sunshine carnival cruise boat

Carnival Sunshine cruise ship review: What it’s like to cruise on Carnival’s oldest ship

TPG's Kristy Tolley accepted a free trip from Carnival Cruise Line to cruise on Carnival Sunshine. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren't subject to review by the line.

Sometimes it's hard to beat an oldie but a goodie, and that's certainly the case with Carnival Sunshine.

Carnival's oldest ship and part of the line's Sunshine Class of reimagined vessels, Carnival Sunshine has the "Fun Ship 2.0" upgrades that bring it in line with newer Carnival ships. Modern amenities and an unpretentious environment dovetail nicely aboard Sunshine, and the updated restaurants, bars and public spaces make you feel like you're on a modern cruise ship.

Sure, you'll spot signs of wear and tear befitting an older ship, but the dings in my cabin furnishings were easy to overlook.

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I'm not the only one who appreciates this made-over ship. On my second sailing on Sunshine, a four-night Bahamas cruise out of Charleston, I found myself surrounded by a diverse group, though most passengers hailed from South Carolina. My shipmates included lots of families, couples traveling together and multigenerational reunion groups.

The common denominator among passengers was that everyone was ready to celebrate something. On embarkation day, I saw an almost endless sea of matching shirts announcing milestone birthdays, bachelorette parties and other special events. The overall vibe — which continued throughout the cruise — was energetic and festive, and most people didn't take themselves too seriously. It was clear from the moment we stepped on the ship that if you didn't have a fun time, it was entirely your fault.

Carnival Sunshine is a great home base for a celebratory vacation (or any kind of getaway, really) that doesn't break the bank, especially if you live within driving distance of one of its departure ports. Some four-night sailings start as low as $374 per person (based on double occupancy) for a four-night getaway. You'd be hard-pressed to spend less with a hotel stay of the same length — not to mention the extra cost of food you don't have to worry about with a cruise.

Even if you don't have a milestone event to celebrate, Carnival Sunshine provides such a perfect backdrop for your fun that your vacation will feel like a celebration.

Overview of Carnival Sunshine

The 102,853-ton Carnival Sunshine is 12 decks high and carries 3,002 passengers at double occupancy in 1,501 cabins.

Launched in 1996 as Carnival Destiny, the ship received an overhaul and a new name in 2013. The glow-up brought added attractions and venues found on newer Carnival vessels. These upgrades included a complete renovation of Sunshine's pool area and the addition of a full-blown water park, a SportSquare area on the top deck, and an adults-only Serenity outdoor lounge area complete with daybeds, padded loungers, a hot tub and a full bar.

Carnival Sunshine also acquired new food and beverage venues like the line's signature steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555; its signature Italian eatery, Cucina Del Capitano; and an express Bonsai Sushi. The line also added 182 cabins, bumping its capacity at double occupancy from 2,642 to 3,002 passengers, a 14% increase.

At nearly 103,000 tons, Sunshine Class ships are more than 40% smaller than Carnival's newest ships, such as Carnival Celebration. That said, Carnival Sunshine still offers a solid list of onboard diversions, from a multi-slide water park to a theater showing original musical productions.

The ship's age is starting to show, with a few nicks and marks here and there and visible rust spots on the exterior. The need for a fresh coat of paint was more prominent when we were docked beside two newer Royal Caribbean ships in Nassau — so much so that the comedian referenced it in his show that night. It didn't detract from our cruise, but those seeking a new shiny ship should look elsewhere.

Carnival Sunshine has been based in Charleston, South Carolina, since 2019, but 2024 will be the last year the ship will depart from the Holy City. It's moving a bit farther up the East Coast to Norfolk, Virginia, beginning in February 2025.

What I loved about Carnival Sunshine

The festive atmosphere

Carnival wears its "fun ship" moniker well. The line's focus on having a great time is infused in every aspect of your cruise experience, and guests are an extension of that ethos. Every passenger I encountered was friendly and ready to participate in all the activities the Fun Squad had planned.

Karaoke was hugely popular during our cruise. There was always a line of people ready to perform, and the Ocean Plaza area where it took place was teeming with crowds cheering them on. Audience members would often get up and dance to the music or sing along.

Loads of people consistently came out for music trivia at the Sunshine Bar in the Atrium, too. It's hard not to have a good time when your enthusiastic cruise director stands on top of the bar and encourages everyone to join in.

From Noel, our amenable room steward, to Nicole and Tatiana, our capable Alchemy Bar mixologists, every staff member we interacted with was genuine, friendly and cheerful. We weren't their only fans. One passenger even had a T-shirt made featuring a photo of Nicole and Tatiana.

Although Carnival reduced cabin cleaning service to just once a day from twice a day in 2022, our room steward was always close by and checking in on us. Our cabin was well-kept and clean, and we had fresh towels when we needed them.

The crew's flexibility and impressive level of service really stood out on this sailing. For example, we went through a storm during our cruise, and rough seas altered the Welcome Aboard production on the first night. Instead of a musical and dance show, the two onboard comedians performed a short bit of their routine. At least 200 people came out for the show, and the audience was enthusiastic and supportive.

Similarly, since rough seas canceled the tech rehearsal, the "Epic Rock" production on the second night became an "unplugged" version with performers singing from stools on stage. While not ideal, it was another example of the flexibility and upbeat attitude of Carnival staff. Even without a full-on performance, the quality of vocal talent was undeniable.

Perhaps the most moving example of staff personalizing an experience for guests was during the military appreciation event, which is held every Carnival sailing and hosted by the cruise director. Traditionally, a recording of "Taps" is played during a moment of silence. Our cruise director, James, is also a trumpet player, so he plays "Taps" live for the ceremony.

I've sailed with Carnival on several occasions, and the food has always been great. Carnival Sunshine was no exception. I was able to sample most included and added-fee restaurants — including Asian favorites at JiJi's and Bonsai Sushi, and the poolside Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina (more below on each of these).

Carnival Sunshine offers a nice variety of cuisine, so all palates will be satisfied. You could enjoy a spicy chickpea curry dish or jambalaya, freshly prepared artisan deli sandwiches and wraps, or load up on salad fixings and fresh fruit.

The main dining room menu featured fresh seafood, varied pasta dishes (spaghetti carbonara, linguini with Italian sausage), steak and tempting desserts (the creme brulee and Carnival melting chocolate cake are a must).

The only downside is it can be challenging to hit every dining venue you want during a four-night cruise!

What I didn't love about Carnival Sunshine

Smoke in the casino.

Smoking can be a divisive issue on cruise ships, and it's banned nearly everywhere on board. However, it's permitted in the casino, which would be fine if I didn't have to pass through the casino to get to certain parts of the ship. But there was no way to avoid the smoky areas if I needed to get to the Liquid Lounge theater from the Ocean Plaza. I can only imagine how problematic that could be for those who are allergic to smoke.

That said, the casino was always buzzing and consistently teemed with passengers who either weren't bothered by the smoke or were willing to put up with it for a good game of blackjack.

Limited electrical outlets in cabins

If you've sailed on a newer Carnival ship with ample outlets and USB ports in your cabin, you might be surprised by the lack of them on Sunshine. Updating the number of electrical outlets and adding USB ports to the cabins was not part of the 2013 renovation.

The desk area had only two U.S.-style 110V plugs and a European-style 220V plug. The nightstands flanking the bed did not include outlets. If you need more outlets, plan to pack a power strip (just not one with a surge protector, as they're banned on ships ).

Carnival Sunshine cabins and suites

Our cabin was an aft (back of the ship) balcony cabin on Deck 5. I'd never stayed in an aft cabin, so I looked forward to having uninterrupted ocean views over the ship's wake. I particularly enjoyed our view as we plied through rough waters during a storm. It was a fantastic reminder of the strength and endurance of cruise ships.

Another perk of an aft cabin was the size of the balcony — a bit larger than regular balconies in other Carnival cabins I've stayed in. Traditional balconies have room for two chairs and a small table. Our aft balcony fit an additional lounger. As mentioned earlier, the ship shows signs of wear and tear, which was evident on our balcony. It desperately needed a good scrub to get rid of the dark spots and paint drippings.

I had heard that noise could be an issue for those staying in aft cabins. We were above the main dining room, and we could sometimes hear the music from the dinner entertainment. However, we never heard it after hours. Honestly, I didn't notice any more ship noise than on previous sailings in other cabins.

Also, other than the night of the storm, I didn't encounter any extensive rocking or shifting that was out of the ordinary for a cruise ship.

Overall, I was pleased with the cabin. It was basic, with neutral walls and blue patterned carpeting. No cutting-edge designs here, but I wouldn't expect that from an older ship. The bed was cozy, the pillows were soft, the room temperature remained comfortable, and I had ample storage for a long weekend's worth of clothing.

The wear and tear was also noticeable inside the room, including a few wall dings and a couple of nicks in the wood furnishings. Also, one of the hangers seemed to have been repaired with duct tape.

My room had two twin beds pushed together into a queen-size bed that was flanked by bedside lamps and two one-drawer, one-shelf nightstands. The living area had a long sofa that could transform into a bed or the bottom half of bunk beds. In place of a traditional shorter coffee table, there was a taller wooden table that could double as a makeshift working desk.

A large desk/vanity with a lighted mirror and flat-screen TV was on the opposite wall. It housed four drawers (one containing a small hair dryer for in-cabin use), a minifridge, and a cabinet with a small safe. Three side-by-side closets were positioned to the right of the desk.

Our cabin's TV was installed on the wall to the left of the desk mirror. Unfortunately, the wall came out a bit to the left of the TV, which made it impossible to swivel the TV to the left and view it from the bed. The TV wasn't interactive like most are on newer ships. It had about 10 channels of news, movies and children's programming, and several Carnival-sponsored channels.

The bathroom was small but adequate. There were two shelves on both sides of the mirror for toiletry storage and a decent amount of counter space for such a small area. The shower included pump dispensers for shampoo and body wash, as well as a retractable clothesline for drying swimwear.

There were ample towel racks and three hooks on the back of the door. The bathroom was stocked with bath and hand towels, washcloths and a bar of soap.

Most of the accommodations on Carnival Sunshine fall into one of three categories: windowless inside cabins, ocean-view cabins with a window that doesn't open and balcony cabins. Carnival Sunshine offers more than 200 connecting rooms, ideal for large families or groups traveling together who like to stay close.

