Carnival Cruise Ships by Year Built & Dry Docked
Do you want the newest carnival ship, or do you prefer one with a few hundred thousand miles under its hull? There’s something to be said about the bells and whistles that come with a new vessel. But, others prefer the nostalgia and character of the older Carnival ships.
Another factor to consider when comparing Carnival Ships by Age, is the year it had its last dry dock. The term “dry dock” refers to the renovation period during which the ship has significant renovations completed. With some of these refurbishments, the ships come out looking brand new. The cruise lines have been known to spend tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars bringing these ships to the status of their much younger contemporaries.
We’ll let you decide on the Carnival Ship Age that’s right for you. In the following infograph, we’ve made it as easy as possible to visualize your Carnival Ship’s age versus the rest of the Fleet. We’ve also included a schedule of when each ship came out of Dry Dock. If you have a strong preference of New vs. Old, you can refer to this chart and make sure you’re picking the Carnival Cruise Ship that’s right for you!
Carnival Ships by Age & Dry Dock (Renovation)
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Newest Carnival Ship 2018 – Carnival Vista
As you can see, the newest Carnival Cruise Ship will be coming out in 2018. It’s called the Carnival Horizon and debuts in March, 2018. You can check out its many impressive features, photos and itineraries in our Ship Mate Cruise App using the download link below. The Horizon will spend the Spring in the Mediterranean then come to the U.S. in the Summer. The brand new ship will be based out of New York City throughout the summer then head south to Miami where she’ll call home.
All Carnival Cruise Ship Ages and other statistics are accessible directly from your Ship Mate Cruise App. Click to Download for Free and explore Carnival ship stats, reviews, photos, itineraries, and much more.
And if you’re not one for beautiful, colored infographs, here are those Carnival Ships by Age laid out in a much more boringly consumable fashion.
Carnival Ships by Age
- 2018: Carnival Horizon
- 2016: Carnival Vista
- 2012: Carnival Breeze
- 2011: Carnival Magic
- 2009: Carnival Dream
- 2008: Carnival Splendor
- 2007: Carnival Freedom
- 2005: Carnival Liberty
- 2004: Carnival Valor
- 2004: Carnival Miracle
- 2003: Carnival Glory
- 2002: Carnival Conquest
- 2002: Carnival Legend
- 2002: Carnival Pride
- 2001: Carnival Spirit
- 2000: Carnival Victory
- 1999: Carnival Triumph
- 1998: Carnival Elation
- 1998: Carnival Paradise
- 1996: Carnival Inspiration
- 1996: Carnival Destiny / Sunshine
- 1995: Carnival Imagination
- 1994: Carnival Fascination
- 1993: Carnival Sensation
- 1991: Carnival Ecstasy
- 1990: Carnival Fantasy
Carnival Dry Dock Schedule
- 2018: Carnival Victory (February 2018)
- 2018: Carnival Fascination (February 2018)
- 2018: Carnival Paradise (March 2018)
- 2018: Carnival Legend (May 2018)
- 2018: Carnival Inspiration (November 2018)
- 2017: Carnival Ecstasy (January 2017)
- 2017: Carnival Sensation (February 2017)
- 2017: Carnival Dream (February 2017)
- 2017: Carnival Glory (March 2017)
- 2017: Carnival Breeze (April 2017)
- 2017: Carnival Elation (September 2017)
- 2017: Carnival Conquest (October 2017)
- 2016: Carnival Fantasy
- 2016: Carnival Imagination
- 2016: Carnival Inspiration
- 2016: Carnival Liberty
- 2016: Carnival Magic
- 2016: Carnival Splendor
- 2016: Carnival Sunshine
- 2016: Carnival Triumph
- 2016: Carnival Valor
- 2015: Carnival Fascination
- 2015: Carnival Miracle
- 2015: Carnival Paradise
- 2015: Carnival Spirit
- 2015: Carnival Victory
- 2014: Carnival Freedom
- 2014: Carnival Legend
- 2014: Carnival Pride
- 2014: Carnival Elation
- 2014: Carnival Ecstasy
- 2013: Carnival Triumph
- 2013: Carnival Sunshine / Destiny
- 2013: Carnival Inspiration
- 2013: Carnival Imagination
- 2013: Carnival Fascination
- 2012: Carnival Dream
- 2012: Carnival Miracle
- 2012: Carnival Glory
- 2012: Carnival Conquest
- 2012: Carnival Spirit
- 2011: Carnival Splendor
- 2011: Carnival Liberty
- 2011: Carnival Valor
- 2010: Carnival Fantasy
- 2010: Carnival Victory
- 2009: Carnival Sensation
- 2008: Carnival Paradise
If you liked this article, you might also like our other infograph showing Carnival Ships by Size.
