Carnival Cruise Line is an international
cruise line
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships that operate on ocean or rivers and which markets cruises to the public. Cruise lines are distinct from passenger lines which are primarily concerned with transportation of passengers. Though ...
with headquarters in
Doral, Florida
Doral is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. One of 34 municipalities in the county, it is located west of Miami International Airport and west of Downtown Miami. Doral occupies bordered on the west by the Ronald Reagan Tu ...
. The company is a subsidiary of
Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is a British-American cruise operator with a combined fleet of over 100 vessels across 10 cruise line brands. A dual-listed company, Carnival is composed of two companies – Panama-incorporated, US-headquartered Carniv ...
. Its logo is a
funnel
A funnel is a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening.
Funnels are usually made of stainless steel, aluminium, glass, or plastic. The material used in its construct ...
shaped like a whale's tail, with a red, white, and blue
color scheme
In color theory, a color scheme is the choice of colors used in various artistic and design contexts. For example, the "Achromatic" use of a white background with black text is an example of a basic and commonly default color scheme in web de ...
. This trademark funnel design is built onto the line's ships. Carnival is ranked first on the
list of largest cruise lines
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships and markets cruises to the public. Cruise lines are distinct from passenger lines which are primarily concerned with transportation of their passengers. Cruise lines have a dual character; th ...
based on passengers carried annually.
, Carnival Cruise Line operates a fleet of 24 ships. They have one additional new build on order and a further two ships will join the fleet in 2023 and 2024, following a new joint venture deal between Carnival and Costa.
Company structure
Carnival is one of ten
cruise lines
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships and markets cruises to the public. Cruise lines are distinct from passenger lines which are primarily concerned with transportation of their passengers. Cruise lines have a dual character; th ...
owned by the world's largest cruise ship operator, the American-British
Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is a British-American cruise operator with a combined fleet of over 100 vessels across 10 cruise line brands. A dual-listed company, Carnival is composed of two companies – Panama-incorporated, US-headquartered Carniv ...
. In 2021, Carnival Cruise Line was estimated to hold a 7.6% share of cruise industry revenue and 18.2% of passengers.
It has 24 vessels and is the largest fleet in the Carnival group.
The ships fly
flags of convenience
Flag of convenience (FOC) is a business practice whereby a ship's owners register a merchant ship in a ship register of a country other than that of the ship's owners, and the ship flies the civil ensign of that country, called the flag state ...
: 18 of the ships fly the
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
flag and six that of
the Bahamas
The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...
. Its headquarters are in
Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The North American division of Carnival Corporation has executive control over the corporation and is headquartered in
Doral, Florida
Doral is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. One of 34 municipalities in the county, it is located west of Miami International Airport and west of Downtown Miami. Doral occupies bordered on the west by the Ronald Reagan Tu ...
.
[Map of the City of Doral](_blank)
. City of Doral. Retrieved on January 9, 2010
History
Carnival Cruise Line was founded in 1972 by
Ted Arison
Ted Arison ( he, תד אריסון; 24 February 1924 – 1 October 1999) was an Israeli businessman who co-founded Norwegian Cruise Lines in 1966 with Knut Kloster and soon left to form Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972.
Early years
Arison wa ...
. To finance the venture, Arison turned to his friend
Meshulam Riklis
Meshulam Riklis ( he, משולם ריקליס; 2 December 1923 – 25 January 2019) was an Israeli financier and businessman.
Early years
Born in Istanbul to a Russian-Jewish family, Riklis grew up in Tel Aviv, and attended the Herzliya Hebrew ...
, who owned Boston-based American International Travel Service (AITS). Arison and Riklis set up the new company as a subsidiary of AITS. AITS was to market and promote the new venture. In 1974, due to regulatory issues, Riklis sold AITS's interest in the company to Arison for $1, but subject to Arison taking over the substantial company debts.
