The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company was established in England in 1837, which later became part of the P&O group.

Establishment of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company

The maiden voyage of the TS Mardi Gras on March 11, 1972, became legendary when the ship ran aground just outside the Port of Miami channel, making headlines worldwide.

TS Mardi Gras Maiden Voyage

In 1974, Ted Arison purchased Carnival for $1 and took on the assumption of AITS' $5 million debt. This marked a significant turning point for the company.

Ted Arison purchases Carnival

In 1974, Ted Arison bought full ownership of Carnival Cruise Line for $1 in cash and the assumption of $5 million in debt, proving his determination to save the ailing company.

Full Ownership of Carnival

In 1975, Carnival acquired the Empress of Britain, which was later introduced into service as the TSS Carnivale, expanding its fleet and offerings.

Purchase of Empress of Britain

In 1975, Carnival Cruise Line acquired the Carnivale ship, which was a former Canadian Pacific Line vessel. This acquisition marked a significant expansion for the company's fleet.

Carnival Cruise Line acquires the Carnivale ship

In 1975, Carnival Cruise Line added the ship Carnivale to its fleet, offering affordable vacation experiences and contributing to the company's rapid growth in the cruise industry.

Introduction of Carnivale

In 1975, Carnival acquired the Empress of Britain and renamed it as TSS Carnivale, marking a significant event in the company's history.

Acquisition of Empress of Britain and rebranding as TSS Carnivale

The Festivale, previously known as the S.A. Vaal, underwent a significant $30 million refurbishment in 1978 before commencing service for Carnival as the largest and fastest vessel sailing from Miami to the Caribbean.

Refurbishment of The Festivale

In 1978, Carnival Cruise Line acquired the TSS Festivale ship, another former ocean liner. This acquisition further strengthened Carnival's position in the cruise industry.

Carnival Cruise Line acquires the TSS Festivale ship

After a $30 million refit in Japan, the Festivale was launched in 1978, becoming the fastest ship sailing from Miami to the Caribbean. It was the first Carnival ship to include a water slide, paving the way for future water park attractions.

Introduction of Festivale Cruise Ship

The S.A. Vaal underwent a $30 million refurbishment in 1978 and was introduced as The Festivale, becoming the largest and fastest vessel sailing from Miami to the Caribbean.

Refurbishment of S.A. Vaal into The Festivale

In 1980, Carnival surprised the cruise industry by announcing plans to build the Tropicale. The ship entered service in 1982 and contributed to an industry-wide shipbuilding boom.

Carnival announces plans to build the Tropicale

Ted Arison, the founder of Carnival Cruise Line, made significant business strides and turned a $1 investment into the world's most popular and profitable cruise line, shaping the company's success with his pioneering vision.

Ted Arison's Entrepreneurial Contributions to Carnival Cruise Line

Starting in 1980, Carnival's revenues grew 30 percent annually, outpacing the average growth rate in the cruise industry.

Rapid Revenue Growth

The Tropicale marked the beginning of a significant shipbuilding boom in the cruise industry, being the first new cruise ship introduced after many years.

Debut of the Tropicale

In 1982, Carnival introduced their first purpose-built ship, the Tropicale, featuring the iconic winged funnel design by Joe Farcus.

Introduction of Carnival's Tropicale Ship

Carnival Cruise Line introduced the Tropicale, a 36,000-ton vessel, as the first new cruise ship in many years in response to rising fuel prices. It featured innovative elements like an expansive promenade and the iconic winged whale's tail funnel.

Debut of Tropicale Cruise Ship

The launch of the Tropicale in 1982 sparked a significant shipbuilding boom in the cruise industry.

Launch of Tropicale

In 1984, Carnival made history by becoming the first cruise line to advertise on network TV. The advertising campaign featured Kathie Lee Gifford (then Johnson) as the company spokesperson.

Carnival becomes first cruise line to advertise on network TV

Carnival became the first cruise line to advertise on network TV with a campaign featuring Kathie Lee Gifford, which was a significant marketing move for the company.

Carnival's TV Advertising Campaign with Kathie Lee Gifford

In 1984, Carnival launched a new television marketing campaign starring Kathie Lee Gifford, marking the beginning of her long collaboration with the cruise line.

Carnival's New Television Marketing Campaign with Kathie Lee Gifford

In 1984, TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford became the official spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line, contributing to the increase in brand awareness. Her presence in marketing campaigns highlighted the fun atmosphere of Carnival Cruise Line voyages.

Kathie Lee Gifford becomes Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson

In 1984, Carnival made history by becoming the first cruise line to advertise on network TV, featuring Kathie Lee Gifford as the spokesperson.

