Carnival cruises 2026–2027: ships by size and who they suit

Carnival at a glance

Fleet

29 ships; Carnival Festivale (2027) and Carnival Tropicale (2028) complete the Excel class, and the bigger Ace class starts with Carnival Destiny in 2029

Price tier

Mainstream budget: usually the lowest fares of the big U.S. lines

Ship size

About 2,100 to 5,300 guests at double occupancy

Main regions

Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Bermuda and Canada, Australia and the South Pacific

Included

Main dining room, Lido buffet, burgers, tacos, pizza and shows

Parent company

Carnival Corporation & plc, which also owns Princess, Holland America and others

Carnival Festivale is due in spring 2027 from Port Canaveral, and Carnival Tropicale follows from Galveston in April 2028. Carnival Destiny, the first of three roughly 230,000-ton Ace-class ships, is due in summer 2029, with sisters planned for 2031 and 2033.

Carnival cruise ships by size

Carnival’s fleet runs from 1990s ships of about 2,100 guests to the Excel-class ships carrying more than 5,000. Below, the ships are grouped by class and listed from biggest to smallest, so you can see exactly what you are booking. Guest counts are at double occupancy.

Excel class (biggest)

• Carnival JubileeExcel class, 2023, about 5,300 guestsThe newest Carnival ship in service and one of the biggest. Pick it for the newest cabins and venues.
  From $34 per personChecked September 2026
• Carnival CelebrationExcel class, 2022, about 5,300 guestsSame design as Jubilee, with the BOLT roller coaster and six themed zones.
• Mardi GrasExcel class, 2021, about 5,300 guestsThe ship that introduced the class and the first cruise ship roller coaster.

Two more Excel-class ships are on order and not yet in service: Carnival Festivale, due in spring 2027 from Port Canaveral, and Carnival Tropicale, due in April 2028 from Galveston. They follow the same design as the three ships above.

Vista class and the ex-Costa ships

• Carnival FirenzeVenice class, 2020 (Carnival since 2024), about 4,100 guestsBuilt as Costa Firenze, now "Carnival Fun Italian Style." Leaves Long Beach in early 2027 and sails from New York from late May 2027.
• Carnival VeneziaVenice class, 2019 (Carnival since 2023), about 4,100 guestsFirenze's sister, with Italian styling. Has spent summers in New York; based in Miami from May 2027.
• Carnival PanoramaVista class, 2019, about 4,000 guestsTrampoline park and SkyRide; sails year round from Long Beach.
• Carnival HorizonVista class, 2018, about 4,000 guestsA strong value ship with the big WaterWorks park.
• Carnival VistaVista class, 2016, about 4,000 guestsThe class leader with SkyRide and Havana cabins.

Dream and Splendor classes

• Carnival BreezeDream class, 2012, about 3,700 guestsThe newest Dream-class ship.
• Carnival MagicDream class, 2011, about 3,700 guestsBig-ship features at mid-fleet prices.
• Carnival DreamDream class, 2009, about 3,600 guestsTakes over New Orleans when Carnival Valor moves to Mobile in May 2027.
• Carnival SplendorSplendor class (Concordia design), 2008, about 3,000 guestsA one-off ship that has spent years sailing from Australia.

Conquest, Grand and Sunshine classes

• Carnival FreedomConquest class, 2007, about 3,000 guestsRefitted mid-size ship on short Caribbean trips.
• Carnival LibertyConquest class, 2005, about 3,000 guestsShort Bahamas cruises at low fares.
• Carnival ValorConquest class, 2004, about 3,000 guestsSails from New Orleans until May 2027, then year round from Mobile, Alabama, on 6- to 8-day Bahamas trips.
• Carnival GloryConquest class, 2003, about 3,000 guestsA mid-size classic.
• Carnival ConquestConquest class, 2002, about 3,000 guestsThe class leader.
• Carnival EncounterGrand class, 2002, about 2,600 guestsFormerly P&O Australia’s Pacific Encounter (and before that Star Princess); joined Carnival in 2025 and sails from Australia.
• Carnival AdventureGrand class, 2001, about 2,600 guestsFormerly Pacific Adventure (and before that Golden Princess); joined Carnival in 2025 and sails from Australia.
• Carnival RadianceSunshine class, 2000, about 3,000 guestsRebuilt in 2021 (formerly Carnival Victory); sails 3- and 4-night Baja trips from Long Beach through April 2028.
• Carnival SunriseSunshine class, 1999, about 3,000 guestsRebuilt in 2019 with newer venues (formerly Carnival Triumph).
• Carnival SunshineSunshine class, 1996, about 3,000 guestsRebuilt in 2013 from Carnival Destiny, the oldest ship in the fleet; has been based in Norfolk, Virginia since 2025.