[''The Cruise Ship Phenomenon in North America'']
(2001), by Brian J. Cudahy, , page 44ff. The split enabled Arison to enter into new relationships with independent travel agents. He also promoted his cruises to fun-loving younger people. The format was very successful financially.
[
]![Carnival Cruise Line Fleet 1970s](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Carnival_Cruise_Line_Fleet_1970s.png)
1970s: Early years
Carnival Cruise Line commenced sailings from Miami with their first ship the ''Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "Fat ...
'' in 1972, a former transatlantic liner purchased from Canadian Pacific Line. Carnival would adapt and evolve the green Canadian Pacific livery for their new logo, changing the colors to red, white and blue as seen today.
In 1975, Carnival acquired another former Canadian Pacific Line ship, renaming it the '' Carnivale''. The success of the two ships led to the acquisition of their third ship in 1978, the TSS ''Festivale'', another former ocean liner. With the success of the three ships, Carnival decided to build new ships to be able to compete with the rival Miami cruise lines.[
]
1980s: First new build ships
In 1982, Carnival introduced their first purpose-built ship, the '' Tropicale''. This was the first ship on which the iconic winged funnel was introduced, which has since been used on all ships in the fleet; it was designed by Joe Farcus, who would become a longtime Carnival Cruise Line design collaborator.
In 1984, Carnival would introduce a new television marketing campaign during this time, starring Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathryn Lee Gifford (née Epstein; born August 16, 1953) is an American television presenter, singer, songwriter, actress and author. From 1985 to 2000, she and Regis Philbin hosted the talk show ''Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee''. Gifford is a ...
, who continues to be a longtime collaborator with the line.
Following the success of the '' Tropicale'', and increased competition in Miami with newer ships, Carnival ordered the ''Holiday
A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
'' in 1985, followed by the ''Jubilee
A jubilee is a particular anniversary of an event, usually denoting the 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, and the 70th anniversary. The term is often now used to denote the celebrations associated with the reign of a monarch after a milestone number of y ...
'' in 1986 and '' Celebration'' in 1987.[
]
1990s: Fleet expansion
Beginning in 1990, Carnival introduced the popular ''Fantasy'' class, beginning with the ''Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
'', and completed with the eighth in the class ''Paradise
In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in paradis ...
'' in 1998. When completed, the Fantasy was one of the largest ships at the time and had the largest atrium at sea.[ After having done design work on all the previous Carnival ships, Joe Farcus continued as the lead designer for the entire class.][
In 1993, Carnival began to get rid of their older second-hand tonnage, and sold their first ship, ''Mardi Gras'', after 21 years of service with the line. The '' Carnivale'' followed the same year, going to newly-created Carnival subsidiary ]Fiesta Marina Cruises
Fiesta Marina Cruises was an experimental short-lived subsidiary cruise line of Carnival Cruise Lines. It was marketed toward the Latin/Spanish-speaking population, residing in the United States and abroad. The cruise line sailed out of San Juan, ...
.
In 1996, the new ''Destiny'' class was introduced, with the '' Carnival Destiny''. At , it became the largest passenger ship in the world at the time and first to exceed 100,000 tons. The ''Destiny''-class platform continued to be used in various iterations all the way to the ''Carnival Splendor
''Carnival Splendor'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. As she is the only ''Concordia''-class ship in the Carnival fleet, she is also referred to as a ''Splendor-''class ship. Her other sister ships are part of the Costa Crociere fleet. ...
'' in 2008. The same year the veteran ship '' Festivale'', the last of the original second-hand fleet, was retired.
In 1998, the seventh ship in the ''Fantasy'' class, the '' Elation'', was the first cruise ship to have the innovative azipod propulsion, used on most new cruise ships today. The ''Paradise
In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in paradis ...
'' also debuted in 1998, and was the first completely non-smoking cruise when it originally debuted.
