Cruise Hospitality Center – Cruise Ship Operations & Hospitality Management Training

Carnival Cruise Line is one of the largest cruise lines in the world, so to keep track of its growing fleet, I’ve decided to organize Carnival ships by size.

I’ve listed all the current 29 Carnival ships in size order by gross tonnage, starting with the largest at over 180,000 gross tons and ending with the smallest in the fleet at 70,367 gross tons. There are also some enticing future cruise ships that will be even larger to look forward to!

So, without any further delay, let’s take all of the largest to the smallest cruise ships in the Carnival fleet!

Project Ace

Project Ace is going to be just huge! For the first time, Carnival will rival Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises in ship size, with three ships that will be at 230,000 gross tons each. They will be the largest and most advanced Carnival ships ever constructed and will no doubt bring new features to the fleet.

They will arrive in 2020, 20231 and 2033, respectively. All will be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The Project Avce ships will also have a maximum guest capacity of 8,000 each and over 3,000 staterooms.

Carnival Festivale & Tropicale

Gross Tonnage: At least 182,800

Guest Capacity: 5,374

Crew Capacity: 1,735

Length: 1,130 Feet

Passenger Decks: 15

In April 2025, Carnival Cruise Line announced two new Excel-class cruise ships that would evolve the class even further by having slightly different features, such as the Sunsation Point water park rather than a BOLT roller coaster.

Carnival Festivale will arrive in Spring 2027 and will likely have a slightly larger tonnage than previous ships in the class, which is usually the case with new vessels. The new ship will have 1,000 interconnecting rooms, which is almost 70% more than the older ships in the class.

Carnival Tropical will be very similar to the Carnival Festivale and will be completed a year later in Spring 2028. Both ships are being constructed at the popular Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

Carnival Jubilee

Gross Tonnage: 183,521 

Guest Capacity: 5,374

Crew Capacity: 1,735

Length: 1,130 Feet

Passenger Decks: 15

If you’re an avid follower of the cruise industry, you’ll no doubt know that Carnival Jubilee joined the fleet in December 2023 and was even voted the best new cruise ship of that year. The ship celebrated its naming ceremony with godmother Gwen Stefani in February 2024.

The third Excel class vessel follows the same design and features as her sister ships and the biggest Carnival cruise ship, with a few adjustments. There are two new themed zones, including The Currents, which spans Deck 6 and Deck 7, and The Shores zone, which also features venues Coastal Slice, Marina Bar, Rudi’s Seagrill, and Cucina del Capitano.At the moment, C

Carnival Celebration

Gross Tonnage: 183,521

Guest Capacity: 5,374

Crew Capacity: 1,735

Length: 1,130 Feet

The ship is the second in the Excel class and is currently the second-largest Carnival ship in the fleet. Just like Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration was also constructed at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and LNG-powered, which debuted in November 2022.

This vessel is one of the biggest in the fleet and features a total of six themed zones, including Celebration Central, Summer Landing, 820 Biscayne, The Gateway, Lido, and The Ultimate Playground. The ship also features a roller coaster and the same dining venues found on Mardi Gras.

Carnival Mardi Gras

Gross Tonnage: 180,800

Guest Capacity: 5,282

Crew Capacity: 1,735

Length: 1,130 Feet

This is the first Excel class cruise ship in the fleet and the first in the fleet powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). The large new vessel introduced several new features and venues, including the first-ever BOLT Roller Coaster, Emeril’s Bistro, Rudi’s Seagrill, Street Eats, Fortune Teller Bar, and more.

Mardi Gras has six different zones for passengers to enjoy, including Grand Central, French Quarter, Summer Landing, La Piazza, Lido, and The Ultimate Playground.

Mardi Gras was the first to be constructed in Finland since the Spirit class ships. The ship has started a new era of design for the cruise line and sets the standard for the following sister ships in the same class.

Carnival Venezia (formerly named Costa Venezia)

Gross Tonnage: 135,225

Guest Capacity: 4,090

Crew Capacity: 1,424

Length: 1,061 Feet

The Carnival cruise ship is just slightly larger than the Vista-class vessels and is the first in the fleet that offers Italian-style cruising.

