Carnival Ecstasy Anchored in Grand Cayman (June 2009) In today's age of cruising many older and slightly smaller cruise ships are being overlooked and underestimated because of the many new large megaships. Royal Caribbean recently announced it would be transferring the smaller and older Majesty of the Seas out of its fleet. This comes only a few weeks after the company launched the brand new Quantum of the Seas, a large mega ship with an abundance of technology. Other cruise lines are doing the same thing and getting rid of their smaller and older ships. These smaller and older ships are still appealing to many cruisers, but that number is becoming lesser as many more people are wanting new large mega ships to built.
Carnival's Fantasy Class cruise ships are the oldest and largest class of the ships in Carnival's fleet. This is Carnival's smallest class of ships length wise, but Carnival's fact sheets report the ships are between 800 and 900 feet in length. This is close to the size of three American football fields. This class of ships launched in 1990 with the M/S Fantasy and the last one built was in 1998 with the launch of the M/S Paradise. The Fantasy Class presently consists of the Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Elation, and Carnival Paradise. It is inevitable that these ships will be sold too because they are aging, getting older, and there is a great demand for newer and larger cruise ships.
Carnival has not sold or transferred any ships out of its fleet since 2009 when the Holiday was transferred to Iberocruceros to become the Grand Holiday. This was after the Holiday's sister ships, Celebration & Jubilee, were transferred out of the fleet in previous years. The company transferred the ships out of the fleet slowly as newer and larger ships were being introduced to the Carnival fleet. When the dreadful day comes for the Fantasy class ships to be transferred or sold they will probably phase the ships out one by one for a period of many years. However, I predict, Carnival will start this process when they have ships that can replace the tonnage of the Fantasy class.
Carnival's Fantasy Class cruise ships are the oldest and largest class of the ships in Carnival's fleet. This is Carnival's smallest class of ships length wise, but Carnival's fact sheets report the ships are between 800 and 900 feet in length. This is close to the size of three American football fields. This class of ships launched in 1990 with the M/S Fantasy and the last one built was in 1998 with the launch of the M/S Paradise. The Fantasy Class presently consists of the Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Elation, and Carnival Paradise. It is inevitable that these ships will be sold too because they are aging, getting older, and there is a great demand for newer and larger cruise ships.
Carnival has not sold or transferred any ships out of its fleet since 2009 when the Holiday was transferred to Iberocruceros to become the Grand Holiday. This was after the Holiday's sister ships, Celebration & Jubilee, were transferred out of the fleet in previous years. The company transferred the ships out of the fleet slowly as newer and larger ships were being introduced to the Carnival fleet. When the dreadful day comes for the Fantasy class ships to be transferred or sold they will probably phase the ships out one by one for a period of many years. However, I predict, Carnival will start this process when they have ships that can replace the tonnage of the Fantasy class.
Since their launch, the Fantasy class cruise ships have undergone many dry-docks and refurbishments that help keep the ships in good looking condition. For example, all of the Fantasy class ships (except for the Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise) were outfitted new Lido pool areas and the WaterWorks. The Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise are the newer of the Fantasy Class ships and they did not recieve the full "Evolutions of Fun" upgrades when the rest did. All of the Fantasy class ships now have mini golf courses on the Sun Deck and aft Serenity Adults Only Retreats. Most of the ships, when new, did not have this golf course amenity. The Carnival Ecstasy has recently been refurbished with the Fun Ship 2.0 amenities of the Red Frog Rum Bar and the Blue Iguana Tequila Bar on the Lido Deck. The ship is the first Fantasy Class ship to receive these 2.0 features. These are just a few of the ways that Carnival has up kept and maintained their Fantasy class cruise ships. Regular maintenance of painting and re- carpeting occurs often on cruise ships to help keep public areas fresh.
The Fantasy Class ships may be older, but they are still providing many people with a fun and enjoyable cruise vacation. I understand ships like the Fantasy Class are not for everyone and the great thing about the cruise industry is there are ships that cruise on that fit their style. Someday they will leave the Carnival fleet after their mission of providing people with a fun vacation for Carnival Cruise Lines is done. Someday the class will be split up as the ships are sent to other cruise lines and parts of the world. It is inevitable, but for now, enjoy the Fantasy Class ships while they are still around and enjoy a cruise on a ship, no matter how big or small.
The Fantasy Class ships may be older, but they are still providing many people with a fun and enjoyable cruise vacation. I understand ships like the Fantasy Class are not for everyone and the great thing about the cruise industry is there are ships that cruise on that fit their style. Someday they will leave the Carnival fleet after their mission of providing people with a fun vacation for Carnival Cruise Lines is done. Someday the class will be split up as the ships are sent to other cruise lines and parts of the world. It is inevitable, but for now, enjoy the Fantasy Class ships while they are still around and enjoy a cruise on a ship, no matter how big or small.
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 Carnival Elation and Paradise Docked in Cozumel, MX |  Carnival Fantasy Docked in Nassau |
Have you ever sailed on one of Carnival's Fantasy Class ships?
(Includes Carnival Fantasy, Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation, or Paradise)
(Includes Carnival Fantasy, Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation, or Paradise)