Carnival Breeze

The 2012-built Carnival Breeze cruise ship is the third Dream-class vessel in the CCL-Carnival fleet, following Carnival Dream (September 2009) and Carnival Magic (May 2011), along with Costa Diadema (2014).

The vessel (IMO number 9555723) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 354842000) and registered in Colon.

History - Construction and Ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US-based cruise company, trademarked brand, and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. CCL was founded in 1972 by Ted Arison (1924–1999), who also co-founded Norwegian Cruise Line.

CCL operates the Corporation's largest fleet in terms of vessel count and GT tonnage. In 2023, CCL accounted for ~9% of the cruise industry’s global revenue and ~19% of its passengers. As of 2024, Carnival Corporation held ~51% of the US$64+ billion cruise market.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Breeze was launched on June 3, 2012, introducing Carnival’s first fully implemented "Fun Ship 2.0" concept—a fleetwide initiative focused on food, drink, and entertainment venues. Breeze was also the first Carnival ship in decades not designed by longtime architect Joe Farcus. Many features from sister ships Dream and Magic are also found on Breeze.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Breeze staterooms (1,845 total) include 54 Suites, 851 Balcony, 227 Oceanview, and 713 Inside cabins, spread across 34 categories. Most staterooms are sized between 170–185 ft² / 16–17 m². Balcony sizes range from 35–45 ft² / 3–4 m². Deluxe Oceanview cabins feature two bathrooms and are marketed as family cabins, accommodating up to five guests. Cove Balcony cabins on Deck 2 are located beneath the lifeboats and offer partially enclosed verandas.

The ship also includes 368 connecting cabins (Family cabins), 79 Cloud 9 Spa staterooms, 35 wheelchair-accessible cabins, and Cove Balcony cabins. The largest accommodations are the Grand Suites (345 ft² / 32 m² plus 85 ft² / 8 m² balcony), with a maximum occupancy of four guests.

The vessel has 14 decks, 9 of which are dedicated to cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options – Food and Drinks

Carnival Breeze was the first in the fleet to introduce a stand-alone sushi venue—Bonsai Sushi. Decorated with koi kites, Bonsai trees, and graffiti-style art by Erni Vales, the restaurant serves sushi, sashimi, rolls, bento boxes, and sushi boats. Menu pricing is à la carte, ranging from $1 for appetizer-sized portions to $15 for a couple’s sushi combo.

Here is a complete list of Carnival Breeze's restaurants and food venues:

• Sapphire Restaurant (two-level forward main dining room with “Punchliner Comedy Brunch” and “Seuss At Sea” for kids)
• Blush Restaurant (two-level aft main dining room)
• Ocean Plaza (served by Plaza Cafe – patisserie)
• Bonsai Sushi Bar (Japanese cuisine)
• Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ (barbecue grill restaurant)
• RedFrog Pub (live music, ThirstyFrog Red private-label beer)
• Alchemy Bar (cocktail lounge added in 2017)
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (specialty venue with “Chef’s Table” experience)
• Guy’s Burger Joint (poolside gourmet burger bar)
• Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse (complimentary BBQ venue added in 2017)
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar (Mexican-themed pool bar)
• BlueIguana Cantina (Mexican fast-food bar)
• Lido Marketplace (buffet restaurant)
• Pizza Pirate (24-hour pizzeria)
• RedFrog Rum Bar (serves ThirstyFrog Red draft beer)
• Cucina del Capitano (Italian Trattoria)
• SeaDogs (hot dog stand)

Shipboard Entertainment Options – Fun and Sport

Carnival Breeze was the first in the fleet to introduce the multi-dimensional Thrill Theater, combining HD projection with physical effects. The ship also debuted Playlist Productions, which blend LED staging and live performances. Another first for the fleet was the Hasbro Game Show, inspired by the TV show Family Game Night and shown on The Hub network. Younger guests enjoy Camp Carnival on Deck 11.

Facilities for tweens and teens include Wii video games, dance floors, and themed lounges. Outdoor “Dive-In Movies” at the Seaside Theatre offer complimentary popcorn and blankets. For all ages, the ship has a 214-foot Twister waterslide, PowerDrencher dump bucket, three pools, and seven hot tubs. SportsSquare includes the 230-foot SkyCourse ropes course with beginner and intermediate levels.

The following official YouTube video reviews Carnival's Dream-class vessels (Breeze, Dream, Magic) in terms of onboard features and facilities.