Carnival's First TV Advertisement with Kathie Lee Gifford

The 46,052-ton Holiday was introduced, adding to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet and expanding their offerings.

Debut of the Holiday

In response to increased competition, Carnival ordered the Holiday in 1985, expanding their fleet.

Introduction of Carnival's Holiday Ship

Holiday, part of the trio of 'SuperLiners' introduced in 1985, featured spacious public areas and a wide range of amenities. This marked a significant milestone in Carnival's journey towards becoming the Most Popular Cruise Line in the World.

Launch of Holiday Cruise Ship

The 47,262-ton Jubilee was launched, further enhancing the Carnival Cruise Line's fleet and services.

Launch of the Jubilee

Jubilee was one of the 'SuperLiners' launched in 1986, offering luxurious amenities and contributing to Carnival's growing popularity in the cruise industry.

Introduction of Jubilee Cruise Ship

The 47,262-ton Celebration entered service, contributing to the Carnival Cruise Line's reputation and offerings.

Introduction of the Celebration

Carnival earned the title of 'Most Popular Cruise Line in the World' by carrying more passengers than any other, solidifying its position in the industry.

Carnival's Popularity Achievement

In 1987, Carnival Corporation made an initial public offering of 20 percent of its common stock, which marked the beginning of its expansion through acquisition.

Carnival Corporation Initial Public Offering

Carnival Corporation made an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 1987, generating capital that was used for acquisitions.

Initial Public Offering on the New York Stock Exchange

Celebration, launched in 1987, was part of the trio of 'SuperLiners' that solidified Carnival's reputation as the Most Popular Cruise Line in the World with its exceptional amenities and services.

Debut of Celebration Cruise Ship

In 1987, Carnival Cruise Line made a significant milestone by going public through an initial public offering (IPO), which allowed the company to raise capital and expand its presence in the cruise industry.

Carnival Cruise Line IPO

In 1988, Carnival purchased the Holland America Line for $625 million, expanding its portfolio of cruise brands.

Acquisition of Holland America Line

In 1989, Carnival acquired premium cruise operator Holland America Line and Westours, a leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. This acquisition allowed Carnival to expand its operations and offerings.

Carnival purchases Holland America Line and Westours

In 1989, Carnival acquired premium operator Holland America Line, which also included niche operator Windstar Cruises and Alaskan/Canadian tour operator Holland America Tours.

Windstar Cruises, a Carnival subsidiary since 1989, was sold to Ambassadors International in 2007.

Sale of Windstar Cruises

Starting in 1990, Carnival introduced the popular Fantasy class, with the largest ship at the time being the Fantasy.

Introduction of Carnival's Fantasy Class

In the 1990s, Carnival Cruise Line introduced the Fantasy class of ships, marking the beginning of the modern era for the company. This class included eight ships with unique amenities and design features.

Introduction of Fantasy Class Ships

In 1992, Carnival bought a 25 percent stake in the ultra-luxury Seabourn Cruise Line, which had two 208-passenger all-suite vessels. Over the years, Carnival increased its ownership in Seabourn, eventually taking full control in 1999.

Carnival purchases stake in Seabourn Cruise Line

In 1992, Carnival acquired the luxury brand Seabourn, expanding its presence in the luxury cruise market.

Acquisition of Seabourn

In 1993, Carnival Corporation changed the name of its parent company to Carnival Corporation to differentiate it from its flagship cruise line. This rebranding aimed to create a clear distinction between the corporate entity and its operating subsidiary.

Carnival changes parent company name to Carnival Corporation

In 1993, Carnival began selling off older ships, including the Mardi Gras, after 21 years of service.

Sale of Carnival's Mardi Gras Ship

In 1993, the name Carnival Corporation was adopted to distinguish the parent company from its flagship cruise line subsidiary.

Adoption of the Name Carnival Corporation

Fiesta Marina Cruises was established by Carnival Corp in 1993 but was liquidated in 1994 with its sole ship sold to the Epirotiki Line.

Establishment of Fiesta Marina Cruises

Carnival's parent company renamed Carnival Corporation to distinguish it from its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Lines. The company later became known as Carnival Corp. & plc after merging with P&O Princess Cruises, becoming the world's largest cruise operator.

Renaming of Carnival Corporation

Carnival launched its sixth 'Fantasy-class' vessel, the Carnival Inspiration.

Launch of Carnival Inspiration

Carnival introduced the Carnival Destiny, the first passenger vessel to exceed 100,000 tons, making it the world's largest cruise ship at that time. The ship was later renovated and renamed Carnival Sunshine in 2013.

