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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Vfvks7GSfruWtqXCq1V/GmKt6bsj52osl5iZrsDdwGm/U9XnpweOZvwqp0KgAedm
 i9nFovVmz/n/ewZEb49JJw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-08-011907.txt : 20081230
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-08-011907.hdr.sgml : 20081230
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081230145430
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-08-011907
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081224
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081230
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081230

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KRUSE STEIN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001270033

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09610
		FILM NUMBER:		081275528

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
		STREET 2:		300 ELLIOTT AVE WEST
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98119

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARNIVAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000815097
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER TRANSPORTATION [4400]
		IRS NUMBER:				591562976
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3655 N W 87TH AVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1347
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33178-2428
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3055992600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3655 N W 87TH AVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1347
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33178

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000815097</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARNIVAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001270033</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KRUSE STEIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CARNIVAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3655 NW 87TH AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33178</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO, HAL</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-24</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35601</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>72514.1793</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock made pursuant to the Carnival Corporation 2002 Stock Plan. The restriction on the shares lapse on the third anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The grant date is December 19, 2008. The grant was approved by the Compensation Committee on December 19, 2008 as a total value to be received in the form of restricted shares. The Compensation Committee also approved that the number of shares was to be determined by taking the higher of the average closing price of the period from December 12-17, 2008 and the period from December 19-24, 2008. The final price to determine the number of shares was established on December 24, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes shares acquired pursuant to purchase under, or the dividend reinvestment feature of, the Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc Employee Stock Purchase Plans.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stein Kruse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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