Put smiles on faces from Canada to the Caribbean.

Awards, Achievements, Accolades

2015 Awards



Carnival Cruise Line took top honors in two categories in USA Today’s 2015 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, earning accolades for “Best Cruise Line” and “Best Cruise Ship For Dining” (Carnival Breeze). The awards were based on nominations from a team of cruise industry experts and the winners were determined by an online vote by USA Today readers.



Carnival Cruise Line has been named America’s Most Trusted Cruise Line by Reader’s Digest Magazine. The award is based on a poll of more than 4,500 of the magazine’s readers who were asked to rate products they trust across 40 different categories taking into account the areas of quality, value, and reliability. Carnival received more votes than any other cruise line.



Carnival Cruise Line earned five 2015 Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards, including top honors in the Best Value for the Money Line category for the 17th consecutive year. Since the awards were established in 1999, Carnival Cruise Line has earned an unprecedented 140 individual honors – the most of any cruise operator. The annual awards are based on online and mail-in surveys of Porthole readers who are asked to rate their favorite cruise line in a variety of product – and service-related categories.



Carnival Cruise Line has been named the 2015 Best Value-For-Money in Cruise Critic’s Editors’ Picks Awards for the second consecutive year. Selected by Cruise Critic’s editorial team, the awards recognize cruise lines in a wide range of product – and service-related categories. Carnival Corporation & plc was presented with the 2015 Sustainable Business Award by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce during the organization’s quarterly meeting held on board the Carnival Victory at PortMiami. The award recognizes Carnival Corporation & plc and its 10 worldwide brands for their leadership role in developing innovative environmental initiatives.



Two Carnival Cruise Line ships have earned top honors in Cruise Critic’s 2015 “Cruisers Choice Awards” with Carnival Liberty named best value for the money for the second year in a row and Carnival Pride best cruise from the Northeast. The awards are based on reviews of Cruise Critic readers who rate ships in a wide variety of product – and service-related categories.



The Carnival LIVE concert series – in which top-name acts perform on board while ships are docked in port – has been named “Best Entertainment Outlet” in Porthole Magazine’s 2015 Editor-in-Chief Awards. The annual awards recognize cruise lines in a broad range of product – and service-related categories.

Travel Channel’s Best Cruises 2015 awards

Carnival Cruise Line took top honors in three categories in Travel Channel’s Best Cruises 2015 awards – “Best Mexican Cruise (Carnival Miracle),” “Best Theme Cruises (Carnival LIVE),” and “Unexpected Cruise for Food (Carnival Breeze).” Carnival was the only cruise line to be recognized with multiple awards this year. The awards are based on feedback from a team of judges from popular cruise magazines and web sites who listed their favorites in a variety of categories.

Maritime Association of South Carolina

Carnival Cruise Line’s wide-ranging sustainability and environmental initiatives were recognized in 2015 by the Maritime Association of South Carolina which presented the cruise line with its Environmental Stewardship Award during their annual convention held recently in Charleston, S.C. , where the Carnival Fantasy is based year-round. The Maritime Association of SC is a non-profit trade association whose mission is to promote, protect and advance the interests of the state’s ports and associated businesses throughout the state.

Green Ship Incentive Program for 2015

Carnival Cruise Line has been recognized by the Port of Long Beach for its participation in the Green Ship Incentive Program for 2015. This clean-air initiative acknowledges the efforts of Carnival and other maritime operators for deploying today's greenest ships at the port and accelerating the use of tomorrow's technologies. As part of the program, ships are required to reduce speed while approaching and departing the Port of Long Beach.

2014 Awards



Carnival Cruise Lines has been named the Best Value-For-Money in Cruise Critic’s 2014 Editors’ Picks Awards for the third consecutive year. Selected by Cruise Critic’s editorial team, the awards recognize cruise lines in a wide range of product – and service-related categories.



Carnival Cruise Lines took home the “Best Activities” award in the 2014 Cruise International Awards, an annual event in the UK that recognizes cruise lines in a wide variety of product – and service-related categories. Carnival also was bestowed the title of “Highly Commended in the Best for First-Timers” category. The awards were based on on-line voting by more than 25,000 Cruise International readers.



Carnival Cruise Lines has earned 10 gold, silver and bronze awards in the inaugural 2014 Bon Voyage awards, sponsored by Bon Voyage Magazine presented by cruiseline.com. The awards were presented in a variety of product – and service-related categories and voted on by a five-member panel of judges.



John Heald, Carnival Cruise Lines’ senior cruise director and brand ambassador, was named Best Cruise Blogger in USA Today’s inaugural 2014 Readers’ Choice New Media Awards.

The awards are based on on-line surveys that asked readers to vote for their favorite cruise blogger. Heald received more votes than any other nominee.



Carnival Cruise Lines’ high-energy Epic Rock – part of the line’s highly popular Playlist Productions shows – has earned top honors in the Seventh Annual 2014 Live Design Awards, which are based on reader surveys and recognizes excellence in variety of entertainment-related categories. Epic Rock took home the top prize in the Theater Production category with more readers voting for Carnival than any other entry.



Two Carnival Cruise Lines ships earned top honors in Cruise Critic’s 2014 “Cruisers Choice Awards” with Carnival Liberty named best value for the money and Carnival Freedom best shore excursions. The awards are based on reviews of Cruise Critic readers who rate ships in a wide variety of product – and service-related categories.