In that graph, we show you every Carnival Ship ranked in order of size, including total passengers and crew on each. You’ll be amazed at the difference between Carnival’s largest and smallest ships!
And – if you found this helpful, please “Share” this post with other Carnival Cruise Fans.
Some of that data is wrong. Actually… your also missing an entire Ship. Carnival Destiny which has since been renamed to Carnival Sunshine after a complete overhaul.
Thanks, Sheldon. What info is incorrect on here?
Carnival Destiny was built in 1996. Destiny was overhauled and renovated to be come the Carnival Sunshine in 2013
No response Mike?
We have the Sunshine in there as renovated in 2013… so, it looks like we’re just missing it in there as built in 1996. Sorry for the omission.
Is there a way to find out what changed or updates are going to be made in dry dock? I am cruising on the Breeze in May and it is scheduled for dry dock in April. Hoping they are adding Guys BBQ!!!!!
Another one that has to be wrong is that Elation was renovated in 2016. I just came off that ship and it was definitely in need of an overhaul. The rooms are nasty, the elevators don’t work and the crew is rude. I bet I heard 300 people say they would never sail that ship again.
How do you define “renovated”? Every ship goes through regular dry docks every 2 to 3 years where new features are added, like the Red Frog Rum Bar etc. The only ship that I can think of that was actually renovated was Destiny, coming out as Sunshine at the end.
I like this info but you can not compare price on a 7 night cruise to a 4 night cruise! 🙂 Thanks anyway!
It takes a little division to get a per-night comparison. Sorry for the math!
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What about some of the retired ships…like the Celebration, and the Holiday? I would love to see ALL the ships that have belonged to Carnival!
We went on the Celebation in 2001. I don’t see it on the list 🙁
I’m with Shelley I would like to see the all the retired ships up there starting with the one that started it all the Mardi Gras. then the fascination or carnivale or which ever came first.
I worked for Carnival Cruise Lines from 1996 to 1999. How is it now?
The new ship for 2018 is called the Carnival Horizon
Thanks – expect that in the app this week.
i went on the carnival imagination and vista
Carnival Spirit was renovated in 2016 and is due again in May 2018
Did a four day cruise with Carnival Sensation renovated in 2009 didn’t help!!! very very OLD cruise ship with little to no entertainment or variety of food and SWEETS never will sail Sensation again. Splendor & Glory ??
Thank you for your great app. I appreciate the hard work you’ve done and enjoy the app. ?
That’s very kind of you to say, Tootsie. Thank you very much for the note.
Went in 80’s can’t remember name. Very small but we thought was wonderful. It was 4days to bahamas. Been cruising ever since.
Looking forward to going on the spirit next year after it comes out of dry dock, Then I will look forward to the splendor departing Carnival to Join P&O Australia in 2019 as I am going to be on one of the of the first cruises that the splendor will be doing for P&O
Our first 2 cruises were Festivals and Tropicale back in the 80s don’t see them on the list either…..
Any updated or future updates on Carnival Liberty??
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We have 12 of us going on the Ecstasy in Oct. from S.C. easy to drive from Ohio. small ship, but 10 of the 12 it’s their 1st cruise. I’ve never gone with 12 people, I think that will help in the fun. This is my wife and I’s 4th cruise with Carnival.
LOVE DESTIN SHIP
Seen a new ship to Long Beach CA
Looking for old Carnival brochures/booking catalogs. Carnival didn’t have computer systems to log all of our cruises and we should be Platinum and I have some pictures but didn’t buy all of them back in the early 90’s – and since have been on 6 cruises recently. Need to get more info to them to get days added. Like I said I have pictures with dates on the back but no the ship name. Can anyone help??? Thank you in advance!!
