Carnival has 24 cruise ships with three more on order for 2022 and beyond. But did you know that they vary in size massively?
Photo credit: Carnival
The biggest Carnival cruise ship, Mardi Gras is two and a half times as big as the smallest ships in the Carnival fleet. But how do the other Carnival ships size up? And does bigger mean better? Read on to find out…
Carnival ships: Biggest to smallest
Below is a list of all Carnival ships by size, ordered from largest to smallest…
| Ship | Gross Tonnage | Length (Feet) | Guest Decks | Total Guest Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mardi Gras | 180,000 | 1,130 | 17 | 6,465 |
| Carnival Panorama | 133,500 | 1,055 | 15 | 5,146 |
| Carnival Horizon | 133,500 | 1,055 | 15 | 4,977 |
| Carnival Vista | 133,500 | 1,055 | 15 | 4,977 |
| Carnival Breeze | 130,000 | 1,004 | 14 | 3,690 |
| Carnival Magic | 130,000 | 1,004 | 14 | 3,690 |
| Carnival Dream | 130,000 | 1,004 | 13 | 3,646 |
| Carnival Splendor | 113,300 | 952 | 13 | 3,734 |
| Carnival Conquest | 110,000 | 952 | 13 | 3,756 |
| Carnival Glory | 110,000 | 952 | 13 | 3,756 |
| Carnival Liberty | 110,000 | 952 | 13 | 3,756 |
| Carnival Valor | 110,000 | 952 | 13 | 3,756 |
| Carnival Freedom | 110,000 | 952 | 13 | 3,754 |
| Carnival Sunshine | 102,853 | 893 | 13 | 3,758 |
| Carnival Radiance | 101,509 | 893 | 13 | 3,873 |
| Carnival Sunrise | 101,509 | 893 | 13 | 3,873 |
| Carnival Miracle | 88,500 | 963 | 12 | 2,680 |
| Carnival Pride | 88,500 | 963 | 12 | 2,680 |
| Carnival Legend | 88,500 | 963 | 12 | 2,610 |
| Carnival Spirit | 88,500 | 963 | 12 | 2,610 |
| Carnival Ecstasy | 70,367 | 855 | 10 | 2,606 |
| Carnival Elation | 70,367 | 855 | 10 | 2,606 |
| Carnival Paradise | 70,367 | 855 | 10 | 2,606 |
| Carnival Sensation | 70,367 | 855 | 10 | 2,606 |
The biggest Carnival ship
The biggest Carnival cruise ship is Mardi Gras. Launched in 2021, this ship is the first of the new Excel Class ships. At 180,000 gross tons, Mardi Gras is 35% larger than the next biggest ship in the fleet, Carnival Panorama.
Aside from the bigger size, with 17 decks compared to the usual 10 to 15, Mardi Gras has some features that you won’t find on other Carnival ships, such as the first-ever rollercoaster at sea.
Mardi Gras is the first ship in North America to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG). She is also the only ship in the Carnival fleet whose name isn’t preceded by the word ‘Carnival’.
The different classes of Carnival ships (Biggest to smallest)
There are currently eight classes of Carnival cruise ships. Each ship in a particular class is almost identical, with some small differences.
The table below shows the Carnival ship classes from largest to smallest, based on ship volume.
| Class | Ships | Avergae Gross Tonnage |
|---|---|---|
| Excel Class | Mardi Gras | 180,000 |
| Vista Class | Horizon, Panorama, Vista | 133,500 |
| Dream Class | Breeze, Dream, Magic | 130,000 |
| Splendor Class | Splendor | 113,300 |
| Conquest Class | Conquest, Freedom, Glory, Liberty, Valor | 110,000 |
| Sunshine Class | Radiance, Sunrise, Sunshine | 102,000 |
| Sprit Class | Legend, Miracle, Pride, Spirit | 88,500 |
| Fantasy Class | Ecstasy, Elation, Paradise, Sensation | 70,367 |
Carnival cruise ships on order
Carnival’s next cruise ship will be a sister-ship to Mardi Gras by the name of Carnival Celebration. This new ship will be delivered in October 2022.
It’s believed that Carnival Celebration will be slightly larger than Mardi Gras, with a gross tonnage of 183,900, compared to Mardi Gras’ 181,808 GT. [Source]
In 2023 and 2024, Carnival will launch two as-yet-unnamed cruise ships. These will be smaller than Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration and will be dedicated to the Chinese and Asian cruise market.
Are bigger Carnival ships better?
There are advantages to both the bigger and smaller Carnival ships. The biggest ships are newer and have more facilities on board with bigger water parks and more stuff for kids to do.
The older, smaller ships in the Carnival fleet can be great too, though. The itineraries may be more destination focussed, so you’ll spend less time at sea during your cruise. Cruising on the older, smaller ships is usually a little cheaper, too.
Get the best price on your Carnival cruise
Whether you want to book a cruise on Mardi Gras or one of the smaller Carnival cruise ships, the price you pay will depend on which travel agent you book it with, even though what you get will be exactly the same!
Click here to compare the best prices for Carnival cruises
Gallery of Carnival Ships by Size
Here are some photos of the Carnival cruise ships, from biggest to smallest.
Carnival ship size FAQ
The biggest Carnival cruise ship is Mardi Gras. With a volume of 181,808 gross tons, a length of 1,130 feet and 17 passenger decks, Mardi Gras is 35% bigger than the second-biggest Carnival ship, Carnival Panorama.
The smallest Carnival cruise ships are the Fantasy class ships – Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Sensation. These ships have a gross tonnage of 70,367 GT and 10 passenger decks.
The nicest Carnival cruise ship is Mardi Gras. The newest ship in the fleet, this ship has some great facilities such as the biggest water park, a huge atrium with aerial performers and even a rollercoaster on the top deck.
