Cruise & Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates 35 Years at Popular Florida Port

Image: Carnival Cruise Line Mardi Gras. (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
Image: Carnival Cruise Line Mardi Gras. (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:55 AM ET, Sun June 8, 2025

To celebrate the company’s 35 years of service from Central Florida, Carnival Cruise Line hosted a celebration aboard its popular Mardi Gras ship.

The Port Canaveral party included leaders from the Canaveral Port Authority, the United States Coast Guard, and Brevard County, as well as executives from Carnival. As part of the celebration, the cruise line received a framed Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners proclamation.

In response, Carnival officials donated a hybrid pickup truck that will support the work of Keep Brevard Beautiful, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental conservation in the area.

“Port Canaveral has been a cornerstone of Carnival’s success for 35 years,” Carnival President Christine Duffy said. “We’re proud to celebrate this incredible milestone alongside the community that has been such an essential part of our growth.”

“Our exciting growth continues with the opening of Celebration Key next month, our exclusive destination that will really be a game-changer for us and for our guests,” Duffy continued.

The cruise line homeports four ships year-round and another ship seasonally at Port Canaveral and recently announced it would enhance offerings further by deploying its next new vessel to the port. 

Carnival was the first major cruise line to sail from Port Canaveral in 1990, and its operations have grown over the years, homeporting more ships than any other cruise line and embarking on more than 1.2 million guests from the port annually.

With over 300 annual departures from Port Canaveral, Carnival guests contribute an estimated $450 million in economic impact to the region.

“We are proud to celebrate Carnival Cruise Line’s 35th anniversary of sailing from Port Canaveral and humbled by what this milestone represents,” Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray said.


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Donald Wood

Donald Wood

Managing Editor

Donald Wood is TravelPulse’s Managing Editor, bringing nearly 15 years of experience to the desk. He currently lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

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