Alternative History
Alternative History
Carnival Cruise Line (Differently)
Type Wholly owned subsidiary
Industry Hospitality, travel, tourism
Founder(s) Ted Arison
Headquarters Miami, Florida, CS
Area served Worldwide
Key People Arnold Donald (CEO)
Products Cruise Ships
Parent Carnival Corporation
Carnivalcruiselinesheadquarters

Carnival Cruise Line headquarters in Doral, Florida

Carnival Cruise Line is a Confederate cruise company out of Miami. Carnival is the CSA's top cruise line in front of Norwegian Cruise Line. The company owns many other cruise lines such as British based Cunard, White Star and P&O. It also plays into the American cruise market by owning the United States' second biggest line Princess. Carnival is the top cruise line in the world in front of American based Royal Caribbean, fellow Confederate company Norwegian and Swiss based MSC Cruises.

History[]

Carnival Cruise Line was founded by Syrian-American businessman Ted Arison. To finance his venture he turned to childhood friend Meshlaum Raiklis. Arison and Raiklis started the company that was intended for Caribbean destinations while bypassing the Confederacy. In 1974 Raiklis sold his share to Arison. As a result of the sale Arison could promote the line to young Americans which proved successful.

1970s[]

Carnival Cruise Line Fleet 1970s

In 1972 Carnival purchased their first ship from the Canadian Pacific Line and renamed it Mardi Gras. In 1975 Carnival purchased a sister ship from Canadian Pacific and renamed it Carnivale. In 1978 Carnival purchased a vessel from the British Based Union Castle Line and renamed it Festivale. In 1979 following the toppling of the CASS Carnival moved their headquarters from Boston to Miami and turned the Miami Naval Yard into the Port of Miami.

1980s[]

Carnivalcruises tropicale
MS Holiday Carnival Cruise Ship (4167362850)

In the early 1980s Carnival decided to build new ships rather than purchase existing ones so they could compete with American based Royal Caribbean. In 1982 Canival unveiled the Carnival Tropicale which became the first ship with the Whale Tale Funnel. The Whale Tail would later become an icon of Post Communist Confederate Culture. The success led Carnival to build the Holiday Class consisting of the Carnival Holiday (built 1985) Carnival Jubilee (built 1986) and Carnival Celebration (built 1987).

1990s[]

Carnival Ecstasy in Cozumel 6 Aug 2005
San Juan. Carnival Destiny cruise ship

To further compete with Royal Caribbean Carnival launched the Fantasy Class with the Carnival Fantasy being built in 1990. Carnival Fantasy topped Sovereign of the Seas to have the largest atrium at sea. In 1993 Carnival sold the Mardi Gras to Greek based Epirotiki Lines with Carnivale following a year later.

In 1996 Carnival built the Carnival Destiny which would become the first ship to reach 100,000 Gross Tons. That same year Carnival sold off the Festivale to Premier Cruises. In 1998 the Carnival Elation became the first and only cruise ship built in the CSA and that same year sister ship Carnival Paradise became the first ship to ban smoking.

2000s[]

Carnival Spirit, Sydney 2013
Carnival Victory IMO 9172648 P Miami 03-2004

In 2001 Carnival launched the Spirit Class which were the first ships to be Panamax Certified. That same year Carnival transferred the Tropicale to Costa but in 2005 it returned to Carnival. In 2004 Carnival started construction on the Carnival Pinnacle but it was halted and sold to their rivals Royal Caribbean. The ship is now the Oasis of the Seas. Carnival sold the Tropicale in 2008 to Spanish based Pullamntur Cruises. In 2009 Carnival launched the Dream Class with Carnival Dream becoming the new flagship of the fleet.

2010s[]

2017-03-30 CARNIVAL VISTA - IMO 9692569, off Oranjestad, Aruba

In 2012 Carnival sold the Jubilee to a Chinese startup company. Two years later the Celebration was sold to Bahamas Paradise a Confederate startup while the Holiday would be sold to British based Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

In 2013 Carnival launched the Sunshine Class which would be their largest ships yet at 200,000 gross tons. They would be followed up by the Sunrise in 2019 and the Radiance in 2020.