2000s: Early modern era
In 2001, the new Panamax size ''Spirit'' class class debuted with the ''Carnival Spirit
''Carnival Spirit'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Built in Helsinki by Kværner Masa-Yards, she was the first ''Spirit''-class cruise ship to join Carnival's fleet after she was delivered i ...
,'' the first of the four-ship class within the Carnival fleet.
In 2001, Robert H. Dickinson, then President and CTC, participated in a BBC documentary, ''Back To The Floor''. Dickinson went to work at the lowest crew levels on the ''Imagination'' in the Caribbean, where he shadowed a Romanian cleaner, Alina. In October 2002, Carnival acquired P&O Princess Cruises for 3.5 billion euro.
In 2001, Carnival transferred their first new build, the 1982 built '' Tropicale'' to Costa Cruises
Società per Azioni, S.p.A. (), operating as Costa Cruises, is an Italian cruise line founded in 1854 and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc since 2000. Based in Genoa, Genoa, Italy, the cruise line primarily ca ...
. Through the rest of the decade, the line would continue to sell, or transfer the other 1980s built ships to other lines, with the ''Jubilee
A jubilee is a particular anniversary of an event, usually denoting the 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, and the 70th anniversary. The term is often now used to denote the celebrations associated with the reign of a monarch after a milestone number of y ...
'' in 2004, ''Celebration'' in 2008, and ''Holiday
A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
'' in 2009.
In 2004, Carnival Corporation initiated a development program for Carnival's new ships, the Pinnacle Project, calling for a 200,000 GT prototype, which would have been the world's largest cruise ship at the time. The ship was cancelled, but they then developed a project called Next Generation.[Fincantieri signs a five ship, 2.6 billion dollar agreement with Carnival Group](_blank)
Press Release. ''Fincantiei''. 23 September 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2010
In 2009, Carnival released their biggest ship at the time, the ''Carnival Dream
''Carnival Dream'' is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is the lead ship of her namesake class, which includes ''Carnival Magic, Carnival Breeze'', and ''Costa Diadema.'' Built by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard in Fr ...
'', a new ship. ''Carnival Dream'' entered service on 21 September 2009. After several voyages in the Mediterranean, she was set to offer weekly Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral from December 5, 2009. A sister ship, ''Carnival Magic
''Carnival Magic'' is a which entered service on 1 May 2011. The ship was named and christened in Venice by her godmother Lindsey Wilkerson, a former patient and current researcher at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
''Carnival Magic'' ...
'', debuted on May 1, 2011. On December 1, 2009 it was announced that Carnival had placed an order for a third ''Dream''-class vessel. It entered service in June 2012 and its homeport is now Galveston. On May 10, 2010, Carnival selected a name for their new ''Dream''-class vessel in 2012 – ''Carnival Breeze
''Carnival Breeze'' is a of Carnival Cruise Line which was laid down on 20 November 2008, launched on 16 September 2011 and completed on 3 June 2012.
Concept and construction
''Carnival Breeze'' is the third and last ''Dream''-class ship built ...
''.
2010s
On October 26, 2012, it was announced that Carnival had ordered a new 133,500 GT ship. This ship, built by Fincantieri
Fincantieri S.p.A. () is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe, after the acquisition of Vard in 2013, Fincantieri group doubled in size to become the fourth largest in the world (2014 ...
, was the largest ship they have ever built. The new ship was named ''Carnival Vista
''Carnival Vista'' is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is the lead ship of her namesake class, which includes two additional Carnival ships, and , as well as two Costa ships, and .
History
The ship was delivered on April ...
'', and sailed her maiden voyage on May 1, 2016, from Trieste, Italy
Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into provi ...
.
In January 2017, Michael Thamm was appointed CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of Carnival Asia to oversee operations in China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
and the surrounding region.
A sister to ''Carnival Vista
''Carnival Vista'' is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is the lead ship of her namesake class, which includes two additional Carnival ships, and , as well as two Costa ships, and .
History
The ship was delivered on April ...
