Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. For over 50 years, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S. and two Australian homeports and employs more than 40,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival currently operates 25 ships and is in an exciting period of growth with the addition of two ships over the next year.
Christine Duffy is president of Carnival Cruise Line, certified as a Great Place to Work™ and the flagship brand of Miami-based global cruise industry leader Carnival Corp., the world’s largest leisure travel company. Christine also oversees the operations of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia.
Christine leads a fleet of 28 cruise ships, sailing nearly six million guests annually and employing more than 40,000 people who hail from 120 nations around the globe. Christine has served the company in this role since 2015 after a successful tenure as president and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents the $120 billion global cruise industry.
Carnival homeports its ships in North America, Europe and Australia and sails to more than 100 destinations in nearly 40 countries. Under Christine’s leadership, Carnival was the first major U.S. cruise line to have its entire fleet back in guest operations after the industry-wide pause related to the COVID pandemic. The company is now in a rapid growth phase that began in the summer of 2022 with the acquisition of five new ships through 2024. In March 2023, Carnival reached a major milestone for the industry as the first cruise line to embark 100 million guests since its first sailing in 1972. Christine has overseen the introduction of six new ships, including the debut of Carnival Celebration in November 2022 to cap off Carnival’s year-long 50th birthday celebration. In 2023, Christine led the introduction of Carnival Venezia, which is the first ship to showcase new “Carnival Fun Italian Style” concepts and experiences. In December 2023, Carnival Jubilee will join the fleet, sailing from Galveston.
The Excel class ships represented by Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee and sister ship Mardi Gras are leading the introduction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cruise vessels in North America and feature the first roller coasters at sea. In 2018, Carnival opened a state-of-the-art Fleet Operations Center at its Miami headquarters that implements technology used by NASA and the U.S. Navy to monitor operations and improve real-time decision-making. Her “people first” business philosophy makes her an accessible and approachable leader as Carnival leverages its commitment to delivering safe, fun and memorable vacations to its millions of guests and growing customer base.
YEAR FOUNDED: | 1972 |
HEADQUARTERS: | Miami |
NUMBER OF SHIPS: | 25 |
UPCOMING SHIPS: | Carnival Jubilee– 2023; Carnival Firenze – 2024 |
CRUISING AREAS: | Alaska, Bahamas, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, New England, New Zealand, Panama Canal, Pacific Islands, Trans-Atlantic |
PRIMARY HOMEPORTS | Year-Round: Baltimore, Md.; Brisbane, Australia; Charleston, S.C.; Galveston, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; Long Beach, Calif.; Miami; Mobile, Ala.; New Orleans; Port Canaveral, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; Sydney Seasonal: Barcelona; Civitavecchia (Rome); Dover (London); Honolulu; Lisbon, Portugal; New York; Norfolk, Va.; San Francisco; Seattle |
APPROX. NUMBER OF ANNUAL PASSENGERS: | 6 million |
FUN FACTS | 7+ million burgers served annually at Guy’s Burger Joints developed by celebrity chef Guy Fieri 25,000 comedy shows per year – the most of any comedy club on land or at sea Approximately 5 million servings a year of cruising’s most popular dessert, Warm Chocolate Melting Cake First cruise ship with a roller coaster (Mardi Gras – 2021) First cruise ship in the U.S. powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) (Mardi Gras – 2021) 90+ million guests carried in total (50 years) Celebrity partners include Shaquille O’Neal, Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse, Rudi Sodamin, Vanna White and Kathie Lee Gifford. |