Carnival Cruise Line
The Fun Ship experience for everyone
Carnival is all about casual, affordable fun. Waterslides, live music, great food, and a lively atmosphere make it a top pick for families, groups, and first-time cruisers.
Carnival Jubilee
Carnival's Excel-class flagship — the biggest, most fun ship to sail from Texas.
Mardi Gras
The world's first cruise ship with a roller coaster — and six immersive zones of fun
Carnival Celebration
Carnival's Miami flagship — the Fun Ship evolution with all the Excel class highlights
Carnival Vista
The ship that started Carnival's modern era — still delivering the fun.
Carnival Venezia
Carnival's New York ship — Italian-inspired, NYC-homeported, utterly unique.
Carnival Panorama
Carnival's West Coast ship — Sun, fun, and Mexico from Long Beach.
Carnival Sunrise
Renewed classic with Caribbean charm and a fresh, modern makeover
Carnival Magic
A Dream-class classic bringing big-ship fun to the heart of Miami.
Carnival Breeze
The third Dream-class ship, now bringing Texas-sized fun to Galveston.
Carnival Horizon
The second Vista-class ship, pairing big-ship thrills with Miami convenience.
Carnival Dream
The trailblazing lead ship of the Dream class, now sailing big, breezy Caribbean getaways from Galveston.
Carnival Sunshine
A near-total transformation of a fleet pioneer — big-ship fun with a well-travelled soul.
Carnival Freedom
The final Conquest-class ship, freshly refurbished and back in her signature red, white, and blue livery.
Carnival Valor
New Orleans' hometown Carnival ship — short Western Caribbean runs with a freshly renovated look.
Carnival Splendor
Carnival's biggest ship in Australia — year-round South Pacific adventures from Sydney Harbour.
Carnival Miracle
Spirit-class comfort split between Texas-sized Caribbean fun and Alaska's Inside Passage.
Carnival Legend
Carnival's most well-travelled ship — Western Caribbean winters from Tampa, European summers across the UK and Mediterranean.
Carnival Firenze
Carnival's West Coast Italian ship — Florence-inspired design, Baja and Mexican Riviera sailings.
About Carnival Cruise Line
Founded 1972 · Casual, budget-friendly Fun Ships
Carnival Cruise Line built its identity on being the accessible, high-energy "Fun Ship" — casual dress codes, lively pool decks, and pricing that consistently undercuts the rest of the mainstream market. It's the largest cruise line in the world by passenger volume, carrying more American cruisers than any other brand.
Founded in Miami in 1972 and now part of Carnival Corporation, the line has spent the last decade modernizing its fleet with the Excel class — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee — which add a roller coaster (BOLT), expanded dining, and taller waterslide complexes while keeping Carnival's signature laid-back attitude.
Itineraries skew heavily toward short 3–5 night Caribbean and Bahamas runs departing from a wide range of U.S. home ports, making Carnival one of the easiest lines to reach by car for a quick getaway. It's the value play of the mainstream lines — not the most polished experience, but consistently the most affordable way onto a big modern ship.
🍽️ Dining Highlights
- ✓Included main dining room, Lido Marketplace buffet, and 24-hour pizzeria on every ship
- ✓Guy's Burger Joint and Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ from Guy Fieri, included at no extra charge
- ✓BlueIguana Cantina for made-to-order tacos and burritos, also included
- ✓Specialty options include Bonsai Sushi, JiJi Asian Kitchen, and steakhouses like Fahrenheit 555
- ✓Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse brewery on select ships pairs house beer with barbecue
🎭 Entertainment Highlights
- ✓Playlist Productions live shows blending Broadway-style numbers with concert-style performances
- ✓BOLT roller coaster — the first at sea — on Mardi Gras-class ships
- ✓WaterWorks waterpark and multi-story waterslide complexes on newer ships
- ✓Punchliner Comedy Club and a lively casino on most ships
- ✓Hasbro, The Game Show, and other family game-show experiences
- ✦Budget-conscious travelers
- ✦Groups of friends and weekend getaways
- ✦First-time cruisers
- ✦Cruisers near a U.S. home port who want a short, easy trip
Cruisers seeking a quiet, refined atmosphere or extensive international itineraries — Carnival is built for volume and energy, not tranquility.
7-night Caribbean sailings typically run $600–1,100 per person, among the lowest of the major mainstream lines.