History of Carnival Cruise Line in Timeline

Carnival Cruise Line, headquartered in Doral, Florida, is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Recognized by its distinctive whale-tail funnel logo in red, white, and blue, Carnival holds the top position among cruise lines based on annual passenger volume. It operates internationally, offering a variety of cruise experiences. The company is a major player in the cruise industry, known for its focus on entertainment and affordability.

1972: First Sailing of the Mardi Gras

In 1972, Carnival Cruise Line commenced operations with its inaugural voyage from Miami using the Mardi Gras, a refurbished transatlantic liner acquired from Canadian Pacific Line, adapting the Canadian Pacific livery to red, white, and blue for its logo.

1972: Carnival Cruise Line Founded

In 1972, Carnival Cruise Line was founded by Ted Arison, who partnered with Meshulam Riklis of American International Travel Service (AITS) to finance the venture, establishing Carnival as an AITS subsidiary.

1974: Arison Acquires Full Control of Carnival

In 1974, Ted Arison acquired full control of Carnival Cruise Line from Meshulam Riklis for $1, assuming the company's debts due to regulatory issues with Riklis's AITS. This split enabled Arison to forge new relationships with independent travel agents and target younger demographics.

1975: Acquisition of the Carnivale

In 1975, Carnival acquired another former Canadian Pacific Line ship and renamed it the Carnivale, expanding its fleet.

1978: Acquisition of the TSS Festivale

In 1978, Carnival acquired its third ship, the TSS Festivale, formerly an ocean liner, paving the way for the company to consider building new ships to compete with other cruise lines in Miami.

1982: Introduction of the Tropicale

In 1982, Carnival introduced its first purpose-built ship, the Tropicale, which featured the iconic winged funnel designed by Joe Farcus, who later became a longtime design collaborator.

1984: Kathie Lee Gifford Marketing Campaign

In 1984, Carnival launched a new television marketing campaign featuring Kathie Lee Gifford, who became a longtime collaborator with the cruise line.

1985: Order of the Holiday Ship

In 1985, Carnival ordered the Holiday ship after the success of the Tropicale and due to the increased competition in Miami.

1986: Order of the Jubilee Ship

In 1986, Carnival ordered the Jubilee ship, continuing to expand its fleet.

1987: Order of the Celebration Ship

In 1987, Carnival ordered the Celebration ship, further increasing its capacity and offerings.

1990: Introduction of the Fantasy Class

In 1990, Carnival introduced the Fantasy class of ships, starting with the Fantasy, which was one of the largest ships at the time and featured the largest atrium at sea. Joe Farcus continued as the lead designer.

1993: Sale of the Mardi Gras

In 1993, Carnival sold its first ship, the Mardi Gras, after 21 years of service, as part of a move to replace older tonnage.

1996: Introduction of the Destiny Class

In 1996, Carnival introduced the Destiny class with the Carnival Destiny, which, at 101,000 GT, became the largest passenger ship in the world at the time, exceeding 100,000 tons.

1998: Completion of the Fantasy Class with Paradise

In 1998, Carnival completed the Fantasy class with the eighth ship, Paradise. Joe Farcus continued as the lead designer for the entire class.

1998: Elation with Azipod Propulsion and Paradise Non-Smoking Debut

In 1998, Carnival's Elation became the first cruise ship to have azipod propulsion. Also in 1998, the Paradise debuted as the first completely non-smoking cruise ship.

2001: Debut of the Spirit Class

In 2001, Carnival debuted the Panamax size Spirit class with the Carnival Spirit, the first of a four-ship class.

2001: Transfer of the Tropicale to Costa Cruises

In 2001, Carnival transferred its first new build, the 1982 built Tropicale, to Costa Cruises.

2001: Robert H. Dickinson on Back To The Floor

In 2001, Robert H. Dickinson, then President and CTC of Carnival, participated in a BBC documentary, Back To The Floor. Dickinson worked at the lowest crew levels on the Imagination in the Caribbean.

October 2002: Carnival Acquires P&O Princess Cruises

In October 2002, Carnival acquired P&O Princess Cruises for 3.5 billion euro, expanding its portfolio.

2004: Initiation of the Pinnacle Project

In 2004, Carnival Corporation initiated the Pinnacle Project, a development program for Carnival's new ships, calling for a 200,000 GT prototype, which would have been the world's largest cruise ship at the time, though the ship was later cancelled.

2004: Transfer of the Jubilee

In 2004, Carnival transferred the Jubilee, originally built in the 1980s, to other lines.

2008: Transfer of the Celebration

In 2008, Carnival continued to sell or transfer ships built in the 1980s to other lines, including the Celebration.

2008: Retirement of the Festivale

In 2008, Carnival retired the veteran ship Festivale, the last of its original second-hand fleet.

September 2009: Carnival Dream Enters Service

In September 2009, Carnival's biggest ship at the time, the Carnival Dream, a new 128,000 GT ship, entered service.

