Carnival Cruises

Spec	Detail
Founded:	1972
Founder:	Ted Arison
Headquarters:	Doral, Florida
Parent Company:	Carnival Corporation & plc
Fleet Size:	29 ships
Australian Fleet:	4 ships
AU Homeports:	Sydney and Brisbane (with seasonal Melbourne and Adelaide departures)
Largest Ship:	Carnival Jubilee (183,521 gross tonnes)
Smallest Ship:	Carnival Elation (71,909 gross tonnes)

What is the Carnival Cruise Line?

Carnival Cruise Line is the largest contemporary cruise brand in the world, founded in Miami in 1972 by Ted Arison around the idea of accessible, casual ocean holidays for everyday travellers. Carnival markets itself as America’s “Fun Ships” line and pitches its product at the family and first-time-cruiser segments rather than the premium tier, with strong food, entertainment and kids’ programming bundled into the base fare. The brand is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise operator, and is headquartered in Doral, Florida, in greater Miami.

In Australia, Carnival took over the fleet of its former sister brand P&O Cruises Australia in March 2025, absorbing the Pacific Adventure and the Pacific Encounter into the Carnival fleet as the Carnival Adventure and the Carnival Encounter. That move grew Carnival’s Australian footprint to four ships sailing year-round from Sydney and Brisbane, with seasonal departures from Melbourne and Adelaide on the Carnival Adventure.

What ships are in the Carnival Cruise Line?

Carnival operates 29 ships in 2026, ranging from the 1998-built Carnival Elation at the smaller end (around 71,900 gross tonnes) to the 2023-built Carnival Jubilee at the larger end (around 183,500 gross tonnes). The fleet is grouped into ten ship classes that share hull design, deck layout and venue mix.

What are Carnival’s ship classes?

Carnival’s 29 ships sit across ten ship classes (newest first).

Excel class (3 ships, around 183,000 gross tonnes). Carnival’s newest and largest ships, defined by the BOLT sea coaster on the upper deck.

• Carnival Mardi Gras (2021). Port Canaveral homeport; lead Excel-class hull.
• Carnival Celebration (2022). Miami homeport; Carnival’s 50th-anniversary ship.
• Carnival Jubilee (2023). Galveston homeport; the newest Excel-class hull.

Vista class (5 ships, around 133,000 to 135,000 gross tonnes). Mid-2010s family-focused builds. The Carnival Firenze and the Carnival Venezia are repurposed from Costa Cruises and form the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” pair.

• Carnival Vista (2016). Port Canaveral; lead Vista-class hull.
• Carnival Horizon (2018). Miami.
• Carnival Panorama (2019). Long Beach, California.
• Carnival Venezia (2019). Port Canaveral. Built as the Costa Venezia.
• Carnival Firenze (2020). Long Beach. Built as the Costa Firenze.

Dream class (3 ships, around 128,000 gross tonnes). Mid-sized family-focused ships introduced from 2009.

• Carnival Dream (2009). Galveston.
• Carnival Magic (2011). Miami.
• Carnival Breeze (2012). Galveston.

Concordia class (1 ship, around 113,500 gross tonnes). Sister to the former Costa Concordia, now an Australian Carnival flagship.

• Carnival Splendor (2008). Sydney year-round; the largest Carnival ship in Australia and the only Carnival hull carrying a thalassotherapy pool.

Conquest class (5 ships, around 110,000 gross tonnes). The workhorse mid-sized Caribbean fleet from the early-to-mid 2000s.

• Carnival Conquest (2002). Miami.
• Carnival Glory (2003). Port Canaveral.
• Carnival Valor (2004). New Orleans.
• Carnival Liberty (2005). New Orleans.
• Carnival Freedom (2007). Port Canaveral.

Grand class (2 ships, around 108,900 gross tonnes). Originally built as Princess Cruises’ Golden Princess (2001) and Star Princess (2002) by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy, they joined Carnival from P&O Cruises Australia in March 2025.

• Carnival Adventure (2001). Sydney year-round, with seasonal departures from Melbourne and Adelaide. Formerly the Pacific Adventure.
• Carnival Encounter (2002). Brisbane year-round. Formerly the Pacific Encounter.

Destiny class (3 ships, around 101,000 to 103,000 gross tonnes). The Destiny-class platform from the late 1990s. The Carnival Sunshine sits in a Destiny sub-class after a major rebuild.

• Carnival Sunshine (1996). Norfolk.
• Carnival Sunrise (1999). Miami.
• Carnival Radiance (2000). Long Beach.