I have cruised the Elation twice. Once in 2011 and again in 2015. In ’11, we had an ocean view room. The room was really clean, and I was surprised at how clean and neat the bathroom was. And I am a clean freak so I know clean. I don’t know why some people say it was nasty. In ’15 we had a suite. It was really nice, big, sectional sofa, and the balcony was very clean. No complaints.
I agree! We sailed her in May and the ship was terrible and they were doing repairs above us the whole trip! The food was horrible too! Then she went to dry dock! I wish I had known it beforehand we would have switched ships…Btw we loved the Destiny!! But hated the Sunshine conversion it is too cut up and hard to navigate..ugh!
My first Carnival cruise was on the Mardi Gras in 1987.
when was the ship sunshine last renovated? In 2013 or 2016.
Me and my wife have been on Ecstasy 2 times and had a blast it is a great ship to start on. Small so you learn where everything is fast and really friendly as it is a training ship everyone wants to make a great impression on you so they can move up in the company. Now we are moving up to Carnival Breeze in September 2019
Hi was there a pin made for FESTIVALE and CARNIVALE
Your did this wrong. You forgot Jubilee, Festivale, Mardi Gras, Carnivale, Holiday, Tropicale, and Celebration.
Yes I agree, The Elation should be buried It was nasty and the I worked on that bathroom the whole time we were in the room. I used Lysol spray, Glade plug-ins and a good smelling hand soap and it still smelled awful. Just get rid of that ship, Another thing it is too small for the sea. It wobbled all night on the last night and all the passengers were sick including me and my husband. The hallways smell like vomit. We will never sail on that ship again. I was very upset with a family member for booking that cruise as a family vacay. We sailed in April 2018. Please destroy the Elation and make it a museum it is too old to have that many people getting sick. I will never never never sail that ship again. We made ourselves have fun and the excursions made up for nasty ship. Some of the crew was rude, Maybe they did no want to be on that stinky ship.
Just got off the Sensation it is awful.. Stained linen, rusted drains, broken shower curtains, stained carpet and ottoman. . Scratched surfaces, 1 tiny pool for 3000 people, Horrible food.. (except guys burgers)…and horrible entertainment! It claims to be your home away from home… .No I don’t think so.. .Do not go on this ship please and you can thank me later.
My 1st cruise was August 1976 on the Mardi Gras. Looking forward to another cruise soon.
Just booked a cruise on carnival Triumph and later read that it was the one first stranded at sea with the backed up poop and then pushed out due to strong winds and into another boat. I see that it was built in 1999 and renovated in 2016. After reading some of the comments about renovated ships esepecialky the old ones, my concern is how much was the triumph renovated is it still dated or old with dirty rooms and bad food like the Elation cruise ship? Please let me know or can I see reviews after a triumph cruise
You can find reviews about the Carnival Triumph here: https://cruiseline.com/ship/carnival-triumph/reviews
What about the Carnival Ecstasy how is the ship maintained? Overall clean and smells?
Why is it that Carnival cannot give me a list of the ships that I have been retired? I’ve been on the Mardi Gras as my first ship and so on. Why can’t they add those past cruises to my current list of cruises? Can anybody help me out on this?
Tks Roxanne
Same here!!
As I’m booking present cruises I keep seeing Carnivals Panorama and Sunrise but I don’t see them listed on the current ship list..
What’s the deal with this info?
Bridgette, this article was originally published back at the beginning of 2017, and since those are new ships coming in 2019 they didn’t exist when the article was written.
Have cruised on Carnival for many years (since 1998). 3 retired ships we cruised on (and they were terrible!) were Jubilee, Tropicale, and Holiday. At this point, we no longer cruise on Carnival. I know they have the ‘cheapest’ prices but actually not worth it to us. Hope you enjoy and have a good time.
What about the Carnival Holiday which was my first cruise and the Celebration which was my second cruise, they are not listed.
we launched out on a carnival ship in 1994 from Miami,fla. it was very nice ,cant remember the name
I sailed from Finland to Miami on the Fantasy when it was first built. This time line is missing a bunch of ships prior to 1990, the Jubilee Carnivale, Mardi Gras, Holiday and several more