Here is the complete list of Carnival Breeze lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues:

• Ovation Theatre (three-level show lounge for Playlist Productions and Hasbro Game Shows)
• The Library Bar and Lounge (cocktail bar)
• Conference Center
• Thrill Theatre (5D cinema)
• FunHub (Internet lounge)
• Circle C (pre-teen club lounge)
• Club O2 (teen club lounge)
• Warehouse (video arcade)
• The Fun Shops (duty-free stores)
• Cherry on Top (candy shop)
• Winner’s Luck Casino
• The Lanai (outdoor promenade with cantilevered whirlpools)
• Liquid Disco and Nightclub
• Piano Bar 88 (piano lounge)
• Limelight Lounge (live music venue)
• Camp Ocean (formerly Camp Carnival – youth program)
• Cloud 9 Spa (wellness and fitness complex)
• WaterWorks (aquatic playground with AquaPark, Twister waterslide, DrainPipe waterslide)
• SportSquare (sports zone with mini-golf, SkyCourse rope course, Sports Park Bar, and a multipurpose court)
• Jogging Track
• Seaside Theatre (outdoor movie screen)
• Serenity (adults-only retreat with Serenity Bar, two whirlpools, and sun deck)

Itineraries

Carnival Breeze began her inaugural season in Europe with a 12-night maiden voyage on June 3, 2012. She continued Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona through October 25, 2012. A 13-night Transatlantic repositioning cruise (Nov 6–21) brought the ship to Miami, her first US homeport, for year-round 6- and 8-night Caribbean cruises.

Currently, Carnival Breeze operates roundtrip itineraries from the Port of Miami, Florida, visiting popular destinations in the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean. Since December 2016, the ship has also been homeported at the Port of Galveston, Texas, sailing to ports in the Western Caribbean and the Bahamas/Florida region.

Breeze is the last of Carnival's Dream-class liners, built by Fincantieri Monfalcone, with sisterships Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic, as well as Costa Diadema. Carnival Breeze debuted on June 3, 2012 (Inaugural Cruise), operating Mediterranean itineraries before being relocated in the fall to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The ship features a large wellness complex (2,206 m²), cantilevered whirlpools, and an exterior promenade that stretches half a mile. Additional amenities include a corkscrew waterslide, the adults-only Serenity deck, Cloud 9 Spa, WaterWorks aqua park, and the Seaside Theatre. Family cabins can accommodate up to five passengers. New to the Breeze was the Bonsai Sushi restaurant—previous Carnival ships only offered complimentary sushi from mobile carts during dinner hours.

The vessel arrived in the USA for the first time on November 21, 2012, docking at PortMiami. Her maiden Caribbean voyage—an 8-day Southern Caribbean itinerary—departed on November 25. The christening ceremony was held on December 10, with godmother Tracy Wilson Mourning (born 1970), a broadcast journalist, motivational speaker, philanthropist, designer, and author. Breeze was homeported in Miami through November 2016, after which she began roundtrip cruises from Galveston, Texas. Three different itineraries were offered: Western Caribbean (Jamaica/Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, Mexico/Cozumel), Western Caribbean (Belize, Roatan, Mexico/Cozumel), and Bahamas (Nassau, Freeport, Key West, Florida).

The ship shares its name with the Windstar Cruises-operated superyacht Star Breeze, originally built in 1989 as Seabourn Spirit.

Carnival Breeze Refurbishment 2017 Review

The ship's drydock refurbishment (April 16–29, 2017, in Freeport, Bahamas) brought the following deck plan updates:

(Promenade Deck 9) Alchemy Bar was added—Carnival's "cocktail pharmacy" lounge featuring professional mixologists and custom-crafted drinks.

(Promenade Deck 5) Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, a complimentary open-air eatery on the Lanai Promenade, was introduced. Designed by Food Network’s Guy Fieri, the Smokehouse serves BBQ favorites such as pork butt, blue ribbon chicken, sliced smoked beef, smoked Andouille sausage, gourmet burgers, and a variety of traditional sides and sauces. Signature dishes include Mac Daddy Mac'n Cheese, Old Skool Potato Salad, Scratch-Made Slaw, Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey, and Molasses Baked Beans with Bacon and Burnt Ends.

Other updates included technical enhancements such as the addition of shoreside power capabilities, routine maintenance with a new hull coating, and renovations to the crew areas.