December 2009: Carnival Dream to Offer Caribbean Cruises & Order Placed for Third Dream-Class Vessel

In December 2009, after several voyages in the Mediterranean, the Carnival Dream was set to offer weekly Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral. Also, in December 2009, Carnival placed an order for a third Dream-class vessel.

2009: Transfer of the Holiday

In 2009, Carnival sold or transferred the Holiday ship to other lines, continuing to modernize its fleet.

May 2010: Name Selected for New Dream-Class Vessel in 2012

In May 2010, Carnival selected a name for their new Dream-class vessel due in 2012 – Carnival Breeze.

May 2011: Debut of Carnival Magic

In May 2011, Carnival Magic, a sister ship to Carnival Dream, debuted.

June 2012: Entry into Service of Third Dream-Class Vessel

In June 2012, Carnival's third Dream-class vessel entered service and its homeport is now Galveston.

October 2012: Order of the Carnival Vista

In October 2012, Carnival ordered a new 133,500 GT ship. This ship, built by Fincantieri, was the largest ship they had ever built.

May 2016: Maiden Voyage of the Carnival Vista

In May 2016, the Carnival Vista sailed her maiden voyage from Trieste, Italy.

January 2017: Michael Thamm Appointed CEO of Carnival Asia

In January 2017, Michael Thamm was appointed CEO of Carnival Asia, to oversee operations in China and the surrounding region.

April 2017: Start of Probation Violation Incidents

April 2017 marks the beginning of 800 incidents that occurred between April 2017 and April 2018 which contributed to the probation violation accusation against Carnival Corporation.

February 2018: Port Development Project Unveiled in Ensenada, Mexico

In February 2018, officials unveiled a major port development project in Ensenada, Mexico.

April 2018: End of Probation Violation Incidents

April 2018 marks the end of 800 incidents that occurred between April 2017 and April 2018 which contributed to the probation violation accusation against Carnival Corporation.

April 2018: Carnival Horizon Joins the Fleet

In April 2018, Carnival Horizon, a sister to Carnival Vista, joined the fleet, with her inaugural voyage from Barcelona, Spain.

May 23, 2018: Queen Latifah Christens Carnival Horizon

On May 23, 2018, Queen Latifah christened the Carnival Horizon as its godmother.

April 2019: Accusations of Probation Violation

In April 2019, Carnival Corporation faced accusations of violating probation rules, citing 800 incidents between April 2017 and April 2018.

June 3, 2019: Settlement Documents Signed

On June 3, 2019, Carnival Corp.'s Chairman Micky Arison signed the proposed settlement documents agreeing to pay $20 million in fines.

June 2019: Criminal Penalty for Environmental Violations

In June 2019, Carnival Corporation and its Princess subsidiary agreed to pay a $20 million criminal penalty for environmental violations, including dumping plastic waste into the ocean. Princess Cruises had previously paid $40 million for similar pollution.

June 2019: Agreement to Pay Fines

In early June 2019, Carnival Corp. agreed to pay $20 million in fines following accusations of probation violations.

June 2019: Construction of First Terminal in Japan

Reports in late June 2019 stated that Carnival was building its first terminal in Japan, in the port city of Sasebo, to be named Uragashira Cruise Terminal.

December 2019: Carnival Panorama Enters Service

In December 2019, Carnival Panorama, a sister to Carnival Vista, entered service as the cruise line's flagship. She became the first new ship to homeport on the West Coast since Paradise in 1998.

December 2019: Start of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic began with an outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.

March 2020: Cancellation of All Cruises Due to COVID-19

In March 2020, all Carnival cruises were cancelled due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, leading to significant disruptions and financial strain.

April 2020: Carnival Ships Gather in Bahamas to Sail Crew Home

In April 2020, 18 Carnival ships met up in the Bahamas to sail the crew home, using 12 ships for this purpose. Ships such as Carnival Breeze, Carnival Magic, and others sailed to various destinations to repatriate crew members.

July 31, 2020: $7.9 Billion in "Cash and Cash Equivalent" Available

As of July 31, 2020, Carnival stated that it had $7.9 billion in "cash and cash equivalent" available. Carnival also confirmed that it had sold the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration and that Carnival Fascination and Carnival Imagination would move to long term layup (storage).

September 6, 2020: Costa Cruises Resumes Sailings in Italy

On September 6, 2020, Costa Cruises began new sailings in Italy, initially with two ships, Costa Deliziosa and Costa Diadema, requiring all passengers to be from Italy.

September 2020: Suspension of Cruises in the U.S.

As of September 2020, members of the Cruise Lines International Association, including Carnival Cruise Line, announced that its members were extending a voluntary suspension until October 31. That applied to cruises that were to depart from the U.S. or planned to stop at U.S. ports of call.

