Carnival Ships by Class — Size & Features [2026]

The Grand-class is a family of cruise ships originally designed for Princess Cruises and later adapted by related brands, including P&O Cruises Australia and now Carnival Cruise Line. Characterized by their size and layout, these ships measure about 290 meters long and 36 meters wide, accommodating around 2,600 passengers. They feature a distinctive overhanging nightclub at the stern, a large central atrium, and numerous balcony cabins. The design emphasizes spacious public areas, multiple dining venues, and a balance between entertainment and relaxation. The new **Carnival Adventure**, formerly the *Golden Princess*, retains the Grand-class’s core structure and hallmarks while being updated for Carnival’s brand identity. Though not as large or modern as newer ships, it remains a well-appointed vessel offering classic cruise amenities, a traditional layout, and a comfortable experience tailored to medium-sized ship cruising.

The first of Carnival’s Dream Class was launched in 2009. The original Dream ship was designed similar to the Conquest class of ships with a few notable exceptions.

Most obvious was the massive, outdoor promenade on deck five. The venue featured outside cafes, a waterpark and jacuzzis lining the edge of the promenade. Dream Class ships were also the first to feature the Sky Course Ropes Course and the amazon 4D Theater.

When initially launched, the Dream Class was Carnival’s largest of the lot. This held true until the Vista Class came along.

The three ships in the Dream Class are similar, but the Magic and Dream are more identical to each other than the Dream. You’ll notice in our chart that there are some differences in features. The Magic and Breeze offer the ropes course, whereas the Breeze does not. The Breeze, however, does include the 4D theater not seen on the other two ships.

Carnival’s XL Class is the newest and most exciting addition. The first of the two planned ships was launched in 2021. The Mardi Gras is now the largest ship in Carnival’s fleet at 184k gross tons.

It’s common to mistake the XL Class name for a nod to its massive size. But, XL does NOT necessarily stand for “extra large.” This class of ships is actually a sub-class under Carnival Corporation’s Excellence Class of ships including some Costa, P&O and AIDA ships.

The XL class will be fueled by standard gas as well as liquid natural gas (LNG)! This allows for more environmental sustainability. The complexity has also led to the ship’s delay.

FUN FACT: Both planned ships in the XL class had a predecessor. The original Carnival Mardi Gras was launched in 1972. The original Carnival Celebration had a maiden voyage in 1987!