2013 Awards



The delicious hand-crafted burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint – a poolside burger venue developed by Food Network personality Guy Fieri currently featured on several Carnival ships – has earned Top Hamburger honors in the annual Porthole Cruise Magazine Editor-in-Chief Awards.

Carnival Cruise Lines has earned five Porthole Cruise Magazine 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards, earning top honors in the Best Value for the Money category for the 15th consecutive year. Since the awards were established in 1999, Carnival Cruise Lines has earned 130 individual honors – the most of any cruise operator.



Carnival Sunshine – which earlier this year underwent a massive 75-day, $155 million makeover that added a wide variety of new and expanded features – has been named “Best Ship Refurbishment” in Cruise Critic’s 2013 Editors’ Picks, which recognize cruise lines in a wide range of product – and service-related categories.

2012 Awards

Cruise Critic 2012 Editors’ Pick Awards

Carnival Cruise Lines was a big winner in the annual Cruise Critic Editors’ Pick Awards, taking first-place honors in three categories – Best New Ship (Carnival Breeze), Best Bar (Alchemy Bar) and Best Cruise Line Value.

7th Annual Barcardi Cruise Competition

Adri Ford, a bartender at the new Alchemy Bar on the Carnival Liberty, was named “Bartender of the Year” at the 7th annual Bacardi Cruise Competition, which attracted nearly 1,900 food and beverage entries from culinary professionals representing 27 cruise and ferry operators from around the world. Additionally, Daniel Rodriguez, a junior sous chef on the Carnival Legend, was named a semi-finalist in the culinary main course category for his entrée, “Brillat Savarin,” tournedos of beef made with Bacardi OakHeart Spiced Rum, Noilly Prat vermouth and aged mushrooms.

2011 Awards

Carnival’s Cloud 9 Spas Earn Top Honors By Spa Magazine

Carnival Cruise Lines’ Cloud 9 Spas were named “Best Cruise Line Spa” in Spa Magazine’s 2011 Silver Sage Reader’s Choice Awards. The annual awards are based on surveys of magazine readers who are asked to rank spa facilities in a wide variety of categories, with Carnival’s Cloud 9 Spas receiving more votes than any other cruise line.

John Heald Wins 2011 Porthole Editor-in-Chief Award for Best Cruise Line Blog

The blog of Carnival’s Senior Cruise Director John Heald has been named Best Cruise Line Blog in Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2011 Editor-in-Chief Awards. Selected by Porthole’s Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff, the annual awards are designed to recognize excellence in the cruise and travel industries.

Carnival Cruise Lines Wins Five 2011 Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards

Carnival Cruise Lines has earned five Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards, earning top honors in the Best Value for the Money category for the 13th consecutive year.

Guy’s Burger Joint, John Heald’s Blog Earn Porthole Magazine Editor-in-Chief Awards

Carnival Cruise Lines was recently honored with two Porthole Magazine Editor-In-Chief Awards – one for a new burger venue developed in tandem with Food Network personality Guy Fieri and another for the popular blog of Senior Cruise Director John Heald.

Top Honors In Three Categories At Cruise International Awards

Carnival Cruise Lines was a big winner at the annual Cruise International Awards, taking top honors in three categories – Best Cruise Line, Best Innovation (Thrill Theater) and Best Cruise Blogger (Senior Cruise Director John Heald).

2010 Awards

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida’s “Corporation Of The Year”

Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines, a corporate partner of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida since 1995, was honored with the “Corporation of the Year” award at the nonprofit organization’s recent donor appreciation event. The company helped the foundation (www.sflawish.org) grant 537 wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions during its 2010-11 fiscal year.

Carnival Cruise Lines Wins Six 2010 Porthole Readers Choices Awards, Including Best Value, Best Entertainment Carnival Cruise Lines took home six Porthole Magazine Annual Readers Choice Awards, earning top honors in the Best Value for the Money and Best Entertainment for the 12th consecutive year.

Carnival’s Internet Marketing Team Recognized For Excellence In Annual ‘Shorty Awards’ With more than 840,000 Facebook fans, Carnival Cruise Lines is among the industry leaders in the social media arena. The company’s efforts have been acknowledged with “Best Facebook Brand Presence” in the 3rd annual Shorty Awards. Often called the Oscars of Social Media, the Shorty awards honor those companies that best utilize the Internet to grow their brand.

Carnival Glory’s Emerald Room Steakhouse Recognized For Excellence By The American Culinary Federation

Carnival Glory’s Emerald Room steakhouse has earned top honors from the American Culinary Federation (ACF), the largest organization of professional chefs in North America.

Cruise Critic’s 2010 Editors’ Picks Awards

Carnival Cruise Lines was named “Best for Budget-Friendly Cruising,” in Cruise Critic’s 2010 Editors’ Picks Awards, which honor the world’s top cruise lines for outstanding performance in 20 major areas.

2009 Awards

Four Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards

Carnival Cruise Lines took top honors in four categories in Cruise Critic’s annual Editors’ Pick Awards, which recognizes the world’s top cruise lines in a wide variety of product- and service-related areas. Carnival’s 2009 Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards include: “Best Main Dining,” “Best Buffet,” “Best Nightlife, and “Best for First Timers.”

2008 Awards

Carnival Takes Home “Best Value” Honors In 2008 Cruise Critic Editors’ Pick Awards

Carnival Cruise Lines was named “Best Value,” in Cruise Critic’s 2008 Editor’s Pick Awards, which honor the world’s top cruise lines for outstanding performance in 10 major areas.