Carnival Cruise Ships by size are remarkable and have evolved from a cruise line synonymous with excessive partying to a brand well known for budget-friendly family vacations that provide excellent value.
While Carnival ships were formerly regarded as gigantic floating hotels, mega-ships from brands such as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have towered in comparison during the last two decades. By today’s standards, many of Carnival’s ships would be classified as midsize.
Carnival Cruise Line currently operates 23 ships ranging in size from 70,000 to 180,000 gross tons. With eight Carnival cruise ship classes, it might be difficult to keep track of how old and large each vessel is, as well as what facilities are offered aboard each one.
This article provides an overview of all ships in the Carnival fleet, arranged by gross registered tonnage from largest to smallest.
What is Carnival’s Largest Ship?
Carnival’s newest ships are also its largest, as is the case with many other major cruise lines. Carnival Celebration, which is to be launched in 2022, is by far the largest ship in the Carnival fleet.
It weighs 183,521 gross registered tons (GRT) and can carry 5,374 passengers. When Carnival Jubilee debuts in late 2023, she will have the same stats as her sister ship.
In terms of passenger capacity, the Carnival Mardi Gras, which debuted in 2021, can carry a maximum of 6,465 people (at 180,000 GRT).
Following these newest ships, the size decreases dramatically to 135,225 GRT and 135,156 GRT, the sizes of the purchased ships Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze.
Some may ask how Carnival cruise ships have compared to the Titanic in terms of size over the years. The Titanic, while historic at the time, measured just 46,328 GRT.
That’s almost half the size of some of Carnival’s tiniest ships. The bulk of Spirit Class ships are 88,500 GRT.
Carnival Cruise Ships by Size
To assist you, below is a list of Carnival ships, sorted by tonnage, a ship’s interior capacity as measured by volume.
1. Carnival Jubilee
Size: 183,521 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,374.
Maiden voyage: 2023.
Notable Features: BOLT roller coaster, Shaq’s Big Chicken, WaterWorks aqua park, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, adults-only Serenity Retreat sundeck, Excel suites with unique Loft 19 access, Seafood Shack, NASA-inspired Space Cruisers activities for youngsters, and Alchemy Bar
2. Carnival Celebration
Size: 183,521 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,374.
Maiden voyage: 2022.
Notable Features: The travel-inspired Latitudes bar, WaterWorks aqua park, Excel suites with exclusive Loft 19 access, Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Family Feud Live, BOLT roller coaster, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Rudi’s Seagrill, Shaq’s Big Chicken, and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse
3. Mardi Gras
Size: 180,800 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,282.
Maiden voyage: 2021.
Notable Features: RedFrog Tiki Bar, First Carnival Ship powered by Liquified Natural Gas, BOLT roller coaster, Family Feud Live, revamped Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Excel suites with exclusive Loft 19 access, Chibang!
Mexican and Chinese restaurants, Rudi’s Seagrill, WaterWorks aqua park, Shaq’s Big Chicken, adults-only Serenity Retreat, a casino, and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse
4. Carnival Venezia (Formerly Costa Venezia)
Size: 135,225 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,072.
Maiden voyage: 2019 (renamed in 2023).
Notable Features: Guy’s Burger Joint, Venice-inspired atrium Piazza San Marco, WaterWorks aqua park, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Amari bar, adults-only Serenity Retreat sundeck, Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, Tomodoro Mexican-Italian fusion restaurant, Gondola Lounge, and Terrazza staterooms with exclusive access to outdoor deck Terrazza Carnevale
5. Carnival Firenze (Formerly Costa Firenze)
Size: 135,156 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,126.
Maiden voyage: 2021 (renamed in 2024).
Notable Features: Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, Amari, Cloud 9 Spa, Frizzante, WaterWorks, Carnival Players Club, Rococo, Playlist Productions, Camp Ocean, The Punchliner Comedy Club, SportSquare, and Seuss at Sea.
6. Carnival Panorama
Size: 133,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,008.
Maiden voyage: 2019.
Notable Features: Heroes Tribute Bar, Sky Zone indoor trampoline park, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, WaterWorks aqua park, Bonsai Teppanyaki, SkyRide cycling attraction, Cucina del Capitano, other specialty dining options, and the adults-only Serenity Retreat.
