carnival cruises history

• Cruise Knowledge

The History of Carnival Cruise Line — 1972 through Today

Doug Parker

• December 14, 2023

Carnival Cruise Line was founded in 1972 and has since become one of the world’s leading cruise operators.

Founded by Ted Arison, the cruise line aimed to make cruising accessible and enjoyable to the average American vacationer.

Let’s explore the history of Carnival Cruise Line , from its maiden voyage of the TSS Mardi Gras, which ran aground, to the introduction of megaships with rollercoasters on top. Carnival has consistently pushed boundaries.

How did Carnival Cruise Line start? 

In the early days of the cruise industry, Ted Arison envisioned creating a fun and affordable vacation option that would appeal to everyday Americans.

Following a partnership – and subsequent rocky break-up – with Knut Kloster of Norwegian Cruise Line, he established Carnival Cruise Line in 1972 , with the help of American International Travel Service (AITS), a well-known travel agency.

This partnership laid the foundation for the world’s largest and most successful cruise operators.

Ted Arison and Carnival Cruise Lines

Ted Arison, an Israeli-American entrepreneur , deeply understood the maritime industry before founding  Carnival, holding diverse roles in the shipping realm, spanning management, operations, and sales. 

At the time, cruising was not a mainstream vacation option appealing mostly to wealthy vacationers – the “newly wed and nearly dead” as the experience was referred to back in the day. Recognizing a unique opportunity, he envisioned a cost-effective vacation alternative with mass-market appeal – truly innovative.

The collaboration with AITS, was fruitful: AITS financed the acquisition of their first sh ip, the TSS Mardi Gras, a converted transatlantic ocean liner , while Arison’s expertise guided the company’s strategic direction. 

However, Mardi Gras’ maiden voyage on March 11, 1972 , became the stuff of legends when the vessel ran aground just outside the Port of Miami channel, creating worldwide headlines.

Undeterred, Arison and AITS refined the Carnival Cruise Line experience, capitalizing on the festive onboard atmosphere, hence earning the nickname the “Fun Ships.”  

Carnival’s Early Ships

Introduction of Mardi Gras and Carnivale

Carnival Cruise Line started its journey in the early 1970s with the introduction of Mardi Gras . Acquired in 1972 as the former Empress of Canada , the ship embarked on its maiden voyage, setting the course for transforming the modern-day cruise vacation experience.

Soon afterward, in 1975 , Carnival added another ship to its fleet, aptly named Carnivale . Both ships provided affordable vacation experiences, bringing the cruise experience to the masses and laying the foundation for the company’s meteoric rise from struggling cruise line to industry leader.

Expanding the Fleet with Tropicale, Festivale, and Holiday

As the popularity of Carnival Cruise Line increased, the company continued to enhance its fleet with the addition of:

• Tropicale : Carnival Cruise Line shocked the cruise industry by announcing the construction of the Tropicale, the first new cruise ship built in many years due to increasing fuel prices. Designed and built exclusively for Carnival, the 36,000-ton vessel debuted in 1982. Tropicale became the flagship of the fleet and an innovator in the cruise industry with innovative features like an expansive promenade, not to mention the first “Fun Ship” to include the line’s distinctive winged whale’s tail funnel. 
• Festivale :  Following an extensive $30 million refit in Japan, Festivale entered service in 1978 becoming the fastest ship sailing from Miami to the Caribbean. l. Festivale was also the first Carnival ship to feature a water slide, setting the stage for massive water parks and attractions in coming years.
• Holiday (1985), Jubilee (1986), and Celebration (1987) : Launched in 1985, Holiday was the first of three self-described “SuperLiners”  with spacious public areas and a wide range of amenities, helping to propel Carnival to its position as the Most Popular Cruise Line in the World.

READ: 11 Former Carnival Ships — Where are they now?

These new ships dramatically contributed to the company’s growth, ushering in an exciting new era of cruising and attracting more passengers to sample the unique Carnival experience.

By focusing on expanding, including constructing new purpose-built ships, Carnival Cruise Line solidified its position as the number one cruise choice for consumers. 

The 9 Classes of Carnival Ships

Carnival Cruise Line has a diverse fleet of ships, each belonging to a different class. These classes have evolved over time, with newer ships boasting modern amenities and design features.

Fantasy Class

The Fantasy class began Carnival’s modern era in the 1990s. This class includes eight ships:

These 70,000-ton ships – massive for their time – were true innovators with new features like a towering seven-deck high atrium, a 12,000-square-foot spa and a double-width promenade lined with themed bar and lounges, making them a popular choice for first-time cruisers.

From a design standpoint, the Fantasy class put Carnival on the map, not only from its guest-pleasing layout but also the decor created by interior architect Joe Farcus , who created lounges modeled after ancient Egypt, the New York skyline, Faberge eggs, even placing a vintage Rolls Royce on Carnival Ecstasy’s promenade. 

Spirit Class

The Spirit class, launched in 2001, embraces a more intimate cruising experience, with a smaller guest capacity and unique features like a single dining room, a ship-long promenade, and a cozy winter garden in the bow of the ship.

These ships feature innovative designs, with upwards of 80 percent balcony or ocean view cabins providing guests unparalleled views.

Conquest Class

Carnival expanded its fleet with the Conquest class in 2002.

Expanding on the amenities of the Destiny class, these 110,000-ton ships offer a larger guest capacity and even more amenities, taking the Carnival experience to new heights.

Splendor Class

The unique Splendor class, with its only ship, the Carnival Splendor , debuted in 2008. As a standalone class, the 113,300-ton Splendor is slightly larger than the Conquest class. It offers a distinct cruising experience, complete with a massive spa, a magradome covering one of the pools, and other impressive amenities.

Dream Class

The 130,000-ton Dream class represents a new generation of Carnival ships, offering innovative designs and amenities.

Each Dream class ship features a sprawling water park, top-deck restaurants, a wrap-around outdoor promenade, the line’s first cove balconies cut out of the ship’s hull, and other cutting-edge attractions. Carnival Magic was the first ship to offer the RedFrog Pub, now a staple across the fleet.

These ships began a new interior design style that relied less on the inventive – and sometimes controversial – creations of longtime interior architect Joe Farcus. 

Sunshine Class (Formerly Destiny)

Carnival needed to start thinking what the back half of the Destiny-class ships would look like. So in 2012, they announced this massive undertaking which would take Carnival Destiny and give it a total transformation to Carnival Sunshine , followed by Carnival Triumph to Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Victory to Carnival Radiance .

Vista Class

Introduced in 2016, the 133,500-ton Vista class builds upon the features introduced by the Dream class. It takes the “Fun Ship” cruising experience to a new level, with guest accommodations like the Havana Retreat area and Family Harbor staterooms.

These ships offer revolutionary features, such as an onboard brewery, the first IMAX Theater at sea ( Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon) and an onboard trampoline park (Carnival Panorama).

Venezia Class

Carnival recently created another class of Italian-inspired ships with the launch of Carnival Venezia , originally built for Costa Cruises and transformed into an Italian, yet entirely recognizable version of a “Fun Ship.” 

Excel Class (LNG Ships)

Carnival continues to innovate with the 180,000-ton Excel class, the largest “Fun Ships’ ever constructed.

These massive ships are among the most technologically advanced at sea while offering never-before-seen features like a roller coaster and signature restaurants from Guy Fieri, Shaquille O’Neal, and Emeril Lagasse.

They are powered by environmentally friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG), the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel.

Each ship class represents a unique cruising experience within the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, catering to various preferences, tastes, and budgets.

Notable Moments in Cruise History

Carnival Cruise Stock Market Era

Carnival Cruise Line made a significant milestone by going public in 1987. The initial public offering (IPO) allowed the company to raise much-needed capital and expand its presence in the cruise industry.

By becoming a publicly traded company, Carnival Cruise Line increased its credibility and attracted more investors to support its growth.

Fast forward to today, where there are Carnival shareholder benefits if you hold 100 or more shares of Carnival cruise stock.

The shareholder benefits extend to every cruise line that Carnival Corporation operates.

Introduction of Kathie Lee Gifford Branding

In 1984, TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford became the official spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line, helping to increase its brand awareness. Gifford’s presence in the company’s marketing campaigns was critical in showcasing the fun atmosphere of Carnival Cruise Line voyages.

As a result, the company began reaching a wider audience, and its cruise ships became synonymous with leisure and enjoyment.

First Non-Smoking Cruise Ship

In 1998, Carnival Cruise Line launched Paradise , the seventh in the line’s Fantasy Class and the first smoke-free ship in the industry (even workers were forbidden to smoke during construction – a rarity in European shipyards). 

Paradise was launched to much fanfare with a concert benefiting the American Cancer Society but alas the ship never really caught on with vacationers.

While the ship attracted spa goers and those looking for a healthier alternative, group business – a mainstay of the cruise business model – was hard to come by.

After a few years, Paradise’s smoke-free environment was no longer. Carnival certainly was ahead of its time. Paradise was a novel concept that may be repeated at some point.

Evolutions of Fun 

In the mid-2000s, Carnival Cruise Line launched “ The Evolutions of Fun ,” a refurbishment program targeting their older fleet. With an investment of over $250 million, the initiative aimed to modernize these ships to meet the expectations of today’s travelers.

The upgrades included expansive new water parks, the line’s first adults-only retreats, refreshed accommodations, updated dining venues, and new entertainment options. 

Complementing its newbuild program, Carnival chose to reinvest in its existing ships, ensuring they remained relevant and functional, optimizing resources, and helping to standardize options across the fleet. 

Fun Ship 2.0 Launch

In 2011, Carnival Cruise Line introduced Fun Ship 2.0 , a comprehensive redesign to enhance the guest experience.

