<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <P> Footnotes / references Largest cruise line in the world, based on passengers carried annually, annual revenue, and total number of ships in fleet </P> </Td> </Tr> <P> Footnotes / references Largest cruise line in the world, based on passengers carried annually, annual revenue, and total number of ships in fleet </P> <P> Carnival Cruise Line is the world's largest cruise line based in Miami, Florida in the United States . It is a subsidiary of the American - British company Carnival Corporation & PLC, one of the largest travel and tourism companies in the world . </P> <P> Originally an independent company founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc . The company has the largest fleet in the group, with 25 vessels currently in operation that account for 21.1% of the worldwide market share . Executive control of the company is provided by the North American division of Carnival Corporation, headquartered in Doral, Florida . </P>

Who owns the largest independent fleet of ships