Carnival Cruise Line has been around since 1972, with the first cruise setting sail on March 11, 1972. Since then, the cruising industry has changed dramatically.
In fact, the original Mardi Gras was advertised as being 27,000 gross tons. Her namesake, which was launched in 2021, is a little over 180,000 gross registered tons.
Today's newest ships tend to have the most onboard amenities, whether it is an increased number of dining venues and bars or one-of-a-kind attractions at sea like the roller coaster BOLT.
Some cruisers, however, prefer older ships due to their smaller size, as they have a more intimate feel and often visit destinations that are unable to accommodate the larger mega-ships.
Whether you are a fan of newer or older ships, Carnival's fleet of 29 (soon to be 31 once the cruise line launches Carnival Festivale and Tropicale) has a vessel that will satisfy every type of traveler. Here is a list of Carnival's ships by age as of 2025.
Read more: Carnival ships by size
Carnival Festivale and Tropicale (2027 and 2028)
Meyer Werft announced that it reached an agreement with Carnival to build the fourth and fifth Excel Class ships. They'll be the largest in Carnival's fleet. Festivale will launch first, setting sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, in 2027.
Read more: Cruise giant Carnival reveals names of two massive new ships
Carnival Jubilee (2023)
Carnival Jubilee, the third Excel Class ship, debuted in December 2023. She was originally scheduled to set sail in October 2023; however, Carnival pushed back the inaugural voyages due to supply chain logistics.
She was built in Papenburg, Germany, at the Meyer Werft shipyard and finished sea trials in November 2023. She features two zones exclusive to the ship that cannot be found on the other Excel vessels.
Plus, Carnival Jubilee was built exclusively for the Texas market. Along with the state star proudly displayed on the bow, guests will find Texas-themed merchandise and programming onboard.
Gross tonnage: 183,521
Length: 1,130 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 5,362
Carnival Celebration (2022)
Carnival Celebration is one of the cruise line's newest ships. Like her younger sister, she can accommodate over 6,600 guests at maximum capacity. Plus, those who are fans of the different zones will be pleased to know that the concept was carried over to the Carnival Celebration.
Celebration sails from Miami, Florida, to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Gross tonnage: 183,521
Length: 1,130 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 5,362
Read more: I took my first Carnival cruise on its newest ship. Here are my honest thoughts
Mardi Gras (2021)
Part of the cruise line's Excel Class, Mardi Gras featured a ton of "firsts" for Carnival, including BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. She was also the first modern ship in the fleet to drop the "Carnival" prefix.
Moreover, the RedFrog Rum Bar received a new look and name. On Mardi Gras, you will find the two-story RedFrog Tiki Bar in its place.
Gross tonnage: 180,800
Length: 1,130 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 5,270
Carnival Firenze (2020)
Carnival Firenze entered service as a Costa Cruises ship in 2020. Upon receiving an extensive refit, the vessel began operating for Carnival, sailing as Carnival Firenze.
Onboard, guests can enjoy Carnival's new "Fun Italian Style" concept, which combines new food, beverage, and entertainment options with the brand's signature "FUN" ship style. The Venice Class operates out of Long Beach, California.
Gross tonnage: 135,156
Length: 1,055 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 4,126
Carnival Panorama (2019)
Carnival Panorama was delivered later in 2019 than Costa Venezia and was the last ship to be purposely built for the cruise line's Vista Class. She, too, stands out because she is the only ship in the class to feature a Sky Zone trampoline park.
Carnival Panorama sails year-round from Long Beach, California.
Gross tonnage: 133,500
Length: 1,055 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 4,008
Carnival Venezia (2019)
Originally delivered to Costa Cruises in March 2019, Costa Venezia launched in mid-2023 as Carnival Venezia.
While she is technically a Vista Class ship, she is different from the others, as she is part of Carnival and Costa's "Costa by Carnival" initiative and features a fun Italian flair. Therefore, Carnival has created a new class of ship called the Venice Class to differentiate between the two.
Unlike Carnival Luminosa, the cruise line did not opt to paint over the Costa funnel with Carnival funnels. The ship still sports the yellow funnel with blue "C." She sails from different homeports throughout the year, including New York and Port Canaveral, Florida.
Gross tonnage: 135,225
Length: 1,061 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 4,090
Carnival Horizon (2018)
Carnival Horizon, the second Vista Class ship, is only one year younger than the class' namesake. There is not much that's different between the two ships, other than the fact that Carnival Horizon has a larger maximum passenger capacity of over 5,000.
She sails year-round from Miami, Florida, to the Caribbean.
Gross tonnage: 133,500
Length: 1,055 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 3,960
Carnival Vista (2016)
In 2016, Carnival Cruise Line launched a brand-new class of ship: the Vista Class.
The first ship, Carnival Vista, was the first built for the cruise line to measure over 130,000 gross registered tons. Moreover, she was the first to feature the SkyRide, a pedal-powered bike that is suspended over the top deck of the ship.
