The Carnival Cruise Line fleet consists of 31 active cruise ships, ranging from ships built in 1996 to 2023. The average Carnival ship carries approximately 4,085 passengers and measures 982 feet in length. The combined fleet represents an estimated $24.7B in today's adjusted build cost.
All 31 ships
// Grand ClassCarnival Adventure
LARGEST IN FLEET// XL ClassCarnival Celebration
// Conquest ClassCarnival Conquest
// Grand ClassCarnival Encounter
// Conquest ClassCarnival Freedom
// Conquest ClassCarnival Liberty
// Fantasy ClassCarnival Paradise
// Sunshine ClassCarnival Radiance
// Splendor ClassCarnival Splendor
// Sunshine ClassCarnival Sunrise
// Sunshine ClassCarnival Sunshine
NEWEST IN FLEET// XL ClassCarnival Tropicale
How big is my Carnival ship?
Every Carnival cruise ship in the fleet, ranked by size. Toggle between graphs to view a size comparison by gross tonnage, length and a scatter plot showing how the two relate for each Carnival ship.
The largest Carnival ship is Celebration at 184k gross tons and 1,130 feet. The smallest is Paradise at 72k GT, while the longest ship is Celebration at 1,130 feet.
How old is my Carnival ship?
Carnival cruise ships span in age by 32 years, from 1996's Sunshine to 2028's Tropicale. Toggle the charts to view a full ships-by-size timeline to view all Carnival ships from oldest to newest.
Carnival ships by class
Explore each of Carnival's ship classes. The vessels included will share similar blueprints and features as part of that class.
Conquestclass
2000'sThe first of Carnival’s Conquest Class was launched in 2002. The original Conquest ship was designed similar to the Destiny (now "Sunshine") class of ships.,All ships among this class underwent significant renovations in the years spanning 2016 through 2019. The most notable change was a "lengthening" of each ship by roughly 60 feet! Most features were expanded and a new dining venue was added above the Lido deck. The number of passenger cabins was also increased.,Among the five ships in the Conquest Class, each have similar common areas. Yet, the decor varies among these and is consistent with the ships names.,One distinguishing characteristic of the Conquest Class is the patriotic theme you’ll find on each. This was influenced by the ships timing, having launched shortly after 9/11.
Dreamclass
2010'sThe 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.
Fantasyclass
1990'sThe Fantasy Class is one of Carnival’s more mature family of vessels. The original Fantasy ship was introduced in 1990 and has had seven siblings added down the line.,It’s unsure whether Carnival planned to thin down the Fantasy Class, but that’s certainly been the case during 2020. The lock down has led to CCL retiring three Fantasy ships (Fantasy, Imagination & Inspiration). Additionally, the Fascination is in long term lay-up mode and has an unknown return date.,If we’re being honest, the Fantasy Class of ships aren’t the company’s "show ponies". They’re older, smaller, and have less bells & whistles. That’s why you can typically find great cruise deals on this class of ships. It’s not uncommon to find cruises cheaper than $40 per day!,The Fantasy Class tends to sail short runs of less than five days. These are popular with repeat visitors and last-minute cruisers.
Grandclass
2000'sThe 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.
Spiritclass
2000'sThe Spirit Class of Carnival ships includes four, active vessels. The first of which introduced in 2001 is, not surprisingly, the Carnival Spirit. She was followed by the Pride, Legend and Miracle.,Carnival’s sister brand, Costa Cruise Line, also has some Spirit Class ships. The Atlantica and Mediterranea are among the Spirit Class and similarly built.,In terms of size, the Fantasy Class of ships is smaller than the Triumph Class and larger than the Fantasy Class. Each ships holds just over 2k passengers.,You’ll find longer itineraries on Spirt Class ships. Typically 6-10 days and often longer.,FUN FACT: the Spirit Class of ships was built with a specific structure necessary to pass through the Panama Canal. Each gets the green light when it comes to "Panamax form factor."
Splendorclass
2000'sThis poor ship sits alone in its own Splendor Class. It has no brothers or sisters and it appears she never will. Carnival had planned to remove the Splendor ship from its line in 2019. These plans were eventually scrapped. It’s likely she won’t be with the company for many more years.,The Splendor ship was launched in 2008 and served a bit in Europe until coming to Florida. Eventually the ship was moved to the west coast.,Fun Fact: The Splendor was transitioned from Florida to California in 2009. The ship was too wide to fit through the Panama Canal so was sailed around Cape Horn. This took 49 days! It was the first Carnival ship to make the journey.,Significant renovations were completed on the Splendor in late 2019.
Sunshineclass
1990'sThe Sunshine Class in Carnival’s fleet includes three, active ships.,Originally, the class was launched as the Destiny Class in 1996. At this time, the Destiny was the largest passenger ship in the world!,In 2013 it went into dry dock where it received significant renovations. It floated out with all new bells and whistles and was renamed, the Sunshine.,The Destiny wasn’t the only ship in its class to go through such a change. The Triumph was born in 1999 and Victory in 2000. Like their sister, they went under the scalpel and came out anew. You may not even recognize these two pretty ladies, especially considering they too changed their names. The Triumph is now the Sunrise and the Victory goes by, "Sunrise."
Vistaclass
2010'sWhen the Vista was first launched in 2016, it took the crown for largest Carnival Ship. Her reign continued for a few years until her sister trumped her in 2019. The Horizon is just slightly larger. The Panorama will soon launch as the Vista’s newest ship and take the torch for largest.,Vista class ships boasted more than size. Amazon new ship features were introduced. Some of the more notable include the IMAX Theater at Sea, Family Harbor, Dr Seuss at Sea and cabins with recreational space.,While the three ships are fairly consistent, there’s one big change to note. The Panorama chose not to include the IMAX theater in exchange for their SkyZone Trampoline Park!,You’ll find a wide variety of itineraries (length and destination) on these three ships.
XLclass
2020'sCarnival’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!
Carnival ships passengers vs staff
How many passengers are on your Carnival ship vs. the number of total staff? Below you'll find each ship's passenger capacity, crew count, and guest-to-crew ratio.
Across the fleet of 31 ships, Carnival employs 38,816 crew members to serve 128,899 passengers — a fleet-wide ratio of 3.32 guests per crew member. The best staffed ship is Adventure with a ratio of 2.36:1.
How much does a Carnival ship cost?
Below you'll find the cost to build or acquire each Carnival cruise ship. The costs are adjusted to today's dollars using a 3% annual rate. Toggle between total cost, cost per cabin, and cost per gross ton to see how each ship's price compares once normalized.
The combined fleet value is $29.6B across 31 ships, with an average build cost of $956M per ship in today's dollars.
Build costs reflect original contract prices adjusted to today's dollars using a 3% annual compound inflation rate. Data compiled from public shipyard records and maritime industry databases. Figures are indicative estimates.