This was Carnival’s first brand-new west coast ship debut in almost 20 years.
7. Carnival Horizon
Size: 133,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,960.
Maiden voyage: 2018.
Notable Features: WaterWorks aqua park, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, SkyRide cycling attraction, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, Cloud 9 Spa, and BlueIguana Cantina
8. Carnival Vista
Size: 133,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,934.
Maiden voyage: 2016.
Notable Features: RedFrog Pub & Brewery, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, Cucina del Capitano, IMAX movie theater, SkyRide cycling attraction, JiJi Asian Kitchen, Havana Bar, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Seafood Shack, and the WaterWorks aqua park.
This is the first ship in Carnival’s three-ship Vista class.
9. Carnival Breeze
Size: 130,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,690.
Maiden voyage: 2012.
Notable Features: Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Cloud 9 Spa, Bonsai Sushi, Alchemy Bar, Cucina del Capitano, WaterWorks aqua park, adults-only Serenity Retreat, and Camp Ocean kids’ club
10. Carnival Magic
Size: 130,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,690.
Maiden voyage: 2011.
Notable Features: WaterWorks aqua park, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Cloud 9 Spa, Seafood Shack, BlueIguana Cantina, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Guy’s Burger Joint, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, and the Alchemy Bar
11. Carnival Dream
Size: 130,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,646.
Maiden voyage: 2009.
Notable Features: Alchemy Bar, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, Camp Ocean Kids’ Club, WaterWorks Aqua Park, Punchliner Comedy Club, Guy’s Burger Joint, Seafood Shack, Bonsai Sushi, Cloud 9 Spa, and Lip Sync Battle. This was the first ship in Carnival’s Dream class.
This was the first Carnival ship to have the cove balcony design, which is similar to a large circular porthole balcony. Deck two houses and these balcony cabins
12. Carnival Splendor
Size: 113,300 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,012.
Maiden voyage: 2008.
Notable Features: Punchliner Comedy Club, Camp Ocean Kids’ Club, adults-only Serenity Retreat, BlueIguana Cantina, Cloud 9 Spa, Guy’s Burger Joint, RedFrog Pub, Seafood Shack, and Alchemy Bar
13. Carnival Freedom
Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,980.
Maiden voyage: 2007
Notable Features: BlueIguana Cantina, WaterWorks aqua park, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Seafood Shack, Guy’s Burger Joint, Alchemy Bar, and Spa Carnival
14. Carnival Valor
Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,980.
Maiden voyage: 2004
Notable Features: Alchemy Bar, Camp Ocean Kids’ Club, Punchliner Comedy Club, Seafood Shack, Guy’s Burger Joint, adults-only Serenity Retreat, BlueIguana Cantina, RedFrog Pub, and Spa Carnival
15. Carnival Glory
Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,980.
Maiden voyage: 2003
Notable Features: WaterWorks aqua park, BlueIguana Cantina, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Alchemy Bar, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Guy’s Burger Joint, Seafood Shack, and Spa Carnival
16. Carnival Conquest
Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,980.
Maiden voyage: 2002.
Notable Features: Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Seafood Shack, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Alchemy Bar, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Punchliner Comedy Club, BlueIguana Cantina, and Guy’s Burger Joint.
This is the first ship in the Carnival Conquest class.
17. Carnival Liberty
Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,974.
Maiden voyage: 2005
Notable Features: Guy’s Burger Joint, SkyBox Sports Bar, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Alchemy Bar, Punchliner Comedy Club, Seafood Shack, BlueIguana Cantina, Camp Ocean Kids’ Club, and Spa Carnival.
18. Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny)
Size: 102,853 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,002.
Maiden voyage: 1996 (overhauled and renamed in 2013).
Notable Features: Havana Bar, WaterWorks aqua park, Punchliner Comedy Club, JiJi Asian Kitchen, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Guy’s Burger Joint, Cucina del Capitano, Camp Ocean kids’ club, and Guy’s Burger Joint
19. Carnival Radiance (formerly Carnival Victory)
101,509 gross tons in size.
The passenger capacity is 2,984.
First voyage: 2000 (rebuilt and renamed in 2021).
