Cruise vacations have become very popular in the last decade. Statistics show that in 2018, more than 27 million people went on cruise vacations. The industry is booming so fast that it cannot build enough ships soon enough to accommodate the demand.
Carnival Cruise, a popular Cruise Line, has its tagline, “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line,” and rightly so because they carry millions of passengers every year. To date, Carnival Cruise Line has the Panorama as its biggest cruise ship in its fleet. Let’s take a look at how big this ship really is.
The Carnival Panorama is Carnival Cruise Line’s biggest ship in its fleet. It has a gross tonnage of 133,868 tons and is 1,060 ft. (323 meters) long. The Panorama has 1,823 staterooms and can comfortably accommodate 3,954 passengers with a maximum capacity of 4,683.
Read on to learn more about the biggest carnival ship, the Carnival Panorama, and its specific features.
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What Is the Biggest Carnival Cruise Ship?
Carnival Cruise Line has been operating since 1972. It’s under the company Carnival Corporation and has been a pioneer in the cruise line business. They are well known for their fun vacations at sea and shore.
Among their 26 cruise ships, the biggest is the Panorama, which was built by Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. It is the largest shipbuilding company in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. Aside from the Panorama, they have also built several other cruise ships for the Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival Panorama
The Panorama has a 133,868 gross tonnage (GT is a non-linear measurement of a ship’s overall internal volume, not to be confused with tons) and 1,059 ft. 9 in. (323 m) long. It has a total of 1,823 staterooms for 3,954 passengers with a maximum capacity of 4,683 guests.
Its passenger cabins comprise 72 suite staterooms, 880 balconies, 678 inside cabins, and 293 ocean views. This huge cruise ship also boasts 25 lounges/bars, 10 restaurants, 6 jacuzzis, 3 swimming pools, and 16 elevators!
Let’s delve deeper into its facilities and amenities:
Staterooms
Decks 1 and 2, including 6, 7, 8, and 9, hold a wide array of accommodation facilities. The options are Havana, Cloud 9, Family Harbor, Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, and Suites.
Havana staterooms are located near the Havana Bar and pool with a one-of-a-kind interior décor. There is an aft lanai open-air promenade near the Havana staterooms exclusively for the use of Havana stateroom guests.
The Cloud 9 staterooms are near the Cloud 9 Spa, which has become quite well-known in Carnival cruise ships. Moreover, not all staterooms have additional in-room spa-related amenities and décor.
The Family Harbor staterooms and suites located in a dedicated family zone have a nautical flag theme and can accommodate families of up to five members. Guests can have access to the exclusive Family Harbor Lounge from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Dining Facilities
There is a wide range of dining options aboard the Carnival Panorama. The biggest dining area at the Carnival Panorama is Reflections Restaurant, which has a 1,474-seating capacity. It offers fixed dinner seating and open seating for breakfast and dinner.
There’s also Horizon’s Restaurant that offers formal dining with a 702-seating capacity. While the Bonsai Teppanyaki can provide delicious, seven-course meals and Japanese food.
Another restaurant called Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse and Brewhouse has barbecue-inspired dishes put together by Guy Fieri of the Food Network. Then there’s Cucina del Capitano that serves sumptuous Italian food.
Other restaurants are Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, Guy’s Burger Joint, Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Lido Marketplace, BlueIguana Cantina with Mexican Cuisine, and Seafood Shack.
The Carnival Panorama also has the JavaBlue Café, which features cooking demonstrations. Even your palate won’t be bored with all these fantastic choices.
Entertainment Facilities
The Carnival Panorama offers extensive indoor and outdoor entertainment activities. So, you won’t be bored onboard as Carnival Cruise Lines are known for providing entertaining and enjoyable cruises.
Outdoor Activities
For outdoor activities, the Carnival Panorama has SkyRide, the first open-air, pedal-powered aerial ride. You’ll get your adrenaline all pumped up when you go on a hanging bike and cycle your way around an 800 ft. suspended track 150 ft. above sea level!
If that isn’t enough, the Carnival Panorama has SkyCourse, which is a ropes course. It offers various levels of difficulty so people of all ages can enjoy it.
The ship also boasts of a waterpark called WaterWorks. This thrilling waterpark has huge water slides that will ensure hours of water-soaked fun!
You can try their whimsical-themed mini-golf and experience playing golf at sea as well. If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, the Carnival Panorama has the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. It is an outdoor area with two whirlpools, two massage huts, cabanas, and an exclusive sundeck for relaxation.
Indoor Activities
The indoor trampoline park, Sky Zone, is a must-try indoor activity onboard the Carnival Panorama. The Sky Zone has scheduled gravity-defying dodgeball and basketball sessions you will want to check.
For some relaxation and serious pampering, the Carnival Panorama offers the Cloud 9 Spa. The spa has a salon, a fitness center, two saunas, a relaxation room, and treatment rooms for massages and facials.
If you’re looking for some laughs for the evening, The Punchliner Comedy Club has some professional comedians ready to entertain you with their performances.
They also hold competitions throughout the cruise, like the Lip Sync Battle. You can show everyone what you’ve got when you join this competition or choose to watch others strut their stuff.
And, of course, the Carnival Panorama has a casino. If you’re feeling lucky, head over to the casino and give their slot machines a try or play table games, such as Black Jack and Poker. The casino holds regular table game tournaments, as well.
Carnival Kitchen
The Carnival Panorama is the first among all Carnival ships to have the Carnival Kitchen. It is actually part of Horizon’s Restaurant but is dedicated to a new culinary program by the company. They have more than 15 classes taught by the ship’s chefs, and each of these classes can accommodate about 18 guests.
