Carnival Horizon Cruises

Carnival Horizon homes from Miami and takes her passengers to exotic ports and tropical isles during six and eight night Caribbean cruises.  With cruises operating between the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean, why not join two itineraries back-to-back to give you an in depth Caribbean experience and a great opportunity to explore all that Carnival Horizon has to offer.

Want more options? Check out our Carnival cruises or why not compare our selection of new Carnival Spirit and Carnival Splendor cruises for local voyages.

Spec	Detail
Age:	8 years (entered service 2018)
Class:	Vista class
Length:	323.6 metres (1,055 feet)
Beam:	37.2 metres (122 feet)
Tonnage:	133,596 gross tonnes
Capacity:	3,960 lower berth (4,716 maximum)
Crew:	~1,450
Speed:	21.5 knots

What is the Carnival Horizon?

Carnival Horizon is a 133,596 gross tonne, 323.6-metre Vista-class ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, the second of Carnival’s US-built Vista-class ships, after Carnival Vista and before Carnival Panorama. She carries 3,960 guests at lower-berth capacity (4,716 maximum when every berth is filled), with around 1,450 crew on board. She is one of Carnival’s most attraction-dense ships, led by an IMAX Theatre, one of only two in the Carnival fleet and both on Vista-class ships, the Dr. Seuss WaterWorks splash park, and the Cuban-themed Havana pool and bar zone.

Built by Fincantieri at Marghera in Italy and entering service in April 2018, Carnival Horizon was christened by Queen Latifah in New York City on 23 May 2018. She sails year-round from PortMiami on Western, Southern, and Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries of 3 to 9 nights, with a move to Galveston, Texas scheduled for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. A scheduled drydock is set for May and June 2026. She is registered in Panama.

How many decks does the Carnival Horizon have?

Carnival Horizon has 14 decks, with cabins on 12 of them, so your stateroom sits on one of those. The remaining decks hold the public spaces you use during the cruise: the two main dining rooms, the two-level Lido Marketplace buffet, the Liquid Lounge theatre, the IMAX Theatre, Ocean Plaza, the Cloud 9 Spa, the Camp Ocean kids’ centre, Winner’s Luck Casino, and the top-deck pools, Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, and SportSquare.

What cabins does the Carnival Horizon have?

Carnival Horizon carries 1,965 cabins across four core tiers. You can book:

1. Interior cabins, the entry-level option, including a porthole layout and spa-themed interiors.
2. Ocean View cabins, which add a picture window or porthole.
3. Balcony cabins, with a real private balcony, from the standard categories up to Premium Balconies with more space. The Cove Balcony sits lower down on Deck 2, closer to the water and tucked under the lifeboats, so it is heavily shaded rather than sunny.
4. Suites, which range by size from the Junior Suite up through the Ocean Suite and Grand Suite, with perks such as priority check-in and boarding and priority specialty-dining reservations.

Three themed stateroom enclaves layer on top of those tiers, each with its own perks:

1. Havana staterooms put you in the Cuban-themed zone, with daytime access to the private Havana pool and bar, while all guests aged 12 and over can use the pool after 7pm. The signature is the Havana Cabana, a stateroom with a roughly 100-square-foot private patio, a hammock, and a daybed. Havana staterooms carry a minimum age of 12.
2. Family Harbor staterooms add a dedicated Family Harbor Lounge, complimentary kids’ meals at certain venues, and one free night of Night Owls late-night childcare.
3. Cloud 9 Spa staterooms, 104 in all, add priority spa reservations, complimentary thermal-suite access, and spa-branded amenities.

What does the Carnival Horizon itinerary look like?

Carnival Horizon sails from Miami across four Caribbean regions. You can choose:

1. Western Caribbean voyages of 4 to 8 nights, calling at ports such as Cozumel, Mahogany Bay on Roatan, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, Belize, and Ocho Rios.
2. Southern Caribbean voyages of 7 to 9 nights, calling at Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Grenada, St. Lucia, and Barbados.
3. Eastern Caribbean voyages of 6 to 8 nights, calling at Nassau, San Juan, St. Thomas, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.
4. Bahamas voyages of 3 to 5 nights, calling at Nassau, Half Moon Cay, and Princess Cays.

