For nine years, starting in 1990, Carnival designed, produced and launched its immensely successful Fantasy-class ships, 2,052-passenger vessels measuring 70,367 tons; these include Carnival Fantasy. Carnival Ecstasy. Carnival Sensation. Carnival Fascination. Carnival Imagination. Carnival Inspiration. Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise. Market changes, however, dictated new designs with more balconies and cushier staterooms. Carnival Destiny (now Carnival Sunshine), a 101,353-ton ship carrying 2,642 passengers, debuted in 1996; two sister ships followed -- Carnival Triumph in 1999 and Carnival Victory in 2000 -- both of which added 700 tons and 58 staterooms, bringing their capacities to 2,758 passengers each.
Carnival continued to add to its fleet through an aggressive new-build program, with Carnival Spirit launching in 2001 and three new additions in 2002: Carnival Pride. Carnival Legend and Carnival Conquest. In 2003, Carnival Glory. the second in the Conquest class, debuted. Two more vessels emerge from Italy's Fincantieri shipyard in 2004: Carnival Miracle in March 2004, part of the Spirit class, and Carnival Valor. another Conquest-class vessel. A fourth Conquest-class ship, Carnival Liberty. launched in 2005. Carnival Freedom. the fifth and final in the Conquest class launched in 2007. Carnival Splendor. slightly larger than Conquest-class vessels, debuted in July 2008.
In 2009, Carnival introduced its largest ship yet -- Carnival Dream -- measuring 128,251 tons and carrying 3,646 passengers double occupancy. The ship is mainly an evolution of its predecessors, but does feature a few innovations, such as deluxe oceanview cabins for five with two bathrooms, a two-level adults-only Serenity area, and the longest water slide at sea. Sister ship Carnival Magic. which carries 3,690 passengers, entered service in June 2011, and Carnival Breeze debuted in June 2012.
The line's newest and largest ship, Carnival Vista -- the flagship for the line's new Vista Class -- sailed its maiden voyage in May 2016, kicking off a season of Europe itineraries. A second Vista-class ship is on order and slated for delivery in March 2018.
Since 2007, Carnival has been pumping big bucks into fleet upgrades. Over the past few years, it's committed $350 million to its eight Fantasy-class vessels, adding new deck spaces, water slides and kids' facilities as part of the "Evolutions of Fun" initiative. "Fun Ship 2.0," a $500 million program launched in 2011, covered much of the rest of the fleet. Numerous ships gained new themed bars, dining venues -- including Guy Fieri's Guy's Burger Joint -- and comedy clubs, among other additions. The program also included one of the most dramatic single-ship refurbishments in contemporary cruising: In 2013, Carnival Destiny underwent a $155 million transformation culminating in a name change. After its release from a 49-day dry-dock, Carnival Destiny became Carnival Sunshine.