Carnival Radiance
Sails from Long Beach, California · Fly into LAX
Page updated
Carnival Radiance arriving in Long Beach, California, December 2025 · Photo: Jack Adamenko, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Carnival Radiance
Carnival Radiance is a Carnival Cruise Line cruise ship of the Destiny class, in service since 2000. She measures 102,232 gross tons and carries 2,984 guests with a crew of 1,100. She sails Mexican Riviera, Hawaii itineraries. We rate her 3.7 out of 5.
Carnival Radiance sailed from 2000 as Carnival Victory, the third Destiny-class ship in the fleet. A US$200 million refit at Cádiz, delayed a year by the pandemic, was completed in October 2021, and she returned that December under her new name. She carries about 2,980 guests and was given Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken, Guy's Burger Joint, Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse and Dr. Seuss activities for children. A 15-day dry dock at Seaspan in Victoria, Canada, in 2026 refreshed indoor and outdoor spaces. She is based in Long Beach, California, sailing mainly short Baja and Mexican Riviera cruises.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 2,984
- Crew 1,100 · 1:2.7
- Entered service
- 2000
- Refitted 2026
- Length
- 272 m
- Longer than 69% of 575 ships
- Decks
- 13
Carnival Radiance is bigger than 70% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 84%. At 34.3 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 68% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
Ratings
- Cabins
- 3/5, fleet average 3.1
- Dining
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Entertainment
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Service
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Pools & decks
- 3/5, fleet average 2.9
- Value
- 5/5, fleet average 5.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Carnival Cruise Line fleet average across 29 rated ships in service.
Sister ships: Destiny class
Carnival Radiance is one of 3 Destiny class ships. Carnival Sunrise (1999) and Carnival Sunshine (1996) are in service.
| Ship | Year | Gross tons | Guests | Space | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Radiance this ship | 2000 | 3.7/5 | |||
| Carnival Sunrise | 1999 | 3.7/5 | |||
| Carnival Sunshine | 1996 | 3.7/5 |
Deck plans & cabin locations
Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026 · Published edition. Confirm the edition for your departure with the cruise line.
Explore the deck plans
What’s above your ceiling matters as much as the view. Compare the decks around your cabin, then use the location notes to build your shortlist.
No exact sailing-date window is supplied for this download. Confirm the cabin category, connecting doors, accessibility, view and refurbishment changes for your departure. Layout-based noise cautions are not confirmed disturbance reports; explicit obstructed-view flags are identified separately as operator-listed.
Compare the decks
Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026 · bow to the right
Cabins to avoid & quieter candidates
Deck 7 where accommodation overlaps vertically
Start with cabin sections on Deck 7
Compare a central room with cabins immediately above and below, away from lifts, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Check the exact three-deck footprint; category colour alone does not identify a quiet room.
Why we flag this
The ship-specific colour plans show substantial accommodation on Decks 6, 7 and 8. This is a layout-based starting point, not measured sound data or a guarantee of quiet. Check the source plan.
Deck 8 under occupied parts of Deck 9
Check Deck 8 beneath pool and buffet activity
Match the cabin with pools, outdoor seating, buffet/marketplace dining and public routes above. Ask about furniture movement and early setup where the room actually overlaps those areas.
Why we flag this
The ship-specific Deck 9 diagram shows pools and dining/open-deck facilities above portions of the Deck 8 accommodation. The upper deck also has forward accommodation, so rooms beneath other cabins need a different assessment. Check the source plan.
Deck 6 over occupied Deck 5 areas
Check accommodation above public venues
Compare the room with dining, lounge, theatre, casino or promenade spaces where labelled below. Verify exact venue hours and vertical overlap if you are an early sleeper.
Why we flag this
The official plans place substantial public areas on Deck 5 beneath portions of the Deck 6 accommodation. Individual venue names and footprints come from this ship's PDF, rather than a substituted sister-ship map. Check the source plan.
Location-based guidance, not measured noise or a guarantee of quiet. Flags identify areas to investigate, not every cabin on a deck. Check the exact room, connecting doors, accessibility and the plan for your sailing date. Native per-deck artwork extracted from the ship-named official PDF colour/category plan, checked 21 October 2026. Forward and aft diagrams are combined on a single deck image when the source splits that level. The full PDF retains category legends and any additional accessibility overlay.. Reviewed 2026-10-21.