'', ''Carnival Horizon
''Carnival Horizon'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is the 26th vessel in the Carnival fleet and is the second of Carnival's ''Vista'' class, which includes and .
The ship has a tonnage of and a capacity of 3,960 passengers. In 20 ...
'', joined the fleet with her inaugural voyage from Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
on April 2, 2018. Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress, and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album ''All Hail the Que ...
is the ship's godmother, and christened her May 23, 2018.
''Carnival Panorama
''Carnival Panorama'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. After Carnival finalized the ship's order with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in December 2016, the vessel had her keel laid in January 2018 and she was formally delivered in October ...
'', another sister to ''Carnival Vista'', entered service as the cruise line's flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...
on December 11, 2019. She became the first new ship to homeport on the West Coast since ''Paradise'' (now ''Carnival Paradise'') in 1998. Both ships sailed from Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California.
Incorporate ...
.
In February 2018, the company's officials unveiled a major port development project in Ensenada, Mexico
Ensenada is a city in Ensenada Municipality, Baja California, situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Located on the Bahía de Todos Santos, the city had a population of 279,765 in 2018, making it the third-largest city in Baja California. The ...
.
Reports in late June 2019 stated that Carnival was building their first terminal in Japan, in the port city of Sasebo, to be named Uragashira Cruise Terminal. Local officials were hoping that the terminal would be open by late July 2020.
2020s
In 2020, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, ''Carnival Fantasy'', ''Carnival Imagination'', ''Carnival Inspiration'' were all sold for recycling. While ''Carnival Fascination'' was initially sold to another line, before it was resold for recycling a year later.
In June 2021, it was announced that the Costa Magica
''Costa Magica'' is a operated by Costa Crociere. She debuted in 2004 as a sister ship to , and is also referred to as a ''Fortuna''-class ship. ''Costa Magica'' pays homage to some of the most famous destinations in Italy including Positano, ...
would move from Costa Cruises to the Carnival fleet, and would receive a new name and the updated Carnival livery. On the same day, Carnival also announced that a Excel class ship previously under construction for AIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises is a German cruise line founded in the early 1960s and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc since 2003. Based in Rostock, Germany, AIDA Cruises caters primarily to the German-speaking market; as seago ...
would be transfered to Carnival. Later in the year, the name was revealed to be ''Carnival Jubilee.''
On July 31, 2021, after numerous delays, the highly anticipated ''Mardi Gras'' entered service, sailing year round from Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral is a cruise, cargo, and naval port in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world with 4.5 million cruise passengers passing through during 2016. Over 5.4 million tonnes of bulk car ...
.
In early 2022, Carnival would announce the retirement of ''Carnival Sensation'' and ''Carnival Ecstasy'', with Sensation being sold for recycling immediately, and Ecstasy remaining in the fleet until October 2022.
In June 2022, it was announced that ''Costa Luminosa
Costa may refer to:
Biology
* Rib (Latin: ''costa''), in vertebrate anatomy
* Costa (botany), the central strand of a plant leaf or thallus
* Costa (coral), a stony rib, part of the skeleton of a coral
* Costa (entomology), the leading edge of ...
'' would join the fleet as ''Carnival Luminosa'' replacing the previous announced plans of moving ''Costa Magica'' which would remain with Costa.
It was further announced in June 2022, that Carnival would create a new concept with Costa Cruises, dubbed Costa by Carnival to bring over '' Costa Venezia'' and ''Costa Firenze
''Costa Firenze'' is a constructed at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera for Costa Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, and sister ship to ''Costa Venezia. Costa Firenze'' is scheduled to be transferred to Carnival Cruise Line, C ...
'' and have the pair sail under the Carnival brand, while retaining their Costa names and livery. Both ships will join the Carnival fleet in 2023 and 2024 respectively. On October 21, 2022, Carnival released renderings of the ships and announced that the ships would get Carnival names, becoming ''Carnival Venezia'' and ''Carnival Firenze.''
