Carnival Radiance vs Carnival Miracle

The Carnival Radiance was built in 2020. It was renovated in 2024. The Radiance was previously known as the Victory from 2000-2020, but was renamed after it went through huge renovations. It's 16 years newer than the Miracle, which was built in 2004.

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 Radiance is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 893 feet long and 125 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.5 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. Compared to the Carnival Miracle, the Radiance is 15% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Radiance holds 40% more passengers than the Miracle 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 Radiance has less space per person compared to the Miracle.

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 Radiance has 20 different dining options like Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi, and Seafood Shack. Of those options, 14 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 6 options have an additional fee.

The Miracle has 6 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Pizza Pirate, Blue Iguana Cantina, and Carnival Deli. 11 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 3 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Radiance might be a better choice. It has 43% more dining options than the Miracle.

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

Restaurants on Carnival Radiance & Miracle

Bars and Drinks

The Carnival Radiance has 1 more bar than the Carnival Miracle.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Radiance and the Miracle 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 problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Carnival Radiance has a total of 2 pools and 3 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Carnival Miracle has more pools than the Radiance and the same number of hot tubs.

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 Radiance, 71% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Miracle, 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 Radiance will likely be more expensive than on Carnival Miracle.

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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