New partnerships with recognizable entities like Guy Fieri, new F&B choices like the ever-popular Alchemy Bar, improved entertainment offerings, including Playlist Productions, and new onboard activities highlighted Fun Ship 2.0.

Acquiring Three Costa Ships

Carnival Cruise Line strategically acquired three ships from Costa Cruises in 2022: Costa Luminosa, Costa Venezia, and Costa Firenze to strengthen its fleet and expand its offerings.

This acquisition was part of Carnival Corporation’s efforts to restructure and optimize its global operations.

Carnival Cruise Accidents

1998’s carnival ecstasy fire .

In 1998, a sudden fire erupted in the laundry room on Carnival Ecstasy as it departed from the Port of Miami on a four-day cruise.

As confirmed by an investigation by the NTSB, the incident was caused by two workers who were welding equipment near the laundry room, igniting lint that spread throughout the ventilation system, causing panic and chaos among the passengers and crew.

Fortunately, the fire was eventually contained and extinguished, preventing structural damage to the cruise ship. No casualties were reported, but the Carnival Ecstasy was out of service for an extended time.

Carnival Splendor Fire (Spam Cruise)

In November 2010, Carnival Splendor experienced a significant incident during a cruise to Mexico when a fire broke out in the engine room, causing a major mechanical failure.

Thankfully, thanks to the quick response of the ship’s command and crew, none of the 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew members were injured.

The fire led to a complete loss of power on the ship, which was stranded 200 miles south of San Diego , California. As a result, the Carnival Splendor required towing to return to port safely. This process was slow and painstaking, as the ship had to be carefully towed into the Mexican port of Ensenada.

Passengers on the ship were stranded for days due to the engine room fire , and it took a coordinated effort from multiple parties to recover the vessel safely. 

The ship had to be provisioned with food from helicopters and vessels from the U.S. Navy, including what was reported to be pallets of a certain Hormel-brand canned meat product, with the incident referred to by passengers and media as the “Spam Cruise.”

As it turned out, Spam was on the original provisions list, but no Spam was served on board.    

The Carnival Splendor fire was also one of the early instances of a cruise line utilizing social media to keep guests and media apprised of the situation.  

In addition to keeping Carnival Splendor guests updated, amused, and entertained on board, Cruise Director John Heald posted a series of blogs called “Smoke on the Water.” Carnival has since down John’s blog, but you can read part of the first en t ry here .

Heald was widely praised for his authenticity and transparency – delivered with a dash of British humor – despite a very challenging situation while playing a key role in helping Carnival weather the intense media storm.

Carnival Triumph (Poop Cruise)

In 2013, while sailing on a western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Carnival Triumph experienced a significant maritime incident when an electrical fire knocked out the ship’s propulsion system and, subsequently, all on board non-emergency services, leaving passengers and crew stranded. 

Media dubbed it the “Poop Cruise” due to the unsanitary conditions passengers were forced to endure. The situation attracted extensive worldwide media attention, and criticism was directed at Carnival Cruise Line for handling the crisis.

The incident served as a wake-up call for the industry, and many cruise lines began to reevaluate their safety protocols and contingency plans in case of similar crises.

In response, Carnival Cruise Line launched a comprehensive multi-million-dollar fleetwide enhancement program focused on improving safety, reliability, and guest comfort.

The Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) also took action, creating a Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights that changed how cruise lines communicate and compensate guests should things go awry. 

Two Cozumel Collisions (Bumper Boats)

Carnival Cruise Line has experienced two collision incidents in Cozumel.

On September 30, 2009, Carnival Legend made contact with Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas. There were no injuries reported. 

Ten years later, Carnival Legend collided with Carnival Glory in December 2019. Carnival Glory was docking when it struck the docked Carnival Legend, causing extensive damage to the aft-starboard section of Carnival Glory’s main dining room.

Although there were no serious injuries, six passengers were taken to the medical center. 

Cruise Industry Shutdown

The cruise industry was not an exception to the COVID-19 pandemic. It became the only industry to be completely shut down beginning on March 13, 2020 , dramatically impacting cruising with those even questioning its future.

Like all cruise operators, Carnival Cruise Line faced significant challenges on several fronts, including its financial health, crew members’ well-being, and passengers’ expectations.

RELATED: 21 Carnival Ships Sold During the Cruise Industry Shutdown

The company strategically decided to sell off some of its less efficient Fantasy-class ships to offset costs. This helped to minimize debt and allowed the company to focus its resources on maintaining and upgrading its remaining fleet.

Keeping the ships operational

Contrary to popular misconceptions, cruise ships cannot just “shut down.” They must continually be maintained, particularly the engine spaces, and that requires a team of engineers and other nautical experts to keep the vessels ready whenever the COVID-19 cruise ban would be lifted.

Through “minimum manning,” roughly 125-150 crew members remained on board, not only the engineers but also other related personnel to serve them – food and beverage personnel, housekeeping staff, the medical team, HR, etc.

Operating under minimum manning costs hundreds of thousands of dollars a month per ship. 

Carnival Cruise Line crew members also faced challenges during the shutdown. The reduction in fleet size led to job losses, as did the decreasing number of voyages.

However, the company worked to ensure the well-being of those still on board by providing support in an ever-changing landscape. When many countries would not allow air arrivals, Carnival, working with its worldwide partners, used its ships to help crew members return home to faraway lands like India, the Philippines, South Africa, and other countries.

Carnival also assisted in getting its crew members vaccinated during port calls , serving to help speed up the recovery process.

Passengers who had planned or booked Carnival cruises were also significantly affected, which led to uncertainty and disappointment.

Despite these challenges, the company made efforts to communicate information consistently and transparently, provide alternative options, and introduce new safety measures in preparation for the eventual resumption of cruising.

After all was said and done, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Carnival Cruise Line, its crew members, and its passengers, costing its parent company billions of dollars in lost revenue .

The company navigated the challenges of these unprecedented events by taking strategic measures to manage debt, maintain its fleet, and communicate with all stakeholders.

These efforts have paid off and resulted in a pent-up demand for cruising, with passengers booking at pre-COVID-19 levels and a resumption of profitability. 

Return to Service

Carnival Cruise Line returned triumphantly to service on July 3, 2023, with its first ship, Carnival Vista, setting sail from Galveston, Texas, and Carnival Horizon from Miami the following day.

Carnival’s return marked a significant milestone for the cruise industry , showcasing its resilience and adaptability after facing challenging times.

In late July 2021, the much-delayed Mardi Gras entered service as the first new ship of the restart. 

Ensuring the health and safety of passengers was a major focus of Carnival’s return to service. The cruise line implemented stringent protocols , including thorough sanitization, social distancing measures, and upgraded advanced air filtration systems.

These efforts contributed to the success of Carnival’s return and boosted confidence in the safety of cruise travel.

The successful return of Carnival Cruise Line after a 14-month shutdown demonstrated the dedication and hard work of the company’s team members and crew. Their efforts and determination paved the way for Carnival’s resurgence and continued status as a leader in the cruise industry.

As of 2023, the cruise line still carries billions of dollars in debt , but thanks to high onboard spending at an all-time high, mostly fueled by casino play and other onboard expenditures, the company is slowly reducing its debt. 

Today, Carnival sails from 12 U.S. homeports from the east to the west coast, up to Alaska, through Europe, and even Australia.

What started out as an idea to provide valuable vacations for families.

Even though the parent company Carnival Corporation & PLC (CCL) is collectively made up of nine cruise brands (Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, Costa Cruises, and AIDA Cruises), Carnival Cruise Line remains the affordable brand for families.

Carnival helped expand the demographic of cruise travelers. They targeted a broader audience by creating a fun, family-friendly atmosphere and offering shorter, more affordable cruises, which made cruising accessible for people who previously may not have considered it a viable vacation option. This strategy eventually led most cruise lines to adapt and diversify their offerings.

These efforts have allowed Carnival to grow from a single ship in 1972 to 26 modern ships today (2023) and pushed other cruise lines to improve their products and target a more diverse client base, thus expanding the industry even further.

Carnival Cruise Timeline of Events

• 1972: Maiden voyage of Carnival’s first ship, the TSS Mardi Gras, which runs aground on a sandbar outside the Port of Miami.
• 1975: Acquisition of Empress of Britain, rebranded as the TSS Carnivale.
• 1978: The Festivale, formerly the S.A. Vaal, undergoes a $30 million refurbishment and begins service as the largest and fastest vessel sailing from Miami to the Caribbean.
• 1982: Launch of the Tropicale, initiating a significant shipbuilding boom in the cruise industry.
• 1984: Carnival becomes the first cruise line to advertise on network TV, with Kathie Lee Gifford (then Johnson) as the spokesperson.
• 1985 – 1987: Introduction of the Holiday, Jubilee, and Celebration ships. Carnival becomes the “Most Popular Cruise Line in the World” and undertakes an initial public offering.
• 1990 – 1991: Debut of the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Ecstasy, marking the start of the “Fantasy-class” series.
• 1993 – 1996: Introduction of Carnival Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, and Inspiration. Carnival launches the Carnival Destiny, the first passenger vessel to exceed 100,000 tons.
• 1998 – 1999: Launch of the Carnival Elation and Paradise, completing the “Fantasy-class” series, and introducing the Carnival Triumph.
• 2000 – 2004: Continuation of the “Destiny-class” with Carnival Victory, and introduction of “Spirit-class” and “Conquest-class” ships.
• 2005 – 2008: Expansion of the “Conquest-class” with Carnival Liberty, Freedom, and Splendor.
• 2009 – 2012: Introduction of the Carnival Dream, Magic, and Breeze, the largest “Fun Ships” at that time.
• 2013: Renovation and re-entry of the Carnival Sunshine (formerly Destiny).
• 2016: Launch of the Carnival Vista, the largest “Fun Ship” with unique attractions.
• 2018 – 2019: Introduction of Carnival Horizon and Panorama, and renovation of Carnival Sunrise (formerly Triumph).
• 2021: Debut of the Mardi Gras, the first Carnival ship powered by LNG.
• 2022: 50th anniversary of Carnival Cruise Line, introduction of Carnival Celebration, and the announcement of new ships, including Carnival Luminosa, Venezia, and Firenze.
• 2023: Scheduled sailing of Carnival Venezia from New York and the expected launch of Carnival Jubilee in Galveston, TX.
• 2024: Planned debut of Carnival Firenze from Long Beach, CA.

