Short Carnival History

[DaCruzNut]

I came across this while surfing and thought it was interesting how far the cruise industry had come in 30 years....

“Today’s Carnival†is a vastly different company than the one started from humble beginnings more than three decades ago. Carnival was launched with a converted transatlantic ocean liner and a dream of entrepreneur Ted Arison, a pioneer in the modern-day cruise industry who set out to realize his vision of making a vacation experience once reserved for the very rich accessible to the average person.

The rest, as they say, is history.

1972 – Maiden voyage of Carnival’s first ship, the TSS Mardi Gras, which runs aground on sandbar outside the Port of Miami

1975 – Carnival purchases Empress of Britain, enters service as the TSS Carnivale

1978 – The Festivale, formerly the S.A. Vaal, undergoes $30 million refurbishment, begins service for Carnival as the largest and fastest vessel sailing from Miami to the Caribbean (the ship has since been retired from the fleet)

1982 – Debut of the Tropicale, the first new cruise ship the cruise industry has seen in many years; ship marks the beginning of an industry-wide multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding boom (the ship has since been retired from the fleet)

1984 – Carnival becomes first cruise line to advertise on network television with the premiere of new advertising campaign starring company spokesperson Kathie Lee Gifford (then Johnson)

1985 – Debut of 46,052-ton Holiday

1986 – Launch of 47,262-ton Jubilee (the ship has since been retired from the fleet)

1987 – The 47,262-ton Celebration enters service

1990 – The 70,367-ton Fantasy – the first and namesake vessel in the highly successful “Fantasy-class†-- enters service as first new ship ever placed on three- and four-day Bahamas cruise program from Miami. Eventually, Carnival would construct eight “Fantasy-class†vessels, the most cruise ships in a single class.

1991 – Launch of 70,367-ton Ecstasy

1993 – Carnival introduces its third 70,367-ton SuperLiner, Sensation

1994 – Debut of 70,367-ton Fascination

Carnival’s parent company renamed Carnival Corporation to distinguish between it and its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Lines. Company is later renamed Carnival Corp. & plc following the combination with P&O Princess Cruises, creating the world’s largest cruise vacation group by far.

1995 – 70,367-ton Imagination enters service

1996 – Carnival’s launches sixth “Fantasy-class†vessel, the SuperLiner Inspiration

Carnival debuts the first passenger vessel to exceed 100,000 tons, the 101,353-ton Carnival Destiny, at the time the world’s largest cruise ship

1998 – Carnival Cruise Lines introduces seventh “Fantasy-class†vessel, the Elation, the first new cruise ship deployed on the West Coast

The eighth and last in the “Fantasy-class†series, the Paradise, enters service

1999 – Debut of the 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph, Carnival’s second “Destiny-class†vessel

2000 – A third “Destiny-class†vessel, the 102,000-ton Carnival Victory, is launched.

2001 – Carnival introduces a new class of vessel with the launch of the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit, the first new “Fun Ship†ever positioned in the Alaska and Hawaii markets

2002 – A second “Spirit-class†vessel, the Carnival Pride, is launched

Carnival’s third “Spirit-class†ship, Carnival Legend, enters service

Debut of the 110,000-ton Carnival Conquest, the largest “Fun Ship†ever constructed.

2003- Second 110,000-ton “Conquest-class†ship, the Carnival Glory, begins year-round seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., July 19.

2004 – Carnival Miracle, the fourth in Carnival’s “Spirit-class,†begins a series of 12 voyages from Jacksonville, Fla. – the first “Fun Ship†sailings from that port – Feb. 27, 2004.

A third 110,000-ton “Conquest-class†ship, the Carnival Valor, begins year-round seven-day service from Miami Dec. 19, 2004, becoming the largest "Fun Ship" ever based at that port.

2005 – A fourth 110,000-ton “Conquest-class†vessel, Carnival Liberty, debuts July 20, 2005, operating Carnival's first-ever Mediterranean cruises.

2007 - Carnival Freedom, the line's fifth 110,000-ton vessel is scheduled to enter service in February 2007.