October 9, 2026
8-Night Mediterranean Cruise
Departing from Barcelona
From
$804
Price / day
$101
Carnival Freedom|Carnival Splendor
Carnival Freedom vs Carnival Splendor
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
VS
Newer Ship
Carnival Splendor
Built in 2008
1 year newer
Lower Price Per Day
Both ships are the same
More Spacious Ship
Carnival Splendor
37.6 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Carnival Freedom vs Carnival Splendor: Quick Comparison
Carnival Splendor is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2008, it is 1 year newer than Carnival Freedom, which entered service in 2007. Carnival Splendor is approximately 3% larger by gross tonnage at 113,300 GT. Carnival Splendor also carries 32 more passengers. Carnival Freedom has upcoming sailings in Mediterranean and Transatlantic. The sailings shown cover different itineraries, so the price per day figures are not a like-for-like comparison. Cruise fares vary significantly by itinerary, departure date and cabin availability, so any price difference should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent gap.
Ship Comparison
| Spec | Carnival Freedom | Carnival Splendor |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2007 | 2008Newer |
| Gross Tonnage | 110,000 GT | 113,300 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 2,980 | 3,012 |
| Space per Passenger | 36.9 GT | 37.6 GT |
| Length | 290.2 m | 290.2 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Carnival Freedom vs Carnival Splendor
Age
Carnival Splendor was built in 2008, making it 1 year newer than Carnival Freedom, which was built in 2007.
Size
At 113,300 GT, Carnival Splendor is approximately 3% larger by gross tonnage than Carnival Freedom at 110,000 GT.
Passenger capacity
Carnival Splendor carries up to 3,012 passengers compared with 2,980 aboard Carnival Freedom, a difference of 32 passengers.
Passenger space
Carnival Splendor offers more space per passenger: 37.6 GT per guest, compared with 36.9 aboard Carnival Freedom. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Carnival Freedom (Mediterranean and Transatlantic) and Carnival Splendor currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Compare Ports of Call
Carnival Freedom
8-Day Mediterranean from Barcelona, Spain
- Departure Port
- Barcelona
- Region
- Mediterranean
- Nights
- 8
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Oct 9, 2026Barcelona
- Day 2 · Oct 10, 2026Marseille
- Day 3 · Oct 11, 2026Livorno
- Day 4 · Oct 12, 2026Civitavecchia
- Day 5 · Oct 13, 2026Naples
- Day 6 · Oct 14, 2026At Sea
- Day 7 · Oct 15, 2026Malta
- Day 8 · Oct 16, 2026At Sea
- Day 9 · Oct 17, 2026Barcelona
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Carnival Freedom
October 17, 2026
13-Night Transatlantic Cruise
Departing from Barcelona
From
$662
Price / day
$51
Carnival Splendor
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Carnival Freedom
Average
$76 / day
VS
Carnival Splendor
Average
$0 / day
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose Carnival Freedom if…
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Mediterranean and Transatlantic.
- Departing from Barcelona works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Carnival Splendor.
Choose Carnival Splendor if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
Carnival Freedom vs Carnival Splendor: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Carnival Splendor
Built in 2008
1 year newer
Bigger
Carnival Splendor
113,300 GT
3% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Both ships are the same
- Carnival Splendor is 1 year newer.
- Carnival Splendor is 3% larger by gross tonnage.
- Carnival Splendor carries 32 more passengers.
- Carnival Splendor offers more space per passenger (37.6 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Carnival Freedom or Carnival Splendor?
Carnival Splendor is newer. It was built in 2008, while Carnival Freedom was built in 2007, making Carnival Splendor 1 year newer.
Which is bigger, Carnival Freedom or Carnival Splendor?
Carnival Splendor is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 113,300 GT compared with Carnival Freedom at 110,000 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Carnival Splendor has a passenger capacity of approximately 3,012, compared with 2,980 for Carnival Freedom.
Which ship is more spacious, Carnival Freedom or Carnival Splendor?
Carnival Splendor has the higher passenger space ratio at 37.6 GT per passenger, versus 36.9 for Carnival Freedom. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Where does Carnival Freedom sail?
The upcoming Carnival Freedom sailings currently listed cover Mediterranean and Transatlantic, departing from Barcelona.
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