Vista-Spirit hybrid (1 ship, around 92,700 gross tonnes). Built as the Costa Luminosa by Fincantieri, she joined the Carnival fleet in 2022.

• Carnival Luminosa (2009). Brisbane year-round, with a seasonal Seattle homeport for Alaska sailings from May to September.

Spirit class (4 ships, around 86,000 to 88,500 gross tonnes). Designed for Panama Canal-friendly itineraries, with a slim beam and shallow draft.

• Carnival Spirit (2001). Seattle summer (Alaska); Mobile, Alabama winter (October to March).
• Carnival Pride (2001). Baltimore.
• Carnival Legend (2002). Multiple seasonal homeports.
• Carnival Miracle (2004). Seattle summer (Alaska); Tampa winter.

Fantasy class (2 ships, around 71,900 gross tonnes). Carnival’s oldest and smallest hulls still in service, dating to the late 1990s and sailing short Bahamas and Caribbean runs.

• Carnival Paradise (1998). Tampa.
• Carnival Elation (1998). Jacksonville.

Which Carnival ships sail in Australia?

Four Carnival ships sail in Australian waters as of 2026:

1. Carnival Splendor. Sydney year-round. Concordia-class, 3,012 guests; Carnival’s largest Australian ship.
2. Carnival Adventure. Sydney year-round, with seasonal departures from Melbourne and Adelaide. Grand-class, 2,636 guests. Formerly P&O Australia’s Pacific Adventure.
3. Carnival Encounter. Brisbane year-round. Grand-class, 2,640 guests. Formerly P&O Australia’s Pacific Encounter, sister ship to the Carnival Adventure.
4. Carnival Luminosa. Brisbane year-round, with a seasonal Seattle homeport for Alaska sailings from May to September. Vista-Spirit hybrid class, around 2,260 guests.

Call Cruise Guru on 13 13 03, use Contact Us, or submit a Request a Call Back form, and a consultant can advise on the right Carnival ship, homeport and itinerary for the trip you’re planning.

Where do Carnival cruises depart from in Australia?

Carnival sails year-round from Sydney and Brisbane, with seasonal short-cruise departures from Melbourne and Adelaide.

Carnival cruises from Sydney

The Carnival Splendor and the Carnival Adventure run cruises from Sydney year-round, both homeporting at the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) at Circular Quay, the city’s main cruise terminal in the historic Rocks precinct beside the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Carnival’s Sydney itineraries span three core regions: 7- to 12-night South Pacific voyages calling at Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji; 8- to 10-night Great Barrier Reef voyages calling at Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays and Cairns; and shorter 3- to 6-night Australian coastal getaways calling at Tangalooma on Moreton Island, Eden, Hobart or Phillip Island.

Carnival cruises from Brisbane

The Carnival Encounter and the Carnival Luminosa run cruises from Brisbane, both homeporting at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at the mouth of the Brisbane River, a 30-minute drive from Brisbane Airport. Carnival’s Brisbane itineraries lean heavily on the closer South Pacific ports (Port Vila and Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Noumea in New Caledonia), Great Barrier Reef cruises calling at Airlie Beach and Cairns, and shorter coastal getaways. The Carnival Luminosa also sails Papua New Guinea voyages from Brisbane during her Australian season.

Carnival cruises from Melbourne

The Carnival Adventure makes seasonal departures from Melbourne’s Station Pier in Port Melbourne, typically on short 4- to 6-night Tasmania and Australian coastal sailings calling at Hobart, Port Arthur or Burnie. Melbourne is not a year-round Carnival homeport, but the seasonal short-cruise departures are a useful entry point for Victorian guests who want to avoid the Sydney drive or flight.

Carnival cruises from Adelaide

The Carnival Adventure also makes seasonal departures from Adelaide’s Outer Harbor cruise terminal at Port Adelaide, around 30 minutes drive from the Adelaide CBD. These tend to be short 4- to 6-night coastal sailings, often calling at Kangaroo Island and Tasmanian ports. Adelaide is a seasonal-only homeport in the Carnival fleet, currently served by the Carnival Adventure only.

What are the top Carnival cruise destinations?