In 2016 Carnival launched the Vista Class with Carnival Vista becoming the new flagship of the fleet. In 2018 Carnival announced a new port in Ensenada Mexico. In 2020 Carnival announced another port to be built in Japan.

Hantavirus Pandemic.[]

While not directly affected by the 2017 Hantavrius Pandemic, Carnival's subsidiaries were massively affected. In March 2017 Carnival banned anyone outside of the Confederate States from cruising on their line which was seen as extreme by other lines such as Royal Caribbean. Foreigners were allowed back on board in September but only passengers from the Americas. Following the Conclusion of the Hantavirus Pandemic non-americans were allowed on board.

Controversies[]

FEMA - 16040 - Photograph by Win Henderson taken on 09-20-2005 in Louisiana


Hurricane Katrina[]

After Hurricane Katrina, three Carnival cruise ships were chartered by the Confederate States to serve as shelters until the damage was repaired. Cruises aboard the vessels were cancelled and passengers who booked those voyages were refunded. The Carnival Holiday was originally docked in Mobile, Alabama and Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Sensation were docked at New Orleans, Louisiana. The six-month contract cost $236 million and was widely criticized, because the vessels were never fully utilized, and Carnival received more money than it would have earned by using the ships in their normal rotation.

Employment[]

In 2012, the company was reportedly paying cruise ship staff basic salaries equivalent to £0.75 per hour. For example, a junior waiter would earn a basic salary of £250 a month for shifts lasting at least 11 hours, seven days a week. In response to this controversy, the United Kingdom's Department of Labor investigated this issue. In October 2013, Carnival revoked retirement benefits for all cruise staff. In May of 2012, Carnival fired 150 Indian crew members for protesting low wages.

Pollution[]

Since 2017, Carnival Corporation has been on probation, after having been found to be illegally dumping oil into the ocean from their ships. Carnival Corporation also had to pay a $40 million fine.

In April 2019, Carnival Corporation was accused of violating their probation rules. The allegations include 800 incidents for 1 year between 2017 and 2018. The Confederate Supreme Court intervened and threatened to ban Carnival from docking in Confederate ports which would be a big blow for the line. The issue was later resolved outside of court with new probation rules set in place. The ships have been referred to as "floating toilets" which has become a popular term referring to Carnival ships in the Confederacy.

Accidents and Incidents[]

On September 19, 1999, Carnival Tropicale's engine room caught fire en route from Cozumel to Tampa. While disabled in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship was struck by Tropical Storm Harvey. The ship spent two days without propulsion.

On November 8, 2010, a fire broke out in the generator room of Carnival Splendor and the ship lost power. The ship was adrift off the west coast of Mexico until it was towed to San Diego.

On February 10, 2013, Carnival Triumph, with 3,143 passengers aboard, suffered an engine room fire, leaving the ship adrift for four days in the Gulf of Mexico. The engine fire led to a power outage on the ship, which in turn caused raw sewage to back up. The media dubbed the ordeal "The Poop Cruise". The ship was towed to Mobile, Alabama, docking on the evening of February 14. In subsequent litigation, Carnival documents were uncovered that revealed multiple generator maintenance problems creating a "disaster waiting to happen." In response, Carnival's court filing stated that the contract that passengers agree to when they buy a ticket "makes absolutely no guarantee for safe passage, a seaworthy vessel, adequate and wholesome food, and sanitary and safe living conditions."

NOLAMississippiCruisships16Nov051

On March 14, 2013, Carnival Dream experienced an emergency generator failure while docked in port at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. The ship was scheduled to leave port around 5 p.m. ET the day before. The United States Coast Guard said they were notified by Carnival that Carnival Dream was experiencing emergency generator problems. Carnival announced that the passengers would be flown back to Florida rather than completing their scheduled voyage.

On the morning of March 15, 2013, Carnival Legend suffered a mechanical problem with one propulsion pod while at sea. The cruise line cancelled Carnival Legend's scheduled stops in Belize and Grand Cayman, and the ship returned to Tampa, Florida at a reduced speed of 19 knots (22 mph) (Legend has a regular cruising speed of 24 knots).

