line known for?
Carnival is known for affordable, high-energy cruises and for bringing many people to cruising for the first time. Its newest ships get attention for features such as BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, and themed zones, while Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze offer an Italian-themed variation. The line keeps refreshing older ships: in 2025 and 2026 more than a dozen went through dry docks that addedvenues, water parks, updated casinos and youth spaces. The trade-offs follow from the model. Ships are lively rather than quiet, and the fleet still includes ships from the late 1990s alongside the new Excel class, so the experience varies a good deal from ship to ship. The September 2026 switch from the VIFP Club to Carnival Rewards also changed how loyal guests are recognized: status now comes from spending, and some earlier perks, such as a free specialty dinner for new Diamond members, were replaced by point redemptions.
Who is Carnival Cruise Line best for?
Carnival suits families, groups of friends and first-time cruisers who want an affordable, sociable vacation with plenty to do, especially a short trip from a nearby US port. Families get supervised youth programs, Dr. Seuss-themed activities and water parks, and the Excel-class ships add roller coasters and themed zones. Travelers in Australia have ships sailing from Sydney and Brisbane. Those after a quiet ship, an adults-only atmosphere, more inclusive fares or long, port-intensive itineraries may be happier with a premium or luxury line; Carnival's Serenity adults-only retreats offer a break, but the overall tone is upbeat and busy.
Is Carnival Cruise Line good for solo travellers?
Carnival has no cabins designed for one, and its brand ambassador John Heald said in 2025 that there were no plans to add them, so solo travelers pay a single supplement on a standard stateroom. Most cruises last three to eight nights from more than a dozen US ports, and the busy, social atmosphere, with singles mixers, trivia, comedy clubs and poolside bars, makes it easy to meet people. Solo travelers who want a cabin priced for one will find better options on other lines.
Where does Carnival Cruise Line sail?
Carnival Cruise Line's ships in service sail Caribbean (18 ships), Bahamas (16 ships), Mexican Riviera (4 ships), Bermuda (4 ships), Panama Canal (4 ships), Australia and New Zealand (4 ships), South Pacific (4 ships), Alaska (3 ships), Hawaii (3 ships), Transatlantic (3 ships), Asia (3 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Canada and New England (2 ships), Northern Europe (1 ship) and South America (1 ship).
How is Carnival Cruise Line rated?
Carnival Cruise Line's fleet averages 3.7 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 29 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Carnival Celebration at 4.0.
Does Carnival Cruise Line have new ships coming?
Yes: Carnival Cruise Line has 3 new ships on the way: Carnival Festivale (debuts May 2, 2027), Carnival Tropicale (debuts April 15, 2028) and Carnival Destiny (due 2029).
How many ships does Carnival Cruise Line have?
Carnival Cruise Line has 29 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Carnival Adventure, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Dream, Carnival Elation, Carnival Encounter and Carnival Firenze, and 21 more.
What ship classes does Carnival Cruise Line sail?
Carnival Cruise Line sails 9 classes of ship in service: Excel class (3 ships), Vista class (5 ships), Dream class (3 ships), Spirit class (5 ships), Concordia class (1 ship), Conquest class (5 ships), Grand class (2 ships) and Destiny class (3 ships), and 1 more.
Who owns Carnival Cruise Line?
Carnival Cruise Line is part of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Where is Carnival Cruise Line based?
Carnival Cruise Line is headquartered in Doral, Florida, United States. It has operated since 1972.
What is Carnival Cruise Line's loyalty program called?
Carnival Cruise Line's past-guest loyalty program is Carnival Rewards.
What is the largest Carnival Cruise Line ship?
Carnival Celebration is Carnival Cruise Line's largest ship at 183,521 gross tons, carrying 5,374 guests.
Cruising with children
Carnival offers a clear starting point for families with school-age children: choose the ship, then match its youth program and sea-day attractions to your children’s ages.
Read the Carnival Cruise Line family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Carnival Cruise Line? The average drink starts at what a glass of house wine costs on board, about $12.50; change it to what you usually order, and enter the package price Carnival Cruise Line quotes.
A glass of house wine costs about $12.50. Cruise.Blog (Carnival menus, 2026) ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A glass of house wine on Carnival Cruise Line.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 6 drinks at $12.50. Over 7 days that's $525, or 42 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $87.50 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $437.50
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Carnival Cruise Line and its ships
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Ports
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Itineraries
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Cruise lines
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Ports
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Cruise loyalty
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Cruise Frog
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Lounge Frog
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