Gross tonnage: 133,500
Length: 1,055 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 3,934
Read more: I paid $3,600 for a suite on Carnival Vista - Take a look inside my spacious cabin
Carnival Breeze (2012)
Carnival Breeze is the third and final ship of the cruise line's Dream Class. Having entered service in 2012, she is three years younger than Carnival Dream.
Joe Farcus was the lead architect responsible for the interior of every Carnival ship before Carnival Breeze.
She sails exclusively from Galveston, Texas, alongside Carnival Jubilee.
Gross tonnage: 130,000
Length: 1,004 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 3,690
Carnival Magic (2011)
Although Carnival Magic is only two years older than Carnival Dream, she was the first ship in the cruise line's fleet to include a ropes course. Like her younger sister, she underwent a dry dock in 2016, where many of her older venues were upgraded.
Carnival Magic sails from Miami, Florida, to the Caribbean. Sailings range in duration from 4 to 8 nights.
Gross tonnage: 130,000
Length: 1,004 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 3,690
Carnival Dream (2009)
Carnival Dream, the namesake ship for the Dream Class, entered service in September 2009. Note that this is the only ship in the Dream Class that does not have a SportsSquare.
That being said, you can still find other fan favorites onboard, including RedFrog Rum Bar, WaterWorks, Guy's Burger Joint, and more, all of which were added during later dry docks.
Did you know the 2011 movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" was filmed onboard Carnival Dream?
Gross tonnage: 130,000
Length: 1,004 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 3,646
Carnival Luminosa (2009)
Carnival Luminosa sailed as Costa Luminosa from 2009 until her refit in 2022. She is a Vista/Spirit hybrid; however, Carnival markets her as part of their Spirit Class.
Since she was originally a Costa ship, Carnival Luminosa lacks the traditional funnel design present on Carnival ships. Instead, Carnival painted over Costa's yellow funnel with the cruise line's red, white, and blue color palette.
During the summer, she sails to Alaska. However, she spends most of the year in Australia.
Gross tonnage: 92,720
Length: 964 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,260
Carnival Splendor (2008)
Carnival Splendor is the only ship in the cruise line's Splendor Class. She was originally ordered for Costa Cruises' Concordia Class; however, the ship was transferred to Carnival during construction.
In terms of her size, Carnival Splendor is roughly 3,000 gross registered tons more than the Conquest Class.
She sails year-round from Sydney, Australia.
Gross tonnage: 113,300
Length: 952 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 3,012
Carnival Freedom (2007)
In 2007, Carnival launched the last Conquest Class ship. Seven years later, she underwent a dry dock and got many Fun Ship 2.0 features; however, it wasn't until 2019 that she got a WaterWorks.
Carnival Freedom primarily sails from Florida; however, she'll offer an exciting Mediterranean cruise in October 2026 after undergoing a dry dock for routine upgrades. Then, she'll embark on an epic 13-day Transatlantic voyage from Barcelona, Spain, to Port Canaveral.
Gross tonnage: 110,000
Length: 952 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,980
Carnival Liberty (2005)
Despite Carnival Liberty being one of the last two Conquest Class ships to be built, she was the first ship in the entire fleet to receive many of the Fun Ship 2.0 venues, only six years after she entered service.
She sails year-round from New Orleans, Louisiana, showcasing Carnival's commitment to offering cruises accessible to a range of guests beyond South Florida.
Gross tonnage: 110,000
Length: 952 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,974
Carnival Valor (2004)
The second ship to launch in 2004 was Carnival Valor, the third Conquest Class ship. Like Carnival Liberty, her homeport is New Orleans, and she is scheduled to remain there until at least April 2027.
Gross tonnage: 110,000
Length: 952 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,980
Carnival Miracle (2004)
Carnival Miracle, the last purpose-built Spirit Class ship for Carnival Cruise Line, entered service in 2004. Following her debut, every vessel built specifically for Carnival has been over 100,000 gross registered tons.
Gross tonnage: 88,500
Length: 963 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,124
Carnival Glory (2003)
Carnival Glory is a Conquest Class ship that can hold a maximum of 3,806 guests. The last dry dock she got occurred in 2024, during which she received Carnival’s popular Heroes Tribute Lounge, a new Carnival Adventures shop, and a rebranded video arcade.
Moreover, Carnival states that all balcony windows and doors were replaced during the 2024 refurbishment.
Gross tonnage: 110,000
Length: 952 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,980
Carnival Conquest (2002)
The last ship that set sail for Carnival in 2002 was Carnival Conquest. She was the first of the five nearly identical Conquest Class ships and cost about $125 million more to build than Carnival Spirit.
Carnival Conquest's last dry dock took place in September and October 2022. During this time, she received some routine hotel maintenance and cosmetic enhancements, the new hull design, Carnival Adventures Store, Dreams Studio, an expanded casino, and some ADA cabin updates.
