Carnival Cruise Line

"The Fun Ships - The Fun Job"

"The Fun Ships"- that is exactly what the Carnival ships are. More affordable cruises, lots of neon lights, not that much elegance and formal atmosphere. Carnival is catering towards younger passengers and the main objective aboard the vessels is party, party and party again. That makes Carnival the richest cruise line in the world (the company owns also Holland America Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Windstar Cruises and Princess Cruises) which operate independently as separate brands and target a more upscale clientele). Carnival Cruise Line started in 1972 when Ted Arison bought one ship, the "Mardi Gras", for $1, and assumed its debt. At the time, Bob Dickinson worked for Carnival's parent company, American International Travel Service of Boston. In 1973, after Carnival had lost $8 million in six months, Dickinson was sent to Miami to "unload the turkey," as he recalls, noting he had never even seen a cruise ship at that point. Instead, he studied the company's problems and figured they could be fixed. Carnival cruise line employs at the moment about 3,500 people on shore - the majority at corporate headquarters in Miami - and 28,000 on its ships. What can employees expect from Carnival? Slightly lower salaries and somewhat lower standards when selecting candidates comparing to most of the other major cruise lines. Carnival crew members are like their clientele, they like to party and most of them believe that the more "loose" atmosphere and the presence of younger passengers makes up for the slightly lower salaries.

Fleet and itineraries:

Carnival Splendor: Registry-Panama, built 2008, 113.300 gross tons, 3.006 passengers, 1.150 crew members. Itineraries: Bahamas, Western Caribbean/Eastern Caribbean, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Mediterranean.

Carnival Liberty: Registry-Panama, built 2007, 110.000 gross tons, 2.974 passengers, 1.910 crew members. Itineraries: Western Caribbean/Eastern Caribbean, Europe.

Carnival Valor: Registry-Panama, built 2004, 110.000 gross tons, 3.400 passengers, 1.910 crew members. Itineraries: Eastern/Western Caribbean.

Carnival Miracle: Registry-Bahamas, built 2004, 88.500 gross tons, 2.120 passengers, 900 crew members. Itineraries: Western Caribbean.

Carnival Glory: Registry-Panama, built 2002, 110.000 gross tons, 3.700 passengers, 1.210 crew members. Itineraries: Eastern/Western Caribbean.

Carnival Conquest: Registry-Panama, built 2002, 110.000 gross tons, 3.400 passengers, 1.910 crew members. Itineraries: Western Caribbean, sailing from Galveston, Texas.

Carnival Legend: Registry-Panama, built 2002, 86.000 gross tons, 2.680 passengers, 930 crew members. Itineraries: Eastern/Southern/Western Caribbean, sailing from New York, Fort Lauderdale.

Carnival Pride: Registry-Panama, built 2002, 86.000 gross tons, 2.680 passengers, 1.029 crew members. Itineraries: Mexican Riviera.

Carnival Spirit: Registry-Panama, built 2001, 86.000 gross tons, 2.680 passengers, 961 crew members. Itineraries: Hawaii, Mexican Riviera,  Alaska.

Carnival Victory: Registry-Panama, built 2000, 101.509 gross tons, 2.758 passengers, 1.100 crew members. Itineraries: Eastern/Western Caribbean, Eastern Canada, Bahamas.

Carnival Triumph: Registry-Panama, built 1999, 101.509 gross tons, 2.758 passengers, 1.100 crew members. Itineraries: Eastern/Western Caribbean, sailing from Miami.

Carnival Destiny: Registry-Panama, built 1996, 101.353 gross tons, 2.642 passengers, 1.050 crew members. Itineraries: Southern Caribbean, sailing from Aruba, Barbados, Puerto Rico.

Elation: Registry-Panama, built 1998, 70.367 gross tons, 2.052 passengers, 920 crew members. Itineraries: Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean, sailing from Port Canaveral and Miami.

Paradise: Registry-Panama, built 1998, 70.367 gross tons, 2.052 passengers, 920 crew members. Itineraries: Baja Mexico.

Imagination: Registry-Panama, built 1995, 70.367 gross tons, 2.052 passengers, 920 crew members. Itineraries: Western Caribbean.

Inspiration: Registry-Panama, built 1994, 70.367 gross tons, 2.052 passengers, 920 crew members. Itineraries: Western Caribbean.

Fascination: Registry-Panama, built 1994, 70.367 gross tons, 2.052 passengers, 920 crew members. Itineraries: Bahamas/Western Caribbean.

Sensation: Registry-Panama, built 1993, 70.367 gross tons, 2.052 passengers, 920 crew members. Itineraries: Bahamas

Ecstasy: Registry-Liberia, built 1991, 70.367 gross tons, 2.052 passengers, 920 crew members. Itineraries: Western Caribbean.

Fantasy: built 1990, 70.367 gross tons, 2.052 passengers, 920 crew members. Itineraries: Bahamas, Western Caribbean.

Celebration: Registry-Liberia, built 1987, 47.262 gross tons, 1.486 passengers, 670 crew members. Itineraries: Bahamas.