Carnival the Giant Cruise Line

Today, Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most successful in the world, but today's Carnival is a very different company than it's humble beginnings. Launched in 1972 by a man with the big dream of making what was an enjoyment for the very rich available to the common man. On the inaugural cruise of the TSS Mardi Gras, a converted ocean liner, the ship ran aground on a sandbar near the Port of Miami. But less than three years later, the second ship entered service as the TSS Carnivale, previously the Empress of Britain.

In 1984 it became the first cruise line to advertise on national television, with Kathie Lee Gifford. In 1987 the company undertook it's IPO on Wall Street, raising about $400 Million. In 1994 it changed it's name to Carnival Corporation and combined with P&O Princess Cruises, and became the world's largest cruise line by far. In 1996 the first vessel over 100 thousand tons arrived, the Carnival Destiny. In 2002, it was the 110,000 ton Carnival Conquest. In 2003 it started cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida. In 2004 Carnival began cruises out of Jacksonville, Florida. In 2005 Carnival arrived in the Mediterranean, and in 2008 the first Northern Europe cruise set sail.

Following a spike in oil prices in early 2008, the company began charging a $9 fuel surcharge. In December, after a sharp drop in oil prices, Carnival announced that the surcharge would disappear on cruises after December 17 2008. Passengers having already paid would receive an on-board credit. The company's director of marketing warned that the fuel surcharge might return if fuel prices increased.

Two ships sail from the port of Tampa. The M/S Carnival Inspiration, and the M/S Carnival Legend. Both on cruises to the western Caribbean.

Miami based Carnival has over 88 ships with more than 169,000 lower berths. More ships of larger size are on order for delivery in the next few years, keeping Carnival the number one cruise line.