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Cruise line comparison

Carnival Cruise Line vs Norwegian Cruise Line

Side-by-side comparison of Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line cruise lines.

Overview

Quick summary

Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line are both contemporary cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Line runs 29 ships and was founded in 1972, carrying 93,660 passengers in total. Norwegian Cruise Line runs 20 ships and was founded in 1966, with 60,495 total passenger capacity.

Side by side

How the two lines compare

Attribute

Carnival

Norwegian

Market SegmentContemporaryContemporary
Founded19721966
Fleet Size2920
Total Passenger Capacity93,66060,495
HeadquartersUnited StatesUnited States
Parent CompanyCarnival CorporationNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Biggest ShipCarnival Celebration (183,521 GT)Norwegian Encore (169,116 GT)
Newest ShipCarnival Jubilee (2023)Norwegian Aqua (2025)

Fleet

Fleet comparison

Carnival Cruise Line: top ships

  1. 1Carnival Celebration183,521 GT · 5,374 pax
  2. 2Carnival Jubilee183,521 GT · 5,374 pax
  3. 3Mardi Gras180,800 GT · 5,282 pax
  4. 4Carnival Venezia135,225 GT · 4,072 pax
  5. 5Carnival Firenze135,156 GT · 4,126 pax

Norwegian Cruise Line: top ships

  1. 1Norwegian Encore169,116 GT · 3,998 pax
  2. 2Norwegian Bliss168,028 GT · 4,004 pax
  3. 3Norwegian Joy167,725 GT · 3,804 pax
  4. 4Norwegian Escape164,600 GT · 4,266 pax
  5. 5Norwegian Aqua156,300 GT · 3,571 pax

Good to know

Carnival Cruise Line vs Norwegian Cruise Line FAQ

Which is better, Carnival Cruise Line or Norwegian Cruise Line?

Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line are both contemporary cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Line runs 29 ships and Norwegian Cruise Line runs 20, so the choice comes down to ship size, itineraries, and onboard style rather than price tier.

Which has bigger ships, Carnival Cruise Line or Norwegian Cruise Line?

Carnival Cruise Line's largest ship is Carnival Celebration at 183,521 GT, while Norwegian Cruise Line's largest is Norwegian Encore at 169,116 GT. Carnival Cruise Line has the bigger flagship.

Which is more expensive, Carnival Cruise Line or Norwegian Cruise Line?

Both Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line are contemporary cruise lines, so pricing is generally similar. Actual fares vary by ship, itinerary, cabin type, and season.

How many ships does Carnival Cruise Line have compared to Norwegian Cruise Line?

Carnival Cruise Line operates 29 ships with a total capacity of 93,660 passengers. Norwegian Cruise Line has 20 ships with a total capacity of 60,495 passengers.

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