In December 2022, Carnival announced it had been forced to delay the debut of ''Carnival Jubilee'' from October 2023 to December 2023 because of ongoing supply chain issues at the Meyer Werft
Meyer Werft is one of the major German shipyards, headquartered in Papenburg at the river Ems. Founded in 1795 and starting with small wooden vessels, today Meyer Werft is a builder of luxury passenger ships. 700 ships of different types have be ...
shipyard.
Leadership
Carnival has had five Presidents in its nearly 50-year history.
Effects of COVID-19 pandemic
In a filing with regulators, the company stated that as of July 31, 2020, it had $7.9 billion in "cash and cash equivalent" available. An industry news item estimated that this would enable Carnival to continue operating for roughly a year in a situation where none of the ships was sailing. A few days earlier, the company confirmed that it had sold the ''Carnival Fantasy
''Carnival Fantasy'' (formerly ''Fantasy'') was a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She was the first ship of her namesake class, which was the largest by number of ships, before the scrapping of the Fantasy, Inspiration, Imagination, ...
'' and ''Carnival Inspiration
''Carnival Inspiration'' (formerly ''Inspiration'') was a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was floated out on April 1, 1996, and christened as ''Inspiration' ...
'' (which were to be scrapped) and that ''Carnival Fascination
''Carnival Fascination'', originally ''Fascination'', was a cruise ship built at Helsinki, Finland in 1994. For most of her service with Carnival Cruise Lines she operated out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2017 ''Carnival Fascination'' was charte ...
'' and ''Carnival Imagination
''Carnival Imagination'' (formerly ''Imagination'') is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was Float-out, floated out on July 1, 1995, and Ceremonial ship launc ...
'' would move to long term layup (storage).
All cruises were cancelled in March 2020 due to the worldwide pandemic and eventually, 55 passengers on ships owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is a British-American cruise operator with a combined fleet of over 100 vessels across 10 cruise line brands. A dual-listed company, Carnival is composed of two companies – Panama-incorporated, US-headquartered Carniv ...
were reported as having died. In September 2020, the corporation (the corporate umbrella of nine cruise ship companies, including Carnival Cruise Line) announced a reduction in its fleet. The company intended to dispose of 18 of its ships, a full 12% of the group's fleet. By that time, several ships had already been scrapped, including the ''Carnival Fantasy'' and ''Carnival Inspiration''. In September 2020, Carnival announced that ''Carnival Fascination'' and ''Carnival Imagination'' had been sold as well. Carnival Corporation also said that it was delaying the delivery of several ships already on order. The adjusted net loss in the third quarter for Carnival Corporation & plc was reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government, created in the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The primary purpose of the SEC is to enforce the law against market ...
as US$1.7 billion.
As of September 2020, the no-sail rule by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgi ...
prohibited cruising in the U.S. until October 31, 2020, at the earliest. Members of the Cruise Lines International Association
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is a cruise line trade association. It merged with International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) in 2006, forming an expanded organization incorporating the existing functions of both organizations. The ...
, including Carnival Cruise Line, had announced in early August 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. 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.
Costa Cruises began new sailings on September 6, 2020, in Italy, initially with two ships, Costa Deliziosa
''Costa Deliziosa'' is a cruise ship flagship operated by Costa Crociere. Ordered in 2007 as part of a five-ship expansion of the Costa Cruises Fleet, ''Costa Deliziosa'' was constructed by Fincantieri, launched in March 2009, and handed over to ...
and Costa Diadema
''Costa Diadema'' is a owned by Carnival Corporation and operated by Costa Crociere. The ship was ordered in October 2012 and was delivered to Costa on 25 October 2014. At her time of delivery, ''Costa Diadema'' was the largest vessel to fly ...
, At that time, the line required all passengers to be from Italy. By September 27, 2020, however, "Costa Cruises will be available for all European citizens who are residents in any of the countries listed in the most recent decree from the Prime Minister of Italy" according to a news report. The company had implemented strict health protocols to protect its staff and guests.