READ: Carnival Cruise Line Ships by Size

Carnival Celebration Review and Tour [VIDEO]

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Carnival corporation.

Begun with one ship that ran aground on its maiden voyage, Carnival Corporation has since grown into the most successful and prominent American cruise line. Carnival is the largest cruise company in the world and either owns or has purchased interest in seven cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Windstar Cruises, Cunard White Star Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Costa Crociere S.p.A., and Airtours' Sun Cruises. Carnival has combined these cruise lines into an operating fleet of 43 state-of-the-art ships that sail the seven seas. Through innovative vacation packaging and extensive advertising campaigns, the family-operated company has changed the face of the cruise industry by coaxing thousands of middle-class customers aboard its floating resorts. The firm's interest in numerous tour companies that provide air transportation, hotel accommodations, and land excursions makes Carnival the most popular cruise line in the world.

Early History

Carnival was founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, an Israeli immigrant. After serving in World War II with the British Army and in Israel's War of Independence, in the late 1940s Arison founded a cargo line running between Israel and New York, but was put out of business by competition from the Israeli state-run shipping line. In 1954 he moved to the United States, where he took a position as cargo manager for El Al, Israel's national airline. He eventually founded his own air freight company, Trans Air System, which went public in the late 1960s.

In 1968, at the age of 42, Arison moved to Miami to operate a small Israeli-owned cruise ship running between Florida and the Caribbean. When the Israeli government impounded the boat to collect the owners' debt, Arison quickly filled a Norwegian Caribbean Line ship with the customers he had lined up. Convinced that he should own boats rather than operate them for others, in 1972 he entered into a partnership with former schoolmate Meshulam Riklis, who then owned the travel conglomerate American International Travel Service (AITS). They formed Carnival Cruise as a subsidiary of AITS, and for $6.5 million they purchased the ship Empress of Canada, which they renamed the Mardi Gras.

The ship's first voyage was less than spectacular: the Mardi Gras ran aground off the Florida coast with several hundred travel agents on board. Future voyages went more smoothly, however, and in 1974 Arison bought Riklis's share of Carnival for $1, also assuming the company's debt of more than $5 million. To cut costs, Arison sought to reduce fuel consumption by reducing the speed of the Mardi Gras and the number of stops it made. This simple economizing measure was to revolutionize the entire cruise industry. Since passengers would have to spend more time at sea between Caribbean ports of call, Arison added more on-board entertainment features, including a disco, casino, movie theater, and nightclubs. Carnival's marketing staff quickly dubbed the Mardi Gras the "Fun Ship," and other cruise lines soon followed Arison's lead.

Growth and Expansion in the 1970s

In the 1970s the hit television series "The Love Boat" helped revitalize the cruise industry, bringing people on board ships in larger numbers than ever before: between 1970 and 1986 the number of people taking cruises soared from 500,000 to 2.1 million. By 1978 Arison had three ships running seven-day cruises from Florida to the Caribbean and in the Caribbean itself: the Mardi Gras ; the Carnivale, which he bought in 1975; and the Festivale, which he bought in 1977. Despite a bad economy and high fuel prices, in 1978 Arison also contracted for a fourth ship, the Tropicale, which was completed in 1982. In 1979 Arison's 30-year-old son, Micky Arison, was named president and chief executive of the company.

The 1980s brought the cruise industry massive expansion: between 1981 and 1991 the number of berths on North American cruise ships grew from 41,000 to 84,000. Carnival was the chief exponent and beneficiary of the boom. In 1982 Carnival's four boats carried some 200,000 passengers, with the firm earning $40 million on revenues of about $200 million. During the next decade the number of passengers carried per year nearly quintupled. Beginning in 1980, Carnival's revenues grew 30 percent annually, three times faster than the average for the cruise business as a whole.

During the recession of the early 1980s, Carnival ordered three more ships, the first from the Danish Aalborg shipyard at a cost of $180 million and two additional ships from the Swedish state shipbuilding company, Svenska Varv, for a total of $262 million. With the completion of these three "superliners"-- Holiday, Jubilee, and Celebration --Carnival had the world's largest cruise line fleet, with seven ships.

The 1980s and an Innovative Marketing Campaign

To help fill these ships, Carnival adopted aggressive marketing and advertising strategies. In 1984 Carnival initiated the memorable "Fun Ship" advertising campaign, which featured talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford partaking of shipboard amenities and singing "We've Got the Fun." In 1984, for what was then the largest network television advertising campaign in the cruise industry, Carnival spent $10 million to advertise during "The Love Boat" and network news shows.

To gain support from travel agents, Carnival routinely sent representatives to travel agencies to inquire about vacation options. If the agent recommended a cruise as a first option, the representative would give the agent $10. If the agent's first recommendation was a Carnival cruise, he or she would get $1,000. By the end of 1989 Carnival had given away more than $500,000 with this program.

In an attempt to attract younger, more middle-class customers to cruises, which had traditionally been the preserve of older, upper-class travelers, Carnival offered cheaper, shorter trips--in 1988 the company's low-priced air and sea packages were approximately 20 percent below industry averages. Advertising efforts targeted toward the younger market included a 1988 Fourth of July party on a Carnival ship that was broadcast on MTV. These strategies paid off: in 1989 the annual household income of passengers was between $25,000 and $50,000, while 30 percent of the passengers in the early 1990s were between the ages of 25 and 39. In addition, Carnival's ships were consistently running at full capacity.

Strategic Acquisitions

In 1987 Ted Arison sold 18 percent of the shares of his private empire, raising nearly $400 million for the company, and Carnival went on a spending spree. The company entered into a contract for the Ecstasy, sister ship to the Fantasy, which had been ordered earlier in the year. In addition Carnival attempted to buy the cruise ship business of Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corp., which owned part of Royal Caribbean and a majority of Admiral Cruise Lines, but the sale did not go through.

In 1988 Carnival purchased the Holland America Line for $625 million. A long-standing company with four cruise ships and about 4,500 berths, Holland America sailed to the Alaska coast in the summer and the Eastern Caribbean in the winter. Holland's trips were aimed at higher-income travelers--its Caribbean cruises cost 27 percent more than a Carnival cruise of the same length. In addition, as part of the package, Carnival acquired two other companies that Holland America owned: Windstar Sail Cruises and Holland America Westours, which included Westmark Hotels.

The acquisition greatly expanded the company's operations. Windstar Sail Cruises, whose three large passenger sailing ships operated in the South Pacific, Mediterranean, and Caribbean, served the luxury market. Westours operated Westmark's 18 hotels in addition to five dayboats, 240 motor coaches, and eight glass-domed railcars in Alaska and the Canadian Northwest. Already the world's largest cruise operator based on passengers carried, with this single purchase Carnival boosted its number of berths by more than 50 percent. During the year following the acquisition, Carnival carried 579,000 passengers, generating $600 million in revenues and earning profits of $196 million.

In 1989 Carnival completed the Crystal Palace Resort & Casino, a lavish 150-acre resort in the Bahamas, which cost Carnival $250 million to develop. The 1,550 room hotel had many extravagant features, including a $25,000 per night suite that included a robot that brought bath towels and an aquarium with a stingray. With its 13 restaurants, golf course, tennis courts, and other recreational facilities, the Crystal Palace was the biggest resort in the region. Carnival's 1989 revenues surpassed $1 billion, and the firm earned profits of $193 million while carrying 783,485 passengers.

Change and Growth in the 1990s

The following year Ted Arison, at the age of 66, stepped down as chairperson of Carnival and was succeeded by his son Micky. Shortly thereafter, the industry's boom of the previous decade began to taper off. The war in the Persian Gulf brought higher fuel and airline costs and deterred tourists. The effects were reflected in Carnival's stock price, which slid from 25 points in June of 1990 to 13 points late in the year. At the same time, it became apparent that the Crystal Palace would be an unprofitable venture. At the end of fiscal year 1990, Carnival incurred a $25.5 million loss from the resort and casino operation and not long after began attempting to sell the Crystal Palace. In 1991, with no prospective buyers, Carnival agreed to turn over a large portion of the resort to the Bahamian government, in exchange for cancellation of some of the debt incurred during construction. Carnival took a $135 million write-down on the Crystal Palace for that year.

Still, in 1991 Carnival enjoyed a 26 percent share of the passengers in the $5 billion cruise-ship market, with revenues of $1.4 billion. Its average occupancy level stood at 103 percent, well above the industry's average of 90 percent. In April of 1991 Carnival signed a $300 million contract for a ship, the Sensation, to be delivered in 1993. In September of the same year the Fascination, to be ready in late 1994, was ordered at a cost of $315 million. In an effort to gain more working capital, Carnival offered 7.85 million Class A common shares for sale in 1991.

The company also entered into an agreement in 1991 to acquire Premier Cruise Lines for $372 million. Though smaller than Carnival, Premier had a lucrative contract with Walt Disney Co. to be the official cruise line for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The deal fell through, however, when a final agreement could not be reached on the price.