Carnival Venezia was transferred from sister brand Costa Cruises in March 2023 and debuted in New York City in June 2023, after a dry dock transformation in Cadiz, Spain. The ship has stunning decor that’s all Italian-inspired and very different from your typical Carnival fun ship interior.

Carnival Firenze (formerly named Costa Firenze)

Gross Tonnage: 135,156

Guest Capacity: 4,126

Crew Capacity: 1,425

Length: 1,061 Feet

Carnival Firenze is almost identical to sister ship Carnival Venezia, both offering an Italian-inspired cruising experience for the US market. Carnival Firenze comes in at 135,156 gross tons following its huge transformation during a dry dock in Cadiz, Spain, in Spring 2024.

Carnival Panorama

Gross Tonnage: 133,500

Guest Capacity: 4,008

Crew Capacity: 1,450

Length: 1,055 Feet

The final Vista-class ship joined the fleet in December 2019 and is the first new Carnival cruise ship in 20 years to be based on the U.S. West Coast. She features the first Sky Zone Trampoline Park at Sea, which replaced the IMAX Thater found on sister ships Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon.

Carnival Panorama is based on the U.S. West Coast sailing week-long Mexican Riviera cruises, including calls to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.

Carnival Horizon

Gross Tonnage: 133,500

Guest Capacity: 3,960

Length: 1,055 Feet

The vessel is the second Vista-class ship and the largest in the fleet until Carnival Panorama arrived. Although she offers many of the same features, Carnival Horizon has a slightly larger guest capacity than its sister ship, Carnival Vista.

Carnival Horizon was the first ship to introduce a new Guy Fieri’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse venue, Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, and a dedicated Teppanyaki restaurant.

Carnival Vista

Gross Tonnage: 133,500

Guest Capacity: 3,934

Length: 1,055 Feet

The first in her class, Carnival Vista, brought brand new features to the Carnival fleet and entered service in Spring 2016. The ship was the first to introduce SkyRide, a big ride-like experience located on the open deck at the very top of the ship. The ship also has its own onboard brewery with exclusive tastes just for those cruising on the ship.

Carnival Breeze

Gross Tonnage: 130,000

Guest Capacity: 3,690

Length: 1,004 Feet

The last ship in the Dream class started sailing for Carnival Cruise Line in 2012. Carnival Breeze was the flagship for a while as there wasn’t a new ship until Carnival Vista arrived in 2016.

The ship has some really good features, and during dry docks, a new Alchemy Bar and Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ have been added. Carnival Breeze was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and debuted on March 6, 2012.

Carnival Magic

Gross Tonnage: 130,000

Guest Capacity: 3,690

Length: 1,004 Feet

The vessel is the second Dream-class vessel built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. She debuted on May 1, 2011, the same year all the new FUN 2.0 upgrades were introduced.

Carnival Dream

Gross Tonnage: 130,000

Guest Capacity: 3,646

Length: 1,004 Feet

This is where the Dream class all started, which is an evolution of the popular Conquest-class ships. Carnival Dream changed the layout compared to ships before her and had a distinct red theme throughout. However, she no longer holds the top spot among Carnival ships by size.

All the latest FUN features were added during a 217 dry dock. Carnival Dream debuted on September 21, 2009, and was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

Carnival Splendor

Gross Tonnage: 113,300

Guest Capacity: 3,012

Length: 952 Feet

It’s kind of an odd ship and the only one of her class in the fleet. However, sister cruise line Costa Cruises does have an identical Splendor class ship. Splendor was built at the Fincantieri Genoa shipyard and sailed her maiden cruise on July 2, 2008.

The ship spent a season sailing the Baltic, which is very rare for Carnival. Since the end of 2019, the ship has been based in Australia.

Carnival Freedom

Gross Tonnage: 110,000

Guest Capacity: 2,980

Length: 952 Feet

The ship is the final Conquest class cruise ship, which has proved extremely popular for the cruise line. Like many ships in the fleet, Carnival Freedom was built by Fincantieri and cost $500 Million.

