Excel class · Carnival · In service since 2022
Carnival Celebration
Carnival Celebration is an Excel class cruise ship operated by Carnival, in service since 2022. At about 183,521 gross tons and ranks #1 by size in the 29-ship Carnival fleet we cover.
- 183,521 gross tons
- 1,130 ft long
Photo: A Guy Named Nyal, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ship facts
- Cruise line
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Ship class
- Excel class
- Entered service
- 2022 (4 years ago)
- Gross tonnage
- 183,521
- Length
- 1,130 ft (344.5 m)
- Builder
- Meyer Turku
- Flag
- Panama
- IMO number
- 9837456
About Carnival Celebration
Carnival Celebration, the second Excel-class ship, arrived in 2022 as Carnival marked its 50th anniversary, and that milestone shows up in Celebration Central, a zone built around the Golden Jubilee bar and its nods to the line’s history. It shares the class’s BOLT roller coaster, the aft Summer Landing zone and the three-deck Grand Central atrium, and adds Rudi’s Seagrill for seafood and Emeril’s Bistro 1397 for Creole cooking. Celebration has been based in Miami for seven-night Caribbean itineraries, which makes it an easy pick for South Florida cruisers and anyone flying into Miami International.
Best for: Cruisers who want Excel-class features with a Miami departure and a full week of Caribbean ports.
Carnival Celebration highlights
- BOLT roller coaster circling the top deck
- Rudi’s Seagrill, a seafood restaurant from chef Rudi Sodamin
- Emeril’s Bistro 1397 for New Orleans-style dishes
- Golden Jubilee, a bar celebrating Carnival’s 50-year history
- Summer Landing, an aft pool zone with a smokehouse and brewery
How Carnival Celebration compares in size
- Carnival Celebration183,521
- Carnival Jubilee183,521
- Mardi Gras181,808
- Carnival Venezia135,500
- Carnival Firenze135,156
- Carnival Vista133,500
- Carnival Horizon133,500
- Carnival Panorama133,500
- Carnival Dream130,000
- Carnival Magic130,000
- Carnival Breeze130,000
- Carnival Splendor113,300
- Carnival Conquest110,000
- Carnival Glory110,000
- Carnival Valor110,000
- Carnival Liberty110,000
- Carnival Freedom110,000
- Carnival Encounter108,977
- Carnival Adventure108,806
- Carnival Sunshine102,853
- Carnival Sunrise101,509
- Carnival Radiance101,509
- Carnival Luminosa92,720
- Carnival Pride88,500
- Carnival Legend88,500
- Carnival Miracle88,500
- Carnival Spirit85,920
- Carnival Elation71,909
- Carnival Paradise70,367
Gross tonnage measures a ship's enclosed volume, not its weight. Source: Wikidata.
Excel class sister ships
Sailing with Carnival
Carnival Cruise Line is America’s budget-friendly “Fun Ship” brand: casual, sociable and packed with free food, comedy and pool-deck parties. It sails from more US ports than almost any other line, which makes short Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico getaways easy to reach. It suits families, groups and value seekers, less so travelers wanting quiet elegance or fine dining.
Read our full Carnival guide: dining, drinks, tipping and who it suits →
Carnival Celebration FAQs
How big is Carnival Celebration?
Carnival Celebration measures about 183,521 gross tons and is about 1,130 feet (345 m) long. That makes it #1 of 29 Carnival ships we cover by tonnage, and #19 among all 255 ocean cruise ships in our guide.
When was Carnival Celebration built?
Carnival Celebration entered service in 2022 and was built by Meyer Turku.
What class of ship is Carnival Celebration?
Carnival Celebration belongs to Carnival's Excel class, alongside Mardi Gras, Carnival Jubilee. Ships in the same class share a layout and most signature features.
Is Carnival Celebration good for families?
Camp Ocean runs free supervised activities for kids aged 2 to 11 in age groups, Circle C is for 12- to 14-year-olds and Club O2 is for teens 15 to 17. Night Owls offers paid late-evening group babysitting. Facilities vary by ship, so check what Carnival Celebration offers for your kids' ages.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikidata, Wikipedia, Carnival official site.