September 2020: Reduction in Fleet Size

In September 2020, Carnival announced a reduction in its fleet, intending to dispose of 18 ships, a full 12% of the group's fleet. Carnival also sold Carnival Fascination and Carnival Imagination as well, and the corporation was delaying the delivery of several ships on order.

September 16, 2020: Suspension of Sailings Extended

On September 16, 2020, Carnival Cruise Line extended the suspension of four of its ships sailings well beyond October, to complete required dry-dock enhancements.

September 27, 2020: Costa Cruises Expands Availability to European Citizens

By September 27, 2020, Costa Cruises became available for all European citizens who were residents in any of the countries listed in the most recent decree from the Prime Minister of Italy.

October 31, 2020: No-Sail Rule Extended

As of September 2020, the no-sail rule by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prohibited cruising in the U.S. until October 31, 2020, at the earliest. That applied to cruises that were to depart from the U.S. or planned to stop at U.S. ports of call.

November 30, 2020: Financial Statement Released

Carnival Corporation's 4th quarter (ending November 30, 2020) financial statement released on January 11, 2021, indicated that one extra ship, in addition to the 18 previously planned, was to be sold. Carnival Corporation was in an excellent cash position, with US$9.5 billion, but suffered an adjusted net loss of $1.9 billion in the quarter.

January 11, 2021: One Extra Ship to be Sold

Carnival Corporation's financial statement released on January 11, 2021, indicated that one extra ship, in addition to the 18 previously planned, was to be sold.

June 2021: Stock Shares Fall

In June 2021, Carnival stock shares fell by 6% after it was announced that some early passengers from the first cruises of 2021 had tested positive for COVID-19.

June 2021: Costa Magica Moves to Carnival Fleet

In June 2021, the Costa Magica moved from Costa Cruises to the Carnival fleet, and received a new name and the updated Carnival livery. On the same day, Carnival also announced that an Excel class ship previously under construction for AIDA Cruises would be transferred to Carnival.

May 26, 2022: Fire on Carnival Freedom

On May 26, 2022, the Carnival Freedom experienced a fire within her funnel while docked in Grand Turk. The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported.

June 2022: Carnival Announces Fun Italian Style Concept

In June 2022, Carnival announced a new concept called "Fun Italian Style", bringing over Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze to sail under the Carnival brand while retaining their Italian designs and Costa funnels.

June 2022: Costa Luminosa joins Carnival Fleet

In June 2022, the Costa Luminosa joined the Carnival fleet, replacing Costa Magica which remained with Costa.

June 2022: Carnival Fined for Cybersecurity Violations

In June 2022, the New York Department of Financial Services announced a US$5 million fine for Carnival due to cybersecurity violations. The department cited significant violations and four security breaches from 2019 to 2021 that exposed consumer data. Carnival failed to meet security regulations by not using two-factor authentication and not reporting a data breach.

June 28, 2022: Large Fight Aboard Carnival Magic

On June 28, 2022, a large fight aboard the Carnival Magic around 5:30 am prompted an NYPD response upon the ship's arrival into New York City.

October 2022: Carnival Ecstasy retirement

In October 2022, Carnival Ecstasy officially retired from the fleet.

October 2022: Carnival Releases Renderings of the Ships and Announces Carnival Names

In October 2022, Carnival released renderings of the ships and announced that Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze would get Carnival names, becoming Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze, receiving the blue livery with a yellow stripe.

October 23, 2022: COVID-19 Testing Requirement Lifted for Vaccinated Passengers

As of October 23, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line passengers are not required to provide COVID-19 tests prior to their arrival if the passenger is vaccinated and boosted.

November 2022: Carnival Luminosa cruises from Brisbane

In November 2022, Carnival Luminosa began cruises from Brisbane, Australia.

December 2022: Carnival Jubilee Debut Delayed

In December 2022, Carnival announced the delay of the debut of Carnival Jubilee from October 2023 to December 2023 due to supply chain issues at the Meyer Werft shipyard.

May 2023: Carnival Venezia Debuts in Barcelona

In May 2023, the Carnival Venezia debuted in Barcelona, Spain, ahead of its maiden season from Manhattan, New York.

June 2024: P&O Cruises Australia to cease operations

In June 2024, it was announced that P&O Cruises Australia would cease operations in early 2025 with its services being merged into Carnival Cruise Line.

July 2024: Carnival Orders Three New Vessels

In July 2024, Carnival ordered three new vessels from Fincantieri, each of approximately 230,000 GT and holding nearly 8,000 passengers.

April 2025: Carnival Announces Names of Next Two Excel-Class Ships

In April 2025, it was announced that the next two Excel-class ships will be named Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale, after historic vessels from the past fleet.

July 2025: Carnival Announces New Rules Regarding Teen Curfew and Conduct

In July 2025, Carnival announced new rules regarding teen curfew, banning clacking fans, stopping unruly behavior, barring dances like the "Wobble" dance, and a limitation of hip-hop music on deck, among others. The new rules gained backlash from some cruise-goers.