The Corporate parent'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.
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.
More recently, as of October 23rd 2022, Carnival Cruise line Passengers are not required to provide Covid-19 test prior to their arrival if the passenger is vaccinated and boosted.
Controversies
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
, three of the Carnival cruise ships were chartered by the United States government for six months to serve as temporary housing until the houses can be rebuilt. After being chartered for six months, their planned voyages were cancelled, and passengers were refunded. ''Holiday
A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
'' was originally docked in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
, and later Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula ( ) is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula Combined Statistical Area. The population was 22 ...
, and '' Ecstasy'' and ''Sensation
Sensation (psychology) refers to the processing of the senses by the sensory system.
Sensation or sensations may also refer to:
In arts and entertainment In literature
*Sensation (fiction), a fiction writing mode
*Sensation novel, a British ...
'' were docked at . The six-month contract cost $236 million. The contract was widely criticized, because the vessels were never fully utilized, and Carnival received more money than it would have earned by using the ships in their normal rotation.
Employment
In 2012, the company was reportedly paying cruise ship staff basic salaries equivalent to per hour. For example, a junior waiter would earn a basic salary of a month for shifts lasting at least 11 hours, seven days a week. In response to this controversy, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Brendan Barber, commented: "It's high time the disgraceful practice of allowing the shipping industry to pay poverty wages to workers who don't live in the UK was stopped. Exploitative rates of pay for those working on British ships have no place in a modern society." In October 2013, Carnival revoked retirement benefits for cruise staff. In May of 2012, Carnival dismissed 150 crew members from India for protesting low wages.
Environmental and pollution
Since 2017, Carnival Corporation has been on probation, after having been found to "illegally dumping oil into the ocean from its Princess Cruises ships and lying about the scheme." Carnival Corporation also had to pay a $40 million fine.[Judge threatens to stop Carnival ships from docking in US]
Apr 12, 2019 The Court summary states that "Princess was convicted and sentenced in April 2017, after pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from its deliberate dumping of oil-contaminated waste from one of its vessels and intentional acts to cover it up".
In April 2019, Carnival Corporation was accused of violating probation rules. The allegations include 800 incidents from April 2017 to April 2018. A federal judge has threatened to impose severe fines which may increase tenfold. The judge also stated that Carnival ships may be temporarily banned from docking in US ports. In early June 2019, Carnival Corp. agreed to pay $20 million in fines in an agreement with federal prosecutors. The proposed settlement documents were signed by Chairman Micky Arison on June 3, 2019. The next day, a Senior US District Judge approved the deal, and confirmed that probation would continue for three years, after CEO Arnold Donald said, "The company pleads guilty. We acknowledge the shortcomings. I am here today to formulate a plan to fix them". The company promised to implement additional audits to check for violations, to provide improved training to staff, to start improved waste management practices and to set up a more effective method for reporting pollution incidents to government agencies.
In June 2019, Carnival Corporation and its Princess subsidiary agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $20 million for further environmental violations that include dumping plastic waste into the ocean. Princess Cruises had already paid $40 million over prior deliberate acts of ocean pollution
Marine pollution occurs when substances used or spread by humans, such as industrial, agricultural and residential waste, particles, noise, excess carbon dioxide or invasive organisms enter the ocean and cause harmful effects there. The majorit ...
.
Accidents and incidents
On September 19, 1999, '' Tropicale's'' engine room caught fire en route from Cozumel to Tampa. While disabled in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship was struck by Tropical Storm Harvey. The ''Tropicale'' spent two days without propulsion.
On November 8, 2010, a fire broke out in the generator room of ''Carnival Splendor
''Carnival Splendor'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. As she is the only ''Concordia''-class ship in the Carnival fleet, she is also referred to as a ''Splendor-''class ship. Her other sister ships are part of the Costa Crociere fleet. ...