Spa lovers can stay in one of the 92 Cloud 9 Spa cabins and three spa suites with direct access to the spa. They also score exclusive spa packages and discounts, unlimited use of the Thermal Suite, a free body composition analysis and upgraded Elemis toiletries in their cabin.

If you want to splurge and book a suite on Carnival Sunshine, you have 58 options across four categories — Ocean Suites (45), Grand Suites (8), Captain's Suites (2) and the aforementioned Cloud 9 Spa Suites (3). Ocean Suites are akin to junior suites, expanded versions of balcony cabins.

The suites come with varied perks, which can include priority check-in and boarding, as well as priority disembarkation on the final morning of your trip.

Carnival Sunshine restaurants and bars

Carnival Sunshine offers a bevy of restaurant and bar choices. It offers a good mix of included-in-your-fare and extra-fee options, and overall, I enjoyed all my meals on board. If you want to try one of the ship's specialty restaurants, make reservations as soon as possible, as they tend to book up quickly.

Restaurants

Carnival Sunshine has two main dining rooms — Sunrise Dining Room (decks 3 and 4) and Sunset Dining Room (Deck 3). You can choose fixed-time, assigned table seating at 5:30 p.m. (early dining) or 7:45 p.m. (late dining). If you know you want to eat at either of those designated times, you should reserve when you book, as they fill up fast.

We opted for Your Time Dining, so we could dine any time between 5:15 and 9 p.m. When we were ready for dinner, we checked in through Carnival's mobile app and received an alert when our table was ready. From check-in to being seated, we only had about a 10-minute wait on both evenings. All Your Time Dining folks dine in the Sunrise Dining Room.

We enjoyed both main dining room meals, which included prime rib, lobster tail, New York strip and pan-seared barramundi. I especially enjoyed the beet and petite greens salad with a citrus dressing. Of course, when on a Carnival ship, you must try the line's signature melting chocolate cake, which I did, and it was perfection.

Don't miss the Seaday Brunch, with top-notch eggs Benedict, French toast, made-to-order omelets, brunch burgers and bloody marys. I splurged on a fresh pressed juice ($5) with pineapple, ginger, lime, dates and turmeric. It was fantastic. The main dining room is also open for breakfast on port days.

Guy's Burger Joint is a walk-up counter restaurant at the back of the pool area on the Lido Deck. My husband is a huge Guy's Burger fan, so that is always our first meal on embarkation day. Judging from the lines, the majority of Sunshine cruisers had the same idea. Lines moved pretty quickly, though. Even my special-order veggie burger took under five minutes to make (though it was my least favorite dish on the ship).

My husband ordered the "Straight Up" burger with all the fixings, and it was almost on par with others he's eaten on previous cruises.

His take: "This was the 'least good' Guy's burger I've had, and it was still delicious." His second Guy's burger on our third day of the cruise was even tastier.

Also on the Lido Deck, BlueIguana Cantina serves freshly made burritos, tacos and bowls. It's one of my favorite casual dining spots, and I would put the veggie burrito up against Chipotle any day of the week.

The Lido Marketplace is the ship's popular buffet restaurant, offering a variety of culinary options from early morning through late night. Breakfast offerings included scrambled or boiled eggs, beans, potatoes, varied pastries, fresh fruit, and hot or cold cereal. There were also two omelet stations in the Havana Bar area, located just off the Lido Marketplace. (The Havana Bar serves craft Cuban-style daiquiris, mojitos and Cuban coffee drinks.)

Lunch consisted of made-to-order deli sandwiches and pizza, as well as international dishes, hot sides and a salad station.

Carnival Sunshine features five added-fee restaurants — JiJi Asian Kitchen, Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Cucina del Capitano and the Chef's Table — for cruisers looking for a special meal. Hot tip: If you pre-book your specialty dinner for the first night of your cruise, you'll score a free bottle of wine. You can choose between a chardonnay and merlot, and can either drink it with your meal or enjoy it in your cabin later. It's a nice way to kick off the cruise.

We booked a table at Jiji's for our first evening on board. The pan-Asian menu features dishes from Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, China and Mongolia served family style. I ordered the shrimp dumplings, sweet and sour shrimp, and the Chinese broccoli. My husband had the chicken rolls and the peppered beef. We closed out our dinner with the rose creme brulee with ginger cream and caramelized crepes served with citrus ice cream.

Every dish was delicious. The pacing of our meal was perfect, and we didn't feel rushed through the courses. Service was attentive without being intrusive. The cost is $24 (per person) for adults and $6 (per person) for kids aged 11 and under — a great price for a fantastic meal.

Open for lunch and dinner, the Bonsai Sushi outpost on Sunshine is smaller than those on newer ships. With reasonably priced items like $5 and $7 rolls, and $2 for soup or salad, it's easy to curb your sushi craving on the cheap.

Other specialty dining options include the line's signature Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse (one of TPG's favorite cruise ship specialty restaurants ) and La Cucina del Capitano for an authentic family-style Italian meal. During lunch, La Cucina del Capitano offers a free pasta bar. Passengers can also book the Chef's Table experience, an intimate multicourse meal hosted by the executive chef.

A fun meal for families is the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast ($10 per adult and $8 per child aged 14 and under). Held in the main dining room, it kicks off with the lively Seuss-a-palooza Parade led by The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2. You get to nosh on "green eggs and ham," pancakes, French toast, "Moose Juice" and other whimsical dishes inspired by Seuss' books. The characters stick around for meet-and-greets and photo ops.

After boarding, we checked out the RedFrog Pub on Deck 5. It was far enough away from embarkation day chaos but busy enough for entertaining people-watching. The bar was out of fresh mint, so I couldn't sample the Ving Mojito, so I sipped a tasty margarita instead.

A fun component of this bar is the screens above the bar that carousel through photos the bartenders have taken of RedFrog Pub patrons. The Pub didn't seem to be the hub for activities as I've seen on other vessels, probably because karaoke, live music and trivia games were held just outside the door in the Ocean Plaza.

The Alchemy Bar is a cocktail bar designed to resemble an apothecary, offering "elixirs" and "remedies." It's one of the venues I look forward to the most when cruising with Carnival.

Full disclosure: I've been smitten with this watering hole since I tasted my first Cucumber Sunrise aboard Carnival Conquest in 2013. Maybe it's because it was my first foray into herbal-based craft cocktails or because the bartenders are consistently fun and engaging. Either way, few things can beat a refreshing, restorative basil drop served by some of the best bartenders in the cruising industry.

Want to try something off the menu? No problem. After determining my preferred spirits and flavors, the bartenders always come up with something fantastic. I'm a gin and lavender fan, and our bartender, Tatiana, created an amazing cocktail with gin, lavender, St. Germain, elderflower and lime juice.

The Alchemy Bar on Carnival Sunshine is situated just off the popular Ocean Plaza area, the place to be for trivia games, karaoke and live music.

The Havana Bar is the place to head for top-notch mojitos. The small buffet area by the bar often features Latin-inspired bites like empanadas and Cuban sandwiches. Since it's located just beyond the main pool on Deck 9 and beside the Lido Marketplace buffet area, I found it to be an ideal spot to retreat to when buffet area seating was limited.

Poolside RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar were both a hub of activity most days. And if you're lounging by the pool, you can expect servers to come by often and take drink orders. Other popular spots for some spirits include the Serenity Bar by the adults-only sun deck, SkyBox Sports Bar (where multiple TVs behind the bar broadcast various games), the Piano Bar (with nightly singalongs), the Atrium Bar and the Sunshine Casino.

We also visited the Piano Bar twice during our short cruise. The pianist/singer was top-notch and had a great rapport with the guests. The only thing that tainted our experience was that both times we visited, a family with younger kids monopolized the show with requests. The Carnival website lists the Piano Bar as a 21-plus venue, but no one challenged the family.

Carnival Sunshine activities

When the weather cooperated, most passengers gravitated to the upper decks for fun in the sun and water. In addition to the one main pool and two hot tubs on Deck 9, Sunshine is home to Carnival's WaterWorks water park with waterslides and a kiddie splash zone. A bevy of diversions at the nearby SportSquare included a ropes course, minigolf, ping-pong and foosball.

The ship's quieter adults-only Serenity Deck area was midship on decks 11 and 12 and overlooked the main pool area. Passengers 21-plus could take advantage of a plunge pool with a waterfall, a hot tub, a bar, and loungers and cabanas.

Energetic cruisers who can't veg in the sun all day can find limitless activities indoors to occupy their sea days. Free events included trivia games, Bingo, spa pampering parties, karaoke, and ice carving or towel animal folding demonstrations. For-fee activities like Build-A-Bear Workshop and $5,000 Jackpot Bingo also drew a crowd.

Shopping opportunities were decent. You have the Fun Shops for Carnival-branded items, souvenirs, jewelry, liquor and fragrances. For a sugary splurge, Cherry On Top sells an extensive selection of sweet treats.

The Sunshine Casino on Deck 5 midship was popular with passengers on my sailing. Every time I walked through, it was buzzing with activity (although, as previously mentioned, I didn't spend a lot of time there). The venue is a maze of slot machines, with a collection of poker tables, a craps table, two roulette tables and several blackjack tables. Throughout our cruise, the casino hosted organized poker tournaments, raffles and other ways to test Lady Luck.

Karaoke events were held in the Ocean Plaza area in between the Alchemy Bar and RedFrog Pub. The openness of the space provided optimum participation from passengers and performers, so a lively crowd was always on hand to sing along.

Families can take advantage of included-in-your-fare childcare in Carnival's Camp Ocean facilities on 10. The youngest cruisers can participate in supervised activities, divided into age-based groups: Penguins (2 to 5 years), Stingrays (6 to 8 years) and Sharks (9 to 11 years).

The designated areas for each age group were spacious and offered plenty of seating. Though they had separate entrances, the spaces were close enough that pick-up and drop-off would be easy for families with kids checked into different areas.

Tweens and teens have their own hangouts and activity schedules. Circle C is for cruisers ages 12 to 14, with events like dance parties, outdoor movies and group games. The Circle C space had a futuristic vibe with metal walls and a minimalist design.

Club O2 is for the 15-to-17 set and offers a chance for older teens to hang out together, play sports and games, and interact during group activities. The modern atmosphere extended to Club 02 with a bold red and black pattern on the floor, sleek red chairs and metal accents.

During this sailing, many families seemed to hang out together during the day — spending time at the pool, watching karaoke and participating in other activities.

