Who Owned the Big Red Boat Cruise Ship?

By Michael Ferguson

The Big Red Boat Cruise Ship was once the most luxurious cruise ship in the world. It was owned by Carnival Cruise Lines, a company founded by Ted Arison in 1972. The ship was originally named the Mardi Gras and entered service in 1972 as the world’s first “superliner” cruise ship.

The Big Red Boat featured a wealth of amenities and activities, including an outdoor pool, multiple restaurants, bars and lounges, a casino, a showroom with live entertainment, a spa and fitness center, and even a miniature golf course. With its bright red hull and white superstructure, it became an iconic symbol of the cruise industry.

At the time of its launch, the Big Red Boat was considered to be one of the most technologically advanced ships ever built. It had seven decks and measured nearly 1,000 feet long with a maximum capacity of 2,800 passengers. Its cabins were spacious and comfortable, with some featuring private balconies overlooking the ocean.

The Big Red Boat made its maiden voyage from Miami to Nassau in June 1972. During its two decades of service for Carnival Cruise Lines it sailed to many popular destinations around the Caribbean Sea including ports in Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Barbados.

The Big Red Boat was eventually retired from service in 1993 due to changing consumer preferences for smaller ships with more modern amenities. After being sold to another company it changed hands several times before being scrapped at an Indian shipyard in 2005.

Carnival Cruise Lines continued on to become one of the world’s largest cruise lines today but has yet to build another ship that can match the size or grandeur of The Big Red Boat Cruise Ship that it once owned.

Conclusion: Carnival Cruise Lines owned The Big Red Boat Cruise Ship from 1972 until 1993 when it was retired from service due to changing consumer preferences for smaller ships with more modern amenities.