She departed on her maiden voyage on March 14, 2007. Even though she’s not among the largest Carnival ships by size, she ends a final class and still offers a great cruising experience for all.

Carnival Liberty

Gross Tonnage: 110,000

Guest Capacity: 2,974

Length: 952 Feet

The ship was the first in the fleet to receive all the FUN 2.0 upgrades during a huge refurbishment in 2011. Updates included the hugely popular Guy’s Burger Joint, which has since become an important food venue across the fleet. Carnival Liberty’s inaugural cruise departed on July 20, 2005.

Carnival Valor

Gross Tonnage: 110,000

Guest Capacity: 2,980

Length: 952 Feet

Carnival Valor is the third in the Conquest class. When it comes to Carnival ships by size, she may not be at the top of the list, but she continues to offer a large ship experience and expand the cruise line even further. The ship received all the latest FUN 2.0 onboard features during a huge dry dock in 2016.

Carnival Glory

Gross Tonnage: 110,000

Guest Capacity: 2,980

Length: 952 Feet

Glory was another large ship for Carnival Cruise Line at the time, but now, this tonnage would not be considered the biggest. Like her sister ships, Carnival Glory was built in Italy and set off on her inaugural sailing on July 14, 2003. The ship had a fairly recent refurbishment in 2022, so it is up to date.

Carnival Encounter

Gross Tonnage: 108,856

Passenger Capacity: 2,600

Crew Capacity: 1,100

Length: 290 Meters

Carnival Encounter adds some handy capacity to the Carnival fleet after being transferee from the now disbanded P&O Australia in March 2025. The vessel offers slightly different features than regular Carnival ships and still operates in Australia.

Carnival Adventure

Gross Tonnage: 108,856

Passenger Capacity: 2,600

Crew Capacity: 1,100

Length: 290 Meters

Carnival Adventure also joined the fleet from P&O Australia, just like its sister ship, Carnival Encounter. The vessel is not among the largest ships in the fleet but offers a unique design that originally comes from Princess Cruises’ Grand class.

Carnival Conquest

Gross Tonnage: 110,000

Guest Capacity: 2,980

Length: 952 Feet

The very first Conquest-class ship, Carnival Conquest, was built by Fincantieri in Italy and departed on her inaugural cruise on November 15, 2002. It started a new era for the cruise line and a new shipbuilding boom.

The Carnival ship was one of the early ships to receive all the FUN 2.0 upgrades in 2012. The most recent updates were in 2017, so the ship is all updated with the latest that the cruise line has on offer.

Carnival Sunshine

Gross Tonnage: 102,853

Guest Capacity: 3,002

Length: 892 Feet

Formerly known as the Carnival Destiny, the ship was completely overhauled in a huge dry dock in 2013 and renamed Carnival Sunshine to become a Sunshine class cruise ship.

Under the new name, the inaugural sailing departed on May 5, 2013. The transformation cost $155 million and added a ton of new features and upgrades.

Carnival Sunrise

Gross Tonnage: 101,509

Guest Capacity: 2,984

Length: 893 Feet

The vessel became a reality in 2019 when the ship was completely transformed from the Carnival Triumph into the new Carnival Sunrise. The $200 million dry dock took place in Cadiz, Spain and the inaugural sailing departed on April 29, 2019.

Carnival Radiance

Gross Tonnage: 101,509

Guest Capacity: 2,764

Length: 893 feet

Carnival Victory is in the same class as Carnival Triumph and just smaller than the popular Conquest class ships. The ship was built by Fincantieri in Italy and cost $430 Million.

A major refurbishment was completed in Spring 2018, where all the latest FUN 2.0 upgrades were added along with newly added cabins, and she was renamed Carnival Radiance.

Carnival Luminosa

Gross Tonnage: 92,720 

Guest Capacity: 2,260

Crew Capacity: 926

Passenger Decks: 12

Length: 964 feet

Beam: 106 feet

Max Draft: 26 feet

The Carnival vessel is also a Spirit-class cruise ship, but slightly larger. In September 2022, Carnival Luminosa was transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet from sister brand Costa Cruises.