Carnival's Cloud 9 Spa on Deck 10 is the place to go for vacation pampering. Various treatments and therapies are available — from deep tissue and stone massages to acupuncture and other traditional Chinese techniques. Additionally, the spa offers hair and nail services, facials and medispa treatments.

You can also buy Thermal Suite passes for a day or the entire length of your cruise. You'll have access to the heated tile loungers, rain showers, an aroma steam room and a sauna.

The fitness center was well stocked with just about every piece of equipment you need to keep your workout routine while you cruise. It's free to use, but you can pay extra for instructor-led classes like Pilates, yoga or indoor cycling. If you like fresh air with your morning walk or run, head to the top deck and hit the jogging track.

Unlike newer Carnival ships with a full promenade that provides access to restaurants and bars, Sunshine has the more traditional promenade with shuffleboard and some outdoor seating. Come for a walk or take in the sunset.

Carnival Sunshine shows

We sailed through a storm for a couple of days, and both the "Welcome Aboard Show" and the Playlist Productions "Epic Rock" show were altered because of it. Instead of a full-on production, we got two short sets from each comedian (for the welcome show) and performers singing from stools on stage ("Epic Rock").

It was a bummer to miss a "true" Carnival production. I've cruised with Carnival several times, and I'm always impressed with the caliber of talent. The shows are one of my favorite parts of cruising with Carnival. I've enjoyed Latin-themed performances ("Amor Cubano"), British music tributes ("The Brits") and an art-infused journey through music and dance ("Color My World").

We took in a comedy show at the Punchliner Comedy Club (in the Limelight Lounge on Deck 4) and enjoyed it. I'm a hard nut to crack, and the comedian got me laughing out loud more than once. My husband guffawed throughout the set. Each sailing typically includes a family-friendly "PG" show at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The 18-plus shows take place at 8:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Most cruises have one or two comedians on board.

Carnival Sunshine itineraries and pricing

Throughout 2024, Carnival Sunshine will sail year-round four-, five-, six- and eight-night Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean voyages from Charleston. Depending on the itinerary, stops might include Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan and the cruise line's private island, Half Moon Cay.

At the time of publication, prices started from $374 per person for a four-night Bahamas sailing in an inside cabin (excluding taxes and fees).

As previously mentioned, beginning in 2025, the vessel will move to its new home port of Norfolk, Virginia. From there, it will offer six-night Bahamas and Bermuda sailings, as well as eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

At press time, prices started at $519 per person for an inside cabin on a six-night Bahamas cruise (excluding taxes and fees).

What to know before you go

Required documents.

If you're a U.S. citizen on a cruise that begins and ends in a U.S. port, you must have a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification to sail. A passport card is also acceptable.

Your passport must be valid for at least six more months.

Important note: The name on your reservation must be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. We recommend you check Carnival's website before you sail for the most recent updates on requirements.

Carnival adds an automatic service gratuity of $14.50 to $16.50 per person, per day to final bills, depending on the cabin category. Children under the age of 2 are exempt.

You can adjust the amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking if you are not satisfied with the service you received. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and the cover charge of the Chef's Table.

Over the last couple of years, Carnival has rolled out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet, so you can now stream video on some ships. Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Carnival Sunshine was recently priced at $18.70 per person, per day.

Other packages available for a Sunshine sailing include the less expensive "social" plan that only allows access to key social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and messaging services such as WhatsApp for $12.75 a day. A slightly more expensive "value" plan, at $17 per day, adds access to email and most websites. If you pay for a plan prior to sailing, you'll receive a discount.

Carry-on drinks policy

You can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (per person) onto the ship at boarding, as well as up to a dozen standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas.

Nonalcoholic drinks in glass or plastic bottles are not allowed. If you want to bring the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink, you'll incur a $15 corkage fee. Drinks brought on board must be carried in your carry-on luggage.

Smoking policy

On Carnival Sunshine, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in the casino. Smoking is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies.

While cigarette smoking is allowed in the casino, according to Carnival's website, you must be seated and playing to smoke in the casino. Smoking is permitted in designated areas on Deck 3 (port side, forward) and Deck 10 (starboard side, midship).

Self-service launderettes are on decks 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (midship) on Carnival Sunshine. Each launderette has washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3.25-per-load charge to use a washer or dryer. The laundrettes also have vending machines stocked with small boxes of detergent and fabric softener at $1.50 per box.

You can also opt for extra-charge valet laundry and dry-cleaning service, which your cabin steward will handle for you. Expect to pay per piece, with prices running from $2 (for an undergarment or pair of socks) to $15 (for a two-piece suit).

Electrical outlets

As mentioned previously, Carnival Sunshine cabins have both standard North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets. Bring a power strip if you need more than that.

The currency used on Carnival Sunshine is the U.S. dollar. However, the ship operates on a "cashless system," so any onboard purchases you make will automatically post to your onboard account. You'll receive a Sail & Sign card that you can use to make charges. This same card also gets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

Passengers must be 21 to drink alcohol on Carnival Sunshine.

There is no specific dress code during the day on Sunshine, so people dress casually. Beach attire is the norm for sea days, and if you plan to spend your day on the top deck, plan to dress in T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside).

Although there's an official dress code for the evenings, it's pretty laid-back. Most nights are designated "cruise casual," which includes khakis or jeans, polo shirts and sundresses. Super casual clothing like cutoff jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts aren't permitted.

Depending on the length of your cruise, one or two nights of the itinerary will include a "cruise elegant" night where the suggested attire for men is dress slacks and a dress shirt; sports coats and suits are optional. The suggested attire for women on such nights is cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses. If you don't want to dress up, you can choose a more casual dinner venue, but dress code enforcement in Carnival dining rooms tends to be lax.

Bottom line

Whether you're looking for an affordable Caribbean cruise for the whole family or want to escape with your besties, Carnival Sunshine is a solid bet if having a fun time is a priority.

It's not a shiny, new vessel, so don't expect flawless cabins and the latest attractions. What you can expect, though, is to have nonstop fun thanks to a variety of diversions and an enthusiastic group of like-minded shipmates.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• CruiseMapper
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Carnival Sunshine

Former name: carnival destiny.

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

• Charleston SC (South Carolina)
• Norfolk VA (Virginia)

Carnival Sunshine current position

Carnival Sunshine current location is at US East Coast (coordinates 32.78082 N / -79.92335 W) cruising en route to USCHS>FRE. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Sunshine current cruise is 8 days, round-trip Eastern Caribbean . Prices start from USD 2219 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 13 Apr, 2024 and ends on 21 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Sunshine

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Carnival Sunshine Itineraries

Carnival sunshine review, review of carnival sunshine.

The 1996-built/2013-reconstructed Carnival Sunshine cruise ship was initially named "Carnival Destiny". After a major refurbishment in 2013 (USD155 million drydock), the vessel was renamed Sunshine. As class, Carnival Sunshine was the first of three Destiny-class Carnival ships - together with Victory-Radiance and Triumph-Sunrise . Today, the liner belongs to the unique Sunshine-class.

The vessel (IMO number 9070058) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 308017000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian ). 

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

The 3000-passenger ship Carnival Sunshine is not a Dream-class ship but contains almost all the elements found on Breeze and Magic: high-energy, low-commitment activities, including 20-min standup comedies, 30-min production shows; sushi, burgers, burritos. For the first time, the Fun Ship 2.0 blueprint was laid down on Carnival Magic (in 2011), followed by Carnival Breeze (in June 2012). Next photo shows the old Carnival Destiny ship.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Sunshine staterooms (1501 total) include 53 Suites, 518 Balcony, 320 Oceanview and 624 Inside cabins, in all 34 grades. Most staterooms are sized 185 ft2 / 17 m2, cabin balconies are sized 35-85 ft2 / 4-8 m2. "Family" staterooms (connecting cabins) are with max capacity 5 passengers. The largest are the Captain's Suites (500 ft2 / 46 m2 plus 150 ft2 / 14 m2 terrace) with max occupancy 5 passengers. Sunshine also has 89 Cloud 9 Spa cabins and 32 wheelchair-accessible cabins.

The boat has 13 decks , of which 11 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Sunshine offers many of the Fun Ship 2.0 additions in terms of dining - Guy's Burger Joint, Cucina del Capitano, BlueIguana Cantina. The line made a few adjustments to the existing venues and also added the Asian restaurant Ji Ji. There are two Main Dining Rooms onboard the Sunshine: Sunset, at the midship, and double-deck Sunrise located aft. The complimentary Punchliner Comedy Brunch, which is a sea day exclusive, features 5-minute teasers every hour on the hour from 9 am to 1:30 pm.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Sunshine restaurants and food bars.

• Sunset Restaurant (forward Main Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings, or “Your Time Dining”)
• Sunrise Restaurant (aft Main Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings; offers themed breakfasts - “Seuss At Sea”, for $5 cover charge; hosts Punchliner Comedy Brunch).
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (alternative, reservations only restaurant, serving prime steaks and seafood at a surcharge; also hosts “Chef’s Table” VIP dining, $75 PP surcharge)
• Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ (offers pork sandwiches, complimentary lunch barbecue)
• Guy’s Burger Joint (fast food bar)
• BlueIguana Cantina (Mexican complimentary restaurant; offers house-made tortillas, burritos, tacos)
• Lido Marketplace buffet restaurant (complimentary self-service restaurant with various food stations; operates as a bistro in the evenings).
• Cucina del Capitano (Italian reservations-only restaurant; offers a la carte dinner at a surcharge and complimentary lunch)
• SeaDogs (complimentary beef hotdogs stand)
• Ji Ji Asian Kitchen (serves Chinese food, Mongolian Wok)
• Bonsai Sushi Bar (complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Carnival made a heavy investment in lights and sound for its shows on Carnival Breeze and has taken a step further on Sunshine. An ultra-HD graphics package is beamed onto a vast screen and the performers use it as a backdrop of their show. A number of themed shows take place in ship's Liquid Lounge, which doubles as the 800-seat main Theater. Because the room was initially designed as a theater with two stories, it's impossible to feature an intimate atmosphere.