Photos

Carnival Radiance arriving in Long Beach, California, December 2025Photo: Jack Adamenko, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
- Mexican RivieraPacific Mexico and Baja from Los Angeles and San Diego
- Hawaiiinter-island sailings, or round trips from the US West Coast
Home port: Long Beach, California.
Flying in for your cruise?
Carnival Radiance sails from Long Beach, California. The airport is Los Angeles International (LAX), with 21 lounges to wait in before you board.
- Qantas First LoungeLAX Tom Bradley International Terminal4.9 ★
- American Airlines Flagship LoungeLAX Terminal 44.8 ★
- Delta One LoungeLAX Terminal 34.7 ★
Quick answers
Which cruise line operates Carnival Radiance?
Carnival Radiance is operated by Carnival Cruise Line and belongs to its Destiny class.
What are Carnival Radiance's sister ships?
Carnival Radiance is one of 3 Destiny class ships. Carnival Sunrise (1999) and Carnival Sunshine (1996) are in service.
How big is Carnival Radiance?
Carnival Radiance measures 102,232 gross tons and 272 metres in length, with 13 decks.
How does Carnival Radiance compare in size with other cruise ships?
Carnival Radiance is bigger than 70% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 84%. At 34.3 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 68% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
How crowded does Carnival Radiance feel?
Carnival Radiance has a passenger space ratio of 34.3: 102,232 gross tons for 2,984 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Carnival Radiance feels comfortable for her size.
How many passengers does Carnival Radiance carry?
Carnival Radiance carries 2,984 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 1,100 (about 2.7 guests per crew member).
When did Carnival Radiance enter service?
Carnival Radiance entered service in 2000 and was last refurbished in 2026.
Where does Carnival Radiance sail?
Carnival Radiance sails Mexican Riviera and Hawaii itineraries. Her home port is Long Beach, California.
Which airport should I fly into for Carnival Radiance?
Carnival Radiance sails from Long Beach, California. Fly into Los Angeles International (LAX), which has 21 airport lounges listed on Lounge Frog.
Where can I find the deck plans for Carnival Radiance?
Carnival Cruise Line publishes the deck plans for Carnival Radiance; this page links to Deck plans (PDF).
How is Carnival Radiance rated?
Cruise Frog rates Carnival Radiance 3.7 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on value (5/5) and lowest on pools & decks (3/5).
Which cabins are good choices on Carnival Radiance?
For the “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026” plan, start with these quieter-location candidates: Deck 7 where accommodation overlaps vertically: Compare a central room with cabins immediately above and below, away from lifts, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Check the exact three-deck footprint; category colour alone does not identify a quiet room. Compare the exact cabin with the decks above and below, nearby lifts and connecting doors. These are layout-based suggestions, not a guarantee of quiet.
Which cabins should I avoid or check carefully on Carnival Radiance?
For the “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026” plan, review these flagged locations before booking: Deck 8 under occupied parts of Deck 9: Match the cabin with pools, outdoor seating, buffet/marketplace dining and public routes above. Ask about furniture movement and early setup where the room actually overlaps those areas. Deck 6 over occupied Deck 5 areas: Compare the room with dining, lounge, theatre, casino or promenade spaces where labelled below. Verify exact venue hours and vertical overlap if you are an early sleeper. These flags are not measured noise reports or a warning about every room on a deck. Read the sourced cabin advice for the evidence and any explicit operator warnings.
How can I check whether a cabin is under a pool, nightclub or theatre?
Find the cabin on the selected plan, then compare the same fore-and-aft position on the deck above and below. Check the full venue footprint, including outdoor seating, stages, service areas and entrances. Nearby activity can be a reason to investigate, but does not by itself prove a cabin is noisy. Use the cabin advice and its sources to distinguish layout cautions from operator warnings.
Where can I find Carnival Radiance deck plans?
Use this guide’s deck selector to compare the decks around your cabin and open available diagrams in the zoom viewer. The full ship PDF and source links are listed for each plan edition.
Which deck-plan edition applies to my sailing?
Select your sailing date before comparing cabin locations. Editions can change after a refit. These answers use “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026”, reviewed 2026-10-21. No exact sailing-date window is supplied for this download. Confirm the cabin category, connecting doors, accessibility, view and refurbishment changes for your departure. Layout-based noise cautions are not confirmed disturbance reports; explicit obstructed-view flags are identified separately as operator-listed.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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