Carnival Cruise Line is planning its biggest class of ships yet. However, with that, they're also planning to stuff as many passengers onboard as possible.
The new "FUN" ships will measure around 230,000 gross registered tons (GRT), making them larger than most of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class, excluding Wonder and Utopia of the Seas. They're expected to be delivered in 2029, 2031, and 2033, respectively.
With over 3,000 cabins, they will have more staterooms than the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas. This means that at full capacity, Carnival's new ships can carry nearly 8,000 passengers, despite being a smaller ship.
In comparison, Icon of the Seas, which comes in at 248,663 GRT, only has 2,805 cabins and can accommodate 7,600 guests at maximum capacity.
Meanwhile, Symphony of the Seas, which is closer in size to Carnival’s new ships at 228,081 GRT, has a slightly smaller passenger capacity. The Oasis Class ship 4th can hold fewer than 6,700 guests when all 2,759 staterooms are fully booked.
With Carnival's new ships pushing the limits of size and capacity, the question of passenger-to-space ratio comes into play, suggesting that Carnival is prioritizing passenger capacity over space. This approach raises concerns about potential overcrowding, as the ships will likely sacrifice comfort for higher occupancy.
This isn't necessarily a new trend for Carnival. For example, the line's newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, measures around 183,500 GRT and has a maximum capacity of over 6,600 guests. Even at double occupancy, Carnival Jubilee can hold 5,282 passengers, which is just 328 less than Icon of the Seas. The ship, however, is over 64,000 GRT smaller than Icon.
Essentially, Carnival is trying to squeeze as many guests onto their ships by packing in more cabins, though the ships themselves may not be as large as others. This means passengers may encounter longer lines at the bar, buffet, and other activities.
Read more: Why are Royal Caribbean cruise ships always so big? Secret strategy explained
One of the biggest complaints about Carnival's new Excel Class is that they feel crowded
"Just recently went on the new ship carnival Celebration and it was horrific. Everything was insanely packed. You could not get a seat for any show even if you show up like 45 minutes early. Everything has a line to wait in. Even the Casino did not have a single spot available on the slots or tables in the afternoon/night," wrote spidermonkey2947 on the r/cruise subreddit.
WatchLover26 added, "I am platinum on carnival and we were so excited to go on the celebration last year and we had the same issue. It was insane how packed all the public areas were. It’s just the way the ship is laid out and these ships are just so horribly designed. Hopefully they will learn from this for the next class they build. We personally love the Spirit class the most."
"The only thing Carnival has learned is that they can pack these things to the gills, make people wait in lines for everything, and ships will STILL sell out. Don’t expect anything to change for the better on the next class," added Dry_Background944.
How to avoid mega-ship crowds
With Norwegian Cruise Line also announcing a new order for mega-ships measuring around 226,000 GRT, the future of cruising seems to be focused on larger vessels designed to carry more passengers. The newest ships typically boast the line's newest amenities, making them desirable compared to tiny, outdated ships. However, one con of cruising on a mega-ship is the crowds.
To avoid the busiest, most crowded experiences, consider sailing during the shoulder season. Though you'll still encounter crowds, ships are likely to be less busy compared to spring and summer break, as well as winter holidays. Another plus is that off-season cruises tend to be cheaper!
Additionally, plan your activities during less popular times, like early mornings or late evenings when guests have returned to their cabins to freshen up for dinner. Alternatively, you can choose to stay onboard during a port day to take advantage of the ship's amenities with fewer people around.
Read more: 8 ways to beat the chair hogs on your cruise so you're not fighting for a lounger
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 had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