The Sunshine ship offers a complete list of activities and entertainment for each age group and taste - from ballroom scene dancing, classical music concerts, tea time and art auctions to a hairy chest and knobby knees contests, bingo, and karaoke.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Sunshine lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Sunshine Atrium (9-deck high midship open area served by Lobby Bar)
• FunHub (24-hour Internet computers room)
• Liquid Lounge and Theater (800-seat, 2-level main show lounge)
• Ocean Plaza (entertainment area; features live music and trivia)
• The Library Bar; Piano 88 Bar; EA Sports Bar; ShakeSpot; Java Blue Cafe; The Taste Bar; Alchemy Bar; Havana Bar
• RedFrog Pub (English pub with live music; offers international beers selection and the private label Thirstyfrog/RedFrog beer)
• RedFrog Rum Bar (serves Caribbean rums selection and ThirstyFrog Red drought beer)
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar (offers Mexican beer, margaritas, drink specialties)
• Limelight Lounge (hosts Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch)
• Pixels Photo Gallery and Shop; Dreams Photo Studio; Cherry On Top (candy shop, offers the Fun Shops catalog, “Bon Voyage” store menu, souvenirs, watches, jewelry, logo merchandise, duty-free liquor, fashion boutiques)
• Circle C (kids' complimentary club lounge with movies, video games, parties, planned activities)
• 24-hour Warehouse Video Games Arcade; Club O2 teens' lounge for movies, karaoke, parties
• Sunshine Casino (served by Sunshine Casino Bar)
• Seaside Theatre (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Serenity (adults only relaxation area with Serenity Pool, Serenity Bar, Spa Whirlpool, cascading waterfall, loungers, and hammocks)
• Beach Pool area (with two Whirlpools); Carnival WaterWorks Aqua Park (with 5 slides; 1 Whirlpool, SplashZone for kids)
• Camp Carnival (kids' club lounge with a complimentary programme and play area)
• Cloud 9 Spa and Fitness complex (with Gym, Fitness Studio, Sauna, Steam Room, Thermal Suites, Beauty Salon, 15 Treatment Rooms; offers ZSpa teenagers program)
• SportSquare (Basketball/Volleyball Court, Jogging Track, Tennis Tables, 9-hole Mini Golf Course, Shuffleboard).

Itineraries

Carnival Sunshine itinerary program is based on Western and Eastern Caribbean roundtrip cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida. Feature port destinations include Bahamas (with Nassau and line’s private island Half Moon Cay ), Puerto Rico, Saint Thomas USVI , Grand Turk , Roatan , Belize , Mexico ( Costa Maya and Cozumel ). In 2016, the ship started itineraries to Bermuda - 7-day from NYC New York and 5-day from Norfolk Virginia .

Starting May 2019, the ship's new itinerary program offers 4- (to Nassau) and 5-day (Nassau and Half Moon Cay) short Bahamas cruises leaving roundtrip from a new homeport ( Charleston SC ) on a year-round schedule. The maiden voyage was scheduled for May 18 (2019). Carnival's South Carolina annual cruise shipping volume is approx 220,000 passengers. In Charleston, Carnival Sunshine will replace Carnival Ecstasy (to be relocated to Jacksonville Florida ), while the Jacksonville-homeported Carnival Elation will be repositioned to Port Canaveral FL .

In Dec 2022 CCL announced that between February 2025 and April 2025 Sunshine will be homeported in Norfolk VA. Bookings were opened for the following 4 roundtrip/ex-Norfolk itineraries:

• (6-day Bahamas) to North Bimini-Nassau-Freeport, and to Nassau-Half Moon Cay-Freeport
• (8-day Eastern Caribbean) to Amber Cove Dominicana-Grand Turk-Princess Cays Bahamas, and to Half Moon Cay-Grand Turk-Amber Cove

Carnival Sunshine - user reviews and comments

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Carnival Sunshine Wiki

Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade was done in 2013. Sunshine is one of Carnival's "old new" liners, representing a truly grandiose ship transformation project. The old Carnival Destiny ship (1996-buit by Fincantieri Monfalcone ) was extensively (and expensively) drydock refitted and refurbished in Europe ( Trieste Italy ) at the astonishing cost of USD 155 million. The vessel was transformed into a brand new Carnival "Fun Ship 2.0" in 2013 under the sunny and shiny name "Carnival Sunshine". Carnival Destiny had as sisters the CCL ships Triumph (Sunrise since 2019) and Victory (Radiance since 2020) , and also Costa Fortuna and Costa Magica .

Carnival Sunshine (Monfalcone shipyard/hull number 5941) is powered by Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 8ZAV40S and 8ZAL40) generating total power output 63,36 MW.

The Sunshine ship's interior design was done by Partner Design ( Hamburg -based company). Destiny ship's interior design was by Joe Francus. The new ship now features modern amenities, new venues, more dining options, new onboard entertainment program (3 new grand show productions).

As a Destiny-class liner, Carnival Destiny was the world's first cruise ship with GT/weight over 100,000 tons. Carnival Destiny's Inaugural Cruise started on November 24, 1996. Sunshine's Inaugural Cruise started on April 12, 2013 (14-day Mediterranean Venice - Barcelona ).

Carnival Destiny's list of chartered/ themed voyages includes the first-ever "311 Caribbean Cruise" (March 2011), the first-ever "Kiss Kruise" (October 2011) and the first-ever "Weezer Cruise" (January 2012).

Carnival Destiny-Sunshine refurbishment 2013 conversion review

The most extensively-expensive of all (ever) was the Carnival Destiny's drydock refit/transformation. At the staggering cost of USD 155 million, this really extreme makeover produced a brand new Carnival ship in 2013! After its last dry-dock ever (a 49-day refurbishment), the Destiny ship emerged as Carnival Sunshine. This amazing cruise ship transformation was made in the Fincantieri shipyard (Monfalcone, Italy) adding a new partial deck and 2 other decks (in the front section). As a result of the Carnival Destiny renovation, 182 new cabins were added (including 96 spa cabins), all of the ship's other cabins were also refurbished (with a new tropical decor). The list of all major changes includes:

• (new) Ji Ji Asian Kitchen (casual restaurant), also were added “Fat Jimmy’s BBQ”, “Cucina del Capitano”, “Fahrenheit 555 SSteakhouse”, “JavaBlue Cafe”, “Shake Spot”, “Guy’s Burger Joint”, “BlueIguana Cantina”/Mexican, “Seaday Brunch”, “The Comfort Kitchen”/Lido, “Havana Bar”/Lido, “Sunshine Bar”, “Alchemy Bar”, “RedFrog Pub”, “Cherry On Top”, “Punchliner”, “Hasbro”
• "The Comfort Kitchen" (in the Lido Marketplace)
• "Havana Bar" (Lido Marketplace) with floor-ceiling windows
• "Sunshine Bar" (Atrium)
• a new cigar club (Casino Bar)
• CCL fleet's first 3-deck-high Serenity Retreat (adults-only deck) with the Carnival Cloud 9 Spa package .
• "SportSquare" (an open-air complex with Ropes Course, Mini-Golf Course, half-size Sports Court/basketball-volleyball-tennis.

During drydock 2018 (October 14-21, in Freeport Bahamas ) were made regularly planned maintenance works.

Drydock 2016 was in the period March 8-20.

In 2021 (October-November) Carnival Sunshine was drydocked at Navantia Shipyard ( Cadiz Spain ), mainly for general maintenance (technical and routine) works and also repainting (received CCL's new livery).

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Carnival Sunshine Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Sunshine

Activities & entertainment

• Art Auction *
• Cloud 9 Fitness Center
• Cloud 9 Salon *
• Cloud 9 Spa *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• Sunshine Casino *
• Lip Sync Battle
• Evening Kids Programs *
• Fitness Classes *
• Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast *
• Groove For St Jude *
• Whirlpools (3)
• Ice Carving Demonstrations
• Photo Portraits *
• Seuss_A_Palooza Parade and Storytime
• Retail Shops *
• Spa Parties *
• SportSquare
• The Warehouse Video Arcade *
• Thermal Suites *
• White Party
• Wine Tasting *
• Waterslides (2)
• Circle C _ Tweens Club
• Camp Ocean _ Kids Club
• Club O2 _ Teens Club
• Serenity _ Adults_Only
• Carnival Seaside Theater
• Comedy Shows
• Limelight Lounge
• Liquid Lounge
• Live Nightly Music
• Outdoor Movies
• Sunrise Dining Room - Main
• Sunset Dining Room - Main
• JiJi Asian Kitchen - Asian *
• Cherry On Top - Candies *
• Sunshine Casino Bar - Casino Bar *
• Lido Marketplace - Buffet
• JavaBlue Cafe - Coffee & Pastries *
• Havana Bar - Cuban-Themed Bar *
• Guys Burger Joint - Pool Grill
• Cucina del Capitano - Italian *
• Bonsai Sushi - Sushi *
• Taste Bar - Light Bites
• Alchemy Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• BlueIguana Cantina - Mexican
• Shake Spot - Milkshakes *
• Piano Bar 88 - Piano Bar *
• RedFrog Rum Bar - Pool Bar *
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Pub - Pub *
• The Library Bar - Quiet Bar *
• SkyBox Sports Bar - Sports Bar *
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Room Service *
• Excellent 50
• Very Good 41
• Terrible 17
• All languages ( 154 )
• English ( 153 )
• Slovak ( 1 )

Upcoming itineraries

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Carnival Sunshine

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About Carnival Sunshine

The 102,853-ton, 3,006-guest Carnival Sunshine, formerly the Carnival Destiny, was transformed after a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2013 and now offers a myriad of updated features and a variety of Fun Ship 2.0 innovations. Bring the kids and folks along for the cruise you have been dreaming about because this fun-filled ship boasts a variety of offerings to please all age groups.

Family-friendly amenities include four pools (one with a retractable roof), seven hot tubs that are the perfect stress-buster and a 214-foot, three-deck-high twister waterslide, complete with a fun drenching bucket. Watch the latest movies on the gigantic outdoor video screen from the tiered decks of the Lido Deck, enjoy a full range of relaxing treatments at the spa and work out on the many machines at the fitness center while taking in the ocean views. Lining the bustling Promenade Deck are almost 20 water holes, including a wine, sports and piano bar. Chill-out at the lounges with your favorite cocktail and even enjoy a cigar at one.

Plush chaise lounges and chairs, a pool, a whirlpool and a relaxing waterfall add to the serenity of the three-deck-high adults-only area. While you are enjoying this delightful retreat, kids will be having their own fun with lots of age-specific supervised youth activities at the huge 1,300-square-foot indoor/outdoor children's play area, with its own pool. A video arcade is a popular spot and teens also have their own club with a dance floor and soft-drink bar. Active cruisers will find plenty to do at the ship's open-air recreation complex, boasting a ropes course, mini-golf, a basketball court, pool tables, foosball, a jogging track and more.