Spirit and Fantasy classes (smallest)

• Carnival LuminosaSpirit class (modified), 2009 (Carnival since 2022), about 2,300 guestsFormer Costa Luminosa; spends summer 2027 on 10-day Alaska trips from San Francisco.
• Carnival MiracleSpirit class, 2004, about 2,100 guestsJoins Carnival Pride in Baltimore from November 20, 2027.
• Carnival LegendSpirit class, 2002, about 2,100 guestsMid-size and port-focused; one of the two Seattle Alaska ships in 2027.
• Carnival PrideSpirit class, 2002, about 2,100 guestsSails from Baltimore year round.
• Carnival SpiritSpirit class, 2001, about 2,100 guestsSeven-day Alaska round trips from Seattle in summer 2027.
• Carnival ElationFantasy class, 1998, about 2,100 guestsOne of the two Fantasy-class survivors. Cheap, short and basic.
• Carnival ParadiseFantasy class, 1998, about 2,100 guestsShort trips at some of the lowest fares in the fleet.

Home ports shift every season, and 2027 brings several moves. Carnival Valor leaves New Orleans for year-round sailings from Mobile, Alabama, on May 15, 2027, and Carnival Dream returns to New Orleans. Carnival Pride stays in Baltimore year round, with Carnival Miracle joining it on November 20, 2027. On the West Coast, Carnival Radiance keeps its short Long Beach trips through April 2028, while Carnival Firenze leaves Long Beach in early 2027 and takes over New York summer cruises from May 27, 2027. Carnival Venezia moves to Miami from May 2027.

The best Carnival cruise ship

• Best overall: Carnival Jubilee or Carnival Celebration. The newest ships have the most restaurants, the BOLT coaster and the best cabins.
• Best value: a Vista-class ship. You get most of the big-ship fun at a noticeably lower fare.
• Best for Alaska: a Spirit-class ship such as Carnival Spirit or Carnival Legend, both based in Seattle for summer 2027. They are small enough to handle Alaska ports and have plenty of glass.
• Best on a tight budget: a short trip on a Conquest- or Sunshine-class ship.

Where Carnival sails by season

• All year, Bahamas and Caribbean: Carnival sails from more U.S. ports than any other line, much of it from Florida and Galveston. Many Bahamas trips now call at Celebration Key, Carnival’s destination on the south side of Grand Bahama, and Western Caribbean trips often visit Mahogany Bay on Roatan. Year-round options outside Florida and Texas include Baltimore, New Orleans and, from May 2027, Mobile. Celebration Key calls are not limited to Florida: Carnival Firenze’s eight-day Eastern Caribbean trips from New York in 2027 stop there too.
• From New York, in summer: Bermuda, Canada and New England, and Eastern Caribbean routes, on Carnival Firenze from late May 2027; see our New York cruise port guide.
• Mexico: three- and four-night Baja trips on Carnival Radiance and longer Mexican Riviera cruises on Carnival Panorama, both year round from Long Beach. Carnival Luminosa adds a few four-day Ensenada trips from San Francisco around its 2027 Alaska season.
• Late April to September, Alaska: in 2027, Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend sail seven-day round trips from Seattle, and Carnival Luminosa sails 10-day round trips from San Francisco. All three call at Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord and Victoria.
• Australia and the South Pacific: from Sydney and Brisbane, where Carnival took over P&O Australia’s ships in 2025.

Destination guides for these regions: the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and New England, the Panama Canal.

What’s included and what’s extra

Included: the main dining room, the Lido buffet, Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina tacos, pizza, shows, comedy clubs, pools and water slides. Carnival’s free casual food is one of its real strengths. If that’s a temptation rather than a perk, our guide to eating healthy on a cruise has a simple plan. Room service is available, but check what it costs before you order: Carnival’s FAQ says drinks such as juice and coffee may carry a charge after 10am.