What are the top facilities on the Carnival Horizon?

Carnival Horizon has eight standout facilities:

1. The IMAX Theatre, the large-format cinema that is one of only two in the Carnival fleet.
2. Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, the Seuss-themed splash park with the Twister and Speedway slides.
3. SkyRide, the pedal-powered, suspended-rail sky-bike circuit fitted at her original build (check the current ship-day program, as SkyRide has been removed from some Vista-class ships during refits).
4. The Havana zone, the Cuban-themed pool and bar.
5. SportSquare, with its ropes course, jogging track, and mini-golf.
6. The Cloud 9 Spa, with a thermal suite and a thalassotherapy pool.
7. The Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.
8. Dr. Seuss Bookville, the Seuss-themed reading and play space.

What is the onboard experience of the Carnival Horizon?

Carnival Horizon‘s onboard experience covers six areas:

1. Dining
2. Bars and lounges
3. Entertainment
4. Activities and pools
5. Wellness and fitness
6. Kids and teens programming

Dining is built around two main dining rooms, with anytime or fixed seating across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Lido Deck carries the casual, included options: Guy’s Burger Joint for Guy Fieri-branded burgers, the BlueIguana Cantina for Mexican tacos and burritos, Pizzeria del Capitano for 24-hour wood-fired pizza, the two-level Lido Marketplace buffet, Swirls soft-serve, and the Deli. Specialty (extra-charge) venues include the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Cucina del Capitano for Italian, JiJi Asian Kitchen for pan-Asian, Bonsai Teppanyaki and Bonsai Sushi for Japanese, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse for Guy Fieri BBQ and craft brews, the Seafood Shack, and the multi-course Chef’s Table. JavaBlue Café handles premium coffee.

Bars and lounges centre on the Havana Bar in the Cuban-themed zone. Alchemy Bar mixes theatrical cocktails, RedFrog Pub pours Caribbean rum drinks, the BlueIguana Tequila Bar serves margaritas, and Piano Bar 88 runs sing-alongs. Ocean Plaza is the central live-music and dance hub, the Liquid Lounge turns into a nightclub late at night, and the Heroes Tribute Bar honours US military service members and veterans. The Serenity Adult-Only Retreat has its own bar.

Entertainment centres on the two-deck Liquid Lounge, where Carnival’s Playlist Productions shows take the stage. The Punchliner Comedy Club runs family-friendly and adults-only sessions in the Limelight Lounge, Ocean Plaza carries cabaret-style live music, and the Seaside Theatre pool screen runs Dive-In Movies under the stars. The IMAX Theatre is the large-format cinema, and Winner’s Luck Casino covers the gaming.

Activities and pools lead with SkyRide, the pedal-powered suspended-rail bike circuit from her original build, though it is worth checking the current ship-day program, as SkyRide has been removed from some Vista-class ships during refits. Dr. Seuss WaterWorks is the Seuss-themed splash park with the Twister and Speedway slides, and SportSquare carries a ropes course, jogging track, and mini-golf. The open decks hold the main Lido pool, the Cuban-themed Havana pool (open to all guests aged 12 and over after 7pm), and the adults-only Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.

Wellness and fitness centre on the Cloud 9 Spa on Deck 12, with a full menu of massages, facials, and body wraps plus a thermal suite and a thalassotherapy pool, alongside a hair and beauty salon. The Fitness Centre on the same deck carries cardio and weights with paid group classes.

Kids and teens programming runs through Camp Ocean for ages 2 to 11, split into Penguins (2 to 5), Stingrays (6 to 8), and Sharks (9 to 11), then Circle C for tweens 12 to 14 and Club O2 for teens 15 to 17. Her signature for younger children is Dr. Seuss Bookville, a Seuss-themed reading and play space, with Seuss at Sea storytime and character breakfasts alongside it. Night Owls is paid late-night childcare, and Cherry On Top is the candy shop.

Who is the Carnival Horizon best for?