On December 27, 2015, an electrician who had been working on the Carnival Ecstasy was crushed to death while working in an elevator. The accident had heavy publicity after a video was posted online.

In February 2018, a series of brawls broke out on the Carnival Legend. Staff were criticized for not containing the brawls and for exercising heavy force against passengers.

On May 3, 2018, a pipe burst in the Carnival Dream's fire suppression system, flooding 50 staterooms.

In November 2018, the Carnival Destiny experienced a technical issue which caused the ship to list for approximately one minute.

On December 29, 2018, lifeboat number 28 broke loose from the Carnival Dream for unknown reasons and was damaged. Carnival decided to abandon the lifeboat at sea and purchase a new replacement. No one was on board the lifeboat at the time and no injuries were reported.

In the evening on September 20, 2019, while passing through Panama Canal, the Carnival Fantasy, collided with the lock's wall and sustained damage to the aft superstructure. No injuries were reported. The collision happened while the lock's water levels were being lowered. The vessel was not under its own power but assisted/tugged by the Panama Canal's locomotives. The accident occurred during the 10-day Panama Canal cruise.

On October 9, 2019, a 23-year-old passenger fell off a railing where he was sitting onto a lower deck while the Carnival Valor was sailing near Louisiana. He was flown to a New Orleans hospital by helicopter and said to be in critical condition.

On December 20, 2019, the Carnival Glory and Carnival Legend collided while in the port of Cozumel, Mexico; The Carnival Glory's stern superstructure was damaged and one person received minor injuries.

Fleet[]

As of 2021 Carnival operates 31 ships with a further 3 on order.

Current Fleet[]

Fantasy Class[]

Carnival Fantasy 1990-Present

Carnival Ecstasy 1991-Present

Carnival Sensation 1993-Present

Carnival Fascination 1994-Present

Carnival Imagination 1995-Present

Carnival Inspiration 1996-Present

Carnival Elation 1988-Present

Carnival Paradise 1998-Present

Destiny Class[]

Carnival Destiny 1996-Present

Carnival Triumph 1999-Present

Carnival Victory 2000-Present

Spirit Class[]

Carnival Spirit 2001-Present

Carnival Pride 2002-Present

Carnival Legend 2002-Present

Carnival Miracle 2002-Present

Conquest Class[]

Carnival Conquest 2002-Present

Carnival Glory 2003-Present

Carnival Valor 2004-Present

Carnival Liberty 2005-Present

Carnival Freedom 2007-Present

Concordia Class[]

Carnival Splendor 2008-Present

Dream Class[]

Carnival Dream 2009-Present

Carnival Magic 2011-Present

Carnival Breeze 2012-Present

Sunshine Class[]

Carnival Sunshine 2013-Present

Carnival Sunrise 2019-Present

Carnival Radiance 2020-Present

Vista Class[]

Carnival Vista 2016-Present

Carnival Horizon 2018-Present

Carnival Panorama 2019-Present

Excellence Class[]

Carnival Mardi Gras 2020-Present

Future Fleet[]

Carnival Celebration 2022

Sunshine Class 4 2022

Carnival Jubilee 2023

Former Fleet[]

Empress Class[]

Mardi Gras 1972-1993 sold to Epirotiki Lines scrapped in 2003

Carnivale 1975-1994 sold to Epirotiki Lines scrapped in 2008

Festivale Class[]

Festivale 1977-1996 sold to Premier Cruises scrapped in 2003

Tropicale Class[]

Carnival Tropicale 1981-2001 2005-2008 transferred to Costa Cruises returned to fleet in 2005 sold to Pullamntur in 2008. Scrapped in 2021.

Holiday Class[]

Carnival Holiday 1985-2015 sold to Cruise & Maritime Voyages and currently sails as Magellan.

Carnival Jubilee 1986-2012 sold to Chinese startup venture scrapped in 2017.

Carnival Celebration 1987-2014 sold to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and currently sails as Grand Celebration.