In 1981 Carnival launched their first newbuilding, the modern Tropicale. The triplets Holiday, Celebration and Jubilee followed beginning in 1985.

These "first generation" ships were about 46,000 gross tons (a measure of cubic area inside the ship). By comparison, 2008's Carnival Splendor is 110,000 gross tons, and Queen Mary 2 is 150,000.