Blog

What is the biggest Carnival cruise ship? Currently, the largest Carnival ship is Carnival Jubilee, in terms of both tonnage and passenger capacity. Set to debut in late 2023, it will tie sister ship Carnival Celebration, which first set sail in 2022, at 183,521 gross tons and 5,374 passengers at double occupancy.

It’s easy to remember that, generally, the newest ships are the largest Carnival ships. However, because Carnival Cruise Line has more than two dozen vessels in its fleet, it can be difficult to keep track of the ships that fall in between the newest and oldest.

So, to help you out, here is a list of Carnival ships, biggest to smallest, based on tonnage — a ship’s internal capacity, as measured by volume.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

Carnival cruise ships by size

1. Carnival Jubilee

Size: 183,521 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,374.
Maiden voyage: 2023.

2. Carnival Celebration

Size: 183,521 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,374.
Maiden voyage: 2022.

3. Mardi Gras

Size: 180,800 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 5,282.
Maiden voyage: 2021.

4. Carnival Venezia (formerly Costa Venezia)

Size: 135,225 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,072.
Maiden voyage: 2019 (renamed in 2023).

5. Carnival Firenze (formerly Costa Firenze)

Size: 135,156 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,126.
Maiden voyage: 2021 (renamed in 2024).

6. Carnival Panorama

Size: 133,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,008.
Maiden voyage: 2019.

7. Carnival Horizon

Size: 133,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,960.
Maiden voyage: 2018.

8. Carnival Vista

Size: 133,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,934.
Maiden voyage: 2016.

9. Carnival Breeze

Size: 130,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,690.
Maiden voyage: 2012.

10. Carnival Magic

Size: 130,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,690.
Maiden voyage: 2011.

11. Carnival Dream

Size: 130,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,646.
Maiden voyage: 2009.

12. Carnival Splendor

Size: 113,300 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,012.
Maiden voyage: 2008.

13. Carnival Freedom

Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,980.
Maiden voyage: 2007.

14. Carnival Valor

Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,980.
Maiden voyage: 2004.

15. Carnival Glory

Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,980.
Maiden voyage: 2003.

16. Carnival Conquest

Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,980.
Maiden voyage: 2002.

17. Carnival Liberty

Size: 110,000 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,974.
Maiden voyage: 2005.

18. Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny)

Size: 102,853 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,002.
Maiden voyage: 1996 (overhauled and renamed in 2013).

19. Carnival Radiance (formerly Carnival Victory)

Size: 101,509 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,984.
Maiden voyage: 2000 (overhauled and renamed in 2021).

20. Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Triumph)

Size: 101,509 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,984.
Maiden voyage: 1999 (overhauled and renamed in 2019).

21. Carnival Luminosa (formerly Costa Luminosa)

Size: 92,720 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,260.
Maiden voyage: 2009 (overhauled and renamed in 2022).

22. Carnival Miracle

Size: 88,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,124.
Maiden voyage: 2004.

23. Carnival Legend

Size: 88,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,124.
Maiden voyage: 2002.

24. Carnival Pride

Size: 88,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,124.
Maiden voyage: 2002.

25. Carnival Spirit

Size: 88,500 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,124.
Maiden voyage: 2001.

26. Carnival Paradise

Size: 71,925 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,124.
Maiden voyage: 1998.

27. Carnival Elation

Size: 71,909 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,190.
Maiden voyage: 1998.

What is the biggest Carnival ship?

The biggest Carnival ships are Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee, which will set sail for the line in late 2023. They’re tied in terms of size, each coming in at 183,521 gross tons and carrying 5,374 passengers at capacity.

Both vessels are throwback ships, which are named after two members of Carnival’s original fleet. They feature cutting-edge entertainment, luxury cabin options, a slew of cuisine choices, onboard breweries, tons of lounge areas and top-deck amusements — ropes courses, waterslides and even roller coasters — that rival what you might find at an amusement park.

What is the smallest Carnival ship?

The smallest Carnival cruise ship is Carnival Elation, the line’s second-oldest vessel. At 71,909 gross tons, it carries just 2,190 passengers — less than half the amount accommodated on ships in Carnival’s Excel class.

Are bigger Carnival ships coming?

At the time of publication, Carnival Cruise Line was building its newest ship, Carnival Jubilee. It’s one of two vessels — including its older sister Carnival Celebration — that shares the “biggest Carnival ship” title.

After Carnival Jubilee, the line has no ships on order for the first time in years.

What is the Carnival Jubilee tonnage?

Carnival Jubilee is 183,521 gross tons. Not to be confused with weight, gross registered tonnage measures a ship’s size in terms of internal volume and what a vessel can hold or contain. Each gross registered ton is equal to 100 cubic feet of space.

What’s the difference between big and small Carnival ships?

One of the biggest differences is that Carnival’s tiniest ships carry between 2,100 and 3,000 passengers, while its biggest can accommodate more than 5,000 people. In addition, the largest vessels measure more than 180,000 gross tons, while the smallest measure less than 90,000 gross registered tons.

Smaller ships don’t have space to offer as many attractions as huge vessels, but Carnival invested $500 million over five years to make its fleet more uniform, regardless of ship size.

Thanks to this initiative, all ships now feature venues including Alchemy Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint by Guy Fieri — now a staple, along with barbecue and microbrewed beer on some ships — and the Punchliner Comedy Club, among other popular amenities that are now Carnival hallmarks.

Besides the obvious size differences between big and small cruise ships, smaller ships also tend to be older than their larger counterparts.

Decor is a dead giveaway to the age of a Carnival ship. Older hardware boasts interiors designed by Joe Farcus, a renowned architect known for his kitschy, fun style that employs bright colors, whimsical art installations and neon lights. (He’s also responsible for the line’s iconic “whale tail” funnels.) Newer vessels tend to have a more toned-down look.

Finally, fares are a factor. The smaller the ship, the more likely it is to sail short, affordable itineraries. Major exceptions to this rule are Carnival Journeys voyages, which are offered a few times each year and feature extended itineraries of two weeks or longer.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• 8 cabin locations on cruise ships you should definitely avoid
• Which cruise brand is best for you? A guide to the most popular lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise
• The 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up
• Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise