43 years of fun: A history of Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is the most successful cruise line in the world, carrying more passengers than any other.  

But the Carnival of today is a vastly different company than the one started from humble beginnings more than four decades ago.  Carnival was launched with a converted transatlantic ocean liner and a dream of entrepreneur Ted Arison, a pioneer in the modern-day cruise industry who set out to realize his vision of making a vacation experience once reserved for the very rich accessible to the average person.

The rest, as they say, is history.

THROUGH THE YEARS . . .

1972 – Maiden voyage of Carnival’s first ship, the TSS Mardi Gras, which runs aground on sandbar outside the Port of Miami

1975 – Carnival purchases Empress of Britain, enters service as the TSS Carnivale

1978 – The Festivale, formerly the S.A. Vaal, undergoes $30 million refurbishment, begins service for Carnival as the largest and fastest vessel sailing from Miami to the Caribbean

1982 – Debut of the Tropicale, the first new cruise ship the cruise industry has seen in many years; ship marks the beginning of an industry-wide multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding boom

1984 – Carnival becomes first cruise line to advertise on network T.V. with the premiere of new advertising campaign starring company spokesperson Kathie Lee Gifford (then Johnson)

1985 – Debut of 46,052-ton Holiday

1986 – Launch of 47,262-ton Jubilee

1987 – The 47,262-ton Celebration enters service

Carnival earns distinction as “Most Popular Cruise Line in the World,” carrying more passengers than any other

Carnival Cruise Lines undertakes its initial public offering on Wall Street, raising approximately $400 million to fuel future expansion; entity later becomes Carnival Corporation & plc, a multi-line worldwide cruise conglomerate

1990 – The 70,367-ton Carnival Fantasy – the first and namesake vessel in the highly successful “Fantasy-class” -- enters service as first new ship ever placed on three- and four-day Bahamas cruise program from Miami.  Eventually, Carnival would construct eight “Fantasy-class” vessels, the most cruise ships in a single class.

1991 – Launch of 70,367-ton Carnival Ecstasy

1993 – Carnival introduces its third 70,367-ton SuperLiner, Carnival Sensation

1994 – Debut of 70,367-ton Carnival Fascination

Carnival’s parent company renamed Carnival Corporation to distinguish between it and its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Lines. Company is later renamed Carnival Corp. & plc following the combination with P&O Princess Cruises, creating the world’s largest cruise operator by far.

1995 – 70,367-ton Carnival Imagination enters service

1996 – Carnival’s launches sixth “Fantasy-class” vessel, Carnival Inspiration

Carnival debuts the first passenger vessel to exceed 100,000 tons, the 101,353-ton Carnival Destiny, at the time the world’s largest cruise ship

1998 – Introduction of seventh “Fantasy-class” vessel, the Carnival Elation, the first new cruise ship deployed on the West Coast.

The eighth and last in the “Fantasy-class” series, the Carnival Paradise, enters service

1999 – Debut of the 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph, Carnival’s second “Destiny-class” vessel

  

2000 – A third “Destiny-class” vessel, the 102,000-ton Carnival Victory, is launched.

2001 – Carnival introduces a new class of vessel with the launch of the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit, the first new “Fun Ship” ever positioned in the Alaska and Hawaii markets

2002 – A second “Spirit-class” vessel, the Carnival Pride, is launched

Carnival’s third “Spirit-class” ship, Carnival Legend, enters service

           

Debut of the 110,000-ton Carnival Conquest, beginning a new class of vessel for the line. 

2003 - Second 110,000-ton “Conquest-class” ship, the Carnival Glory, enter service

2004 – Carnival Miracle, the fourth in Carnival’s “Spirit-class,” debuts

A third 110,000-ton “Conquest-class” ship, Carnival Valor, sets sail

2005 – A fourth 110,000-ton “Conquest-class” vessel, Carnival Liberty, enters service July 20 operating Carnival’s first-ever Mediterranean cruise program.

2007 – Debut of Carnival’s fifth “Conquest-class” vessel, Carnival Freedom

2008 – The new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor enters service, representing a new class of ship for the line

2009 – The 130,000-ton Carnival Dream – the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed – is introduced in Europe Sept. 21, 2009.

2011 – A second 130,000-ton ship, Carnival Magic, enter services in Europe May 1 2011, and will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov 14.

2012 – A third 130,000-ton ship, Carnival Breeze, debuts in June, operating 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona before repositioning to Miami on year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean departures, becoming Carnival’s largest South Florida-based ship.

2016 – The largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed – the 135,000-ton, 4,000-passenger Carnival Vista -- is scheduled to enter service in winter 2016.

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