In 1992 Carnival agreed to acquire a percentage of Seabourn Cruise Lines. Seabourn, operated in partnership with Atle Byrnestad, served the ultra-luxury market, running tours to such locations as South America, the Baltics, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia. The company also signed a contract for a $330 million ship, the Imagination, to be delivered in the fall of 1995. Perhaps the most impressive ship introduced in the modern era was the Carnival Destiny, the largest passenger ship afloat at 101,000 tons and room for 2,640 people. Its maiden voyage was in 1996.

In 1997 Carnival purchased a 50 percent interest in Costa Cruise Lines, in partnership with Airtours, a travel company. These acquisitions strengthened the company's presence around the world, but especially in the Caribbean. Yet the company's most important acquisition came in 1998 when it purchased a controlling interest in Cunard White Star Line. Cunard's five ships, including the QE2, the Vistafjord, the Royal Viking Sun, and Sea Goddess I and II catapulted Carnival into the super-luxury cruise line business.

By 1998 the company had changed its legal name to Carnival Corporation, to emphasize the growing diversity within its cruise lines. Yet when every indicator seemed to point the way toward uninterrupted and uneventful prosperity for the company, disaster struck. In July of 1998, the cruise ship Ecstasy caught fire after leaving the port in Miami, Florida bound for Newport News with 2,575 passengers on board. Although no one was injured during the fire and evacuation, the ship suffered extensive damage to more than 100 cabins, while heat and smoke damaged adjacent sections of the ship. The precise cause of the fire remains unknown, but the Ecstasy was examined meticulously and refitted in drydock; it re-entered cruising service not long afterward.

Carnival did not suffer financially or from a public relations standpoint because of the fire on the Ecstasy, and it continues to look forward to further growth, building on its name recognition, which is presently the highest in the industry. Since studies show that only five percent of the 70 million Americans who can afford cruises choose that type of vacation, Carnival seemed to have plenty of room for expansion.

Principal Subsidiaries: Carnival Cruise Lines; Holland America Line; Windstar Cruises; Holland America Westours; Cunard White Star Line (68%); Seabourn Cruise Line (68%); Costa Crociere S.p.A. (63%); Airtours' Sun Cruises (26%).

Source: International Directory of Company Histories , Vol. 27. St. James Press, 1999.

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Inside the Carnival ships that made cruising history

Nostalgic for the early days of cruising? Our latest Cruise Ship Tour, in the carousel above, looks back at cruise giant Carnival's first three vessels — the Mardi Gras, Carnivale and Festivale.

Originally built in Britain as ocean liners and converted by Carnival into floating fun zones, the now-legendary ships helped revolutionize the cruise industry in the 1970s and put Carnival on a path to global dominance.

Created by veteran cruise writer and ship photographer Peter Knego, the tour combines rare archival exterior and interior photographs of the vessels from the periods before, during and after their ownership by Carnival with Knego's own images from shipboard visits to tell their story from beginning to end. All three ships were scrapped in recent years.

The tour is part of our ongoing series of cruise ship galleries. For an inside look at dozens of other passenger vessels sailing on the world's oceans and rivers, click on the links below:

Adventure Canada:  Ocean Endeavour AmaWaterways:  AmaViola ;  AmaCerto American Cruise Lines:  American Eagle American Queen Steamboat Company :  American Queen ;  American Empress Azamara Club Cruises:  Azamara Quest Avalon Waterways:  Avalon Myanmar ;  Avalon Passion Carnival Cruise Line:  Carnival Imagination ;  Carnival Miracle ;  early icons of the Carnival fleet ;  Carnival Vista Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Solstice Costa Cruises:  Costa Diadema ;  Costa Atlantica ;  Costa Luminosa CroisiEurope:  Elbe Princesse Cruise & Maritime Voyages:  Discovery Crystal Cruises:  Crystal Symphony Cunard Line:  Queen Mary 2 Disney Cruise Line:  Disney Wonder ;  Disney Fantasy ;  Disney Magic ;  Disney Dream, Fantasy compared Emerald Waterways:  Emerald Sky Hapag-Lloyd:  Europa 2 Hebridean Island Cruises:  Hebridean Princess Holland America Line:  Amsterdam ;  Koningsdam ;  Westerdam Hurtigruten:  Midnatsol ;  Lofoten ;  Nordstjernen ;  Fram Norwegian Cruise Line:  Norwegian Getaway ;  Norwegian Escape Oceania Cruises:  Nautica ;  Sirena Paul Gauguin Cruises:  Paul Gauguin P&O Cruises:  Britannia Princess Cruises:  Regal Princess ;  Diamond Princess ;  early icons of the Princess fleet ;  Star Princess ;  Golden Princess Regent Seven Seas Cruises:  Seven Seas Mariner ;  Seven Seas Explorer ; Seven Seas Voyager Royal Caribbean International:  Quantum of the Seas ;  Anthem of the Seas ;  Freedom of the Seas ;  Harmony of the Seas Scenic Cruises:  Scenic Gem ;  Scenic Sapphire Seabourn Cruise Line:  Seabourn Encore Silversea:  Silver Galapagos ;  Silver Cloud ; Silver Muse Tauck:  Inspire ;  Savor Un-Cruise Adventures:  Safari Endeavour Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection:  S.S. Maria Theresa ;  River Countess Viking River Cruises:  Viking Skirnir Viking Ocean Cruises:  Viking Star ;  Viking Sea ;  Viking Sky Windstar Cruises:  Star Breeze ;  Wind Spirit

Retired ocean liners, cruise ships and yachts:  SS Rotterdam ;  Royal Yacht Britannia Theme galleries:  10 cruise ship suites that will blow your mind ;  the last of the great ocean liners ;  ship christenings with Queen Elizabeth II ;  Royal ship christenings through the years ;  9 most amazing megaships ;  25 most beautiful cruise vessels

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A Guide to All 27 Carnival Cruise Ships

With 27 ships and hundreds of itineraries, there’s a Carnival cruise for everyone.

Courtesy of Carnival Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line offers numerous cruise options worldwide with a fleet of 27 ships. Their cruises include all the hits: celebrity chef-driven restaurants, onboard rollercoasters, dedicated kids venues, serene spa moments, adults-exclusive pool decks, and exciting destinations. Carnival has it all — and can be relatively affordable. But which ship is right for you?

After sailing on eight Carnival cruises, including voyages on its oldest ship, Carnival Elation , and the newer Carnival Celebration, I’ve learned that sailing on newer ships is generally more expensive, and older vessels are more budget-friendly. However, I often consider more than the total cost before booking a cruise. I look at the ports of call, the space-to-guest ratio, the amenities and onboard activities, and the launch point.

When I select a sailing, I book through Carnival Cruise Line’s reservation number to see if I can snag an exclusive deal not listed online. Carnival's free-to-join loyalty program, the Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) Club, offers deals like reduced deposits, onboard credit, and room upgrades. The more you book with the cruise line, the better your deals will be. 

Before committing to a cruise, I break down the price per person per night, particularly if I need multiple cabins because I'm traveling with a group. I recommend you take advantage of Carnival's convenient 24-hour reservation hold, which displays the total cost, itinerary, and a countdown timer so you know when to purchase to secure the locked-in price.

Here, find guidance on every Carnival cruise ship, from the newest to the oldest.

Related: How to Save Money on a Cruise

Carnival Firenze

Inaugural Year: 2024

Ship Class: Venice Class

Ship Capacity: 4,126 double occupancy; 5,245 total guests

Standout Amenities: Amari bar for a peritivi and digestivi ; Serenity Adult-Only Retreat when you need time away from kids; and Pizzeria Del Capitano for hand-tossed pizza made with imported Italian ingredients  

Originally debuted in 2021 as part of the Costa Cruises fleet (an Italy-based subsidiary of Carnival), the Firenze will set sail as a Carnival ship — with an Italian twist — in Spring 2024. Across Firenze , you’ll see touches of Italy; think cute cafe set-ups that look like they were picked up from a Florence sidewalk. Terrazza staterooms access a private sun deck with whirlpools and a bar. Carnival’s fan-favorite dining options and amenities, like Guy’s Burger Joint and WaterWorks, will be on board.

Carnival Jubilee

Inaugural Year: 2023

Ship Class: Excel Class

Ship Capacity: 5,374 double occupancy; 6,631 total guests

Standout Amenities: BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster rollercoaster; relaxing Cloud 9 Spa thermal suites with adjustable humidity and temperature; pickleball courts for challenging family and friends

Carnival Jubilee is the newest Excel-class ship in the fleet, sailing from Galveston, Texas. The massive ship offers Camp Ocean, the onboard kids club. Adults also have their own space at the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat with swaying hammocks and a bar.

Carnival Venezia

Ship Capacity: 3,934 double occupancy; 4,977 total guests

Standout Amenities: The Gondola Lounge, themed after Venice's beautiful canals; a pool area with a retractable roof

Initially built in 2019 for Costa Cruises, this ship joined the Carnival fleet in 2023. Carnival Venezia is ideal if you’re looking for a ship that celebrates one of Italy’s most iconic cities. Venice is the inspiration behind the indoor and outdoor areas, including the atrium, modeled after Piazza San Marco, and the Carnevale Lounge, inspired by Venetian masquerades. Don't miss the Venetian Toast, where the ship’s captain greets guests and crew don Venetian masks.

Carnival Celebration

Inaugural Year: 2022

Standout Amenities: Space Cruisers, a kids camp in partnership with Kennedy Space Center; The Golden Jubilee Bar for vintage cocktails; BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster

Carnival Celebration is all about never-ending good times. During my recent sailing, I found all the Carnival classics, like the Alchemy Bar and Guy’s Burger Joint, a thrilling ropes course, dive-in movies, and plenty of themed deck parties. If you’re looking to relax, it has that, too. Rent cabanas or lounge in the ocean-view whirlpools at Loft 19, where attentive staff take care of everything, like delivering you fruit and chilled towels. My favorite spot to hang out was the aft Patio Pool because it wasn't ever super crowded, and the view of the ocean was unmatched. 