Classes include Carnival Classics Workshop, Cake Workshop, Pasta Master Class, Orient Unknown Workshop, and other classes on sushi, pies, and pizza.
Other Amenities
Here is a list of Carnival Panorama’s clubs, lounges, and other venues for adults, teens, and kids:
- Family Harbor Lounge
- Liquid Lounge (The main show lounge for the ship’s grand-scale productions, such as Hasbro Game Shows, Playlist Productions shows, Broadway Beats, and Rock Revolution)
- Shopping Arcade
- Panorama Atrium
- Lanai Promenade
- Panorama Casino
- Limelight Lounge
- Fun Hub (Internet Café)
- Ocean Plaza
- Thrill Theater (5D Cinema)
- Dr. Seuss Bookville (Kids area with all Dr. Seuss’ books available for reading plus games and themed activities)
- Circle C (Kids lounge)
- Club 02 (Teens club)
- Warehouse (Video arcade)
- Tides Pool
- Carnival Cloud 9 Spa
- Carnival
- WaterWorks
- SportSquare
- Seaside Theater
- Sky Track
- SkyFitness
- SkyRide
- SkyCourse
- Serenity Retreat
Whew! That was some list! Carnival Cruise Lines sure knows how to make their cruises fun!
Itineraries
The Carnival Panorama has round-trip destinations from Long Beach, Los Angeles, California, and operates on 7-day Mexican Riviera Cruises to port calls Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.
In the Making – Carnival Mardi Gras
To date, the Carnival Panorama is the biggest ship by Carnival Cruise Lines. However, a new XL-class cruise ship is being built by Meyer Turku in Finland, and it’s called the Mardi Gras. It will enter service under Carnival Cruise Lines and will have its debut at sea in mid-2020. Its home port will be in Port Canaveral in Florida, USA.
Mardi Gras Vs. Panorama
The Mardi Gras will be bigger than the Panorama, with a length of 1,128 ft. (344.4 meters) and a gross tonnage of 180,000 tons. It will be able to accommodate 5,200 guests comfortably. The ship takes its name from the inaugural ship of Carnival Cruise Lines way back in 1972, the TSS Mardi Gras.
The new Mardi Gras will be the first-ever vessel in North America that will be run by liquified natural gas (LNG), so it will produce fewer emissions and pollutants.
It will be another fun cruise ship like what Carnival Cruise Lines are known for. However, there are certain additions and improvements to their amenities and facilities. There are three new and distinctive features added to the Mardi Gras.
1. Excel Suites
These suites are the ultimate luxury experience on the Carnival Mardi Gras. The Excel Suites will have unlimited access to a new resort-style, open-air refuge known as Loft 19. These staterooms will have exclusive amenities like priority Main Dining Room time assignments, upgraded bathroom amenities, and so much more.
2. Loft 19
Excel Suite guests can only access Loft 19, a new concept by Carnival Cruise Lines. It is primarily a secluded retreat designed like a first-class world resort.
Loft 19 has a private pool and full bar with lovely and spacious cabanas. You can have fresh fruit, concierge service, chilled towels, and lunch delivery. Truly an experience worth trying!
3. Fun Zones
The Carnival Mardi Gras will feature distinctive zones with mini-onboard excursions to different places and experiences. Sounds pretty exciting, right?
BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster
The Ultimate Playground zone features the first-ever roller coaster on a ship called BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, built by Maurer Rides.
It is going to be 57 m above sea level, with a track of 220 m long. The roller coaster can reach the speed of 64 km with adrenaline-pumping drops, twists, and turns. This sea coaster should be fun and exciting!
The French Quarter Zone
The Carnival Mardi Gras has dedicated the ship’s 6th deck with a French Quarter-themed zone. It’s lined with bars, restaurants, and music similar to New Orleans’ lively music culture and unparalleled food choices. A two-deck-high promenade leads to a New Orleans traditional jazz bar with live entertainment.
Itineraries
The Carnival Mardi Gras itineraries offer six to fifteen days sailing across Europe and the Caribbean starting mid-2020. It will also offer a 14-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Southampton in the UK to New York, USA, after its maiden voyage.
The Mardi Gras is scheduled to embark on a 6-day roundtrip journey from New York to Portland, Maine, and Saint John, New Brunswick, in September 2020. After this route, it will go on a 15-day voyage from New York to Port Canaveral. The Carnival Mardi Gras is absolutely a cruise ship to watch out for!
Conclusion – What Is the Biggest Carnival Cruise Ship?
So, to answer the initial question: “What is the biggest Carnival cruise ship?” The Carnival Panorama is the biggest in the fleet of Carnival Cruise Lines, with a gross tonnage of 133,868 tons. Its length is 1,059 feet and 9 inches long and can comfortably accommodate close to 4,000 guests. It has first-class staterooms, multiple amenities, and facilities.
Carnival Cruise Lines have always been known for providing guests with fun, exciting, and memorable cruises. That’s why it is building a bigger ship to top its fleet in size.
The Carnival Mardi Gras will be ready for its maiden voyage in the middle of this year. This cruise ship has a gross tonnage of 180,000 tons and measures 1,128 feet in length. The Mardi Gras will be an XL cruise ship that can accommodate 5,200 guests.
Related reading:
What Is the Largest Cruise Ship in the World?
How Long Is a Carnival Cruise Ship? (With 25 Examples)
