Carnival got off to a shaky start in 1972, then suddenly the Fun Ship concept took hold, and a whole new type of middle-class passenger came cruising. The line grew fast, and with financial success, Carnival Corp. began buying up other fleets. Carnival Cruise Lines is now one of the leaders in the mass-market cruising industry. It underwent a fleet-wide reclassification, completed in 2008, in which its cabins are categorized based on location on the ship—such as midship, aft and forward—as well as proximity to key public areas.
Fleet
The fleet numbers more than a score with the oldest units dating from the 1990s or since 2000. The majority of Carnival's fleet has far fewer balconies and a jazzier decor than its closest competitors. Tonnage ranges from a low of about 70,000 to more than 128,000, with the largest still under construction.
Itineraries
Most of Carnival’s fleet is based in North America, from Alaska, Canada and New England in the north to the Caribbean and Mexico in the south. In the past few years, Carnival has branched out to the Mediterranean to give its loyal clients something different as a destination. As with all the popular lines, Carnival's cruises that are shorter than one week attract the youngest fun-loving crowds, while those seven days and longer have a broader age range.
Dining and Decor
Some say that Carnival has the best food at the popular cruise level, and it excels in the extra-tariff Supper Club where succulent steaks and chops are the main features. The buffets stations have creative displays, and some have bi-level seating.
Programs
Onboard activities, indoors and out, for all ages, all day long and well into the night, are the line's strength, rather than enrichment-style programs.
Onboard Experience
Carnival as a cruise line has come a long way from the old days when it was considered a bottom feeder operating ships whose reputations were seen as primarily suitable for party animals. That view was probably unfair from the start as Carnival ships began attracting an entirely new market for whom traditional cruising and its formality and older age crowd held no appeal. The Fun Ship spirit still permeates the often glitzy and sometimes head-scratching decor, but the onboard standards in cabin accommodations, food and service have risen markedly. Carnival gets the largest percentage of first-time cruisers, and the line considers the land vacation its major competitor.
Competitors
Although the bells and whistles may vary—sinuous waterslides, rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks and multiple dining options—Carnival is well in line with Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess and Royal Caribbean.