Carnival Luminosa

Ship Class: Spirit Class

Ship Capacity: 2,260 double occupancy; 2,826 total guests 

Standout Amenities: Carnival fan-favorite Alchemy Bar; Circle “C” tween club; Cloud 9 Spa hydrotherapy pool for rejuvenating soaks

Carnival Luminosa (formerly the Costa Luminosa ) is for you if you want to sail to destinations like Alaska and Australia. It also offers occasional itineraries through scenic transpacific spots like Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, and Japan. The ship has all of the brand’s classic amenities, like the RedFrog Rum Bar and Punchliner Comedy Club, plus an array of dining options, including sushi, pizza, ice cream, and an over-the-top brunch.

Carnival Mardi Gras

Inaugural Year: 2021

Ship Capacity: 5,282 double occupancy; 6,456 total guests

Standout Amenities: BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster for adrenaline junkies; Havana Bar for Cuban drinks and live music; Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse

Carnival Mardi Gras is a nod to Carnival’s first ship, also named Mardi Gras, which was launched in 1972. The vessel has six onboard zones where families can have fun together, including the Ultimate Playground, where BOLT and the SportsSquare are located. Of course, there’s no Mardi Gras without New Orleans, so the French Quarter zone is where you’ll find Big Easy-inspired amenities like an Emeril Lagasse restaurant.

Carnival Radiance

Inaugural Year: 2021 (formerly Carnival Victory , which set sail in 2000)

Ship Class: Sunshine Class

Ship Capacity: 2,984 double occupancy; 3,873 total guests 

Standout Amenities: BlueIguana Tequila Bar for great margaritas; ZSPA for teens who want a spa day; an outdoor gym on the ship's top deck

Carnival Radiance has culinary delights and family fun in spades. If you're a foodie, try Guy’s Burger Joint for loaded burgers straight from Flavortown or Shaq’s Big Chicken for the basketball star's incredible fried chicken sandwiches. Kids will love seeing The Cat in the Hat characters during activities like character parades, story time, and character breakfasts.

Carnival Panorama

Inaugural Year: 2019

Ship Class: Vista Class

Ship Capacity: 4,008 double occupancy; 5,146 total guests

Standout Amenities: Sky Zone trampoline park where families can bounce and play games; Skyride, a suspended bike on the top deck with great ship and ocean views; Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse featuring Carnival Cruise Line exclusive craft beers

Carnival Panorama is smaller than today's mega-ships, but it packs a ton of fun into its 15 decks. Rooms are spacious; some come with exclusive perks like access to the Havana Pool area or unlimited use of the spa’s thermal suites. Kids will also love that there’s an onboard waterpark, kids club, and a Build-a-Bear Workshop at Sea.

Carnival Sunrise

Ship Capacity: 2,984 double occupancy; 3,973 total guests

Standout Amenities: Cloud 9 Spa cabins with access to the thermal suites; Lucky Bowl restaurant, which is only on Carnival Sunrise and only open for lunch

Carnival Sunrise  (formerly Carnival Triumph ) features an exciting splash zone for kids and a piano bar where adults can sing along to their favorite songs all night. The ship sails on two to five-night and six to nine-night cruises from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas.

Carnival Horizon

Inaugural Year: 2018

Ship Capacity: 3,960 double occupancy; 4,977 total guests

Standout Amenities: IMAX movie theater for a family night out; Dr. Suess Bookville for family story time and character appearances; volleyball court where adults can test their skills or just hit the ball around

Carnival Horizon has all the makings of a fun family vacation. The kids clubs have dedicated counselors who ensure children are always having fun, and parents can slip away to an adults-only bar for a cocktail or the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat to catch some sun. Then, as night falls, you can come back together for a special meal in the main dining room or JiJi Asian Kitchen, which specializes in regional Asian cuisine.

Carnival Vista

Inaugural Year: 2016

Standout Amenities: The thrilling SkyRide suspended bike for great ship and sea views; Thrill Theater for a 3-D show with water, lighting, wind, and chair movement effects; RedFrog Pub & Brewery, the first brewery at sea in North America

Carnival Vista is perfect for new cruisers. Sailings range from two to nine days out of Port Canaveral, so you can get a taste of what a cruise is like without committing to a more traditional weeklong sailing. Expect an onboard brewery, incredible restaurants, and family-friendly fun.

Carnival Sunshine

Inaugural Year: 2013

Ship Capacity: 3,002 double occupancy; 3,758 total guests

Standout Amenities: Carnival WaterWorks with multiple slides and water features; BlueIguana Tequila Bar for poolside libations; an onboard steakhouse with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its exceptional wine list

Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny ) is 10 years old and a fan favorite. The lower guest capacity, at just over 3,000 for double occupancy, means you won’t have to fight hoards of people to get to and from activities. Families who want even more cabin space should book one of the aft-view extended balcony rooms with great wake views and ample private outdoor space.

Carnival Breeze

Inaugural Year: 2012

Ship Class: Dream Class

Ship Capacity: 3,690 double occupancy; 4,724 total guests 

Standout Amenities: Cloud 9 Spa for next-level relaxation; Mongolian Wok lunch restaurant; pickleball courts to get competitive with your family; waterslides

Carnival Breeze is ideal for a short cruise out of Galveston, Texas. The ship has plenty of activities throughout the day, including bingo, trivia, and live performances in the comedy club.

Carnival Magic

Inaugural Year: 2011

Ship Capacity: 3,690 double occupancy; 4,724 total guests

Standout Amenities: Cloud 9 Spa; a thrilling ropes course; Chef’s Table dining experience

Carnival Magic sails for a week or more from Miami, Florida. The ship debuted the restaurant Cucina del Capitano, which is now onboard multiple ships in the fleet. It’s also home to the original Guy’s Pig & Anchor. I sailed the Carnival Magic years ago, but I vividly remember spending an entire day enjoying the amenities at the Cloud 9 Spa and eating at the Mongolian Wok quick-service restaurant almost every afternoon for lunch.

Carnival Dream

Inaugural Year: 2009

Ship Capacity: 3,646 double occupancy; 4,631 total guests

Standout Amenities: Ocean Plaza, a multi-use entertainment venue that’s family-friendly during the day and a nightclub after dark; Guy’s Burger Joint for standout smash burgers; Cloud 9 Spa for adults to relax

Carnival Dream is known for exciting entertainment and food and beverage offerings, including Alchemy Bar, a vintage-themed cocktail "pharmacy." The ship sails from Galveston, Texas, on six to nine-day cruises. I loved playing the onboard mini-golf course.

Carnival Splendor

Inaugural Year: 2008

Ship Class: Splendor Class

Ship Capacity: 3,012 double occupancy; 3,734 total guests

Standout Amenities: Masala Tiger Indian restaurant, which is only open for lunch and only on this ship; a mini-golf course; a pool with a retractable cover

Carnival Splendor sails the Southern Hemisphere around Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific on cruises that range from two to 10 days. The ship has Carnival’s only quick-service Indian restaurant and boasts a pool with a retractable roof, so you can swim without worrying about the weather.

Carnival Freedom

Inaugural Year: 2007

Ship Class: Conquest Class

Ship Capacity: 2,980 double occupancy; 3,754 total guests

Standout Amenities: Space Cruisers kids program in partnership with Kennedy Space Center; RedFrog Pub, with Key West-inspired food and drinks; Dr. Seuss Bookville, a kids library that's themed after the famous author’s characters

Carnival Freedom is ideal for first-time cruisers because of the lower guest capacity and the smaller ship size. But don’t let the numbers fool you; this ship is packed with high-energy activities for all ages; from the kid's clubs to the casino, there’s no lack of fun to be had.

Carnival Liberty

Inaugural Year: 2005

Ship Capacity: 2,974 double occupancy; 3,576 total guests

Standout Amenities: Punchliner Comedy Club for family-friendly laughs during the day and adults-only fun at night; SkyBox Sports Bar to keep up with the big games back home; Mongolian Wok, a prime lunch spot with custom bowls

Looking to relax? Prefer a high-energy vacation? Carnival Liberty can do it all. Head to the main theater for enchanting live performances and shows every night, enjoy tacos and burgers on the pool decks, or find a lounge chair around the pool and soak up the sun.

Carnival Valor

Inaugural Year: 2004

Ship Capacity: 2,980 double occupancy; 3,756 total guests

Standout Amenities: Dive-in movies where you can catch a family-friendly flick under the stars; BlueIguana Tequila Bar for tequila and Mexican beer-based cocktails; Scarlett’s Steakhouse, where perfect steaks and impeccable sides await

Carnival Valor is almost 20 years old and still showing cruisers a good time. The ship's home ports are New Orleans, Louisiana, and Barcelona, Spain, and it offers two to over 10-night sailings. Don’t miss the epic Seaday Brunch, where you'll find all kinds of treats like huevos rancheros, french toast, loaded burgers, and chicken and waffles.

Carnival Miracle

Ship Capacity: 2,124 double occupancy; 2,680 total guests

Standout Amenities: Serenity Adult-Only Retreat where the 21-plus crowd can enjoy a kid-free space; pickleball courts that have great views of the ocean and ports of call

Fantasy worlds and elements inspired Carnival Miracle . Around the ship, you’ll find spaces like Phantom Lounge and Dr. Frankenstein’s Lab, where you can see shows or dance the night away. When you’re ready to soak up the sun, find a lounge chair at the adults-only pool deck or splash down on one of the slides at WaterWorks.

