Guided by Values, United by Purpose
On board Carnival Corporation’s ships, dozens of languages may be spoken before breakfast. Crew members work side by side serving guests from around the world, while shoreside teams across continents support everything from voyage planning and technology to finance and operations. What connects it all is a shared set of values.
The company’s six values are the common ground for over 160,000 team members – ship and shore – who dedicate their talents and heart to its shared purpose: to deliver unforgettable happiness to guests by providing extraordinary cruise vacations, while honoring the integrity of every ocean it sails, place it visits and life it touches.
“The values give us a collective identity and a shared sense of purpose across every part of the company. They guide how we treat each other, how we make decisions and how we show up for our guests,” said Bettina Deynes, global chief human resources officer at Carnival Corporation. “Most importantly, they help create a culture where people feel empowered to contribute, grow and succeed together.”
Values in Action
The true measure of the company’s core values is how they are embraced by team members who put them into practice every day.
- Listen & Learn comes to life in the small and big ways team member feedback leads to a better process, a safer practice or a new way of working.
- Speak Up creates an environment where every voice matters, ideas can come from anyone and team members feel entrusted to ask questions, raise concerns and contribute new ideas.
- Respect & Protect is about looking out for each other and creating an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and safe. It also reflects a commitment to responsible operations and caring for the oceans, destinations and communities that are at the heart of the business.
- Always Improving encourages teams to be curious and willing to keep learning, growing and making a positive impact.
- Better Together celebrates the teamwork, collaboration and shared support that help move the company forward.
- Guest Obsessed keeps the focus where it should be – on delivering unforgettable happiness and extraordinary cruise vacations for the millions of guests who sail with Carnival Corporation cruise lines each year.
Together, the values help transform individual actions into a shared culture.
Measuring Culture, Not Assuming It
The best way to measure culture is by asking the people who live it every day. That’s why Carnival Corporation regularly asks team members for feedback through its annual Culture and Engagement Survey. The process is valued, as evidenced by the high participation rates – in 2025, participation grew to 81%, up from 77% the year before, showing that employees are engaged and willing to share their perspectives.
That feedback matters. Leaders use the findings to better understand employees’ experiences, celebrate what’s working and address areas that need attention. Over time, that approach – listening carefully, making changes and continuing the conversation – has helped build trust across the organization and contributed to a “Great” Employee Net Promoter Score for two consecutive years.
What It Adds Up To
From ship to shore, Carnival Corporation team members are united by a shared purpose and common set of values.
Those values shape a culture where everyone feels heard, supported and empowered to grow – and where teams collaborate across cruise lines and borders to build meaningful careers, make an impact and contribute to something bigger than themselves.
Six values. One purpose. A place where careers thrive and everyone can be part of something bigger. That’s Carnival Corporation.