Carnival Sunshine boasts a pair of two-level main dining rooms with menus boasting a fabulous assortment of favorites that you can enjoy along with ocean views from the large windows. Sophisticated palates that expect both quality and variety won't be disappointed. Casual venues include a two-story indoor/outdoor buffet restaurant with a host of delicious offerings, from handcrafted burgers and fries at a poolside eatery to Asian dishes and deli-style fare. Family-style Italian dining is offered, as well as mouthwatering Mexican cuisine, a sushi bar, a café with a different coffees and 24/7 pizza and soft yogurt. Decadent handcrafted shakes will delight kids and adults alike.

Spacious accommodations are featured on Carnival Sunshine, with most of the outside cabins also featuring balconies and sitting areas. Feel right at home on the line's acclaimed ultra-comfy mattresses. Spa staterooms provide private access to the spa and more, plus have relaxing spa-related amenities. All staterooms have a TV and offer 24/7 room service.

Enjoy nightly entertainment that includes lots of laughter at the comedy club, dancing at the disco, sing-alongs at the piano bar, a movie at the theater and exciting production shows. Play your favorite game, from roulette to blackjack and slots and more at the casino.

Experience a delightful cruise on the Carnival Sunshine for the fun vacation you deserve.

Carnival Sunshine cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, plus other destinations.

Captain's Suite

This is the best room you can get… without bunking up with the guy himself. A Captain’s Suite aboard Carnival Sunshine features tons of indoor space, and a huge balcony when you need a little more. Back inside you’ll find a king-size bed, two full bathrooms (one with whirlpool tub), plus a separate living room that sleeps another three. And VIP check-in? Naturally.

Grand Suite

A Grand Suite aboard Carnival Sunshine features even more space than the standard suite — plenty of room in your room! This stateroom is loaded for an unparalleled experience: VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity.

Ocean Suite

A Carnival Sunshine suite is the ultimate way to cruise. With more space for stretching out indoors, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors, try an Ocean Suite to experience private, luxurious relaxation. Ocean Suites also include VIP check-in, walk-in closet and bathroom with whirlpool tub.

Cloud 9 Spa Suite

A Cloud 9 Spa Suite is the ultimate in both stateroom and spa accommodations. There's room for you and your things — with a large room and balcony — and a walk-in closet. The soothing in-room whirlpool tub will help you stay relaxed after your relaxing spa treatment. And like all suites, a Cloud 9 Spa Suite features VIP check-in, which lets you easily get right up to your amazing stateroom.

Premium Vista Balcony

Premium Vista Balcony staterooms were designed to wrap around the aft corners of Carnival Sunshine, giving you a unique vantage point from which to enjoy luxuriously panoramic views of the sky and the sea — and yes, take in even more of that sunshine.

Premium Balcony

Step into a Premium Balcony stateroom aboard Carnival Sunshine and it’s easy to see exactly what you’re getting: one seriously spacious stateroom. It’s about more than just the room itself, you’ll find… step onto your oversized balcony and you’ll find that when there’s a sea breeze in your hair, there’s no limit to the relaxation you can have.

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you're looking to cruise aboard Carnival Sunshine. Any time you're in your room, you're just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space… not to even mention some of the best stern-side views you'll find anywhere. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon Carnival Sunshine's gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Scenic Grand Oceanview

Your Scenic Ocean View stateroom aboard Carnival Sunshine provides the best view of the sea that lies ahead of the ship, with views unlike any on land. And you’ll get more of them, too, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of looking-glass for gazing at the natural wonders of the sea… and let’s not forget sunrise and sunset.

Scenic Oceanview

A picture window gives you views of scenery you won’t find anywhere on land, all from the comfort of your stateroom. Dedicated stateroom attendant, Soft, cozy linens, Plenty of closet and drawer space, In-room safe for valuables, Television Stateroom climate control.

Cloud 9 Spa Interior

We've taken the warm essence of our Cloud 9 Spa and infused it into your room, plus you’ll get exclusive spa perks for maximum relaxation.Dedicated stateroom attendant, Soft, cozy linens, Plenty of closet and drawer space, In-room safe for valuables, Television, Stateroom climate control.

Interior with Picture Window (walkway view)

Your picture window gives you a view beyond your stateroom, to the observation deck outside, including a great sky view. (Note: view will be partially obstructed.)

This is an affordable way to cruise without leaving out the comfort or convenience! Great for curling up after a long day of fun.Dedicated stateroom attendant, Soft, cozy linens, Plenty of closet and drawer space, In-room safe for valuables, Television, Stateroom climate control.

A pair of round windows in your room give you the classic seafarer’s view times two, a view of the ocean without breaking the budget.Dedicated stateroom attendant, Soft, cozy linens, Plenty of closet and drawer space, In-room safe for valuables Television, Stateroom climate control.

Interior Upper/Lower

These staterooms are great for a pair of cruisers on a budget, creatively maximizing space with a different layout — featuring one Twin bed, and either an upper Pullman or sofa bed.

View Deck Plan

Deck: 9 Lido

Looking for a little taste from the old neighborhood? Pile 'em high at the Carnival Deli. Enjoy old time favorites like a hot pastrami on rye, grilled Reuben, or roasted turkey breast on a country roll. Our sandwiches and wraps are always hand-carved and served fresh with cole slaw or relish. Come by, satisfy your craving for a great sandwich and make sure you don’t forget the kosher dill.

Blue Iguana Cantina

Nobody knows Mexican dining like a blue iguana. Well, our blue iguana, at least. That’s why it should come as no surprise that the BlueIguana Cantina features freshly made tacos and burritos stuffed specially for your enjoyment. Throw our homemade tortillas and salsa into the mix, and you have a casual dining experience that will make you say “mmmm” (which is actually Iguanese for “more, please”). Nobody knows Mexican dining like a blue iguana. Well, our blue iguana, at least. That’s why it should come as no surprise that the BlueIguana Cantina features freshly made tacos and burritos stuffed specially for your enjoyment. Throw our homemade tortillas and salsa into the mix, and you have a casual dining experience that will make you say “mmmm” (which is actually Iguanese for “more, please”).

Bonsai sushi

Deck: 4 Mezzanine

So maybe you’ve had sushi on a cruise before, but you’ve never had it like Bonsai Sushi, our onboard seafood-and-soy-sauce spot. Dine amidst expertly-pruned bonsai trees while enjoying sit-down service and an affordable menu of delectable sushi and sashimi… plus rolls, soups, sides, sakes and desserts. So the next time you’re taking an onboard stroll, stop at Bonsai Sushi for a little something satisfying. So maybe you’ve had sushi on a cruise before, but you’ve never had it like Bonsai Sushi, our onboard seafood-and-soy-sauce spot. Dine amidst expertly-pruned bonsai trees while enjoying sit-down service and an affordable menu of delectable sushi and sashimi… plus rolls, soups, sides, sakes and desserts. So the next time you’re taking an onboard stroll, stop at Bonsai Sushi for a little something satisfying.

Pizzeria del capitano

On Carnival ships, the captain tends to be kind of a big deal — almost a celebrity. On a few select ships, they’ve even got their own pizza kitchen. The best part? Pizzeria del Capitano is open to everyone, 24 hours a day! And since our captains tend to be Italian, you know the quality of the ingredients truly pass muster. (Sorry, nautical pun.) Hand-tossed dough, made from imported Italian flour, plus fresh mozzarella form a solid base, and a choice of toppings put the finishing touches on this piping hot, fresh-from-the-oven mealtime — or anytime — classic. (Also, try our caesar salad — buono, capisce?) On Carnival ships, the captain tends to be kind of a big deal — almost a celebrity. On a few select ships, they’ve even got their own pizza kitchen. The best part? Pizzeria del Capitano is open to everyone, 24 hours a day! And since our captains tend to be Italian, you know the quality of the ingredients truly pass muster. (Sorry, nautical pun.) Hand-tossed dough, made from imported Italian flour, plus fresh mozzarella form a solid base, and a choice of toppings put the finishing touches on this piping hot, fresh-from-the-oven mealtime — or anytime — classic. (Also, try our caesar salad — buono, capisce?)

Deck: 5 Promenade

Shake Spot.

Sunset Dining Room

Deck: 3 Lobby

Sunset Dining Room.

Sunrise Dining Room

Decks: 4 Mezzanine 3 Lobby

Sunrise Dining Room.

Cucina del Capitano

The iconic red and white checkered tablecloth in your neighborhood Italian trattoria means you’re in for a certain kind of dining experience. At a table such as this, who’s gathered around is just as important as what’s being served, and we see these as the two halves of the experience at Cucina del Capitano. Atop our tablecloth you’ll enjoy courses of dishes — antipasti, entrées, pasta and desserts — inspired by our Italian captains’ and officers’ childhoods.

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.

Guy's Burger Joint

We went looking for someone to help us grill up the best burgers at sea, and we found just the guy. Carnival has teamed up with best-selling author, restaurateur and Food Network personality Guy Fieri to bring all the authentic appeal of a roadside burger shack to Guy’s Burger Joint, the cool poolside spot for hot burgers and hand-cut fries. Try a fresh-off-the-grill burger Guy’s way, or take it off-road to our toppings bar and truly make it your own. We went looking for someone to help us grill up the best burgers at sea, and we found just the guy. Carnival has teamed up with best-selling author, restaurateur and Food Network personality Guy Fieri to bring all the authentic appeal of a roadside burger shack to Guy’s Burger Joint, the cool poolside spot for hot burgers and hand-cut fries. Try a fresh-off-the-grill burger Guy’s way, or take it off-road to our toppings bar and truly make it your own.

Javablue café

Maybe you take your coffee straight-up, or perhaps you prefer your pick-me-up with an upgrade. From the simply caffeinated to the simply sublime, nothing satisfies your coffee craving like JavaBlue Café, featuring fun twists on the hot and cold drinks you enjoy. While the coffee is the main event here, there’s more to JavaBlue — enjoy the baked treats we like to call “comfort snacks”… which you’ll call “delicious!” Maybe you take your coffee straight-up, or perhaps you prefer your pick-me-up with an upgrade. From the simply caffeinated to the simply sublime, nothing satisfies your coffee craving like JavaBlue Café, featuring fun twists on the hot and cold drinks you enjoy. While the coffee is the main event here, there’s more to JavaBlue — enjoy the baked treats we like to call “comfort snacks”… which you’ll call “delicious!”

