When it comes to family cruises, few names are as well-known as Carnival Cruise Line. The popular cruise line boasts a fleet of 27 ships, with two more expected to join the fleet in 2025.
Not all Carnival ships were designed equally, though. While older ships have a more intimate atmosphere, newer vessels are jam-packed with more activities and restaurants.
Carnival doesn't have any cruise ships as large as Icon of the Seas, but it still offers an impressive line-up with plenty of excitement and options for everyone on board.
The largest and newest Carnival cruise ship is Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Jubilee launched in 2023 and holds the title of Carnival's biggest ship measuring an impressive 1,130 feet in length and weighing 183,521 gross registered tons (GRT). Plus, she can hold over 5,200 passengers at double occupancy.
Jubilee belongs to Carnival's Excel Class, a new generation of Carnival ships that offers modern accommodations, cutting-edge amenities, and plenty of dining options.
One of the most striking features of Carnival Jubilee is its design which features six distinct zones, each with its own personality and atmosphere, similar to Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon Class ships.
Two of the zones, The Shores and Currents, are exclusive to Carnival Jubilee and not found on Mardi Gras or Carnival Celebration, the other two Excel Class ships.
Currents was driven by what exists underneath the sea. It isn't limited to what's been discovered, either. Currents also draws from the mysteries of what remains unseen—think mermaids, sea monsters, and sunken cities.
The Shores was inspired by the opposite. Rather than focusing on what's underneath the ocean, The Shores pays tribute to where water meets the land, such as the beaches, boardwalks, and piers that Carnival Jubilee sails past.
Returning zones include Grand Central, Summer Landing, Lido, and the Ultimate Playground, which is home to BOLT, one of three roller coasters at sea.
Carnival Jubilee sails exclusively out of Galveston, Texas
Unlike Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee only offers sailings from Galveston, Texas, to the Western Caribbean. However, starting in September 2026, she'll expand her offerings to include 8-night Bahamas cruises.
These sailings will visit Carnival's two private destinations in the Bahamas: Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay. By then, however, Half Moon Cay will have undergone a massive refit and renamed "RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay."
Still, being homeported in Texas means you'll find plenty of references to The Lone Star State onboard, from the Texas star proudly displayed on her bow to a lively Texas-themed Tailgate Party.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Ships by Size
Carnival Elation is the smallest Carnival ship
Carnival Elation is the smallest ship in Carnival's fleet. Measuring just 71,909 GRT and 855 feet long, she's even smaller than Norwegian and Royal Caribbean's smallest ships: Norwegian Spirit and Grandeur of the Seas.
Elation sails exclusively from Jacksonville, Florida, offering cruises ranging from 4- to 7-nights.
While Carnival Elation is the cruise line's tiniest ship, she isn't the oldest. Carnival Sunshine holds that title, though she didn't launch as Sunshine in 1996.
Instead, she debuted as Carnival Destiny and sailed as such until she underwent a total overhaul in 2013. To accommodate the refit, she was renamed Carnival Sunshine and currently sails from Norfolk, Virginia.
Fun fact: when Carnival Destiny entered service in 1996, she was the first-ever cruise ship to measure over 100,000 GRT!
Read more: 10 lessons learned after trying Carnival's smallest ship for the first time
Carnival plans to build larger ships
With lines like Royal Caribbean and MSC dominating the mega-ship game with cruise ships measuring over 200,000 GRT, Carnival plans to build larger ships to stay competitive in the growing cruise market.
The cruise line placed an order for three new vessels measuring around 230,000 GRT with 3,000 cabins onboard, the first of which is slated to be delivered in 2029. The others will follow in 2031 and 2033.
These cruise ships will be the largest ever built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. Before then, however, Carnival will add a fourth Excel Class ship to its fleet.
Carnival's brand-new ship class will measure around 26% larger than the current Excel Class vessels. Some will even be larger than older Oasis Class ships! For example, Oasis of the Seas comes in at 226,838 GRT.
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.
