Best Carnival Cruise Line Ships of 2024
Looking for the perfect Carnival Cruise Line sailing for 2024? We’ve rounded up the best Carnival ships of the year based on the rankings of member review data for all sailings from January through December of 2023.
Last year was big for Carnival Cruise Line. All the ships in the line’s fleet were back operating at full capacity, sailing to destinations worldwide with no restrictions. In June, the line welcomed the ship Carnival Veniza to its fleet, with a special naming ceremony attended by ship Godfather Jay Leno. The cruise line debuted its new Excel Class ship, Carnival Jubilee, to much fanfare at the end of December. Carnival also celebrated one year in service for Carnival Celebration and two years for Mardi Gras.
Onboard the ships, Carnival introduced programs like Military Appreciation Days on all sailings, rolled out new menus in the dining rooms, and debuted Starlink WiFi service fleetwide for better internet connectivity. Also in 2023, Carnival Corporation first announced plans for a new private destination exclusively for Carnival Cruise Line guests. Named ‘Celebration Key’, this new Caribbean port stop located on Grand Bahama Island will open in the summer of 2025.
Following are the best Carnival Cruise Line ships for 2024 for dining, staterooms, service, and onboard activities/entertainment.
Dining
- Carnival Glory - 4.081
- Carnival Dream - 4.059
- Mardi Gras - 4.048
- Carnival Panorama - 4.045
- Carnival Legend - 4.028
What our Members Say:
Member Emiliegrace on Carnival Glory, “Our experience in the main dining room was excellent and top-notch. The staff were all friendly, attentive, accommodating and their dedication and love for what they do shows in everything they do.”
Member kyle2007 on Carnival Legend, “The food was the best...and mostly free. The specialty restaurant was a nice treat also.”
Member FnJOrtiz on Carnival Dream, “Food was delicious and lines were never too long.”
Our Thoughts:
The dining category was incredibly close with only thousandths of points separating these Carnival ships. There was a lot of shake-up in the rankings for this category in comparison to last year. This is not necessarily indicative of a drop in service or food quality on those slipping from the rankings, but to us indicates that members felt different ships stood out more this past year when it comes to the dining experience.
Carnival Glory came in at number one, for top-notch service and food quality at eateries like The Chef’s Table, Seafood Shack, and Blue Iguana Cafe. Mardi Gras is the only returning top-five ship in this year’s dining category. This is of little surprise to as it is a newer ship in the fleet and offers a variety of food options for guests that are paired with excellent service.
See All Carnival Glory Cruises
Staterooms
- Mardi Gras - 4.463
- Carnival Spirit - 4.448
- Carnival Celebration - 4.447
- Carnival Radiance - 4.442
- Carnival Horizon - 4.429
What our Members Said:
Member pld30701 on Mardi Gras, “Nice cabin, great sized TV. The best part was the veranda. I would definitely get it again.”
Member Ckhalil123 on Carnival Spirit, “Larger than expected. Plenty of closets and a very large balcony.”
Member jrniemeyer on Carnival Horizon, “The cabin was fantastic! Loved all of the storage areas and balcony. The beds were very comfortable and our steward always had it super clean and refreshed with towels daily.”
Our Thoughts:
Two Carnival ships returned to the top rankings for best staterooms - Carnival Radiance and Carnival Horizon. Radiance rose one spot this year, while Horizon fell from number one to five.
We are less shocked at Carnival Horizon’s drop as we see that Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration have entered the list this year. These are two of the newest ships in the Carnival fleet and offer some of the largest variety of stateroom options available by the cruise line. Mardi Gras offers a whopping 2,646 total staterooms, with 55 categories. Carnival Celebration has 2,686 total staterooms across 53 categories.
Number two, Carnival Spirit, is a newcomer to the category and an older ship in the fleet. This ship was refurbished in 2021 and received new stateroom upgrades to its 1,062 total cabins.
Explore Carnival Spirit Cruises
Service
- Carnival Glory - 4.624
- Carnival Sunshine - 4.599
- Carnival Dream - 4.583
- Carnival Miracle - 4.573
- Carnival Magic - 4.572
What our Members Said:
Member kmsclayton on Carnival Glory, “We had a great room steward & our personal waiters in the platinum dining area were beyond great.”
Member karenandersen on Carnival Sunshine, “Staff really made sure you had fun. I would sail Carnival again.”
Member lferretti on Carnival Magic, “The cruise was fun, I had a great time with my family. The crew on the ship goes out of their way to please and entertain you.”
Our Thoughts:
A ship’s service ranking reflects the passengers' experiences with the quality of service provided onboard. It considers factors such as the friendliness of staff, responsiveness to passenger needs, and overall guest satisfaction. From the moment you step on board, Carnival's top-notch staff ensures every detail of your experience is met with warmth and professionalism, making your voyage an unforgettable adventure.
All of the Carnival ships on this rankings list were very close, separated by a mere hundredths of points. We commend the crew of all five vessels for an outstanding job well done that has been recognized by our community members!
Check Out Cruises on Carnival Sunshine
Onboard Activities and Entertainment
- Carnival Panorama - 4.289
- Carnival Legend - 4.270
- Carnival Breeze - 4.257
- Mardi Gras - 4.253
- Carnival Glory - 4.250
What our Members Said:
Member ronfrank09 on Carnival Breeze, “Nothing like working out with a sea view. Enjoyed the hot tubs and naps on the balcony.”
Member kellprice on Mardi Gras, “The shows, and performers were out of this world! Best I have seen in a long time. The tech knowledge used was remarkable.”
Member Elizabeth122209 on Carnival Legend, “My husband and I were contestants on the love & marriage game show it was a great experience for us fun and all that. The family watched family feud, swimming and all it was just great.”
Our Thoughts:
Three ships returned this year to the top five rankings for best in Carnival activities/ entertainment - Carnival Legend, Carnival Breeze, and Mardi Gras. Legend moved up one spot, Breeze rose two, and Mardi Gras dropped two places. The points in this category were very close here, making this an incredibly tough category to call.
Coming in at number one is Carnival Panorama. We found this of little surprise, as Carnival Panorama also came in at number 10 for the overall Best Cruise Ship: Onboard Activities and Entertainment list in our 2024 Member Choice Awards. This ship scored well with our members for offerings like the Sky Zone trampoline park, Punchliner Comedy Club, WaterWorks waterpark, Cloud 9 Spa, and nightly Playlist Productions theatre shows.
Find a Cruise on Carnival Panorama
Final Thoughts
As we reflect on the top Carnival Cruise Line ships of 2024, it's evident that each vessel offers its own unique blend of exceptional service, outstanding dining options, captivating activities/entertainment, and great stateroom options. Whether you are enjoying the outstanding cuisine aboard Carnival Glory, taking in a stage show on Carnival Panorama, or sleeping comfortably in your award-winning staterooms on Mardi Gras, you are sure to find a memorable and fulfilling experience with Carnival Cruise Line that suits your preferences.
With a diverse fleet of FUN Ships offering an array of activities, entertainment, and dining options, Carnival ensures there's something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or family-friendly fun, Carnival's commitment to deliver a FUN ship experience and affordability makes it the perfect choice for an unforgettable vacation.
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