She's scheduled to undergo another dry dock in January 2026. She is also one of two ships offering adult-only cruises through Carnival's casino program in late 2025.
Gross tonnage: 110,000
Length: 952 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,980
Read more: I stayed in the cheapest cabin on Carnival Conquest
Carnival Legend (2002)
Following Carnival Pride's launch, Carnival Legend, the third Spirit Class ship, debuted in August 2002.
During her operational career, she has been involved in two collisions in Cozumel, the first being with Enchantment of the Seas in 2009. A little over ten years later, in 2019, Carnival Pride collided with Carnival Glory.
She's one of Carnival's most versatile ships, offering sailings from England, Italy, Texas, Florida, and California.
Gross tonnage: 88,500
Length: 963 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,124
Carnival Pride (2002)
In 2002, Carnival Cruise Line launched three brand-new ships. The first, Carnival Pride, set sail on her maiden voyage on January 12, 2002, and cost $375 million!
Gross tonnage: 88,500
Length: 963 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,134
Carnival Encounter (2002)
Carnival Encounter wasn't built specifically for Carnival Cruise Line. Instead, the Grand Class cruise ship started out as Star Princess for Princess Cruises. She, too, was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in 2021 and was transferred to Carnival in mid-2025.
Now sailing as Carnival Encounter, she's quite different from most Carnival ships. She retrained a lot of her P&O charm and has the design structure of older Princess ships.
Gross tonnage: 108,865
Length: 951 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,600
Carnival Adventure (2001)
Like Carnival Encounter, Carnival Adventure began her career operating as Golden Princess for Princess Cruises.
In 2021, however, she was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia, sailing as the Pacific Adventure. With Carnival Adventure now part of Carnival's fleet, they're excited about increasing their presence in the South Pacific.
Gross tonnage: 108,865
Length: 951 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,600
Carnival Spirit (2001)
Carnival Spirit is twenty-two years old. When she was launched in 2001, she was the first Spirit Class ship.
Since then, she has been refurbished and received upgrades like The Warehouse video arcade, Ol' Fashioned BBQ, WaterWorks, Serenity adults-only deck, Guy’s Burger Joint, and Bonsai Sushi. Note that Ol' Fashioned BBQ is not the same as Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse found on newer Carnival ships.
She received a refit in early 2025. During the dry dock, she received a new Heroes Tributes Bar and refreshes to common areas like the Cloud 9 Spa, fitness center, and retail shops.
Gross tonnage: 88,500
Length: 963 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,124
Carnival Radiance (2000)
Carnival Radiance launched in 2000 as Carnival Victory and in 2020 became the last Destiny Class ship to be transformed into a Sunshine Class ship.
The $200 million transformation gave the ship a complete overhaul. With updated public spaces and FunShip 2.0 features, Carnival Radiance offers a fresh cruising experience while retaining the charm of her original build.
Gross tonnage: 101,509
Length: 893 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,984
Carnival Sunrise (1999)
Carnival Triumph, the second Destiny Class ship, also underwent a major refit. She became Carnival Sunrise after sailing as Carnival Triumph from 1999 to 2019. And yes, she's the ship known for the infamous "poop cruise" of 2012.
Gross tonnage: 101,509
Length: 893 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,984
Carnival Paradise (1998)
Carnival Paradise is only seven months older than Carnival Elation, making her debut in November 1998. Like Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise also has many Fun Ship 2.0 amenities, such as WaterWorks, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, and Guy's Burger Joint.
She sails from Tampa, Florida, and is one of the smallest ships in Carnival's fleet.
Gross tonnage: 71,925
Length: 855 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,124
Carnival Elation (1998)
In 1998, Carnival launched two Fantasy Class ships: Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise. Carnival Elation was launched first in April and is the cruise line's smallest operational ship.
While you may not find all the bells and whistles on either Fantasy Class ship, Carnival Elation does have many Fun Ship 2.0 features and other amenities that newer Carnival ships have, including BlueIguana Tequila Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, Guy's Burger Joint, WaterWorks, JavaBlue Cafe, Bonsai Sushi Express, and the Alchemy Bar.
Carnival Elation sails year-round from Jacksonville, Florida.
Gross tonnage: 71,909
Length: 855 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 2,190
Carnival Sunshine (1996)
The oldest ship in Carnival's fleet is Carnival Sunshine. When she began sailing in 1996, however, she was Carnival Destiny and was the first cruise ship to ever exceed 100,000 gross tons. In 2013, she underwent a major refurbishment and was renamed Carnival Sunshine.
She formerly sailed from Charleston, South Carolina. However, after the city announced they weren't extending their contract with Carnival, Sunshine moved to Norfolk, Virginia.
Gross tonnage: 102,853
Length: 892 feet
Number of passengers (double occupancy): 3,002
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
