Carnival Liberty vs Carnival Splendor

The Carnival Liberty was built in 2005. It was renovated in 2025. It's 3 years older than the Splendor, which was built in 2008 and renovated in 2024.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Liberty is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 952 feet long and 116 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.6 football fields, as wide as 2.2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. The Liberty and the Splendor are in the same class, which means they're sister ships. For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout; although they may have different features and attractions on board.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Liberty holds about the same number of passengers as the Splendor based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Liberty has less space per person compared to the Splendor.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Liberty has twelve different dining options like Pizza Pirate, The Chef's Table, and Mongolian Wok. Of those options, thirteen are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other four options have an additional fee.

The Splendor has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are JavaBlue Cafe, Mad Sizzle, and The Chef's Table. Twelve of these restaurants are complementary and the other five have an additional fee.

The Carnival Liberty has about the same number of dining options as the Carnival Splendor.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Liberty might be a better choice then the Splendor. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Restaurants on Carnival Liberty & Splendor

Bars and Drinks

The Carnival Liberty has 1 fewer bar than the Carnival Splendor.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Liberty and the Splendor below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Carnival Liberty has a total of 2 pools and 4 hot tubs.

The Carnival Splendor has the same number of pools as the Liberty and the same number of hot tubs.

Looking to get away from the kids onboard? Try relaxing in the Serenity Adult-only area, for guests 21 and older only. Only the Splendor has an adult-only pool in its Serenity Area (it’s a full-depth pool). The Serenity Area on both ships is unenclosed and open to the elements. The Liberty’s adult-only area is in the front, while the Splendor’s is in the back. Typically, the back of the ship has less wind and better views than the front of the ship.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Carnival editions with featuring places Pizza Pirate and mini-golf.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Carnival Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Carnival Edition

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Liberty, 73% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Splendor, only 69% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Cruise Costs

Carnival is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Carnival Liberty will likely be cheaper than on Carnival Splendor.

The cost will also vary depending on the type of cabin you book. You can see the differences between the Carnival cabins and how to choose the best one here:

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Carnival ship.

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