Area served Worldwide Founder Ted Arison Revenue 10.9 billion USD (2011) | Products Cruises Founded 11 March 1972 Net income 1.9 billion USD (2011) | |
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Type Wholly owned subsidiary Industry Travel, Tourism & Hospitality (Cruise Industry) Key people Christine Duffy, President Operating income Headquarters Miami, Florida, United States Subsidiaries Holland America Line, Carnival Corporation & plc Parent organization Carnival Corporation & plc Profiles | ||
Carnival Cruise Line is a cruise line based in Miami, Florida in the United States. It is a subsidiary of the American-British company Carnival Corporation & plc.
Contents
History
Originally an independent company founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company is now one of nine cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc. The company has the largest fleet in the group, with 25 vessels currently in operation that account for 21.1% of the worldwide market share. Executive control of the company is provided by the North American division of Carnival Corporation, headquartered in Doral, Florida.
Carnival was a pioneer in the concept of shorter, less expensive cruises. Its ships are known for their Las Vegas-style decor and entertainment. The line calls its ships "The Fun Ships", and there are a wide range of activities offered on board. Its trademark is the funnel, which is red, white and blue and shaped like a whale's tail. The mascot for Carnival is Fun Ship Freddy, a character in the shape of Carnival's distinctive funnel.
In 1996 Carnival Destiny of 101,000 GT became the largest passenger ship in the world at the time and first to exceed 100,000 tons.
In 2001, Robert Dickinson, then CEO, participated in a BBC documentary, Back To The Floor. Dickinson went to work at the lowest crew levels on the Fun Ship MS Imagination on a Carnival cruise in the Caribbean, where he shadowed a Romanian cleaner, Alina.
In 2004, Carnival Corporation ordered for a development program for Carnival's new ships, the Pinnacle Project, calling for a 200,000 GT prototype, which would have been the world's largest cruise ship.
As of 2009, the latest and largest asset in the Carnival fleet was Carnival Dream, a new 128,000 GT ship. Carnival Dream entered service on 21 September 2009. After several voyages in the Mediterranean she was set to offer weekly Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral from 5 December 2009. A sister ship, Carnival Magic, debuted on 1 May 2011. On 1 December 2009 it was announced that Carnival placed an order for a third Dream-class vessel. It entered service in June 2012 and is now homeported in Galveston. On May 10, 2010, Carnival selected a name for their new Dream-class vessel in 2012; Carnival Breeze.
On 26 October 2012, it was announced that Carnival had ordered a brand new ship for their Carnival Cruise Line brand. This ship will be built by Fincantieri and will be the largest ship they have ever built. It sailed its maiden voyage on May 1, 2016, nearly four years after Carnival Breeze entered service. The new ship is named Carnival Vista.
In January 2017, Michael Thamm was appointed CEO of Carnival Asia by the Carnival Corporation. As CEO, Thamm will oversee operations in China and the region. Thamm's career spans more than three decades in the cruise and shipping industry. Thamm serves as CEO of Costa Group since Jul. 1, 2012 and continues to work at Costa Group alongside Carnival Asia.
2018 will also see the addition of a new liner to Carnival's fleet, when the Carnival Horizon sets sail.
Hurricane Katrina charters
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, three of the Carnival cruise ships were chartered by the United States government for six months to serve as temporary housing until the houses can be rebuilt. After being chartered for six months, their planned voyages were cancelled, and passengers were refunded. Holiday was originally docked in Mobile, Alabama, and later Pascagoula, Mississippi, and Ecstasy and Sensation were docked at New Orleans, Louisiana. The six-month contract cost $236 million. The contract 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.
Controversies
The company has reportedly been paying wages under $1.50 per hour to employees with low-to-nonexistent benefits, such as holidays or minimal vacations. Monthly salaries of the high paid workers is around $1,300. The crew wages are supplemented by gratuities, and one former Carnival crew member cited that crew receive up to 95% of their income from tips. Employees report strenuous working conditions such as 14-hour shifts with no days off. As of October 2013, they are also revoking retirement benefits.
On February 1, 2015, Carnival aired an advertisement during Super Bowl XLIX that invoked biological evolution, causing outrage among creationists.
Accidents and incidents
See also Costa Crociere Accidents and incidents for incidents associated with the parent company's other cruise operations.
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. No crew or guests were injured during the two days Carnival Tropicale spent without propulsion. The ship was later sold and renamed Ocean Dream.
On November 8, 2010, a fire broke out in the generator room of Carnival Splendor and the ship lost most power. The ship was adrift off the west coast of Mexico. The ship 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 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 takes the position 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."
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 one of Carnival Ecstasy passenger elevators was killed in an accident.
Notes
Future fleet
On July 29, 2016, Carnival announced that the second Vista Class Ship would be named Carnival Horizon the last ship to be built by Fincantieri. Carnival Horizon is scheduled to be delivered March 2018.
Restaurants
Restaurants on board Carnival ships include Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, Carnival Steakhouses, Cucina Del Capitano, Mongolian Wok, Guy's Burger Joint, Pizza Stations, Tandoor Kitchen, Taste Bar, Chef's Kitchen, Dining Rooms, Red Frog Pub, BlueIguana Cantina, Carnival Deli, Java Blue, Shake Spot, Pig and Anchor, and Fish and Chips