Even though she is now part of the fleet, there are still Italian-inspired venues onboard, and you won’t find popular venues like Guy’s Burger Joint.

Carnival Miracle

Gross Tonnage: 88,500

Guest Capacity: 2,124

Length: 963 feet

The final Spirit-class vessel entered service in 2004. Unlike many other ships in the fleet, the Carnival Miracle was built at the Kvaerner-Masa Yards in Helsinki, Finland. The Fantasy-class ships were also built here. The ship has 12 passenger decks and can fit through the Panama Canal.

Carnival Legend

Gross Tonnage: 88,500

Guest Capacity: 2,124

Length: 963 feet

Another Spirit-class Carnival ship, the Carnival Legend, has sailed everywhere, including Australia and Alaska. Like her sister ships, It was built in Finland and departed on its inaugural cruise on August 24, 2002.

Carnival Pride

Gross Tonnage: 88,500

Guest Capacity: 2,124

Length: 963 feet

A fully updated Carnival cruise ship that has all the latest FUN 2.0 features. It also is scheduled for a dry dock in 2019. Carnival Pride was built in Finland and began cruising on January 12, 2002.

Carnival Spirit

Gross Tonnage: 88,500

Guest Capacity: 2,124

Length: 963 feet

The first in her class, Carnival Spirit, was built in Finland to sail through the Panama Canal and offer a cruising experience not only in the Caribbean but also on other continents. The ship has 12 passenger decks and joined the fleet in 2001.

Carnival Elation

Gross Tonnage: 71,909

Guest Capacity: 2,130

Length: 855 feet

As a Fantasy class ship, she might be an older type of ship, but it can often offer the best experience. With fewer passengers, guests usually have a great vacation. Carnival Elation entered service in March 1998 and has 11 passenger decks. The ship underwent a major dry dock upgrade in February 2023.

Carnival Paradise

Gross Tonnage: 70,367

Guest Capacity: 2,124

Length: 855 feet

The ship is slightly newer than Carnival Elation but has slightly lower gross tonnage. It is part of the Fantasy class and sailed its inaugural cruise on December 6, 1998. Carnival Paradise underwent a dry dock in October 2023 and is fully updated with all the latest Carnival features.

What is the Biggest Carnival Ship?

As of January 2024, the largest Carnival ship by size is the Carnival Jubilee, which joined the fleet in December 2023. She is large at 183,521 gross tons, a guest capacity of 5,374 at double occupancy, but that goes even higher with a maximum passenger capacity of 6,631. The third Excel class ship also has a crew capacity of 1,735.

What is the Smallest Carnival Ship?

As of March 10, 2024, the smallest Carnival ship is the 70,367 gross ton Carnival Paradise, which entered service in 1998. The vessel is part of the Fantasy class and has a much older design compared to newer vessels in the fleet. Carnival Paradise has a length of 855 feet and 11 passenger decks.

What Was the Size of Former Carnival Ships?

Carnival Cruise Line has a total of 13 former ships, and sadly, they have all been scrapped at various scrapyards, including in Turkey and India. Here’s a list of all the former Carnival cruise ships by the largest size to the smallest size:

ShipGross TonnageLengthCarnival Ecstasy70,367855 feetCarnival Sensation70,367855 feetCarnival Inspiration70,367855 feetCarnival Imagination70,367855 feetCarnival Fascination70,367855 feetCarnival Fantasy70,367855 feetCelebration47,262733 feetJubilee47,262732 feetHoliday46,051728 feetTropicale36,674671 feetFestivale32,697760 feetCarnivale31,500640 feetMardi Gras27,284650 feet

We’ll See You Onboard!

The Carnival Cruise Line fleet by size has changed a lot through the years. Time will tell if the cruise line will rival the size of Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the future.

Read Also: All Carnival Cruise Ships By Age – Newest to Oldest

The good thing is that travelers have a wide choice of different-sized vessels to choose from, from the funky early 90s style Fantasy-class ships to the more modern roller coaster-featured Excel-class ships! And no matter what, they are all the fun ships!

Carnival Ships by Size: Biggest to Smallest

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