<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-13-023080.txt : 20130718
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-13-023080.hdr.sgml : 20130718
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130718144900
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-13-023080
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130716
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130718
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130718

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUCKELEW ALAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001280888

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09610
		FILM NUMBER:		13974701

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3655 NW 87TH AVE
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33156
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-07-16</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001280888</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUCKELEW ALAN</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 - PCL</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-07-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2758</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80118.043</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-07-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1440</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>78678.043</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On July 16, 2013, the reporting person was granted 6,896 performance-based restricted stock units (&quot;Performance RSUs&quot;). Subject to his continued employment during the performance period (with earlier partial vesting in certain cases upon eligibility for retirement, or death or disability, prior to the expiration of the performance period), the Reporting Person may earn from 0-150% of his target amount of Performance RSUs to the extent that Carnival Corporation &amp; plc's (&quot;Carnival&quot;) annual earnings before interest and taxes (&quot;EBIT&quot;), as adjusted for certain fuel price changes and Emission Control Areas related fuel expenses, for each of the three fiscal years in the 2013-2015 performance cycle exceeds specified performance goals, as modified at the end of the three year performance cycle for Carnival's total shareholder return rank relative to peers.  Because, as of the date of the grant, the Reporting Person was eligible for retirement due to his age, 2,758 Performance RSU's vested on July 16, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents a surrender of shares to satisfy the tax obligation on the vesting of the Performance RSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes shares acquired pursuant to the dividend reinvestment feature of the reporting person's brokerage account.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alan B. Buckelew</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-07-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