Introduction of Carnival Destiny

In 1996, Carnival introduced the Destiny class with the Carnival Destiny, the largest passenger ship at the time.

Introduction of Carnival's Destiny Class

In 1997, Carnival Corporation purchased 50 percent of Costa Cruises, the leading cruise company in Europe. This strategic move strengthened Carnival's presence in the European cruise market.

Carnival acquires 50 percent of Costa Cruises

In 1997, Carnival acquired Genoa, Italy-based contemporary brand Costa Cruises, Europe’s leading cruise operator at the time.

Acquisition of Costa Cruises

Carnival Elation was introduced as the first new Carnival Cruise Line ship ever deployed on the West Coast.

Introduction of Carnival Elation

In 1998, the Elation became the first cruise ship with azipod propulsion, a significant innovation in the industry.

Debut of Carnival's Elation Ship with Azipod Propulsion

In 1998, Carnival acquired venerable premium/luxury operator Cunard Line, which had built the world’s largest ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2.

Acquisition of Cunard Line

In 1998, Carnival changed its legal name to Carnival Corporation after acquiring a controlling interest in Cunard White Star Line, marking a significant milestone in its growth.

Carnival Corporation Formation

In 1998, Carnival Cruise Line launched Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise, two ships that are part of the Fantasy class. These ships offered passengers a new level of cruising experience with modern amenities.

Launch of Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise

In 1998, Carnival Cruise Line launched Paradise, the industry's first smoke-free ship. Despite the unique concept and a launch event benefiting the American Cancer Society, Paradise struggled to attract vacationers and group business, ultimately losing its smoke-free status after a few years.

Launch of Carnival Cruise Line's first smoke-free ship, Paradise

In 1998, a fire broke out in the laundry room of Carnival Ecstasy as it set sail from the Port of Miami, caused by welding equipment igniting lint. Despite panic among passengers and crew, the fire was contained without casualties, but the ship was out of service for a while.

Carnival Ecstasy Fire

On September 19, 1999, the Tropicale cruise ship experienced an engine room fire and was struck by Tropical Storm Harvey, leaving the ship disabled in the Gulf of Mexico for two days.

Tropicale Engine Room Fire and Storm Incident

Carnival Victory, the third 'Destiny-class' vessel, was launched.

Launch of Carnival Victory

P&O Princess Cruises plc was formed in 2000 following the demerger of the cruise ship division of the P&O group.

Formation of P&O Princess Cruises plc

Carnival introduced a new class of vessel with the launch of Carnival Spirit, the first 'Fun Ship' positioned in the Alaska and Hawaii markets.

Introduction of Carnival Spirit

In 2001, Carnival debuted the Spirit class with the Carnival Spirit, introducing the Panamax size ships.

Launch of Carnival's Spirit Class

In October 2002, Carnival acquired P&O Princess Cruises for 3.5 billion euro, expanding its presence in the cruise industry.

Acquisition of P&O Princess Cruises by Carnival

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

Transfer of Tropicale to Costa Cruises

In 2001, Carnival launched the Spirit class ships, offering a more intimate cruising experience with unique features like a single dining room, a ship-long promenade, and a cozy winter garden in the bow of the ship.

Launch of Spirit Class ships

In 2001, Carnival launched the Carnival Pride and Carnival Legend ships, adding to their fleet with new innovative features and designs.

Launch of Carnival Pride and Carnival Legend

In 2002, Carnival Corporation pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to falsifying records of oil-contaminated bilge water dumped into the sea by its ships from 1996 to 2001. The company was fined $18 million and had to implement an environmental-compliance program.

Carnival Corporation Pleads Guilty to Environmental Violations

On April 22, 2003, Carnival Corporation finalized agreements to merge with P&O Princess Cruises plc, creating the world’s first global cruise operator with 12 recognizable brands.

Carnival Corporation and P&O Princess Cruises Merger

Carnival Miracle, the fourth ship in Carnival's 'Spirit-class,' is launched.

Debut of Carnival Miracle

The third 110,000-ton 'Conquest-class' ship, Carnival Valor, embarks on its maiden voyage.

Carnival Valor sets sail

In 2004, Carnival Corporation initiated a development program for Carnival's new ships, the Pinnacle Project, calling for a 200,000 GT prototype.

Initiation of Pinnacle Project

Carnival Liberty, the fourth 110,000-ton 'Conquest-class' vessel, starts operating and runs Carnival's first Mediterranean cruise program.

Carnival Liberty enters service

After Hurricane Katrina, three Carnival cruise ships were chartered by the U.S. government for temporary housing, costing $236 million and facing criticism for underutilization.

Carnival cruise ships chartered after Hurricane Katrina

In February 2007, Carnival Corporation sold Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors Group as part of its business strategy.