Notable Features: Shaq’s Big Chicken, Cloud 9 Spa, Cucina del Capitano, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Seafood Shack, RedFrog Pub, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, SkyCourse (a ropes course), and the Alchemy Bar
20. Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Triumph)
101,509 gross tons in size.
The passenger capacity is 2,984.
First voyage: 1999 (rebuilt and renamed in 2019).
Notable Features: Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Seafood Shack, Cloud 9 Spa, Punchliner Comedy Club, Alchemy Bar, Cucina del Capitano, Camp Ocean Kids’ Club, BlueIguana Cantina
21. Carnival Luminosa (formerly Costa Luminosa)
92,720 gross tons in size.
The passenger capacity is 2,260.
First voyage: 2009 (rebuilt and renamed in 2022).
Notable Features: RedFrog Rum Bar, Cloud 9 Spa, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Bonsai Sushi Express, JavaBlue Café, Camp Ocean kids’ clubs, Alchemy Bar, Cherry on Top, and Punchliner Comedy Club
22. Carnival Miracle
88,500 gross tons in size.
The passenger capacity is 2,124.
The first journey took place in 2004.
Notable Features: WaterWorks aqua park, Alchemy Bar, Bonsai Sushi Express, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Camp Ocean kids’ club, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, Guy’s Burger Joint, Punchliner Comedy Club, and BlueIguana Cantina
23. Carnival Legend
88,500 gross tons in size.
The passenger capacity is 2,124.
The first journey took place in 2002.
Notable Features: Camp Ocean kids’ club, Bonsai Sushi, adults-only Serenity Retreat, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lip Sync Battle: Carnival, WaterWorks aqua park, Punchliner Comedy Club, and BlueIguana Cantina
What is the Biggest Carnival Ship?
Carnival’s largest ships are Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee, which will join the service in late 2023.
They are both the same size, weighing 183,521 gross tons and carrying a maximum of 5,374 passengers.
Both ships are throwbacks named after two members of Carnival’s founding fleet. They offer cutting-edge entertainment, luxurious cabin options, and a variety of cuisine options.
In addition, they have onboard breweries, a plethora of lounge places, and top-deck amusements — ropes courses, waterslides, and even roller coasters, that rival those found at amusement parks.
What is the Smallest Carnival Ship?
Carnival Elation, the line’s second-oldest vessel, is the smallest Carnival cruise ship. It accommodates only 2,190 passengers and weighs 71,909 gross tons, which is less than half the capacity of Carnival’s Excel class ships.
What’s the Difference Between Big and Small Carnival Ships?
One of the most notable distinctions is that Carnival’s smallest ships hold between 2,100 and 3,000 passengers, while its largest can handle over 5,000 people.
Furthermore, the largest vessels are over 180,000 gross tons, while the smallest are under 90,000 gross registered tons.
Smaller ships don’t have as much space as larger ships to offer as many activities, but Carnival invested $500 million over five years to make its fleet more homogeneous, regardless of ship size.
All ships now have Alchemy Bar, and Guy’s Burger Joint by Guy Fieri. Now a staple, along with BBQ and microbrewed beer on select ships, and the Punchliner Comedy Club, among other popular amenities that have become Carnival trademarks.
Conclusion
Aside from the obvious size disparities between large and small cruise ships, smaller ships are generally typically older than their larger counterparts.
The decor on a Carnival ship is a dead giveaway as to its age. Interiors built by Joe Farcus, a renowned architect noted for his kitschy, playful style that combines bright colors, amusing art installations, and neon lighting, can be seen in older hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Carnival ship is the biggest?
Carnival Jubilee is currently the largest Carnival ship in terms of tonnage and passenger capacity.
What is Carnival Cruise Line’s smallest ship?
Carnival Ecstasy is Carnival’s smallest cruise ship, with 70,367 GRT and carrying 2,056 passengers – less than half the size of their largest cruise ship.
How many different Carnival cruise ships are there?
Carnival Cruise Line currently operates 23 ships ranging in size from 70,000 to 180,000 gross tonnage.
What is the biggest cruise ship by size?
The largest cruise ship in January 2022 was the Wonder of the Seas.
What are the three newest Carnival ships?
Carnival’s Excel class is the newest of the line’s nine classes, which also include Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022), and Carnival Jubilee, which will debut in late 2023.