Carnival Glory

Inaugural Year: 2003

Standout Amenities: Camp Ocean kids club for children ages two to 11; AquaTunnel waterslide; 24-hour pizza delivery to anywhere on the ship

Carnival Glory is a vibrant ship inside and out. Think nightly dance parties in White Heat Dance Club, movies under the stars on the pool deck, and tacos from BlueIguana Cantina. The ship sails around the Bahamas, Caribbean, and more on two to 10-day itineraries.

Carnival Legend

Inaugural Year: 2002

Ship Capacity: 2,124 double occupancy; 2,610 total guests 

Standout Amenities: White Hot Night Party; jogging track with panoramic ocean views; Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea where kids can make a new friend to bring home

Carnival Legend, themed around legends and lore around the world, has two pools and plenty of places to grab a bite, including the Golden Fleece Steakhouse for a stunning multi-course dinner. You're sure to return home with tales.

Carnival Conquest

Standout Amenities: Pickleball courts so you can keep up with weekly family matches; '80s Rock-In-Glow Party for an evening of throwback fun; Guy’s Burger Joint for tasty and quick meals between activities

Carnival Conquest takes cruisers to the Bahamas and the Caribbean on two to 10-day sailings. Special programs allow kids to see their favorite Dr. Seuss characters at sea, and adults can enjoy the enticing Alchemy Bar for one-of-a-kind cocktails.

Carnival Pride

Inaugural Year: 2002 

Standout Amenities: Mid-ship pool with a retractable roof; Heroes Tribute Bar, which recognizes each branch of the American military

For an extended cruise from Tampa, Florida, or Baltimore, Maryland, look to Carnival Pride . The ship has something for every type of traveler, including three kids clubs, adult-only spaces, and over a dozen different dining options.

Carnival Spirit

Inaugural Year: 2001

Ship Capacity: 2,124 double occupancy; 2,610 total guests

Standout Amenities: Domed swimming pool; two-deck fitness center; a pizza window open until 4 a.m.

Carnival Spirit sets sail from home ports around the United States to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal. The ship offers a wide range of entertainment options, including mini-golf, a jogging track, kids clubs, and adult-centric entertainment.

Carnival Paradise

Inaugural Year: 1998

Ship Class: Fantasy Class

Ship Capacity: 2,052 double occupancy; 2,606 total guests

Standout Amenities: Serenity Adult-Only Retreat when you need a place without kids; twin racing waterslides for all ages

With two to nine-day cruises from Tampa to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, Carnival Paradise literally takes cruisers to paradise islands. The ship brims with fun amenities like the WaterWorks splash zone and the relaxing Cloud 9 Spa.

Carnival Elation

Ship Capacity: 2,052 double occupancy; 2,606 total guests 

Standout Amenities: Duke’s Piano Bar for nightly sing-a-longs; Alchemy Bar for custom cocktails; BlueIguana Cantina for breakfast and lunch options with a Mexican twist

Carnival Elation is currently the fleet's oldest ship, debuting in March 1998, and the only cruise ship from any cruise line that sails from Jacksonville, Florida. Even though the ship is small, with a total guest capacity of 2,606, it’s ideal for a quick weekend away if you want a mix of relaxation and high-energy activities. I've sailed the most on Carnival Elation since the ship sails from my hometown of Jacksonville. Even though it's the oldest in the fleet, I love that the sailings are short weekend trips where I can sit outside in the sun enjoying a Guy's Burger Joint smash burger before heading inside to see a show or play bingo. And because the ship is so small, it's easy to navigate, and I always end up making friends with the delightful crew onboard.

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Carnival Cruise Line history

Carnival cruise line company history timeline.

Growing since our founding in 1972, Carnival Cruise Line — “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line®” — now carries millions of guests every year.

In 1974, he proved his determination, buying full ownership of the ailing Carnival – and its precarious future – for $1 in cash and the assumption of $5 million in debt.

In 1979 Arison's 30-year-old son, Micky Arison, was named president and chief executive of the company.

Beginning in 1980, Carnival's revenues grew 30 percent annually, three times faster than the average for the cruise business as a whole.

In 1982 Carnival's four boats carried some 200,000 passengers, with the firm earning $40 million on revenues of about $200 million.

After achieving its position as "The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line", in 1987 Carnival made an initial public offering of 20 percent of its common stock which provided the initial influx of capital that allowed the company to begin expanding through acquisition.

In 1987 Ted Arison sold 18 percent of the shares of his private empire, raising nearly $400 million for the company, and Carnival went on a spending spree.

In 1988 Carnival purchased the Holland America Line for $625 million.

Carnival's 1989 revenues surpassed $1 billion, and the firm earned profits of $193 million while carrying 783,485 passengers.

1990 – The 70,367-ton Carnival Fantasy – the first and namesake vessel in the highly successful “Fantasy-class” — enters service as first new ship ever placed on three- and four-day Bahamas cruise program from Miami.

Carnival Fantasy has the longest tenure with the line; it launched in 1990 -- marking the beginning of the Fantasy Class.

At the end of fiscal year 1990, Carnival incurred a $25.5 million loss from the resort and casino operation and not long after began attempting to sell the Crystal Palace.

Still, in 1991 Carnival enjoyed a 26 percent share of the passengers in the $5 billion cruise-ship market, with revenues of $1.4 billion.

In an effort to gain more working capital, Carnival offered 7.85 million Class A common shares for sale in 1991.

In 1992 Carnival agreed to acquire a percentage of Seabourn Cruise Lines.

In September of the same year the Fascination, to be ready in late 1994, was ordered at a cost of $315 million.

Although the name Carnival Corporation didn’t come into existence until 1994, the foundation for our company was laid when our flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Line, was formed.

The company also signed a contract for a $330 million ship, the Imagination, to be delivered in the fall of 1995.

Carnival made history later in 1996, when Carnival Destiny launched as the largest passenger cruise ship in the world (at that time) and the first to exceed 100,000 tons.

--Interview with the Chairman, Micky Arison, 1997 Annual Report

In 1997 Carnival purchased a 50 percent interest in Costa Cruise Lines, in partnership with Airtours, a travel company.

1998 – Introduction of seventh “Fantasy-class” vessel, Carnival Elation, the first new Carnival Cruise Line ship ever deployed on the West Coast.

In 1998, Carnival launched its seventh and eighth (final) Fantasy-class ships: Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise.

Yet the company's most important acquisition came in 1998 when it purchased a controlling interest in Cunard White Star Line.

By 1998 the company had changed its legal name to Carnival Corporation, to emphasize the growing diversity within its cruise lines.

The eighth and last in the “Fantasy-class” series, Carnival Paradise, enters service 1999 – Debut of the 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph, Carnival’s second “Destiny-class” vessel.

It wasn't long before Carnival introduced its second Destiny-class ship; Carnival Triumph debuted in 1999, one year after Elation and Paradise.

Following the class' namesake ship were Carnival Pride and Carnival Legend, both launched in 2002.

In April 2003, agreements were finalized to combine Carnival Corporation with P&O Princess Cruises plc, creating the world’s first global cruise operator encompassing 12 highly recognizable brands and making the new company one of the largest leisure travel companies in the world.

In 2003, agreements were finalized to combine Carnival Corporation with P&O Princess Cruises plc, creating the world’s first global cruise operator - Carnival Corporation & plc.

In 2004, the fourth Spirit-class ship, Carnival Miracle, entered service.

Since 2006, Carnival Corporation & plc has been a member of the FTSE4Good Index, the socially responsible investment index calculated by global index provider FTSE Group.

2011 – A second 130,000-ton ship, Carnival Magic, enters service.

The ship is later transformed with a $155 million makeover and renamed Carnival Sunshine, entering service in 2013.

2016 – The largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed – the 133,500-ton, 3,954-passenger Carnival Vista – is introduced offering a number of unique innovations including an onboard brewery, the SkyRide aerial attraction and the first IMAX Theatre ever offered at sea.

2018 – A second Vista-class ship, Carnival Horizon, enters service.

Record total revenues were $20.8 billion, higher than $18.9 billion in 2018.

In September 2019, the “Blue Angel” logo was painted onto AIDAnova’s side at the Port of Marseille.

In 2019, Carnival Corporation & plc along with Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line signed an agreement with the Bahamas to build two major port developments.

In 2019, Carnival Panorama became Carnival Cruise Line’s first new cruise ship to home-port in Long Beach on the West Coast of the United States.

Carnival Corporation & plc has been recognized in Newsweek’s ranking of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2020.

P&O Cruises (UK) has a fleet of five ships with a new ship, Iona being launched in 2020; combining genuine service, a sense of occasion and attention to detail; and ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time.

In 2020, Carnival will welcome a new class of ship when Mardi Gras enters service toward the end of the year.

2021 – Mardi Gras, a new class of 180,000-ton ship and the first Carnival ship ever powered by Liquefied Natural Gas enters service from Port Canaveral.

2022 – Carnival Cruise Line celebrates its 50th birthdayand a second 180,000-ton LNG ship, Carnival Celebration, is set to debut from PortMiami in 2022.

Rate Carnival Cruise Line's efforts to communicate its history to employees.

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My Cruise History With Carnival?????

By funat55 , January 23, 2012 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Where can I go to find my cruise history with Carnival. I may already be Platinum for all I know and I want to make sure that all my previous cruises are registered. I have a cruise coming up and there is an icon to click if you want to add a cruise, but where do you go to check on your past cruise history??

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It should be under your profile on your carnival account

DaytonCruiser

If you are already logged in click on this link

https://secure.carnival.com/CruiseHistory.aspx

Log in and check your profile. i just did this for my wife and was pleasantly surprised that they had all of ther information.

Cruzin2paradise09

So glad you asked this ... I went in and checked my info and I found a MESS ... and I made it! So, tomorrow I will be calling to have someone hopefully fix my mess and make it all better! Whew! I had 3 different email accounts associated with my Carnival booking coming up, but only one had the past guest numbers and cruises! Sometimes, I'm just overly dumb.