Ji Ji Asian kitchen

A modern dining spot inspired by a society that measures its history in millennia, JiJi Asian Kitchen serves up enticing dishes in a thoughtfully-designed space that’s ripe for experiencing not only good food, but good fortune… and perhaps a surprise or two. You’ll enjoy your meal among Asian prayer rolls and Mongolian-inspired fabrics that infuse northern-country style into this unique culinary experience. JiJi offers a full-service menu featuring a mix of exotic and familiar dishes designed to challenge and delight your senses. A modern dining spot inspired by a society that measures its history in millennia, JiJi Asian Kitchen serves up enticing dishes in a thoughtfully-designed space that’s ripe for experiencing not only good food, but good fortune… and perhaps a surprise or two. You’ll enjoy your meal among Asian prayer rolls and Mongolian-inspired fabrics that infuse northern-country style into this unique culinary experience. JiJi offers a full-service menu featuring a mix of exotic and familiar dishes designed to challenge and delight your senses.

Lido Marketplace

eaturing an amazing variety of casual dining spots, each just a few flip-flopped steps from the last, Lido Marketplace always has a special something ready to satisfy your latest craving spectacularly. Here we do it with dozens of what-to-eat options... great choices like BBQ, a deli counter, salad bar, an Asian station and a pasta bar... plus one spot where the chef serves up a different surprise daily! At Lido Marketplace, there’s tons of indoor and outdoor seating made for gathering around, so you can enjoy your personal faves in your favorite company for lunch or dinner, or even breakfast! Lido’s also where you can find soft serve, frozen yogurt and fresh pizza... which so far seems to be enough to satisfy everybody.

Carnival Adventures

The Warehouse Arcade

If you love to play video games, you’re in luck. Our video arcade boasts a huge array of games, and is open to players of all ages, all night and all day. So get some tokens from the vending machine and let the fun times begin. Challenge your friends to a game, or just see if you can beat the top score. After all, with the video arcade open 24 hours and an entire cruise ahead of you, you’ll have plenty of time to try.

Sunshine Casino Bar

Sunshine Casino Bar.

Internet Cafe

Internet Cafe.

No magic spells are required to enjoy a cocktail creation at Alchemy Bar, our unique vintage-themed cocktail "pharmacy" — all you need is a willingness to be surprised, to try something new. We’ve flipped through dusty old texts to uncover enticing combinations: select spirits, fresh juices, infused syrups, spices… and other tantalizing secrets performed before your very eyes by the true mix-masters: our bartenders. Choose a remedy from the menu, or let us prescribe you a custom elixir just for you, with or without alcohol

Carnival Seaside Theater

Deck: 10 Spa & WaterWorks

Carnival Seaside Theater.

Deck: 11 Serenity & SportsSquare

Deck: 14 Serenity

Carnival's Seaside Theater

Night time isn't the only time to see stars on your cruise. Day or night, find a spot on deck and check out the huge poolside screen — it's Carnival Seaside Theater™! Hit movies, live sporting events, concerts and even cartoons for the kids are just some of what you'll find featured at this large-scale outdoor entertainment zone. Grab a copy of the FunTimes and check the day's listings... then grab a friend or three and get ready to kick back and enjoy. Night time isn't the only time to see stars on your cruise. Day or night, find a spot on deck and check out the huge poolside screen — it's Carnival Seaside Theater™! Hit movies, live sporting events, concerts and even cartoons for the kids are just some of what you'll find featured at this large-scale outdoor entertainment zone. Grab a copy of the FunTimes and check the day's listings... then grab a friend or three and get ready to kick back and enjoy.

Sunshine Casino

Sunshine Casino.

Dance floor

Dance floor.

Decks: 9 Lido 11 Serenity & SportsSquare

Beach Pool.

Decks: 11 Serenity & SportsSquare 12 14 Serenity

Waterworks.

Cherry On Top

A cruise is the perfect time to treat yourself to something sweet, and Cherry On Top™ happens to be the perfect place. You'll find this well-stocked candy-and-more-store not only great for enjoying some of your confectionery favorites, but the place to pick up food and apparel gifts for that special someone, even if — admit it — that someone happens to be you!

The Fun Shops

The Fun Shops.

Photo studio

Photo studio.

Pixels gallery

Even if you don’t “know” much about art, of course you can still tell when you like something — who needs a refined palette to know when a piece is good? Carnival leaves snobbish cultural pretensions ashore, and makes art something that everyone can enjoy with a series of events designed to bring great art where it belongs — to the people. Take part in an art-themed battle of the sexes or check out showcases highlighting the best of, say, European artists or world-famous pop artist Peter Max. You can’t get any closer to great art… without buying it. Even if you don’t “know” much about art, of course you can still tell when you like something — who needs a refined palette to know when a piece is good? Carnival leaves snobbish cultural pretensions ashore, and makes art something that everyone can enjoy with a series of events designed to bring great art where it belongs — to the people. Take part in an art-themed battle of the sexes or check out showcases highlighting the best of, say, European artists or world-famous pop artist Peter Max. You can’t get any closer to great art… without buying it.

Welcome to the ultimate hot spot for guests ages 12 to 14. And with all this fun happening, they’ll be LOLing in no time.

You can’t live with them. We can’t live without them. This is Club O2, the just-for-teens hangout on board Carnival.

Cloud 9 fitness center

We have some bad news for you — your ship has a gym. In other words, there’s no excuse for leaving your fitness routine back on land. That’s great news, however, for your body, which will definitely benefit from all the extra energy that vacationing pumps directly into you. And let’s not forget the extra time you’ll have, since you won’t be waking up and spending most of the day at the office or anything like that. If those were some of your go-to excuses, we’re sorry, but we all know this is important. Why not treat yourself to some of our fitness classes — you might even have a little fun while you do something great for yourself!

Cloud 9 salon

A trip to the salon is an opportunity to relax, to chat with others, to focus on yourself. It’s about more than just getting your hair or nails done… but it’s definitely about getting your hair or nails done! Even though you’re on vacation, you won’t have to settle for anything less than the salon style you’re used to back on land. And these good looks go beyond the usual — we even offer services like teeth whitening… great for taking those ‘I’m on vacation and I’m looking great!’ smiles to the next level. A trip to the salon is an opportunity to relax, to chat with others, to focus on yourself. It’s about more than just getting your hair or nails done… but it’s definitely about getting your hair or nails done! Even though you’re on vacation, you won’t have to settle for anything less than the salon style you’re used to back on land. And these good looks go beyond the usual — we even offer services like teeth whitening… great for taking those ‘I’m on vacation and I’m looking great!’ smiles to the next level.

Cloud 9 Spa

Decks: 10 Spa & WaterWorks 14 Serenity

This is where you're going to want to be for the ultimate in relaxing onboard. Hot stone massage, facial and a mani & pedi — you deserve it.

Fitness studio

Fitness studio.

Thermal suites

To be the king or queen of the thermostat — doesn't it feel great? While bending the elements to your will, finding that perfect temperature for relaxation is awesome… even better is not needing to. Carnival's Cloud 9 Spa thermal suites are dedicated relaxation zones with a variety of available environments, each carefully developed by our master climate artists. Whether you prefer to lounge in the dry heat of the Laconium or Tepidarium, or like a little soothing moisture in the air (in which case try the Oriental or Aroma steambaths), prepare to experience temperature nirvana. To be the king or queen of the thermostat — doesn't it feel great? While bending the elements to your will, finding that perfect temperature for relaxation is awesome… even better is not needing to. Carnival's Cloud 9 Spa thermal suites are dedicated relaxation zones with a variety of available environments, each carefully developed by our master climate artists. Whether you prefer to lounge in the dry heat of the Laconium or Tepidarium, or like a little soothing moisture in the air (in which case try the Oriental or Aroma steambaths), prepare to experience temperature nirvana.

Decks: 3 Lobby 4 Mezzanine 14 Serenity

BlueIguana Tequila Bar

BlueIguana Tequila Bar is the onboard spot to chill and enjoy a slushy tequila drink or an ice-cold Mexican cerveza. The menu offers up Mexican favorites, including several brands of tequila and a slew of Mexican brews. There’s a lineup of frozen concoctions, cocktails and margaritas served by the glass or by the pitcher, and even a special Mexican beer cocktail (yes, really). Where can you find this little slice of Mexican paradise? Next to the pool, of course. So stay cool and take in the bar’s vacation vibe while you kick back on your cruise – that’s what official bar mascot Blue the Iguana would tell you. BlueIguana Tequila Bar is the onboard spot to chill and enjoy a slushy tequila drink or an ice-cold Mexican cerveza. The menu offers up Mexican favorites, including several brands of tequila and a slew of Mexican brews. There’s a lineup of frozen concoctions, cocktails and margaritas served by the glass or by the pitcher, and even a special Mexican beer cocktail (yes, really). Where can you find this little slice of Mexican paradise? Next to the pool, of course. So stay cool and take in the bar’s vacation vibe while you kick back on your cruise – that’s what official bar mascot Blue the Iguana would tell you.

A spot that's intriguing by night and friendly anytime, step into the Havana Bar and be transported to antebellum Cuba preserved today in old postcards, vintage literature… and classic delicacies. Take in great ocean views as you try something authentically Cuban, like café Cubano (that’s Cuban coffee!) or handcrafted Cuban cocktails (think daiquiris, mojitos and more). And this spot definitely doesn’t cool down when the sun goes down, with music and dancing keeping things hot well into the night. A spot that's intriguing by night and friendly anytime, step into the Havana Bar and be transported to antebellum Cuba preserved today in old postcards, vintage literature… and classic delicacies. Take in great ocean views as you try something authentically Cuban, like café Cubano (that’s Cuban coffee!) or handcrafted Cuban cocktails (think daiquiris, mojitos and more). And this spot definitely doesn’t cool down when the sun goes down, with music and dancing keeping things hot well into the night.

Piano Bar 88

Finally. A bar where singing along isn’t just tolerated, it’s strongly encouraged.

Redfrog pub

Get into an island state of mind before you even set foot on one. RedFrog Pub is our laid-back, no-worries, oh-so-lively Key West-inspired pub. Sample Caribbean fare, dominate at the foosball table, enjoy some sweet tunes from live musicians and sip our tasty signature private-label brew, ThirstyFrog Red. So kick back and feel the island vibe come to life. You’ll be a local here before you know it.

