September 5, 2026
8-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Departing from Miami
From
$533
Price / day
$67
Carnival Magic|Carnival Horizon
Carnival Magic vs Carnival Horizon
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
VS
Newer Ship
Carnival Horizon
Built in 2018
7 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Magic
$68 / day
$27 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Carnival Magic
35.2 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Carnival Magic vs Carnival Horizon: Quick Comparison
Carnival Horizon is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2018, it is 7 years newer than Carnival Magic, which entered service in 2011. Carnival Horizon is approximately 3% larger by gross tonnage at 133,500 GT. Carnival Horizon also carries 270 more passengers. Carnival Magic has upcoming sailings in Eastern Caribbean, while Carnival Horizon has sailings in Western Caribbean and Southern Caribbean. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Carnival Magic has the lower average starting price per day. 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 Magic | Carnival Horizon |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2011 | 2018Newer |
| Gross Tonnage | 130,000 GT | 133,500 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 3,690 | 3,960 |
| Space per Passenger | 35.2 GT | 33.7 GT |
| Length | 306 m | 321.5 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Carnival Magic vs Carnival Horizon
Age
Carnival Horizon was built in 2018, making it 7 years newer than Carnival Magic, which was built in 2011.
Size
At 133,500 GT, Carnival Horizon is approximately 3% larger by gross tonnage than Carnival Magic at 130,000 GT.
Passenger capacity
Carnival Horizon carries up to 3,960 passengers compared with 3,690 aboard Carnival Magic, a difference of 270 passengers.
Passenger space
Carnival Magic offers more space per passenger: 35.2 GT per guest, compared with 33.7 aboard Carnival Horizon. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Carnival Magic (Eastern Caribbean) and Carnival Horizon (Western Caribbean and Southern Caribbean) currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Magic has the lower average starting price per day at $68 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Carnival Magic
8-Day Eastern Caribbean from Miami, FL
- Departure Port
- Miami
- Region
- Eastern Caribbean
- Nights
- 8
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 5, 2026Miami
- Day 2 · Sep 6, 2026Princess Cays
- Day 3 · Sep 7, 2026At Sea
- Day 4 · Sep 8, 2026San Juan
- Day 5 · Sep 9, 2026St. Maarten
- Day 6 · Sep 10, 2026St Thomas
- Day 7 · Sep 11, 2026At Sea
- Day 8 · Sep 12, 2026At Sea
- Day 9 · Sep 13, 2026Miami
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Carnival Horizon
6-Day Western Caribbean from Miami, FL
- Departure Port
- Miami
- Region
- Western Caribbean
- Nights
- 6
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 6, 2026Miami
- Day 2 · Sep 7, 2026Celebration Key™
- Day 3 · Sep 8, 2026At Sea
- Day 4 · Sep 9, 2026Montego Bay
- Day 5 · Sep 10, 2026Grand Cayman
- Day 6 · Sep 11, 2026At Sea
- Day 7 · Sep 12, 2026Miami
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Carnival Magic
September 13, 2026
6-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Departing from Miami
From
$414
Price / day
$69
Carnival Horizon
September 6, 2026
6-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Departing from Miami
From
$559
Price / day
$93
September 12, 2026
8-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise
Departing from Miami
From
$767
Price / day
$96
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Carnival Magic
Average
$68 / day
VS
Carnival Horizon
Average
$95 / day
Carnival Magic has the lower price per day among the sailings shown
$68/day vs $95/day
About $27 less per day
This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown and may not represent like-for-like itineraries.
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose Carnival Magic if…
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- You want to sail in Eastern Caribbean.
- Departing from Miami works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Carnival Horizon.
Choose Carnival Horizon 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 want to sail in Western Caribbean and Southern Caribbean.
- Departing from Miami works for your plans.
Carnival Magic vs Carnival Horizon: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Carnival Horizon
Built in 2018
7 years newer
Bigger
Carnival Horizon
133,500 GT
3% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Magic
$68 / day
About $27 less per day
- Carnival Horizon is 7 years newer.
- Carnival Horizon is 3% larger by gross tonnage.
- Carnival Horizon carries 270 more passengers.
- Carnival Magic offers more space per passenger (35.2 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Carnival Magic or Carnival Horizon?
Carnival Horizon is newer. It was built in 2018, while Carnival Magic was built in 2011, making Carnival Horizon 7 years newer.
Which is bigger, Carnival Magic or Carnival Horizon?
Carnival Horizon is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 133,500 GT compared with Carnival Magic at 130,000 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Carnival Horizon has a passenger capacity of approximately 3,960, compared with 3,690 for Carnival Magic.
Which ship is more spacious, Carnival Magic or Carnival Horizon?
Carnival Magic has the higher passenger space ratio at 35.2 GT per passenger, versus 33.7 for Carnival Horizon. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Carnival Magic or Carnival Horizon?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Magic has the lower average starting price per day at $68 per day versus $95 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Carnival Magic sail?
The upcoming Carnival Magic sailings currently listed cover Eastern Caribbean, departing from Miami.
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