'' and the ship lost power. The ship was adrift off the west coast of Mexico until it was towed to San Diego.
On February 10, 2013, ''Carnival Triumph
''Carnival Sunrise'' (formerly ''Carnival Triumph'') is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. As she and her three younger sisters (, , and ) are each a redesigned version of the lead ship in the class, she is sometimes referred to as the first o ...
'', with 3,143 passengers aboard, suffered an engine room fire, leaving the ship adrift for four days in the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an oceanic basin, ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of ...
. The engine fire led to a power outage on the ship, which in turn caused raw sewage to back up. The media dubbed the ordeal "The Poop Cruise". The ship was towed to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
, docking on the evening of February 14. In subsequent litigation, Carnival documents were uncovered that revealed multiple generator maintenance problems creating a "disaster waiting to happen". In response, Carnival's court filing stated that the contract that passengers agree to when they buy a ticket "makes absolutely no guarantee for safe passage, a seaworthy vessel, adequate and wholesome food, and sanitary and safe living conditions".
On March 14, 2013, ''Carnival Dream
''Carnival Dream'' is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is the lead ship of her namesake class, which includes ''Carnival Magic, Carnival Breeze'', and ''Costa Diadema.'' Built by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard in Fr ...
'' experienced an emergency generator failure while docked in port at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten () is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean. With a population of 41,486 as of January 2019 on an area of , it encompasses the southern 44% of the divided island of Saint Martin, while the north ...
. The ship was scheduled to leave port around 5 p.m. ET the day before. The United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...
said they were notified by Carnival that ''Carnival Dream'' was experiencing emergency generator problems. Carnival announced that the passengers would be flown back to Florida rather than completing their scheduled voyage.
On the morning of March 15, 2013, ''Carnival Legend
''Carnival Legend'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was floated out on December 17, 2001, and christened by English actress and author Dame Judi Denc ...
'' suffered a mechanical problem with one propulsion pod while at sea. The cruise line cancelled ''Carnival Legends scheduled stops in Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...
and Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the territory's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles (121 km) southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles ( ...
, and the ship returned to Tampa, Florida at a reduced speed of 19 knots (22 mph) (''Legend'' has a regular cruising speed of 24 knots).
On December 27, 2015, an electrician who had been working on the ''Carnival Ecstasy
''Carnival Ecstasy'' (formerly ''Ecstasy'') was a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was Float-out, floated out on January 6, 1991, and christened by television ...
'' was crushed to death while working in an elevator. The accident had heavy publicity after a video was posted online.
In February 2018, a series of brawls broke out on the ''Carnival Legend''. Staff were criticized for not containing the brawls and for exercising heavy force against passengers.
On May 3, 2018, a pipe burst in the ''Carnival Dreams fire suppression system, flooding 50 staterooms.
In November 2018, the ''Carnival Sunshine
''Carnival Sunshine'' (formerly ''Carnival Destiny'') is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She debuted in 1996 as the first passenger ship ever built to exceed 100,000 gross tons, and became the first to break the record the '' Que ...
'' experienced a technical issue which caused the ship to list for approximately one minute.
On December 29, 2018, lifeboat number 28 broke loose from the ''Carnival Dream'' for unknown reasons and was damaged. Carnival decided to abandon the lifeboat at sea and purchase a new replacement. No one was on board the lifeboat at the time and no injuries were reported.
In the evening on September 20, 2019, while passing through Panama Canal, the former ''Carnival Fantasy
''Carnival Fantasy'' (formerly ''Fantasy'') was a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She was the first ship of her namesake class, which was the largest by number of ships, before the scrapping of the Fantasy, Inspiration, Imagination, ...
'' collided with the lock's wall and sustained damage to the aft superstructure. No injuries were reported. The collision occurred while the lock's water levels were being lowered. The vessel was not under its own power but assisted/tugged by the Panama Canal's locomotives. The accident occurred during the 10-day Panama Canal cruise.
