Carnival Radiance
Product brand
UnclaimedA Destiny-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, originally launched as Carnival Victory and renamed Carnival Radiance after a major 2021 refurbishment.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Carnival Radiance is a large cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line and owned within the Carnival Corporation & plc group. The vessel entered service in 2000 as Carnival Victory, the third ship in Carnival’s Destiny class. Built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy, she was ordered in 1997 and launched on 31 December 1998. With a gross tonnage of approximately 101,509, the ship was among the largest passenger vessels in the world when introduced. The original vessel was designed by American architect and designer Joseph Farcus, whose concept organized the ship around imagery drawn from the oceans and seas of the world. Its passenger-facing facilities included a nine-deck atrium with glass elevators, a large multi-level lounge, several swimming pools, balcony accommodations, and a 214-foot waterslide. The ship was designed for mainstream, resort-style cruising, combining accommodation, dining, entertainment, recreation, and transportation between port destinations in a single vacation product. It has capacity for approximately 3,400 passengers and 1,100 crew members, although actual occupancy varies by sailing and operating conditions. For much of her early career, the ship operated as Carnival Victory from Miami on short Caribbean itineraries. These included alternating three- and four-night cruises, a format intended to make cruise holidays accessible to customers seeking brief vacations. The ship’s propulsion system uses diesel-electric machinery, with four GMT Sulzer 16 ZAV engines and two GMT Sulzer 12 ZAV engines driving controllable-pitch propellers. Twin rudders and stabilizers support maneuverability and passenger comfort. Carnival announced in 2018 that Carnival Victory would receive the final stage of a major fleet renovation program and would be renamed Carnival Radiance afterward. The project was planned as a US$200 million dry-dock refurbishment at Navantia in Cádiz, Spain, beginning in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted shipyard operations and delayed the work until 2021. The ship was formally renamed Carnival Radiance in September 2021 while the renovation was still under way. After leaving Cádiz in October, she crossed the Atlantic and transited the Panama Canal on a seven-week voyage to her new operating base at Long Beach, California. Lucille O’Neal was announced as the ship’s godmother in November 2021. She christened Carnival Radiance in Long Beach on 12 December 2021. The ship began commercial service the next day with a four-day inaugural voyage visiting Ensenada, Mexico, and Catalina Island. Since then, Carnival Radiance has been associated primarily with year-round short cruises from Long Beach to those destinations. Its market positioning is that of a mainstream, family-oriented cruise resort: a comparatively broad onboard offering, recognizable Carnival entertainment, multiple dining and leisure venues, and short coastal or Mexican itineraries. The ship is therefore both a transportation asset and a branded hospitality product within Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet.
History
Carnival Radiance began life as Carnival Victory, a Destiny-class ship ordered by Carnival in 1997. Fincantieri constructed the vessel at its Monfalcone shipyard in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. The ship was launched on 31 December 1998 and later christened by Mary Frank, the wife of Howard Frank, who was then vice-chairman of Carnival. At approximately 101,509 gross tons, Carnival Victory was one of the largest cruise ships of its period and represented Carnival’s strategy of placing large, amenity-rich ships on short and medium-length itineraries. Joseph Farcus designed the ship’s interior and architectural theme around the world’s oceans and seas. The layout incorporated a tall central atrium, glass elevators, a large two-level lounge, several pools, balcony cabins, and a long waterslide. The vessel’s diesel-electric propulsion plant consists of four GMT Sulzer 16 ZAV engines and two GMT Sulzer 12 ZAV engines, connected to two controllable-pitch propellers. Twin individually controlled rudders and stabilizers support navigation and passenger comfort. During its years as Carnival Victory, the ship was based in Miami and operated year-round Caribbean cruises. Its schedule commonly alternated three-night and four-night voyages, allowing Carnival to serve travelers seeking shorter vacations while maintaining regular access to Caribbean ports. This operating pattern reflected the company’s mainstream cruise model, in which ships function as floating resorts with accommodation, dining, entertainment, recreation, and transportation combined. In October 2018, Carnival announced that the vessel would undergo a major renovation as the final stage of a wider fleet refurbishment program. The work was to take place in a dry dock at Navantia in Cádiz, Spain, and the ship was to emerge under the new name Carnival Radiance. The project was valued by Carnival at US$200 million. Originally scheduled for March 2020, the refit was delayed when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cruise operations and shipyard activity. Work proceeded in 2021, and the ship was officially renamed in September of that year. After the renovation, Carnival Radiance departed Cádiz in October 2021 and undertook a seven-week repositioning voyage through the Panama Canal. Carnival selected Long Beach, California, as the ship’s new homeport. The move shifted the ship from a Miami-centered Caribbean role to a Southern California deployment focused on short voyages to Mexico and nearby coastal destinations. Lucille O’Neal was named the ship’s godmother in November 2021. She performed the christening ceremony in Long Beach on 12 December. Carnival Radiance entered commercial service on 13 December with a four-day inaugural cruise calling at Ensenada, Mexico, and Catalina Island. Its subsequent deployment centered on alternating three-night and four-night cruises from Long Beach to those destinations. The ship’s present identity combines the physical platform of the former Carnival Victory with the refreshed facilities and visual positioning associated with Carnival’s Radiance-era fleet modernization program.