Good luck to you!

I think I might know what the problem is. I changed email addresses and I think the history is in the old file because when I try to update my profile I keep getting a message that says the information I a trying to submit is already associated with another user. Guess I'll have to call Carnival on Monday and straigten it out.

So glad you asked this ... I went in and checked my info and I found a MESS ... and I made it! So, tomorrow I will be calling to have someone hopefully fix my mess and make it all better! Whew! I had 3 different email accounts associated with my Carnival booking coming up, but only one had the past guest numbers and cruises! Sometimes, I'm just overly dumb.   Good luck to you!

I can totally relate. I've never really been overly concerned about whether I'm at a certain leval but what the heck, if I've earned a perk, I'm happy to have it. I am greatful to get to go on a cruise at all.

Colorado Kat

It is important to check cruise history, especially if you have twins or triplets. They have a computer glitch, and keep promising that it is being fixed, but it never is. My twins have had a dozen different past guest numbers between them.

Just checked our past history, our Dream trip isn't showing up on it! I'll have to call Carnival tonight to fix it, I don't want to be discreditted for future Platinum hopeful status! :)

EDIT: Seems that I was able to put my mum's past guest number through, but can't put it for the others in my family?

Just checked our past history, our Dream trip isn't showing up on it! I'll have to call Carnival tonight to fix it, I don't want to be discreditted for future Platinum hopeful status! :)   EDIT: Seems that I was able to put my mum's past guest number through, but can't put it for the others in my family?

I have been told by Carnival IT that you are only allowed one profile per email address. I really think this is something they need to fix. A family really needs to be able to see everyones cruise history in the family.

If anyone finds out how to do this please let me know.

I find Carnival's website to be less than friendly. Part of it is that I'm more used to going to Princess's and Holland America's websites, but part is that it's not that well designed.

I managed to do the online check-in for our cruise, but for some reason my booking doesn't come up in my personal info. When I tried to add it, I received a message that said there was a problem--and it locked up the screen.

My only Carnival cruise was on the Carnivale back in the 1980s. Our travel agent was able to book us with past passenger rates using our Princess Captain's Circle info. But I'd like to get credit for having sailed on Carnival so that we can attend the past passenger party.

Buffalofirsttimer4

Our travel agent was able to book us with past passenger rates using our Princess Captain's Circle info. But I'd like to get credit for having sailed on Carnival so that we can attend the past passenger party.

Does this mean I can book past guest if I have a Princess Captain's circle number? I have cruised with Princess before and would love to get past guest rate on Carnival?

Can anyone advise?

I find Carnival's website to be less than friendly. Part of it is that I'm more used to going to Princess's and Holland America's websites, but part is that it's not that well designed.   I managed to do the online check-in for our cruise, but for some reason my booking doesn't come up in my personal info. When I tried to add it, I received a message that said there was a problem--and it locked up the screen.   My only Carnival cruise was on the Carnivale back in the 1980s. Our travel agent was able to book us with past passenger rates using our Princess Captain's Circle info. But I'd like to get credit for having sailed on Carnival so that we can attend the past passenger party.

If you have any proof of being on the Carnivale you should call Carnival and fax it, like a picture of you boarding or your sail & sign card or the documents, Carnival may not have been keeping records for you that far back...

Does this mean I can book past guest if I have a Princess Captain's circle number? I have cruised with Princess before and would love to get past guest rate on Carnival?   Can anyone advise?

No, each cruiseline is separate. What they were referencing on past guest bookings was to book there Princess cruises, not there Carnival cruises. They only cruised on Carnival once which was back in 1980, so no other cruises for Carnival after...

They only have records back to 1990! I too sailed on the Carnivale as it was my first cruise with my parents. I had several other cruises with my parents from 1981 to 1989. I had to call Carnival to get my past cruises linked because I had a married name, a first marriage name, and a second marriage name all spanning over those years. They show me as 8 and I am looking for documentation for the 4 other cruises with my parents...but I can't find anything from back then because how many teenagers keep records? I am thinking about contacting the TA for those cruises to see if they have a file on my parents.....

When I clicked on mine there was nothing posted even though I was told last year that I had 6 previous cruises. Just did The Magic in October so that makes 7. Also, I was on The Mardi Gras but I know that the previous cruises number does not reflect that. I do have a picture of me and my three roommates on the gangplank with the Mardi Gras life preserver ring. Boy was I young!! Do you think they would let me use that picture so I can now be at number 8? We are booked on The Breeze for November so that makes 9 and I guess the magic number is 10.

When you head out on your 10th cruise, you get to be VIP.

Does this mean I can book past guest if I have a Princess Captain's circle number? I have cruised with Princess before and would love to get past guest rate on Carnival? Can anyone advise?

You should be able to get the past passenger rate as long as you have sailed on any of the Carnival Corp. brands.

• 2 years later...

I'm looking for something similar. I took a 7 day cruise in June of 1989 on a Carnival ship out of Miami. We went to Cozumel, Ocho Rios Jamaica, and ST. Thomas. But I don't remember what ship we sailed on. It was near the end of June.

Are there lists of all the cruises that happened in a particular month and year? I'm sure I could figure it out if there were a comprehensive list. This was long before I had an email account, so I doubt I'll have any record with Carnival.

• 5 years later...

You can download the ShipMate app.   It has a full list of cruises and itineraries.  

Folks, this thread is OVER 8 years old! 

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Carnival: Introducing Celebration Key

• April 22, 2024

The big news for Carnival Cruise Line for 2025 will be the July opening of Celebration Key. Eighteen ships sailing from 10 different homeports will be calling at Carnival’s new destination in the Bahamas, Fred Stein, vice president of planning and deployment, told Cruise Industry News .

“Our regular itinerary cycles are published through April 2026 and from the end of July (2025) through April (2026) we have over 500 calls planned for Celebration Key, meaning more than 2 million guests.

“The Mardi Gras and the Celebration, our two Excel vessels that sail from Florida, will be calling at Celebration Key on every one of their cruises.”

He added that a four-port, seven-day itinerary was created, essentially adding the new destination as a bonus port.

As a function of its proximity of the port to South Florida, the new destination will also have favorable impact on fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Carnival ships also call at other corporate-managed destinations, including Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay. The latter has been a tendering call, but a pier project is underway, which will allow ships to come alongside.

“I expect that in our next inventory cycle, which will run from May 2026 to May 2027, you’ll start seeing some calls at the new pier development at Half Moon Cay,” Stein said.

While Carnival theoretically could create itineraries calling only at its own ports, Stein said there are good reasons to go elsewhere.

“Because our guests, particularly past guests who have sailed with us before, look to explore new destinations, so we have the Carnival Celebration also going to San Juan and St. Thomas. And we call at St. Maarten and other destinations across the Caribbean. So, we offer a variety of itineraries that explore beyond the corporate managed ports.”

What can the ports do to attract ships? “They need to make sure that their destination is driving awareness,” Stein answered, “so that people want to go there. Once ports develop awareness and interest, they have to make sure they deliver experiences that resonate with guests, so they’ll want to come back.

“They should also think about our crew as they can be the best ambassadors for a destination.

“And they need to continue to evolve their infrastructure as the ships get larger.

“The easier they can make the transit in and out of the port also helps and the business dealings between us and the port in terms of booking berth space. They should just be straight-forward in how they deal with us,” he added.

For planning itineraries, Stein said the cruise line has a very high prioritization on reducing its carbon footprint, which can be achieved by sailing shorter distances or at lower speeds.

The planning window is several years out.

“Right now, we have published through April 2026, so we are focused on the next cycle, which will take us to May 2027,” Stein said. “That is what I would call our near-term planning. We also have a long-term horizon.”

Excerpt from the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine Spring 2024

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4 reasons to buy carnival stock like there's no tomorrow.

Shares of Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) have been volatile since the pandemic restrictions eased.

The stock has recovered some of its losses during the crisis that shut down the cruise industry , but it's fallen this year as hopes for interest rate cuts have faded. Now, the sell-off looks like a good buying opportunity for value-minded investors. Here are four reasons why.

1. Carnival is posting record results

Don't be fooled by the weakness in the stock price. Carnival's top-line performance is as strong as ever. In its recent first-quarter earnings report, Carnival posted record first-quarter revenue at $5.4 billion, plus record net yields and net per diems, metrics that measure the revenue and profit per passenger per day, saying they significantly exceeded 2023 levels.

Booking volumes also hit an all-time high, and management said prices were "considerably higher" than a year ago. Deposits reached a first-quarter record as well at $7 billion, and the company raised its guidance to reflect the better-than-expected bookings and revenue trends.

The strong revenue growth shows there's strong demand for Carnival cruises despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.

2. The bottom line is improving

Carnival has a big debt hole to dig out of after borrowing billions to stay afloat during the pandemic, but it's making progress on the bottom line as well as the top line.

In the first quarter, the company reported a generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ) operating profit of $276 million, compared to a loss of $172 million in the same quarter the year before. It also narrowed its interest expense from $539 million to $471 million thanks to debt reduction, leading to a nearly $500 million improvement on the bottom line to a loss of $214 million. Investors should be aware that the first quarter is seasonally weak and Carnival company is on track for a GAAP profit for the full year.

On the basis of adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), the company is profitable and is targeting EBITDA of $5.63 billion for the year, which is a 30% improvement from 2023 and includes a modest impact from rerouting due to the conflict in the Red Sea.

3. Carnival is expanding

Carnival continues to build new ships, refreshing its fleet and expanding its capacity to meet growing demand. In the recent earnings report, Carnival said it ordered its first newbuilds in five years, adding two ships that will come online in 2027 and 2028.

It also just welcomed the Carnival Jubilee to its fleet, which took its maiden voyage in December 2023, and the Carnival Firenze is set to debut this spring.

