Carnival Ship Comparison

Pros

+ Largest casino in Carnival fleet

+ Newest ship with latest slot titles

+ BOLT roller coaster onboard

+ Best pool deck layout

Cons

- Galveston homeport adds flights for most

- Very large ship -- 6,500 passengers

Pros

+ Miami homeport -- easy to reach

+ Massive casino floor

+ Excellent dining variety

+ Strong Club Royale comps

Cons

- Similar to Jubilee -- hard to differentiate

- Books up fast on peak dates

Pros

+ First Excel-class ship -- the original

+ BOLT roller coaster

+ LNG-powered -- cleaner sailing

+ Port Canaveral easy access

Cons

- Slightly older than Jubilee/Celebration

- Port Canaveral less convenient than Miami

Pros

+ New York homeport -- no flights needed

+ Italian-inspired design

+ Smaller ship -- less crowded casino

+ Canada itineraries available

Cons

- Smaller casino than Excel class

- Vista class feels dated vs Excel

Pros

+ Only Carnival ship in Seattle

+ Alaska itineraries unique to fleet

+ Intimate smaller ship feel

+ Stunning scenery on Alaska routes

Cons

- Smaller casino

- Dream class is older design

- Limited Caribbean options

Pros

+ Lowest price in newer fleet

+ Charleston homeport unique

+ Heavily refurbished interior

+ Great for 3-4 night trips

Cons

- Oldest ship on this list

- Smaller casino floor

- Fantasy class bones show

Pros

+ Baltimore homeport -- drive-to for many

+ Intimate atmosphere

+ Canada/New England routes

+ Lowest crowd density

Cons

- Smallest casino of the 9

- Older ship design

- Spirit class feels dated

Pros

+ Miami homeport

+ Strong family amenities

+ Good casino for Vista class

+ Waterworks water park

Cons

- Vista class casino smaller than Excel

- Can feel crowded on peak sailings

Pros

+ Only Carnival ship from Long Beach

+ Mexico itineraries year-round

+ Good casino for the class

+ Drive-to for Southern California

Cons

- Vista class casino smaller than Excel

- Mexico itineraries get repetitive

Carnival Jubilee has the largest casino in the Carnival fleet at approximately 18,000 square feet with 500+ slot machines. It is followed closely by Carnival Celebration at 17,500 sq ft and Carnival Mardi Gras at 17,000 sq ft. All three are Excel-class ships launched between 2021 and 2023.

Carnival Jubilee, launched in December 2023, is currently the newest ship in the Carnival fleet. It homeports in Galveston, Texas and sails Caribbean and Mexico itineraries. It is an Excel-class ship with over 500 slot machines and an 18,000 sq ft casino floor.

For slot players, the Excel-class ships are the best choice -- Jubilee, Celebration, and Mardi Gras all carry 460-500+ slot machines with the latest titles including Lightning Link, Dragon Link, and Buffalo Gold. Jubilee has the most machines and the newest inventory. Choose based on which homeport is most convenient for you.

Excel-class ships (Jubilee, Celebration, Mardi Gras) are Carnival's largest and newest, carrying 6,500 passengers with casinos over 17,000 sq ft and 460+ slot machines. Vista-class ships (Venezia, Horizon, Panorama) are mid-size at around 4,000 passengers with casinos around 13,000-14,000 sq ft. Excel class offers more amenities including the BOLT roller coaster but Vista class feels less crowded.

Carnival Venezia homeports in New York City and is the only Carnival ship sailing from Manhattan. It offers Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries as well as Canada and New England sailings. It is a Vista-class ship with 350+ slot machines and a 14,000 sq ft casino.

Yes. Carnival runs the Club Royale casino loyalty program across all ships. Points earned at any Carnival casino accumulate toward tier status -- offering free cruises, onboard credits, priority boarding, and complimentary drinks. Always swipe your players card every session to earn points.