Redfrog Rum Bar

Guests have told us we hit on something special with the cool Caribbean chill of the RedFrog Pub. We've taken the best parts and brought them poolside with the RedFrog Rum Bar, where the frog keeps the fun hopping day and night with all the island flava you know and love. Join the party at this poolside bar featuring a great selection of frog-approved Caribbean rum-based concoctions available by the glass or pitcher, plus plenty of Carnival’s signature private-label draft beer, ThirstyFrog Red.

Skybox Sports Bar

Get hands-on with a game, a drink… and high-fives galore! SkyBox Sports Bar gets you right onto the 50-yard line of onboard sports action. Grab a drink or order some snacks — they’re great while kicking back and watching your favorite teams on one of the big screens, or just dropping by to check out real-time scores and headlines on the panoramic ticker. And if you’re feeling lucky, feel free to grab a controller and get a little competitive with the latest sports game titles. They’re free to play, so find a friend or three and get set for some serious play-action. Get hands-on with a game, a drink… and high-fives galore! SkyBox Sports Bar gets you right onto the 50-yard line of onboard sports action. Grab a drink or order some snacks — they’re great while kicking back and watching your favorite teams on one of the big screens, or just dropping by to check out real-time scores and headlines on the panoramic ticker. And if you’re feeling lucky, feel free to grab a controller and get a little competitive with the latest sports game titles. They’re free to play, so find a friend or three and get set for some serious play-action.

The Library

With wall-to-wall activities, most people wouldn’t think of their cruise vacation as a great time to read a book, but you’ll find the bibliophilic faithful stretched out on deck chairs, enjoying the sun, sea breeze… and a page-turner. Forgot to bring a book? E-reader battery just died? Every Carnival ship features an onboard library stocked with the good stuff.

Limelight Lounge

Limelight Lounge.

Liquid lounge

Decks: 4 Mezzanine 5 Promenade

Liquid lounge.

Ocean Plaza

If your Carnival ship has Ocean Plaza, what can you expect from this spot? Oh, you know, a little of this, a little of that… and really, a lot of fun. Basically, think of Ocean Plaza as an indoor entertainment spot that plays host to live music events, plus trivia, dance classes, games and more. And while all that’s going on, it never leaves you far from all the sunny, breezy goodness you get from the great outdoors of the sea. Oh, and when nature’s all done sunning you for the day, it transforms into a night spot that’s seriously stunning. Get your nightlife — not to mention your daylife — done at Ocean Plaza.

Sportsquare

Sportsquare.

Sunshine Atrium

Decks: 2 3 Lobby 4 Mezzanine 5 Promenade 6 7 8 9 Lido

Sunshine Atrium.

Ah, imagine a perfect day out on the links, the golfer's zen of the ball, the hole and nothing in between but well-manicured fairway... plus one cactus, a treasure chest... and wait, is that a windmill in the way? Just who designed this course anyway? Whoever it was, they had one thing in mind — maximum fun for mini-golfers, big and small! That's precisely why you'll find a course on every Carnival ship, where you can hit the holes and take in everything you’d expect, like the sights and the sounds... plus the seagulls.

Guest Service

Guest Service.

camp Ocean.

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• Food & Drink
• How to Plan
• Shore Excursions
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• What to Expect

The 9 Best Bars Onboard Carnival Sunshine ®

By Carnival Cruise Line

9 Best Bars Onboard Carnival Sunshine ®

RedFrog Pub ™

Alchemy Bar ™

RedFrog Rum Bar ™

BlueIguana Tequila Bar ™

SkyBox Sports Bar

The Library Bar

Planning a trip to The Bahamas or Bermuda ? There’s simply no better way to relax and enjoy your cruise to the Caribbean than with a refreshing drink in hand as you feel the warm sun on your face and breathe in the gentle sea breezes. Heavenly!

If sampling adult beverages is your thing, you’re definitely in luck. Carnival Sunshine ®  has a full array of bars right on the cruise ship, so you’ll have plenty of options. Whether you find a favorite spot to return to each night or want to sample all the fan favorites, we’ve got happy hour completely covered.

Take a look at these suggestions to help you plan your evenings — or afternoons, since it’s definitely five o’clock somewhere!

Want to experience the scintillating atmosphere of Old Cuba? Step into Havana Bar , where you can sip on authentic Cuban coffee and sodas, or indulge in a classic mojito. Rum is the national beverage, so you’ll also find all sorts of creative cocktails featuring the spirit of Cuba.

Trying to keep it healthy? Fresh-squeezed OJ is also on the menu, so it’s never too early to head to Havana for a tasty treat.

RedFrog Pub ™ is the place be when you’re looking to get your island vibe on. This laid-back pub has live music, Caribbean-inspired munchies and ThirstyFrog® Red, the pub’s signature brew. Fish bowl cocktails and flights of beer or rum are available for sharing, though we won’t tell anyone if you want to keep them all to yourself. At RedFrog Pub ™ , you’ve got options.

If you’re a fan of mixology, don’t miss Alchemy Bar ™ . Here, our best bartenders have dug deep to find the most unique cocktails from past and present, served up with a vintage pharmacy vibe. “Cocktail therapy” options include The Antioxidant to rejuvenate your palate, or the Restorative Basil Drop to soothe the senses.

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, ask for a custom drink designed to cure whatever ails you.

RedFrog Rum Bar ™ is the poolside version of RedFrog Pub ™ . Stay cool with a frozen drink or embrace the fruity decadence of the Red’s Rum Treasure, the 16-ounce signature cocktail that serves up two kinds of rum along with guava pineapple goodness. This bar is all about relaxation and fun in the sun, so camp out in a deck chair and stay awhile.

¡Viva México! BlueIguana Tequila Bar ™ is your poolside spot for frozen margaritas, an array of tequila and Mexican beer cocktails. Traveling with a group? Get your margaritas vacation-sized — that’s a 48-ounce pitcher. Whether you share or drink it yourself is up to you.

Feeling the heat? Cool down with frozen cocktails served in a souvenir glass, and your second helping (and third, and so on) is discounted.

Piano Bar is all about you: your drinks, your song requests, your voice belting out the tunes. Grab a Show Stopper Martini (it’s made with Champagne and strawberries!) and get ready to sing along to the talented piano player.

Your wish is their command — all night long! Try a music-themed cocktail to wet your whistle and keep your pipes in shape for singing with all of your new best friends.

Just because you’re sailing the high seas doesn’t mean you have to miss the big game! SkyBox Sports Bar is your go-to place to watch your favorite teams in action. Grab a bucket of brews to wash down soft pretzels and peanuts, and you’ll feel like you’re at the ballpark — but better, because it’s a cruise.

If you’re more of the cocktail type, we recommend a Lynchburg Lemonade. The addition of Jack Daniels and Patrón Citrónge to your lemonade takes things to the next level.

Wine lovers, this one’s for you! The Library Bar is filled with plush chairs and is stocked with a huge selection of great books and board games — perfect for whiling away the hours in quiet conversation, or for getting in that all-important “me time.”

Best of all, you don’t have to keep your eyes locked with a bartender to get what you need: Our unique self-serve wine dispensers make it easy to get the perfect pour whenever you want.

Note:  The Library Bar no longer serves wine.

The best part about cruising is knowing that you’re totally taken care of — and that should apply to your bar tab, too. Cheers! is Carnival’s prepaid drink package that gives you access to drinks just about anywhere on board the ship — including the casino.

Sign up ahead of time or when you board, and you’ll enjoy a flat daily rate for drinks without ever worrying about going over budget. Then you’ll be ready to indulge at any or all of our outstanding bars.

With so many amazing bar options, it’s hard to know where to start! But the only way to enjoy these incredible signature drinks is to book your next cruise aboard Carnival Sunshine. Whether you cruise from Charleston, SC or Port Canaveral, FL , Carnival Sunshine makes it easy to enjoy your favorite beers, wine and cocktails during your picture-perfect vacation.

Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary by  ship  and destination.

Related articles

What to expect.

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships.aspx

Carnival Sunshine Ship Info

• Click here for ALL
• Small Interior
• Interior with Picture Window
• Scenic Oceanview
• Premium Balcony
• Ocean Suite
• Grand Suite
• Captains Suite
• Ship info and tracking
• Cabin Check

On this page you will find Carnival Sunshine features, history, sister ships, and useful facts provided by Cruisedeckplans.com. Look at the bottom of the page for the LIVE TRACKING position of Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Cruise Line

General information.

The Carnival Sunshine started sailing in 1996. Former names: Carnival Destiny. The Carnival Sunshine is registered in Panama City, Panama. The Carnival Sunshine has 1501 cabins. You can expect between 3002 to 3753 passengers on a typical sailing. This means that at the higher number (usually peak and holiday sailings) Carnival Sunshine has a space ratio of 27.4. (A space ratio less than 33 means that you may find the ship crowded in areas. A space ratio greater than 39 means that there should be plenty of space for each passenger.) When this ship isn't sailing at capacity the space ratio can be as good as 34.3. The Carnival Sunshine has 1150 crew members on board. There are 3 passengers for every crew member on board. There are self serve laudromats on this ship.

Sister Ships

The following ships share the same class as this ship. This means the basic design and layout of the ship is the same. For the most part the cabins will be identical among these ships, but may be decorated differently. 1996- Carnival Sunshine 1999- Carnival Sunrise 2000- Carnival Radiance

Accessibility

There are 32 special needs cabins on this ship. These cabins have been modified for accessibility purposes.

13 Decks

There are 13 on this ship. The highest deck number is 14. The number of decks with passenger cabins is 11.

38% Balconies

This is the percent of the staterooms on board have balconies.

