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As mentioned above, Carnival's ships can be broken down into eight distinct groups or classes. A key detail about Carnival ships is that there are a lot of similarities from class to class within the Carnival fleet. Other than these two ships, Carnival's biggest vessel is the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia, which measures just 135,225 tons. Start by exploring the incredible ports we visit… and the fun things to do, both on the ship and ashore. As the first Carnival ship to call in the UK in 20 years, guests were happy to travel on the cruise ship during this momentous occasion. Carnival Panorama, the third in the Vista Class, launched at the end of 2019 and was the first new Carnival cruise ship based on the West Coast in two decades.
About Carnival cruises
The dining options are similar to what you'll find on Vista-class ships; Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, steakhouses and the Italian eatery Cucina Del Capitano are included on all three vessels. Designed to take Carnival's "fun ship" shtick to a new level, the ships are so big that, as noted above, they have room for roller coasters on their top decks — a cruise industry first. They also have a far broader array of suites than earlier Carnival vessels. Carnival Cruise Line pioneered the concept of shorter, budget-friendly cruises with their cruise ships. Its fleet consists of "Fun Ships" that feature a wide array of entertainment and dining venues, most of which are included in the already-affordable cruise fares.
THAT OUGHT TO BE ENOUGH FUN FOR ANYONE!
One more ship in the series — Carnival Jubilee — will arrive in late 2023. 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. Carnival refers to its fleet as the "fun ships," offering a lively onboard atmosphere that focuses on pool parties, game shows and original entertainment. It prides itself on friendly service and a plethora of casual yet delectable dining venues.
Excel Class (LNG Ships)
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. The ship debuted the restaurant Cucina del Capitano, which is now onboard multiple ships in the fleet. 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.
If you're looking for a cruise experience with the most possible onboard activities and venues, you'll want to steer toward the vessels in Carnival's new Excel class and its relatively young Vista and Dream classes. At Carnival, as at other lines, the biggest ships in the fleet have the most amenities, eateries, lounges, bars and deck-top attractions than the smaller ships. This can be a huge plus for travelers who like to have a lot of options when vacationing. In 2020, Carnival welcomed a new class of Carnival cruise ships when Mardi Gras entered service toward the end of the year.
And with everything to see, don’t forget about the fantastical flavors, with Emeril’s Bistro 717™, Dr.Inks, Ph.D.™ and The Golden Mermaid™. Carnival Glory, constructed by Fincantieri at their Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, was floated out in 2003. The ship features two pools, a 214-foot water slide, six whirlpools, and a 13,300 square foot spa.
You will find multiple slides and a spray park for the kids, though. In addition to having a weather-proof main pool area, the Spirit-class ships are great for far-flung destinations because of their relatively small size, which allows them to access smaller ports. At just 88,500 tons, they're among the smallest ships in the Carnival fleet — less than half the size of Carnival's new Excel-class vessels. In addition to being smaller than Vista-class and Dream-class ships, Conquest-class ships also sail with fewer passengers.
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Carnival has quite a few different classes of ships, but the differences between many of them aren't as big as the differences between classes at other lines. While still much-beloved by Carnival fans, in part for their intimate size, these ships notably lack a large number of balcony cabins — the cabin type that everyone wants these days. Most of the cabins on these ships are ocean-view cabins that only offer a window or a porthole, or windowless inside cabins. At around 102,000 tons, the Sunshine-class ships are more than 20% smaller than Carnival Panorama and more than 40% smaller than Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
The Carnival fleet is scheduled to grow over the next year with two more new vessels. As noted above, the line has ordered a third Excel-class ship (Carnival Jubilee) that will be ready to sail in December 2023. If cruising in a more intimate environment is your preference, you'll want to look at some of Carnival's older classes of ships including the Spirit and Fantasy classes. The good news for those of you trying to get a handle on all the options within the Carnival fleet is that the line's ships can easily be bunched into just eight groups of vessels that have similar amenities. Six of the 27 vessels Carnival will operate by the summer of 2024 measure less than 100,000 tons, which makes them almost mid-size by today's cruise ship standards.
All this said, we recommend checking Carnival's website before sailing for the very latest on requirements. Unlike some lines, Carnival has resisted the trend of big-ship operators carving out whole sections of deck-top areas for the exclusive use of passengers staying in suites or willing to pay hefty access fees. Also, there are always several music venues where you'll find live performers in the afternoons and evenings, including — on some ships — the Atrium Bar and a secondary hub area called Ocean Plaza.
It's a place to get together to talk, watch movies, play video games and take part in other activities. Each group has its own age-appropriate activities ranging from face painting to pirate adventures. On many ships there are extensive dedicated spaces for the different groups.
Originally designed and ordered for Italy-based Costa Cruises — a sister brand to Carnival — the ship is actually a sister vessel to Costa's four Concordia-class ships. It will be familiar to anyone who knows Carnival ships because the design of Costa's Concordia class was based upon the design of Carnival's Conquest class, and the two classes are very similar. Both the Vista-class and Venezia-class ships were built on the same basic design platform and are roughly the same size with similar layouts. But Carnival Venezia originally was built for Carnival's Italy-based sister brand, Costa Cruises. As a result, it has a much stronger Italy theme and a few design differences. Still, enough is the same that for all practical purposes, it is a Vista-class ship in all but name.
It underwent refurbishment in 2012 and 2017, receiving new features and renovated areas. Carnival Glory has operated from various ports, including Miami, New York City, and Norfolk, Virginia, and as of 2023, its home port is New Orleans. The ship has experienced several incidents, including passengers falling overboard or from balconies, and a collision with Carnival Legend in 2019, which resulted in minor injuries to six passengers. Carnival has been rolling out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet in the last couple of years, such that you can now stream video on some ships.
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