Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most successful cruise line in the world, carrying more passengers than any other.

But "Today's Carnival" is a vastly different company than the one started from humble beginnings more than three decades ago. Carnival was launched with a converted transatlantic ocean liner and a dream of entrepreneur Ted Arison, a pioneer in the modern-day cruise industry who set out to realize his vision of making a vacation experience once reserved for the very rich accessible to the average person.

The rest, as they say, is history. Here is the history of the famed Carnival Cruise Line:

1972 - Maiden voyage of Carnival's first ship, the TSS Mardi Gras

1975 - Carnival purchases the Empress of Britain, she enters service as the TSS Carnivale

1978 - The Festivale, formerly the S.A. Vaal, undergoes a $30 million refurbishment. The Festivale begins its service for Carnival as the largest and fastest vessel sailing from Miami to the Caribbean (the ship has since been retired from the fleet).

1982 - The debut of the Tropicale, the first new cruise ship the cruise industry has seen in many years; the Tropicale marks the beginning of an industry-wide multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding boom (the ship has since been retired from the fleet).

1984 - Carnival becomes the first cruise line to advertise on network television with the premiere of a new advertising campaign starring company spokesperson Kathie Lee Gifford.

1985 - Debut of the 46,052-ton Holiday

1986 - Launch of the 47,262-ton Jubilee (the ship has since been retired from the fleet)

1987 - The 47,262-ton Celebration enters service

- Carnival earns distinction as "Most Popular Cruise Line in the World," carrying more passengers than any other cruise line

- Carnival Cruise Lines undertakes its initial public offering on Wall Street, raising approximately $400 million to fuel future expansion; The entity later becomes Carnival Corporation & plc, a multi-line worldwide cruise conglomerate.

1990 - The 70,367-ton Fantasy - the first and namesake vessel in the highly successful "Fantasy-class" enters service as first new ship ever placed on three- and four-day Bahamas cruise program from Miami. Eventually, Carnival would construct eight "Fantasy-class" vessels, the most cruise ships in a single class.

1991 - Launch of 70,367-ton Ecstasy

1993 - Carnival introduces its third 70,367-ton SuperLiner, Sensation

1994 - Debut of 70,367-ton Fascination

- Carnival's parent company renamed Carnival Corporation to distinguish between it and its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Lines. Company is later renamed Carnival Corp. & plc following the combination with P&O Princess Cruises, creating the world's largest cruise vacation group by far.

1995 - 70,367-ton Imagination enters service

1996 - Carnival's launches sixth "Fantasy-class" vessel, the SuperLiner Inspiration

- Carnival debuts the first passenger vessel to exceed 100,000 tons, the 101,353-ton Carnival Destiny, at the time the world's largest cruise ship.

1998 - Carnival Cruise Lines introduces seventh "Fantasy-class" vessel, the Elation, the first new cruise ship deployed on the West Coast.

- The eighth and last in the "Fantasy-class" series, the Paradise, enters service.

1999 - Debut of the 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph, Carnival's second "Destiny-class" vessel

2000 - A third "Destiny-class" vessel, the 102,000-ton Carnival Victory, is launched.

2001 - Carnival introduces a new class of vessel with the launch of the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit, the first new "Fun Ship" ever positioned in the Alaska and Hawaii markets.

2002 - A second "Spirit-class" vessel, the Carnival Pride, is launched

- Carnival's third "Spirit-class" ship, Carnival Legend, enters service

- Debut of the 110,000-ton Carnival Conquest, the largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed.

2003 - Second 110,000-ton "Conquest-class" ship, the Carnival Glory, begins year-round seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida.

2004 - Carnival Miracle, the fourth in Carnival's "Spirit-class", begins a series of 12 voyages from Jacksonville, Florida - the first "Fun Ship" sailings from that port.

- A third 110,000-ton "Conquest-class" ship, the Carnival Valor, begins year-round seven-day service from Miami, becoming the largest "Fun Ship" ever based at that port.

2005 - A fourth 110,000-ton "Conquest-class" vessel, Carnival Liberty, debuts operating Carnival's first-ever Mediterranean cruises.

2007 - Carnival Freedom, the line's fifth 110,000-ton vessel, is scheduled to enter service in February 2007.

2008 - The 112,000-ton Carnival Splendor is slated to debut in spring 2008.

2009 - An as-yet-unnamed 130,000-ton vessel - to be the largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed - is scheduled to enter service in fall 2009.