Carnival sells Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors Group

In 2008, the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor was introduced, marking the debut of a new class of ship for the Carnival Cruise Line.

Introduction of Carnival Splendor

In 2008, Carnival transferred the Carnival Luminosa ship from Costa Cruises to their own fleet, expanding their offerings to passengers.

Transfer of Carnival Luminosa from Costa Cruises

The unique Splendor class, with its only ship, the Carnival Splendor, debuted in 2008. It offers a distinct cruising experience, complete with a massive spa, a magradome covering one of the pools, and other impressive amenities.

Debut of Splendor Class

In 2009, Carnival released their biggest ship at the time, the Carnival Dream, a new 128,000 GT ship.

Launch of Carnival Dream

On September 30, 2009, Carnival Legend collided with Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas in Cozumel. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from the incident.

Collision between Carnival Legend and Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas

A fire broke out in the generator room of Carnival Splendor, causing the ship to lose power and drift off the west coast of Mexico until it was towed to San Diego.

Fire on Carnival Splendor

In 2011, Carnival Magic, a second 130,000-ton ship, entered service, expanding the fleet of Carnival Cruise Line.

Introduction of Carnival Magic

Carnival Magic was launched in 2011 and it was the first ship to introduce the RedFrog Pub, which later became a popular feature across the Carnival fleet.

Launch of Carnival Magic

In 2011, Carnival Cruise Line introduced Fun Ship 2.0, a redesign initiative aimed at enhancing the guest experience. It included new partnerships, F&B choices like the Alchemy Bar, improved entertainment offerings, and new onboard activities.

Fun Ship 2.0 Launch

On October 26, 2012, it was announced that Carnival had ordered a new 133,500 GT ship. This ship, built by Fincantieri, was the largest ship they have ever built. The new ship was named Carnival Vista, and sailed her maiden voyage on May 1, 2016, from Trieste, Italy.

Maiden Voyage of Carnival Vista

Carnival Triumph suffered an engine room fire, leading to a power outage and sewage backup, resulting in a four-day ordeal dubbed 'The Poop Cruise'. The ship was towed to Mobile, Alabama.

Engine Room Fire on Carnival Triumph

Carnival Dream experienced an emergency generator failure while docked in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, leading to the decision to fly passengers back to Florida.

Emergency Generator Failure on Carnival Dream

Carnival Legend suffered a mechanical problem with one propulsion pod while at sea, resulting in the cancellation of scheduled stops and a return to Tampa, Florida.

Mechanical Problem on Carnival Legend

An electrician working on the Carnival Ecstasy was crushed to death in an elevator accident, gaining heavy publicity after a video of the incident surfaced online.

Fatal Accident on Carnival Ecstasy

In 2016, Carnival Cruise Line introduced the Carnival Vista, the largest 'Fun Ship' ever constructed. It featured unique innovations such as an onboard brewery, the SkyRide aerial attraction, and the first IMAX Theatre at sea.

Introduction of Carnival Vista

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

Appointment of Michael Thamm as CEO of Carnival Asia

A sister to Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, joined the fleet with her inaugural voyage from Barcelona, Spain on April 2, 2018.

Inaugural Voyage of Carnival Horizon

A pipe burst in the fire suppression system of Carnival Dream, leading to the flooding of 50 staterooms.

Pipe Burst on Carnival Dream

Lifeboat number 28 broke loose from the Carnival Dream for unknown reasons, prompting Carnival to abandon it at sea and purchase a replacement.

Lifeboat Incident on Carnival Dream

In 2019, Carnival and its Princess line were ordered to pay an additional $20 million penalty for violating probation terms, including discharging plastic into waters, falsifying records, and interfering with court supervision.

Additional Penalty for Carnival and Princess Line

On September 20, 2019, the former Carnival Fantasy collided with the lock's wall in Panama Canal, sustaining damage to the aft superstructure. The incident occurred during a 10-day Panama Canal cruise, with no reported injuries.

Collision of Carnival Fantasy in Panama Canal

A 23-year-old passenger fell off a railing on Carnival Valor near Louisiana on October 9, 2019, and was flown to a New Orleans hospital in critical condition.

Passenger Fall from Carnival Valor

The user is contemplating the affordability of a Carnival cruise while considering the fun activities onboard and at the destination ports.

Carnival Cruise Affordability

Carnival Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, operates a fleet of 26 ships with a distinctive whale's tail logo. It is the largest cruise line based on annual passengers carried. A new ship is set to join the fleet in 2024 through a joint venture with Costa.

International cruise line headquartered in Doral, Florida

Carnival Cruise Line

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