Carnival’s Australian-deployed ships sail seven regions, with the broader US-based fleet covering the Americas:

1. South Pacific. Vanuatu (Port Vila, Mystery Island), New Caledonia (Noumea, Lifou), Fiji (Lautoka, Dravuni Island). The flagship region for South Pacific cruises from Australia, typically 7 to 12 nights from Sydney or Brisbane.
2. Great Barrier Reef and Queensland. Airlie Beach (Whitsundays), Cairns (via Yorkeys Knob), typically 8 to 10 nights from Sydney or Brisbane with a scenic cruise-by of Willis Island.
3. Australian coast. Tasmania (Hobart, Port Arthur, Burnie), Eden, Phillip Island, Kangaroo Island, Tangalooma on Moreton Island, plus Sydney-to-Melbourne and Sydney-to-Brisbane coastal hops. Typically 3 to 6 nights and a popular short-break entry point into Australia cruises.
4. New Zealand. Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin (Port Chalmers) and a scenic cruise of Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds in Fiordland National Park. Carnival’s New Zealand cruises typically run 10 to 14 nights from Sydney.
5. Papua New Guinea. Rabaul, Kiriwina Island and Conflict Islands, sailed by the Carnival Luminosa from Brisbane.
6. Singapore and Southeast Asia. Singapore round-trips by the Carnival Adventure calling at Koh Samui in Thailand, Laem Chabang for Bangkok, Sihanoukville in Cambodia and Phu My for Ho Chi Minh City. Typically 9-night sailings, Carnival’s only Asia cruises departure from an Australian-deployed ship.
7. Alaska (seasonal, US-based). The Carnival Luminosa relocates to Seattle for the May-to-September Alaska season, calling at Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Glacier Bay National Park.

The wider US-based Carnival fleet adds the Caribbean and Bahamas (every winter sub-region: Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean from Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, New Orleans and Norfolk), the Mexican Riviera from US West Coast homeports (Long Beach, Los Angeles), Bermuda from US East Coast homeports, and Europe repositioning sailings via transatlantic.

What is the onboard experience of Carnival cruises?

Carnival cruises share a fleet-wide set of onboard programmes that you can expect on most ships:

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

Dining spans included and paid restaurants. Most Carnival ships carry a main dining room for table-service breakfast, lunch and dinner (the Australian fleet uses themed names like Gold Pearl and Black Pearl on the Carnival Splendor and the Waterfront on the Carnival Adventure), plus an all-day casual buffet (the Lido Marketplace or The Pantry, depending on ship). Fleet-standard casual venues include Guy’s Burger Joint (a Carnival-Guy Fieri collaboration), BlueIguana Cantina (Mexican casual), the Pizzeria del Capitano (free wood-fired pizza, 24 hours on many ships) and Swirls soft-serve ice cream. Specialty paid restaurants typically include Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi or Bonsai Teppanyaki, JiJi Asian Kitchen and the Chef’s Table multi-course experience. Newer Excel-class ships add Emeril’s Bistro 1396, ChiBang! and Big Chicken from Shaq.

Bars and lounges run on a set of Carnival-signature concepts that recur across the fleet. The Alchemy Bar handles cocktail theatre, the RedFrog Pub serves Caribbean rum drinks, the BlueIguana Tequila Bar pairs with the BlueIguana Cantina for margaritas, the Piano Bar runs sing-alongs, and most ships add a sports bar (often Our House Sports Bar or SportSquare), a casino bar adjacent to the gaming floor and a sunset bar on the upper deck.

Entertainment is anchored by Playlist Productions, Carnival’s fleet-wide collection of high-energy musical revues built around pop-music decades. The Punchliner Comedy Club runs both family-friendly and adults-only sessions on most ships. Hasbro The Game Show, Lip Sync Battle, the CLUE Murder Mystery interactive show, karaoke, Dive-In Movies (poolside movies under the stars) and themed deck parties fill out the daily programme. A casino runs the gaming floor on every ship.

Activities and pools centre on the Lido pool deck, with one to four pools depending on hull size. Most ships add Carnival WaterWorks with waterslides for kids and thrill-seekers; newer Excel-class ships add the BOLT sea coaster. Carnival’s signature EDGE Adventure Park combines a Flying Fox zipline, rock climbing, Walk the Plank and abseiling, currently available on the Australian Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter. Adults can retreat to the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, a fleet-wide adults-only sun deck.

Wellness and fitness are based around Cloud 9 Spa, the fleet-wide spa brand offering massages, facials, body treatments, beauty services and a thermal suite. The Carnival Splendor carries the only thalassotherapy pool in the Carnival fleet. Every ship carries a fitness centre with cardio and weights and a jogging track on the open decks. A hair and beauty salon and men’s grooming services round out wellness.

Kids and teens programming runs across age-banded clubs on every ship. Turtles takes under-2s (paid), Camp Ocean covers ages 2 to 11 in three sub-bands (Penguins 2 to 5, Stingrays 6 to 8, Sharks 9 to 11), Circle C is for tweens 12 to 14, and Club O2 covers teens 15 to 17. Night Owls late-night supervised care for under-11s is available for an additional fee.