Other Information

The abbreviation Carnival uses for this ship is SH. Formerly Carnival Destiny. In May 2016 drydock routine hotel maintenance, cosmetic enhancements such as new carpeting, tile work and reupholstering in public areas, Sports bar re-branded as SKYBOX Sports Bar. Completed during dry dock 10/21/21-11/08/21 - Routine hotel maintenance and cosmetic enhancements - New red, white and blue hull design and paint scheme There are 1501 staterooms on board, with the largest being the Captains Suites. Sunshine also has 89 Cloud 9 Spa cabins and 32 wheelchair-accessible cabins. Activities on board varie from ballroom dancing, classical music concerts, tea time and art auctions to a hairy chest and knobby knees contests, bingo, and karaoke. There are plenty of dining options on board: Sunset Restaurant- main dining room, 2 fixed dinner seatings and flexible dining options Sunrise Restaurant- main dining room, 2 fixed dinner seatings, themed breakfast Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse- reservations only, upscale steakhouse, extra fee Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ- complimentary lunch BBQ Guys Burger Joint- fast food BlueIguana Cantina- mexican complimentary Lido Marketplace buffet restaurant- various food stations during the day, bistro in the evening Cucina del Capitano- Italian, reservations only, complimentary lunch, extra charge for dinner SeaDogs- complimentary beef hot dogs Ji Ji Asian Kitchen Bonsai Sushi Bar The children and teens will have plenty to do on this ship with Camp Carnival, which is a lounge area with supervised activities; Circle C which has video games, parties, movies, and planned activities; and Club 02 which is a teens lounge that offers karaoke, video games, and themed parties. They can also check out the Aqua Park which has a twister water slide, racing slides, and play area, the 24-hour video arcade, and the sports court and mini golf course. Adults-only can enjoy the Serenity area sun deck, bar, and lounge as well as the Spa and Fitness complex which has a sauna, steam room, Thermal suites, and beauty salon. Nightly entertainment can be found at the Liquid Lounge and Theater which offers daily and nightly shows and activities. The Punchliner Comedy Club is shown at the Limelight Lounge, which also turns into a night club for late nights. Entertainment can also be found at the Ocean Plaza, RedFrog Pub, Sunrise Casino, Piano 88 Bar, Skybox Sports Bar, and the Seaside Theater.

Carnival Sunshine Ship Stats

Carnival sunshine features.

• 7 Whirlpools (hot tubs)
• No Rock Climbing Wall
• No Flow Rider
• No Ice Rink
• Ropes Course

• Sports Court
• Jogging Track

• No Cigar Lounge
• Video Arcade
• Show Lounge
• Fitness Center

• No Bridge Viewing Area
• Outdoor Movie Screen
• Teen Lounge
• No Passenger Promenade
• No Upper Deck Sea Viewing Lounge
• Adult Only Outside Lounge Area

Live Cruise Ship Tracking - Carnival Sunshine

Smoking policy.

• All staterooms and suite accommodations are entirely smoke-free, including balconies
• Cigarette and electronic cigarette smoking will only be allowed in designated exterior open deck areas, in the nightclub and in certain areas within the casino and casino bar
• Cigar and pipe smoking will only be allowed in designated exterior open deck areas.
• Click here for smoking areas on Carnival Ships
• Carnvial Vista will allow smoking in the casino and casino bar and also on deck 11 port side aft.

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

Carnival Sunshine Review

Great service with mediocre experience.

Rating by category

Additional details.

From the moment you board this cruise, you can still feel how truly old it is. First, it's the 21st century and I still have to print a boarding pass. The last time I printed any kind of ticket was like 10 years ago. As to the ship, what areas they may have updated in 2019 still feel a decade old, and everything just looks incomplete.

The food throughout this cruise was mediocre at best. The buffet for breakfast and lunch was your standard affair and there was little to no variation day to day on what was provided. The only problem I had with the buffet was that I felt I was constantly looking for food when it wasn't open. Dinner in the dining hall (Sunrise Restaurant) was substandard. Most of the food was served dry, rubbery, or overcooked. The bread had been cut well in advance and was hard by the time it made it to the table. And overall the food honestly was tasteless and lacked any seasoning. The service in the dining hall was about standard, although there was one evening when my group waited over 2 hours for seating (even after making it clear they could split us in a similar area). Of the other eateries on board, Guy's Burgers, the burrito place, and Deli were all great options to eat at.

Cabin Review

The interior staterooms themselves feel like they came out of the 90s with their weird blue carpet and yellow walls. The bathrooms have this weird rubber blue tile in them and the twin beds put together as a king have nothing to keep them from separating at night. Outside of this, they had plenty of storage for the cruise and were roomy enough for 2 people.

Find a Carnival Sunshine Cruise from $409

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Carnival Glory Sets Sail For Now Home of Port Canaveral

Ship Returns to Service with Enhancements Following 21-Day Dry Dock

Carnival Glory returned to service today in Barcelona following a 21-day dry dock. The ship is setting sail on a 14-day Carnival Journeys transatlantic cruise to the ship’s new homeport of Port Canaveral, Fla. 

Over the last three weeks, the ship received several enhancements, including a new casino layout, refreshed décor and furnishings across all public areas and a newly added Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge , a popular venue that is expanding across the Carnival fleet and honors military veterans and active-duty service members. A Dreams Photography Studio was also added and upgrades were made to the ship’s spa. For younger cruisers, the dedicated onboard youth space, Camp Ocean , was redesigned and a large video wall was added to enhance the Space Cruisers program, which includes curriculum developed in partnership with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The ship’s Warehouse video arcade was refreshed as well. Guests will also notice updates to public areas across the ship. 

On May 2, Carnival Glory will join Carnival Freedom, Carnival Vista and Mardi Gras, in Port Canaveral, where she will offer three- and four-day itineraries visiting The Bahamas, including Nassau, Freeport, Princess Cays and Bimini. Carnival Liberty is repositioning from Port Canaveral to New Orleans and will arrive there on May 6. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

Friday 11 April 2014

Moscow metro - spirit of a city (e.p).

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Travel | Revamped Carnival Glory headed to Port Canaveral

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Carnival Cruise Line has revamped its Carnival Glory cruise ship with new features before it heads to its new home at Port Canaveral.

The 110,000-gross-ton ship is taking on three- and four-night Bahamas sailings from the port, joining three other Carnival ships. Built in 2003, the ship has a 2,980-guest passenger capacity based on double occupancy.

It recently came out of a 21-day dry dock at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, receiving some enhancements found on other Carnival ships.

Changes include a new casino layout, including a nonsmoking area, and a Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge that pays deference to military veterans and active-duty service members, taking over the SkyBox Sports Bar. Also added were a Dreams Photography Studio and upgrades within the spa.

When it debuted more than 20 years ago, Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, was named its godmother. Its space-themed pedigree extends to enhancements added to the youth area Camp Ocean, which now has a large video wall for its Space Cruisers program. Its curriculum was developed in partnership with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Also updated is the video arcade and redubbed The Warehouse.

The refurb also removed the aft-pool Sky Dome, while the ship received routine hotel maintenance, cosmetic enhancements, ADA compliant updates in public areas and select staterooms including the addition of Ambulatory Accessible staterooms.

Stateroom balconies were also redone with new windows and doors and every stateroom had new LED lighting and bathroom nightlights added.

The ship sailed out of Barcelona on Thursday for a 14-night transatlantic voyage to Port Canaveral.

Its first sailing from Florida will be May 2. It joins Carnival Freedom, Carnival Vista and Carnival’s Mardi Gras calling the Orlando-area port home.

Leaving is Carnival Liberty, which is moving to New Orleans.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said Carnival Glory received an updated hull paint scheme during the 2024 dry dock. It had its hull paint scheme updated in 2021.

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Residents Outside Moscow Protest Power Outage, Demand Heating Amid Subzero Temperatures

Residents of a Moscow region town impacted by power outages have taken to the streets, demanding that local authorities restore heat to their homes as subzero temperatures grip the region, Russian media reported Friday.

At least 21,000 people had power knocked out in their homes on Thursday morning in the town of Podolsk when a heating main burst at the Klimovsk Specialized Ammunition Plant, according to the Kommersant business daily.

The circumstances surrounding the incident at the plant in Podolsk, located some 50 kilometers south of Moscow, have not been disclosed.

The Telegram news channel Ostorozhno Moskva published a video of several local residents who gathered in the town's central square to demand the authorities restore their heating, as well as punish those responsible for the outage.

“The police arrived quickly to disrupt us. I wish they’d brought back heating as fast as they dispatched the cops,” the person recording the video could be heard saying.

A Change.org petition with identical demands was launched online, which, by Friday evening, was   signed by nearly 2,000 people.

“Since more than 24 hours have passed, we ask to punish all those involved in this emergency,” the petition reads, naming Podolsk Mayor Grigory Artamonov and the heads of local utilities as the culprits.

Households in the Moscow region towns of Khimki, Balashikha, Solnechnogorsk, Lyubertsy and Elektrostal also experienced heating loss  as a result of power outages, with temperatures in the area plummeting to minus 20 degrees Celsius, according to the investigative news website iStories. 

The Podyom news outlet, without citing its sources, reported that prosecutors have launched an investigation into the outages.

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Moscow Pummeled By Historic Snowfall

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Despite 'Unusual' Sunshine, Moscow is on the Verge of Freezing

Victor Mukhin

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Title : Active carbons as nanoporous materials for solving of environmental problems

However, up to now, the main carriers of catalytic additives have been mineral sorbents: silica gels, alumogels. This is obviously due to the fact that they consist of pure homogeneous components SiO2 and Al2O3, respectively. It is generally known that impurities, especially the ash elements, are catalytic poisons that reduce the effectiveness of the catalyst. Therefore, carbon sorbents with 5-15% by weight of ash elements in their composition are not used in the above mentioned technologies. However, in such an important field as a gas-mask technique, carbon sorbents (active carbons) are carriers of catalytic additives, providing effective protection of a person against any types of potent poisonous substances (PPS). In ESPE “JSC "Neorganika" there has been developed the technology of unique ashless spherical carbon carrier-catalysts by the method of liquid forming of furfural copolymers with subsequent gas-vapor activation, brand PAC. Active carbons PAC have 100% qualitative characteristics of the three main properties of carbon sorbents: strength - 100%, the proportion of sorbing pores in the pore space – 100%, purity - 100% (ash content is close to zero). A particularly outstanding feature of active PAC carbons is their uniquely high mechanical compressive strength of 740 ± 40 MPa, which is 3-7 times larger than that of  such materials as granite, quartzite, electric coal, and is comparable to the value for cast iron - 400-1000 MPa. This allows the PAC to operate under severe conditions in moving and fluidized beds.  Obviously, it is time to actively develop catalysts based on PAC sorbents for oil refining, petrochemicals, gas processing and various technologies of organic synthesis.

Victor M. Mukhin was born in 1946 in the town of Orsk, Russia. In 1970 he graduated the Technological Institute in Leningrad. Victor M. Mukhin was directed to work to the scientific-industrial organization "Neorganika" (Elektrostal, Moscow region) where he is working during 47 years, at present as the head of the laboratory of carbon sorbents.     Victor M. Mukhin defended a Ph. D. thesis and a doctoral thesis at the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (in 1979 and 1997 accordingly). Professor of Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. Scientific interests: production, investigation and application of active carbons, technological and ecological carbon-adsorptive processes, environmental protection, production of ecologically clean food.   

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