Extra: specialty restaurants (steakhouse, sushi, Italian), the Cheers! drinks package or drinks by the glass, Wi-Fi, the daily gratuity, the BOLT coaster and SkyRide, and shore excursions.

Carnival rules to know: Carnival’s ticket contract refuses boarding to guests under 21 unless they share a cabin with someone 25 or older or with their spouse, travel with a parent or guardian in an accompanying cabin, or are qualified members of the U.S. military. Bring proof of age, and proof of marriage if that is the exception you rely on. On drinks, each guest 21 or older may carry on one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne at embarkation, and each guest may bring up to 12 sealed cans or cartons (12 oz or less) of non-alcoholic drinks in carry-on bags. Any other alcohol is prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage, and the minimum age to buy or drink alcohol on board is 21.

How Carnival compares

• Against Royal Caribbean: lower fares and more home ports; Royal has bigger ships and more attractions. See our Royal Caribbean guide and the coming Royal Caribbean vs Carnival.
• Against Norwegian and MSC: see Norwegian and MSC.
• Short and cheap: Carnival dominates our 3-5 night cruise picks and last-minute deals.
• Families: see where it lands in our best family cruises and overall cruise line rankings.

Carnival sailings and prices

Sample Carnival Cruise Line sailings. From-prices per person, checked September 2026.

Departs	Line and ship	Nights	Itinerary	From	Link
Oct 17, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Mardi Gras	7	7 Day Western Caribbean (from Port Canaveral, Florida)	$509	Check price
Oct 25, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Radiance	4	4 Day Baja Mexico (from Los Angeles, California)	$194	Check price
Oct 31, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunrise	5	5 Day Bahamas (from Miami, Florida)	$34	Check price
Nov 1, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Panorama	6	6 Day Mexican Riviera (from Los Angeles, California)	$129	Check price
Nov 3, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Radiance	5	5 Day Mexican Riviera (from Los Angeles, California)	$209	Check price
Nov 15, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Liberty	6	6 Day Western Caribbean (from New Orleans, Louisiana)	$479	Check price
Nov 15, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Paradise	4	4 Day Western Caribbean (from Tampa, Florida)	$179	Check price
Nov 22, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Radiance	6	6 Day Mexican Riviera (from Los Angeles, California)	$534	Check price
Nov 29, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunrise	4	4 Day Bahamas (from Miami, Florida)	$39	Check price
Dec 17, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Radiance	3	3 Day Baja Mexico (from Los Angeles, California)	$109	Check price
Dec 19, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Liberty	8	8 Day Bahamas (from New Orleans, Louisiana)	$2,048	Check price
Jan 3, 2027	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Pride	7	7 Day Bahamas (from Baltimore, Maryland)	$519	Check price

Carnival Cruise Line FAQ

What is the biggest Carnival cruise ship?

The three Excel-class ships, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, are the biggest, at more than 180,000 gross tons (about 181,800 to 183,500) and about 5,300 guests at double occupancy. Carnival Festivale (2027) and Carnival Tropicale (2028) will join them, and the Ace-class Carnival Destiny, due in 2029, will be bigger still at about 230,000 tons.

What is the best Carnival cruise ship?

Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Celebration for the newest facilities; a Vista-class ship if you want most of that for less.

Who owns Carnival Cruise Line?

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company. It also owns Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard, Seabourn, Costa, AIDA and P&O Cruises (UK). P&O Cruises Australia was folded into Carnival Cruise Line in 2025.

Does Carnival do Alaska cruises?

Yes, every summer. In 2027, Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend sail seven-day round trips from Seattle, and Carnival Luminosa sails 10-day round trips from San Francisco. If Alaska is the priority, compare Carnival with the lines in our best cruise lines for Alaska.

Where does Mardi Gras sail?

Mardi Gras has sailed from Port Canaveral, Florida, since 2021. It runs 7-day Caribbean cruises until mid-May 2027, then switches to 4- and 5-day Bahamas trips from Port Canaveral. More in our Mardi Gras ship guide.