The ships coming online now should help drive revenue and profits higher, and the newbuild purchases show the company's confidence in long-term demand for its cruises.

4. The stock is well priced

Valuing Carnival right now is a little tricky because of its debt burden and because it grew its share count significantly during the pandemic restrictions to raise funds.

However, according to most popular metrics, the stock looks like a bargain. On a forward P/E basis, the stock trades at a valuation of just 14, which looks like a great price for a company that's recovering from the pandemic. While that ratio doesn't include Carnival's debt, it does take the interest expense into account, showing that the company can service that debt and still deliver a strong profit.

Compared to its pre-pandemic price, Carnival is still down by more than two-thirds, and it seems reasonable to expect the stock to return to that level as it pays down debt and continues to benefit from strong demand.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates later this year, which would help Carnival refinance its fixed-rate debt and see lower rates on its variable-rate debt.

Over the coming years, there are a number of levers that Carnival can pull to grow the business, and that should make the stock a winner.

Should you invest $1,000 in Carnival Corp. right now?

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4 Reasons to Buy Carnival Stock Like There's No Tomorrow was originally published by The Motley Fool

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3 Unexpected Reasons for Investors to Buy Carnival Stock

April 23, 2024 — 07:30 am EDT

Written by Will Healy for The Motley Fool  ->

Carnival Corp (NYSE: CCL) , with 43% of all world cruise passenger traffic, is the market leader, well ahead of cruise line companies like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings .

Given the company's shutdown during the pandemic and its struggles to return to full capacity and profitability since then, investors may wonder whether industry leadership is enough to make the stock a buy. Nonetheless, three unexpected factors could position Carnival Cruise stock to drive investor returns.

1. Passenger traffic

One bright spot for the company is the record number of passenger bookings. Although Carnival's recovery isn't a surprise, some of the results may not have been expected.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2024 (ended Feb. 29), occupancy returned to 102%. The cruise industry defines 100% occupancy as having two passengers in every cabin, so the fact that average occupancy per cabin exceeds two bodes well for the company.

Moreover, it wasn't just its customers from before the pandemic who returned to cruising. In 2023, the cruise line attracted 3.5 million passengers who had not previously taken a cruise. Hence, the industry seems to have become more competitive than ever, compared to companies offering land-based vacations.

Additionally, health experts blamed the close quarters within cruise ships for the rapid spread of COVID-19 during the beginning of the pandemic. That led to the shutdowns in early 2020 that persisted for more than a year. Still, the fact that the industry didn't suffer permanent reputational damage from such health concerns augurs well for the stock.

2. Debt management

The shutdowns forced Carnival (and its peers) to accumulate tens of billions in new debt to remain in business and prevented it from earning significant revenue. At the end of fiscal 2022, Carnival had almost $36 billion in total debt, compared to just $7 billion in shareholders' equity. This led to questions about whether investors would buy a stock burdened with such heavy debt obligations.

Nonetheless, one year later, the company had reduced total debt to just over $31 billion, so it had repaid an amount exceeding its short-term debt and the current portion of the long-term debt from the previous year. This is critical since any matured debt that could not be repaid would have to be reissued, most likely at higher interest rates.

Additionally, the cruise line has also invested in its expansion. To that end, it plans to increase capacity by 5% in fiscal 2024. Given that the company has returned to an operating profit, the additional available cabins should further improve its financials.

That isn't to say its financial struggles have ended. The company was profitable in just one quarter in fiscal 2023 and reported a $74 million net loss for that year. It also reported a $214 million operating loss because of high interest expenses.

Still, with the company steadily repairing its balance sheet, the stock should become more attractive to investors over time.

3. The stock's valuation

Moreover, with the company's continuing struggles and growth set to level off as it returns to full capacity, Carnival's stock has fallen by nearly 23% this year.

However, the valuation indicates the pessimism is overdone. With the net losses, it does not have a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio , and its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 0.8. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the sales multiple has never fallen below 0.7.

Analysts forecast a 14% yearly increase in revenue for the current fiscal year, making it unlikely the sales multiple will fall significantly further. Also, during the past year, the average P/S is about 1, suggesting the stock's valuation should improve over time.

Making sense of Carnival stock

Although investors have soured on Carnival stock, it looks increasingly like it has positioned itself for a comeback. The company's business seems to have bounced back from the pandemic, and that should translate into stock gains over time.

Ultimately, increased interest from first-time cruisers and an improving financial situation should make Carnival a more appealing stock to own. Additionally, the discounted valuation should limit the downside. Although the company's struggles aren't over, record passenger counts and falling debt levels should make this a stock worth owning.

Should you invest $1,000 in Carnival Corp. right now?

Before you buy stock in Carnival Corp., consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Carnival Corp. wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of April 22, 2024

Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival Corp. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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Princess Cruises welcomes its biggest ship ever with help from a star

It took a star to welcome the sun.

The Sun Princess , that is.

Princess Cruises on Tuesday officially hailed the arrival of its newest megavessel — at 177,882 tons, its biggest ever —with the help of "Ted Lasso" star Hannah Waddingham.

The Emmy Award-winning actress and singer presided over a star-studded 19-minute christening ceremony in the ship's Princess Arena theater that included a traditional bottle breaking, with a twist.

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Serving as the ship's godmother, Waddingham placed a triangular "sun ray" representing Sun Princess into a sun sculpture on stage to trigger the smashing of a huge bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne — a nebuchadnezzar that holds the equivalent of 20 traditional bottles — against the ship's hull.

"As much as theater ripples through my bloodstream, I have the strongest history of maritime in my family," a clearly proud Waddingham said moments before triggering the bottle smash.

She noted that her still-living, 107-year-old grandfather served on convoy ships crossing the Atlantic during World War II. She also grew up boating.

"It's in my blood and in my bones," she added.

Built at the giant Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, Sun Princess is the most notable new Princess ship to debut in more than a decade. Capable of holding up to 5,189 passengers (a record for a Princess ship), it's not only significantly bigger than previous Princess ships but packed with more onboard venues.

The naming celebration came two months after Sun Princess began sailing for the first time with paying passengers, a debut that was unexpectedly delayed by 20 days due to construction issues.

"Sun Princess is incredible. It's the largest, most luxurious love boat ever," John Padgett, Princess president, said at the event, harking back to the line's long-standing tie to the hit television show "The Love Boat" that ran in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Three stars from the show — Ted Lange, Bernie Kopell and Jill Whelan, who played bartender Isaac Washington, ship's doctor Adam Bricker and captain's daughter Vicki Stubing, respectively — were in attendance at the event.

The "Love Boat" stars were seated just a couple rows behind Carnival Corporation chairman Micky Arison and CEO Josh Weinstein.

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of Princess Cruises.

Makoto Okuwa, a James Beard Foundation honoree who designed a sushi eatery for Sun Princess, and Dario Cecchini, a celebrity Italian butcher who created a meat-focused restaurant for the ship, were also in attendance. So was the Brazilian artist Romero Britto, who sat to the right of Arison. Britto's colorful, upbeat art is the theme for the ship's high-end restaurant, Love by Britto.

Other celebrities at the event included model and television personality Tyra Banks, wildlife show host Jeff Corwin, fashion designer and television host Randy Fenoli and mixologist Rob Floyd. British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield performed her smash hit "Pocketful of Sunshine" among other hit songs on the top deck of the ship after the ceremony.

The biggest Princess ship ever

Under development for more than six years, Sun Princess is the first of the new Sphere Class of Princess vessels. The ships have been designed to be significantly bigger than previous Princess vessels and offer several new-for-the-line features.

First look: Inside Sun Princess, the giant new ship from Princess Cruises

Sun Princess is the first Princess ship with suites that come with exclusive access to a private restaurant, lounge and sun deck — part of an effort to draw more upscale customers to the brand.

Additionally, Sun Princess offers an innovative new type of "cabana cabin" on the ship's extra-wide 10th deck that features exclusive access to a private deck area. The top deck of the ship also received some unusual-for-Princess sizzle. Passengers will find a glass-dome-topped pool area that transforms into a nightspot after the sun goes down.

Other differences between Sun Princess and earlier Princess ships include the lack of a buffet restaurant on its main pool deck. But don't worry, buffet lovers: There still is a buffetlike venue on the ship. Called The Eatery, it's eight decks below the pool deck, closer to the ship's central piazza and just off its outside promenade.

The ship's main theater, the Princess Arena, also has a new look. Its new-for-Princess, in-the-round shape can be converted into a more traditional proscenium-type theater or a keyhole-type theater to allow for different types of productions.

Among other standout venues, Sun Princess features a secret hideaway for magical performances designed in partnership with the Magic Castle performance venue in Los Angeles.

Related: My strange night out at Princess's new magic-infused night spot

Princess also has revamped its main dining room program with the debut of Sun Princess. It now offers three distinct options for cruisers in its main dining rooms, ranging from a traditional fixed seating experience to a casual, come-when-you-want option that includes quick-served meals and even breakfast for dinner .

The arrival of Sun Princess marks the first time Princess has launched a new class of ship in nearly 11 years. With its debut, Princess now has 16 vessels in its fleet that collectively have room for about 50,000 passengers. That makes Princess the world's fifth-biggest cruise line, behind Royal Caribbean , Carnival Cruise Line , MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line .

Related: The 4 types of Princess ships, explained

Sun Princess is initially sailing in Europe through the fall. It'll then reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for voyages to the Caribbean. Fares start at $577 per person, not including taxes and fees, for a seven-night Caribbean sailing.

A second ship in the new Sphere Class series, to be called Star Princess, is on order from the Fincantieri shipyard for delivery in 2025. Its first voyage is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2025, and will take place in the Mediterranean.

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