Carnival Horizon is a strong fit for you in four scenarios:

1. You’re a US-based cruiser who wants one of Carnival’s most attraction-dense ships from Miami (and from Galveston from 2027), with the IMAX Theatre, Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, and the Cuban-themed Havana zone on one hull.
2. You’re a multi-generational family and want the age-banded Camp Ocean, Circle C, and Club O2 clubs, the Family Harbor staterooms, and Dr. Seuss Bookville for younger kids.
3. You’re a couple or adults-only traveller wanting Havana zone access, with Havana Cabana staterooms by day and the pool open to all guests aged 12 and over after 7pm, plus the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.
4. You’re a Western or Southern Caribbean traveller, since those are her primary deployment regions.

Carnival Horizon is not the right pick if you’re after an Australian or Pacific cruise. She has no Australian itineraries, so for local departures the Carnival Australia fleet, Carnival Adventure, Carnival Encounter, Carnival Splendor, and Carnival Luminosa, is the relevant option.

Where does the Carnival Horizon dock in Miami?

Carnival Horizon docks at PortMiami in Florida, her year-round homeport, a short drive from Miami International Airport and South Beach. From there she sails her Western, Southern, and Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. Carnival has scheduled her to move to the Port of Galveston in Texas for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, so check your sailing for the departure port. Pier assignments can vary by voyage.

Carnival Horizon FAQs

How old is the Carnival Horizon?

Carnival Horizon entered service in April 2018 as the second of Carnival’s US-built Vista-class ships, which makes her 8 years old in 2026. She was built by Fincantieri at Marghera in Italy and christened by Queen Latifah in New York City on 23 May 2018. A scheduled drydock is set for May and June 2026.

How many passengers can the Carnival Horizon carry?

Carnival Horizon carries 3,960 guests at lower-berth capacity (standard double occupancy) and up to 4,716 passengers when every upper berth and sofa bed is filled. With around 1,450 crew, that is roughly 5,410 people on board at standard occupancy and about 6,170 at full capacity.

How long is the Carnival Horizon?

Carnival Horizon measures 323.6 metres (1,055 feet) in overall length, with a beam of 37.2 metres (122 feet). At 133,596 gross tonnes she is one of the larger ships in the Carnival fleet.

What are the noisy rooms to avoid on the Carnival Horizon?

Four cabin positions on the Carnival Horizon are worth avoiding if you’re a light sleeper, based on researched architectural patterns for the Carnival Horizon (Vista-class):

1. Midship cabins on Deck 2, below the galley, which pick up early-morning kitchen-prep noise from the deck above.
2. Aft cabins on Deck 2, above the crew and engine area, which can pick up engine vibration from below.
3. Forward cabins on Deck 11, below the Fitness Centre on Deck 12, which pick up early-morning equipment and free-weight noise from above.
4. Cabins beside the self-service launderette on Deck 2, around stateroom 2381, which pick up washer and dryer vibration and corridor foot traffic.

Call Cruise Guru on 13 13 03, use Contact Us, or submit a Request a Call Back form, and a consultant can advise on specific deck and cabin numbers within the category you are considering.

Does the Carnival Horizon have a water slide?

Yes, Carnival Horizon has waterslides at Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, a Seuss-themed splash park on the upper decks with the Twister and Speedway slides plus a splash area for younger children. They’re included in your cruise fare and open during scheduled pool hours, weather permitting.

Can Australian cruisers book the Carnival Horizon?

Yes, Australian cruisers can book the Carnival Horizon, but you’ll need to fly to the United States to join her. She sails year-round from PortMiami in Florida, moving to Galveston, Texas for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, on Western, Southern, and Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries, and has no Australia, New Zealand, or South Pacific departures. Fares for Australian guests vary by season and sailing, so check the live pricing on this page. For Australia-homeported Carnival cruises, the Carnival Australia fleet (Carnival Adventure, Carnival Encounter, Carnival Splendor, and Carnival Luminosa) is the relevant option.

Facts

• Gross Tonnage: 133,500
• Length: 1, 055 feet
• Beam: 122 feet
• Cruising Speed: 18 knots
• Guest Capacity: 3,974 (double occupancy)
• Total Staff: 1,450
• Registry: Panama