What’s included in a Carnival cruise fare?

A standard Carnival cruise fare bundles in:

• Accommodation in your booked stateroom for the duration of the cruise.
• All main meals onboard in the main dining room, the Lido buffet (or The Pantry), and casual outlets including Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, the Pizzeria and Swirls soft-serve.
• Entertainment, including Playlist Productions shows, the Punchliner Comedy Club, deck parties, Dive-In Movies and casual live music across multiple lounges.
• Kids and teens clubs: Camp Ocean (2 to 11), Circle C (12 to 14) and Club O2 (15 to 17). Turtles (under-2s) and Night Owls (late-night under-11s) carry an additional fee.
• Pool deck and onboard activities: pools, whirlpools, the Lido deck, Carnival WaterWorks waterslides (where fitted), the basketball court, mini-golf and the jogging track, plus the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.
• Standard non-alcoholic drinks at the dining venues (water, lemonade, iced tea, regular coffee and tea).
• 24-hour room service for a fixed-price selection; most items now carry a fee, with a complimentary continental breakfast available on some ships.
• Special-diet accommodations including vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher (advance order), low-sodium and dairy-free meals.

The following are not included in the base fare and are charged to your onboard account:

• Specialty paid restaurants (Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Teppanyaki, JiJi Asian Kitchen, the Chef’s Table, and others).
• Alcoholic drinks and premium non-alcoholic drinks (specialty coffees, smoothies, fresh juices), unless on a beverage package.
• Cloud 9 Spa treatments, hair and beauty salon services and the thermal suite (a day pass or weekly pass is sold).
• Photography packages, shore excursions, casino gaming, arcade and Wi-Fi.
• Gratuities (auto-applied daily; see the FAQ).
• EDGE Adventure Park on the ships that carry it (weight and age limits apply).

What is the VIFP Club loyalty programme?

The VIFP Club (“Very Important Fun Person”) is Carnival’s free-to-join cruise loyalty programme, organised into five colour-coded tiers based on the number of cruise days you have logged with the brand. Each tier unlocks progressively richer perks, typically including priority embarkation, complimentary drinks, branded gifts and tier-recognition events.

• Blue: entry tier, automatic when you sail your first Carnival cruise.
• Red: second tier, for repeat Carnival cruisers.
• Gold: long-time-cruiser tier.
• Platinum: high-value tier with priority embarkation, priority dining, complimentary laundry on longer cruises and tier-only events.
• Diamond: top tier (capped membership), with the most generous priority and recognition benefits.

Your VIFP tier is reflected on your Sail & Sign card (the onboard charge card you collect at embarkation) by colour, which is what the “different colour cards” you may have seen onboard refer to. The card itself is your room key, your onboard charge account and your shore-side identification at port returns.

What drinks packages and onboard extras does Carnival offer?

Carnival sells several optional bundles you can pre-purchase to lock in pricing and simplify onboard spending.

• Cheers!: Carnival’s all-inclusive alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks package. Covers a broad list of beers, spirits, cocktails and wines by the glass up to a daily price cap, plus a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks. Sold per day at a per-person rate, with the per-cabin “all guests must purchase” rule that is standard across the industry. Must be purchased by every adult in the cabin.
• Bottomless Bubbles: the non-alcoholic equivalent, covering soft drinks and select juices for one daily price.
• Specialty dining packages: multi-meal bundles at a discount to per-restaurant pricing, available pre-cruise or on the first day.
• Wi-Fi packages: three tiers (Social, Value and Premium), priced per day per device, with pre-cruise discounts on most ships.
• Faster to the Fun: a paid embarkation-and-debarkation upgrade that bundles priority check-in, early room access on embarkation day, priority guest-services line, priority tender boarding and priority debarkation. A single per-cabin fee. Sold in limited numbers per sailing.
• Shore excursions: Carnival-operated shore tours at port stops, priced per person and bookable pre-cruise or onboard.

Carnival cruises FAQs

Do Carnival cruises include food?

Yes. Your Carnival fare covers all main meals at the main dining room, the Lido buffet (or The Pantry on Australian ships) and casual outlets including Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, the Pizzeria and Swirls soft-serve. Specialty paid restaurants (Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Teppanyaki, JiJi Asian Kitchen, the Chef’s Table and others) and most room-service items carry an additional fee. Standard non-alcoholic drinks at meals (water, lemonade, iced tea and regular coffee and tea) are included; alcoholic drinks, premium non-alcoholic drinks and specialty coffees are charged separately or covered by a drinks package.

