Carnival Cruise Line Best & Worst Ships

Carnival Cruise Line’s Best and Worst Ships: The Ultimate Breakdown

Navigating the Carnival Cruise Line fleet is a bit like shopping at a thrift store: you’ll find some hidden gems, but there’s also plenty of stuff that should have been sent to pasture ages ago. Here’s our brutally honest take on which Carnival ships deserve your vacation days and which ones are just cruising for a bruising.

The Gems of Carnival’s Fleet

Let’s face it, folks, Carnival ships are not exactly high-end luxury yachts. But among the seas of beer pong and endless buffets, some ships do manage to stand out.

• Carnival Mardi Gras: As the newest addition to the fleet, this ship is the Beyoncé of Carnival. With six themed zones, a roller coaster (yes, you read that right), and the best of Carnival’s restaurant offerings, it’s a ship that actually lives up to the hype.
• Carnival Panorama: Launched in 2019, the Panorama is packed with activities and sports a top-tier WaterWorks park. It nails the family-friendly vibe without feeling like a daycare center.
• Carnival Breeze: This one keeps folks coming back for more with its spacious layout, diverse dining options, and a track record of high satisfaction ratings. It’s the Netflix series that always gets renewed.

Check out our Ship Database to dig deeper into the specs and features.

The Ships That Have Seen Better Days

On the flip side, some ships in the Carnival fleet are like that old pair of jeans you keep just in case—you know you should let go, but here we are.

• Carnival Ecstasy: This ship is the grandparent still trying to use a flip phone. With a recent CDC inspection score that barely passed, it’s the definition of “you get what you pay for.”
• Carnival Elation: Released in 1998 and with refurbishments that feel like a Band-Aid on a sinking ship, Elation is more like Elation-less. It’s a nostalgia trip but not in a good way.
• Carnival Fantasy: Though it was lovingly retired in 2020, it deserves an honorable mention for being the ship that time—and budgets—forgot.

For more dirt, check out the Carnival Cruise Line Dossier.

Ships to Seek Out or Avoid

If you’re still on the fence about booking your Carnival cruise, here are the ships that should be on your radar—or off it.

• Seek Out: The Carnival Vista and Horizon are both from the Vista Class, offering fantastic amenities without the premium price tag of the Mardi Gras. These ships feature IMAX theaters and are practically floating cities.
• Avoid: The Carnival Paradise and Carnival Sensation have seen better days and have the CDC inspection scores to prove it. They’re like the last-season reality stars of the cruise world.

Refer to our cleanliness rankings to see how your chosen ship stacks up.

Newest vs. Oldest Fleet Comparisons

When it comes to comparing the newest ships to the oldest in the fleet, the differences are as stark as night and day—or rather, as stark as a luxury suite and an interior cabin.

• Newest Ships: Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration are the poster children for Carnival 2.0, flaunting new restaurant concepts, advanced technology, and modern design.
• Oldest Ships: Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Sensation seem like relics from the days when Titanic was still in theaters. Their age shows in everything from the decor to the amenities, not to mention those pesky CDC scores.

If you want to ensure you’re booking a ship from this decade, our Ship Database has got your back.

Refurbishment Status

If “refurbished” sounds like a euphemism, you’re not wrong. Carnival is notorious for using this term to mean anything from a new coat of paint to actually fixing stuff that’s broken.

• Carnival Sunrise: The transformation from Carnival Triumph was touted like a new album drop, and it delivered on many fronts with upgraded dining and entertainment. However, beneath the shiny exterior, some things are still hit or miss.
• Carnival Radiance: Previously known as Carnival Victory, it underwent a $200 million renovation. While it’s a step up, the ship still has some lingering old-school vibes. It’s the cruise equivalent of a midlife crisis.

Check the status of various refurbishments in the Carnival Dossier.

CDC Scores Across the Fleet

The CDC inspection scores are like report cards for ships, and some of these ships are on the honor roll while others need summer school.

• High Scorers: Ships like the Carnival Horizon and Carnival Breeze regularly boast high CDC scores, proving that you can have fun and be clean too.
• Low Scorers: Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Sensation are the underachievers of the fleet, with scores that will make you want to pack a bottle of Purell.

For up-to-date outbreak and inspection data, turn to our Outbreak Tracker.