- 2021
Ship renamed Carnival Radiance
[1]The vessel was officially renamed during the continuing refurbishment in Cádiz.
- 2021
Long Beach christening and debut
[1]After repositioning through the Panama Canal, Carnival Radiance was christened in Long Beach on 12 December and began commercial operations the following day.
- 2020
Planned Cádiz dry dock postponed
[1]The scheduled refurbishment was delayed by pandemic-related disruption to cruise and shipyard operations.
- 2018
Refit and renaming announced
[1]Carnival announced a major fleet-renovation project and the planned conversion of Carnival Victory into Carnival Radiance.
- 2000
Carnival Victory enters service
[1]The ship joined Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet as the third Destiny-class vessel.
- 1998
Ship launched at Monfalcone
[1]Fincantieri launched the vessel at its Monfalcone shipyard in Italy on 31 December.
- 1997
Carnival orders a Destiny-class ship
[1]Carnival placed the order that led to the construction of the vessel later known as Carnival Victory and Carnival Radiance.
Products and positioning
Mainstream, family-oriented cruise resort offering short-duration voyages from Southern California.
Cruise travel · 2021
Carnival Radiance cruise vacations
The ship’s core offering is a packaged cruise vacation combining accommodation, dining, entertainment, recreation, and transportation between ports. The vessel is aimed at mainstream leisure travelers, including families and customers seeking a large-ship resort experience without a long itinerary.
Short cruise itinerary · 2021
Three-night Long Beach cruises
Short voyages departing from Long Beach form part of Carnival Radiance’s regular Southern California deployment. These cruises are designed for brief holidays and generally serve destinations including Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.
Short cruise itinerary · 2021
Four-night Long Beach cruises
Four-night voyages provide a slightly longer version of the ship’s Southern California cruise product, combining sea days with calls such as Ensenada and Catalina Island. They extend the same resort-oriented onboard experience while retaining a short-break format.
Cruise-ship amenities · 2000
Onboard leisure and entertainment
The vessel provides a broad set of cruise-ship amenities, including multiple pools, a 214-foot waterslide, lounges, dining spaces, entertainment venues, balcony accommodations, and a large central atrium. These facilities support Carnival’s family-oriented, resort-style positioning.
Brand decisions
2021
Launch Carnival Radiance serviceProduct launchBackground
After refurbishment, renaming, and a repositioning voyage through the Panama Canal, Carnival prepared the ship for a new Southern California operating role.
Action taken
Carnival christened the vessel in Long Beach on 12 December and began commercial service on 13 December with a four-day inaugural sailing.
Aftermath
The ship entered a year-round pattern of three- and four-night voyages from Long Beach.
2020
Select Long Beach as the new homeportStrategyBackground
Carnival reconsidered previously announced homeport plans for the renamed ship during a period of fleet and itinerary planning affected by the pandemic.
Action taken
Carnival designated Long Beach, California, rather than Port Canaveral or Galveston, as Carnival Radiance’s new homeport.
Aftermath
Following its December 2021 debut, the ship operated year-round short cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada.
2018
Refurbish and rename Carnival VictoryStrategyBackground
Carnival’s fleet renovation program included a planned large-scale modernization of Carnival Victory. The company intended to update the ship and give it a new identity within the Carnival fleet.
Action taken
Carnival announced a US$200 million dry-dock project and the future name Carnival Radiance.
Aftermath
The work was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic but was completed in 2021, followed by the ship’s renaming and redeployment to Long Beach.
Refurbishment cost. US$200 million (Announced in 2018; project completed in 2021)
Recent events
- 2021
Carnival Radiance christened in Long Beach[1]
Product launch
Lucille O’Neal christened Carnival Radiance on 12 December 2021 after the ship completed its major renovation and repositioning voyage through the Panama Canal.
- 2021
Carnival Radiance begins inaugural commercial sailing[1]
Product launch
The ship entered service the day after its christening on a four-day voyage visiting Ensenada and Catalina Island.
- 2020
Carnival Radiance receives new Long Beach homeport[1]
Other
Carnival announced that the renamed ship’s future homeport would be Long Beach, California, replacing previously discussed plans involving Port Canaveral and Galveston.
- 2020
Refurbishment delayed by COVID-19 disruption[1]
Other
The planned Cádiz dry dock was postponed after the pandemic interrupted shipyard operations and cruise-industry activity.
- 2018
Carnival announces Carnival Victory renovation and renaming plan[1]
Other
Carnival announced that Carnival Victory would receive a large-scale refurbishment as part of the final phase of its fleet renovation program and would subsequently be renamed Carnival Radiance.
Sources2 sources
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