What do the different colour cards mean on a Carnival cruise?

The colour of your Sail & Sign card on a Carnival cruise reflects your VIFP Club loyalty tier: Blue for first-time and entry-level guests, then Red, Gold, Platinum and the top-tier Diamond as you accumulate cruise days with the brand. Higher-tier guests receive priority embarkation, priority dining, complimentary drinks and other recognition benefits. See the VIFP Club section above for the full tier ladder.

What can you take on a cruise with Carnival?

Carnival allows the usual personal clothing and toiletries, books, swimwear, formalwear for Elegant Night, prescription medication in original packaging, and standard electronics (phones, cameras, laptops, e-readers, hairdryers; Carnival cabins also include a hairdryer). Every adult guest can bring one 750-ml bottle of wine or champagne onboard at embarkation in carry-on luggage. Additional bottles and all other alcohol are confiscated and held until disembarkation. Banned items include irons and steamers (laundry services are available onboard), candles, illegal drugs, weapons of any kind, drones, hoverboards, and homemade or non-commercial food.

Can babies go on Carnival cruises?

Yes. Carnival’s minimum infant age for most cruises is 6 months. For longer voyages (transatlantic, Hawaii, transpacific and the longer South Pacific sailings) the minimum is 12 months. Carnival’s Turtles in-cabin care programme (paid, by reservation) covers infants from 6 months to under 2 years; Camp Ocean takes children from age 2. A small number of cribs and high chairs are available onboard at no charge but should be requested at booking.

Is there a doctor on Carnival cruise ships?

Yes. Every Carnival cruise ship carries an onboard medical centre staffed by doctors and nurses, open during posted hours for routine consultations and 24 hours a day for emergencies. Medical services are billed to your onboard account at private-clinic rates and are not covered by Australian Medicare; you should hold travel insurance with cruise-medical cover before sailing. The medical centre handles common cruise complaints (seasickness, minor injuries, gastrointestinal illness) and stabilises serious cases for shore-side evacuation if needed.

What do I wear on a Carnival cruise ship?

Carnival’s onboard dress code is relaxed cruise-casual most days and most nights. During the day, swimwear, casual shirts, shorts and sundresses are standard around the pool deck and the buffet. For dinner in the main dining room on regular evenings, the expected style is “cruise casual”: collared shirts and slacks for men, sundresses, blouses and skirts or pants for women, with no shorts, swimwear or sleeveless shirts for men in the main dining room. Each cruise also features one or two Elegant Nights (formal evenings) depending on cruise length, where guests typically dress up in cocktail attire, suits, dressy separates or evening dresses. The Lido buffet and casual outlets keep their relaxed dress code on Elegant Nights as well.

Are tips and gratuities included on Carnival cruises?

No. Carnival applies a daily auto-gratuity to your onboard account at a per-guest, per-day rate. The standard daily amount covers your stateroom attendant, dining-room staff and other behind-the-scenes service crew; suite guests pay a slightly higher daily rate. The auto-gratuity is in addition to a service charge automatically added to bar bills and to specialty-restaurant covers. You can pre-pay gratuities at the time of booking to lock in the rate. Auto-gratuity rates are reviewed periodically by Carnival, so check the current daily figure before sailing.

Do I need a passport for a Carnival cruise from Australia?

Yes. The Australian government requires every guest departing Australia by sea on an international voyage to hold a valid passport, with at least six months of remaining validity beyond your scheduled return date, even on round-trip closed-loop cruises that begin and end in Australia. Australian Carnival itineraries all call at international ports (Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea or Southeast Asia), so a passport is mandatory at boarding. Visas may also be required for certain ports of call.

Is Wi-Fi included on Carnival cruises?

No. Wi-Fi is sold separately, in three tiers: Social (messaging and social media), Value (general browsing and email) and Premium (faster speeds, video calling and streaming). Each tier is priced per day per device, and packages are noticeably cheaper when pre-purchased before you sail. Most of the Carnival fleet has now been upgraded to Starlink for higher speeds at sea.

What is Faster to the Fun?

Faster to the Fun (FTTF) is a paid upgrade that bundles priority embarkation, early stateroom access on embarkation day, priority tender boarding, a dedicated guest-services line and priority debarkation at the end of the cruise. It is a single per-cabin fee and is sold in limited numbers per sailing; once a sailing’s allocation is sold out it is gone. If embarkation-day speed matters to you, book FTTF as soon as the sailing opens, or consider one of the higher VIFP tiers that include priority embarkation as a tier benefit.