Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Dream
- Cruises
- 12
- From
- $367
Ship comparison
Carnival Dream vs Carnival Magic
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Magic
- Cruises
- 10
- From
- $320
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Dream is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,646 passengers, in service since 2009. Carnival Magic is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,690 passengers, in service since 2011.
Choose Carnival Dream if you want better-rated staterooms, more culture or a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores Carnival Magic for staterooms (8.0 vs 6.0), cultural (8.0 vs 6.0) and spa & fitness (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Carnival Magic does not lead by a clear margin on any measure we track, so pick it for its itinerary or its dates.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Dream | Carnival Magic | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2009 | 2011 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2015 | 2018 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 130,000 | 130,000 |
| Passengers | 3,646 | 3,690 |
| Crew | 1,367 | 1,367 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 35.7 (better) | 35.2 |
| Decks | 15 | 17 |
| Length | 1,004 ft | 1,004 ft |
| Beam | 122 ft | 122 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 29 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 12 | 10 |
| Upcoming sailings | 179 | 72 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 14 nights | 6 to 8 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $367 | $320 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Dream leads on 6 of the ten, Carnival Magic on 0, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Dream
Carnival Dream, the first of Carnival's Dream class ships (followed by Carnival Magic and Carnival Breeze), features two dual-level dining rooms, a gourmet steakhouse and the Lido Restaurant. It also features Ocean Plaza, which combines tasty treats with entertainment.
Highlights
- Waterslides at Carnival WaterWorks
- Carnival's house brew at RedFrog Rum Bar
- Thalassotherapy pool at the Cloud 9 Spa
Sailing now
12 cruises on sale, from $367.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Magic
At 1,004 feet, Carnival Magic continued Carnival's Dream class tradition, with food and entertainment space in the Ocean Plaza, the splashy stylings of Carnival WaterWorks and The Lanai, a convenient and scenic half-mile outdoor wraparound promenade deck.
Highlights
- Exclusive teens-only Club O2
- Waterslides at Carnival WaterWorks
- Mini golf course at SportSquare
- Relaxing in Serenity Adult-Only Retreat
Sailing now
10 cruises on sale, from $320.
Questions
Carnival Dream or Carnival Magic?
Which is bigger, Carnival Dream or Carnival Magic?
They are the same size, 130,000 gross tons each. Carnival Dream carries 3,646 passengers and Carnival Magic carries 3,690.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Dream or Carnival Magic?
Carnival Magic is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2011 against 2009 for Carnival Dream.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Dream, with 35.7 gross tons per passenger against 35.2 on Carnival Magic. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
They are level, with one crew member for every 2.7 passengers.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Dream scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 9.0 out of 10, against 8.0 for Carnival Magic.
Still deciding?
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