Carnival Horizon

Carnival Horizon is the second of the three Vista-class ships, delivered by Fincantieri at Marghera in March 2018. She is 133,596 gross tons and carries 3,960 guests at double occupancy. The hull, the deck layout and the rides are Vista's. What explains Horizon is where Carnival spent the difference: not on new attractions, but on eating and drinking. She was the first ship in the fleet with a dedicated Guy's Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse and Brewhouse, a barbecue restaurant on the promenade with a working brewery inside it. She also introduced Dr Seuss Bookville, a themed indoor reading room on Deck 11, and she carries the Havana section aft on Deck 5, with a pool, hot tubs and bar reserved for Havana guests. Her maiden voyage left Barcelona on 2 April 2018. She crossed to New York that May, where Queen Latifah named her, and settled into Miami from September 2018. She sails from Miami still, mostly six and eight-night Caribbean runs, and moves to Galveston from 19 May 2027.
She is good at giving people somewhere to go. The SkyRide, a pedal-powered capsule on an 800-foot suspended track, costs nothing extra. The IMAX theatre is a real point of difference within the class, as Panorama traded hers for a trampoline park. The Havana Bar is the best-judged room aboard, and the Deck 5 wraparound promenade gives you a proper walk. Bonsai Sushi covers the a la carte end. Cloud 9 Spa runs over two decks with thermal suites, and the adults-only Serenity deck is the reliable sea-day escape.
The criticism is consistent. Cruise Critic's editors rate her 4 out of 5, very good, and flag inconsistent bar and poolside service, limited quiet space and cabin noise. The gym is small for nearly 4,000 guests. Sightlines in the Liquid Lounge are obstructed by pillars towards the back. She has no roller coaster or headline waterslide, which tells against her beside Carnival's Excel-class ships.
She suits families and first-timers who want a busy ship at a low fare. Carnival prices below Royal Caribbean and draws a younger, louder, more casual crowd. The trade is less polish and less quiet, not less to do. If you want the finish of an Oasis or Icon-class ship, pay for one.
For cabins, the Havana block is the real decision. The Deck 5 aft patio cabins open onto a private lanai and the Havana pool, which is restricted to twelve and over. Decks 6 to 9 hold Havana cabins with larger balconies but no patio, and they keep pool access. Inside Havana cabins backing onto the Havana Bar and Ocean Plaza take live music late. Cabins on the top passenger deck below Lido catch dragged loungers early. The aft upper decks sit under SportSquare and the SkyRide. We are still mapping her venues, and she came out of a five-week refit in mid-2026, so some spaces may have shifted.
The deck plan is the quickest way to see how the Havana block sits. Browse it before you book.