On October 9, 2019, a 23-year-old passenger fell off a railing where he was sitting onto a lower deck while the ''Carnival Valor
''Carnival Valor'' is a post-Panamax operated by Carnival Cruise Line. The vessel was built by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (northern Italy). She was floated out on March 27, 2004, and christened by America ...
'' was sailing near Louisiana. He was flown to a New Orleans hospital by helicopter and said to be in critical condition.
On December 20, 2019, the ''Carnival Glory
''Carnival Glory'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is the second of five ''Conquest''-class cruise ships. As of August 2022, she operates out of New Orleans.
Construction
Built by Fincantieri at their Monfalcone shipyard in Friuli ...
'' and ''Carnival Legend'' collided while in the port of Cozumel
Cozumel (; yua, Kùutsmil) is an island and municipality in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen. It is separated from the mainland by the Cozumel Channel and is close to the Yucatán ...
, Mexico; The ''Carnival Glorys stern superstructure was damaged and one person received minor injuries.
On February 16, 2022, a 32-year-old woman leapt from the tenth deck of ''Carnival Valor'' after being detained by ship security. The search was suspended by the United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...
after 14 hours.
On May 26th, 2022, the ''Carnival Freedom
''Carnival Freedom'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She is the 22nd operating vessel in the fleet, and the last of the ''Conquest''-class ships. The ship was built as part of a four-ship deal with Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard and wa ...
'' suffered a fire within its funnel. The vessel was docked in Grand Turk during the incident. The fire was extinguished with no injuries reported.
On June 28th, 2022 the ''Carnival Magic
''Carnival Magic'' is a which entered service on 1 May 2011. The ship was named and christened in Venice by her godmother Lindsey Wilkerson, a former patient and current researcher at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
''Carnival Magic'' ...
'' had a brawl around 5:30 am, arrived at Pier 90 on Manhattan and was greeted by NYPD.
In June 2022, the New York Department of Financial Services announced a $5 million USD fine for Carnival due to cybersecurity violations. The department stated that the violations were “significant” and that from 2019 to 2021 Carnival had four security breaches that exposed considerable amounts of consumer data. The department went on to state that Carnival failed to meet security regulation by not using two factor authentication and additionally did not report one of their data breaches.
Ships
Current fleet
Planned future ships
Former fleet
See also
*Carnival Air Lines
Carnival Air Lines Incorporated was a charter and scheduled airline division of the Carnival Corporation & plc that started in 1988 after Carnival Cruise Lines purchased Pacific Interstate Airlines. It was headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida.
...
, former charter and scheduled airline division
*''Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. v. Shute
''Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. v. Shute'', 499 U.S. 585 (1991), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that United States federal courts will enforce forum selection clauses so long as the clause is not unreasonably burdens ...
'', a 1991 Supreme Court case about forum selection clause
A forum selection clause (sometimes called a dispute resolution clause, choice of court clause, jurisdiction clause or an arbitration clause, depending upon its form) in a contract with a conflict of laws element allows the parties to agree that ...
s
*'' Carnival Cruise Line Tycoon 2005: Island Hopping'', video game
*''Cruise Confidential
''Cruise Confidential'' is the first book in the eponymous series by author Brian David Bruns, published in 2008 by Travelers' Tales (a division of Solas House). Its full title is ''Cruise Confidential: A Hit Below the Waterline: Where the Crew L ...
'', 2008 book
*Fiesta Marina Cruises
Fiesta Marina Cruises was an experimental short-lived subsidiary cruise line of Carnival Cruise Lines. It was marketed toward the Latin/Spanish-speaking population, residing in the United States and abroad. The cruise line sailed out of San Juan, ...
, short-lived subsidiary of Carnival
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
1972 establishments in Florida
American companies established in 1972
Carnival Corporation & plc
Companies based in Doral, Florida
Cruise lines
Hospitality companies established in 1972
Travel and holiday companies of the United States