Carnival is among the largest and most popular cruise lines in the world. In fact, ask an average person to picture a cruise ship and they likely envision Carnival’s signature “whale tail” funnel.
But Carnival is also known for offering some of the best values in the industry.
It’s not unusual to find trips costing a few hundred dollars for an entire vacation — sometimes taking you to the Caribbean with room, food, and entertainment for less than a plane ticket alone would cost.
But Carnival is much more than just simple, cheap getaway to the Caribbean. The cruise line has expanded its offerings to include extended cruises that last for weeks, offers departure ports in Australia and Europe, and continues to add new ships to its lineup.
That got us curious. With dozens of ships and trips seemingly everywhere, what exactly is the most expensive Carnival cruise you can buy?
What we found was something special, but be prepared to open your wallet…
Comparing the Cheapest Fares With the Most Expensive
To give you an idea of just how different the most expensive cruise on Carnival actually is, it helps to have an idea of the cruise line’s least expensive trips.
Searching cruises through the current schedule of U.S. departures, the cheapest trip we could find was a 3-day cruise aboard Carnival Conquest from Miami to Celebration Key, leaving October 12, 2026. It was priced at $183 per person for an interior cabin. Add in a second passenger and the total comes out to $366. Gratuities would be another $102 in total.
Less than $400 for a three-day vacation for two isn’t bad at all. And these sorts of cruises are offered regularly in this price range.
But on the other end of the price spectrum is a trip of a lifetime. It just so happens to cost a little more…
The Most Expensive Carnival Cruise (33 Times the Cost of the Cheapest?!)
Now that you have an idea of how inexpensive a Carnival cruise can be, how pricey can they get? How about nearly 35 times as much?
We searched the Carnival schedules from now through early 2029 (the latest bookings currently available). Searching through the priciest trips, they are dominated by something called Carnival Journeys. These are longer cruises that run anywhere from 2-4 weeks and have epic routes that include Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, and more.
Put simply, these are “bucket list” cruises that most of us will never get the chance to take. Those with the means, however — both financially and a schedule that allows it — will never forget the experience.
Honestly, many of these Carnival Journeys have reasonable price tags given the cruise. They can start at around $1,500 per person for an interior cabin. That’s not bad for a trip of at least 12 days that travel to some of the most exotic ports on the planet.
But they can also carry hefty price tags, including the most expensive Carnival cruise you can buy at more than $12,000!
For the priciest trip, we found it is a 15-day Hawaiian sailing from San Francisco aboard Carnival Luminosa.
Departing September 17, 2027, the cruise first heads to Hilo. From there, you’ll have stops in Kona, Honolulu, Maui and Ensenada. After roughly two weeks of seeing some of the most beautiful spots on the planet, the cruise will return to San Francisco in early October.
If you wanted the absolute cheapest “get aboard” price on this specific cruise, then you’re looking at an interior cabin that starts at $1,746 per person. With two people plus port fees, that comes out to a price tag of $3,492 all in.
But the cruise can get much more expensive. To see the biggest price tag possible, we looked at the same cruise sailing in the highest suite available — a ‘Grand Vista Suite’ — that sits at the back of the ship.
This room ups the price considerably, to $6,046 per person. With all the taxes, fees, and double occupancy, it leads to a price tag of $12,092 for two people. That comes out to an eye-watering $806 per day. Gratuity charges of $570 would be extra as well.
(Note: Some cruises may have higher-priced rooms, but most of the Carnival Journeys already have the suites all booked up.)
Would a $12,000+ Cruise Be Worth It?
While it’s certainly not the most expensive cruise we’ve ever seen, that’s still a hefty price tag — especially for a cruise line that’s known for value.
In return, however, you get the nicest room on the ship and a two week cruise that’s essentially a Hawaiian vacation that lets you explore a ton of different spots.
While it might be a little rich for us, it’s definitely a cruise that would offer a lifetime of memories.
