Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship 2026

Carnival Sunshine at a glance

Line: Carnival Cruise Line
Class: Sunshine
Entered service: 1996 (refurbished 2013)
Gross tonnage: 102,853
Guests: About 3,002 (double occupancy)
Crew: About 1,040
Decks: 13

Part of the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. Sister ships: Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Radiance. Home ports: Norfolk, Barcelona, Galveston.

Carnival Sunshine started life as Carnival Destiny. Fincantieri built it at Monfalcone, Italy, and it made its first cruise in November 1996. In 2013 Carnival spent about $155 million rebuilding it. The ship came back in May 2013 with a new name, an extra partial deck, 182 new cabins, a water park and a three-deck Serenity area. Carnival lists it at 102,853 gross tons and 892 feet, with 3,002 guests and 1,040 crew.

That makes it a mid-size ship by today’s standards. Carnival’s Excel-class ships, such as Mardi Gras, carry well over 5,000 guests.

Who is the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship for?

Carnival Sunshine is for cruisers who care more about price and a convenient home port than about the newest attractions. Until May 2027 it is the only ship sailing year round from Norfolk, so it suits Mid-Atlantic drivers. In summer 2027 it suits first-time Europe cruisers who want Carnival’s casual style at Carnival prices.

Drive-to cruisers in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. Our cruises from Norfolk guide covers the terminal, parking and the handover to Carnival Freedom.

First-timers on a budget. A 6-day Bahamas trip is a low-cost way to find out whether you like cruising. Our short cruise guide compares other quick trips.

Adults who want a quiet corner. Carnival describes Sunshine’s Serenity retreat as the largest of any of its ships, spread over three decks with a pool, a bar and hammocks.

Who should look elsewhere: families who want a roller coaster or the newest kids’ attractions, and anyone who wants a premium ship. Our Carnival Cruise Line guide explains which ships have the newest features, and Carnival Magic is a bigger, refitted option from Miami.

How old is Carnival Sunshine, and was it rebuilt?

Carnival Sunshine first sailed in November 1996, as Carnival Destiny, so it turns 30 in late November 2026. It was largely rebuilt in 2013, a $155 million project that added cabins, decks and new venues and renewed every existing cabin. CruiseMapper lists later drydocks in 2016, 2018, 2021 and January 2025.

The 2013 work took 49 days in drydock, according to CruiseMapper, and it ran about a month late while backup generators were added. Wikipedia notes that Carnival held the formal renaming in New Orleans in November 2013. The 2021 drydock in Cádiz, Spain, gave the ship Carnival’s newer hull livery. The hull is old, so expect a well-kept older ship rather than a new one.

Standout features

WaterWorks: a water park with five slides, including the Speedway Splash racing slide, plus a splash zone for small children.
Serenity: an adults-only retreat over three decks with a pool, a whirlpool, a bar, loungers and hammocks.
SportSquare: a ropes course, mini golf, a jogging track and sports courts.
Havana section: the Havana Bar, plus The Punchliner Comedy Club and Playlist Productions shows elsewhere on board.
Cloud 9 Spa cabins: about 89 cabins with spa perks, according to CruiseMapper, many of them added in 2013.

Carnival Sunshine deck plans: cabins to pick and avoid

The best cabin on Carnival Sunshine for most guests is a midship balcony on Deck 7, which has cabin decks above and below it. CruiseMapper’s deck titles show Decks 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 as cabin decks. The Lido and pools are on Deck 9, the spa, kids’ area and WaterWorks on Deck 10, and Serenity and sports on Decks 11 and up.

Pick:

A midship balcony on Deck 7, with cabins above and below, for the least noise and motion.
A Cloud 9 Spa cabin if you plan to use the spa every day.
An Aft-View Extended Balcony if you want a bigger outdoor space looking over the wake.

Avoid or think twice:

Deck 8 cabins directly under the Deck 9 Lido and pool area, which can pick up chair scraping and early setup noise.
Cabins on Decks 9 to 11 next to WaterWorks, the kids’ area or SportSquare, which are busy all day.
Interior cabins with a “picture window (walkway view)”: the window faces a public walkway, so the curtain stays closed most of the time.

CruiseMapper counts 1,501 cabins: 624 inside, 320 ocean view, 518 balcony and 53 suites. That’s a high share of inside cabins for a modern Carnival ship. Layouts change at refits, so check Carnival’s current deck plan before you pick a cabin number.

Dining and activities

The main dining rooms are Sunrise and Sunset. Carnival lists Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, the Lido Marketplace and Seaday Brunch as included. Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, JiJi Asian Kitchen, Bonsai Sushi and Cucina del Capitano (at dinner) carry a charge. Bars include the RedFrog Pub, the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, the SkyBox Sports Bar and the Alchemy Bar.

Kids’ clubs are Camp Ocean for younger children and Circle C and Club O2 for tweens and teens. For how Carnival’s food and fares compare with its rivals, see Carnival vs Royal Caribbean and our Carnival review.

Where does Carnival Sunshine sail in 2026–2027?

Carnival Sunshine sails from Norfolk, Virginia, until May 2027: 6-day Bahamas and 8-day Eastern Caribbean cruises, plus Bermuda in spring. On May 15, 2027 it leaves on a 15-day crossing to Dover, England. It spends summer 2027 in the Mediterranean, then moves to Galveston, Texas, from November 2027.

Now to mid-May 2027, Norfolk: 6-day Bahamas and 8-day Eastern Caribbean cruises, alternating. In April and May 2027 the schedule adds 4- to 6-day Bermuda cruises and a 5-day Bahamas trip.
May 15, 2027: a 15-day transatlantic cruise from Norfolk to Dover.
Late May to October 2027, Europe: a 10-day cruise from Dover to Barcelona, then 7- to 10-day Mediterranean, Greek Isles and Croatia cruises from Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome). Cruise Industry News reports that the season includes Carnival’s first calls in Africa, at Tangier and Tunis. See our Mediterranean cruise guide.
From November 17, 2027, Galveston: 4- and 5-day Western Caribbean cruises alternating with 10-day Caribbean cruises, some of them calling in Panama, on sale into spring 2028.

Carnival Freedom replaces Sunshine in Norfolk from May 2027, so anyone who wants this ship from Virginia has to book before then.

Sample Carnival Sunshine sailings. From-prices per person, checked November 2026.
Departs	Line and ship	Nights	Itinerary	From	Link
Nov 28, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	7	8 Day Eastern Caribbean (from Norfolk Virginia)	$612	Check price
Dec 6, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	5	6 Day Bahamas (from Norfolk Virginia)	$585	Check price
Dec 12, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	5	6 Day Bahamas (from Norfolk Virginia)	$602	Check price
Dec 18, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	7	8 Day Eastern Caribbean (from Norfolk Virginia)	$886	Check price
Dec 26, 2026	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	7	8 Day Eastern Caribbean (from Norfolk Virginia)	$1,502	Check price
Jan 3, 2027	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	5	6 Day Bahamas (from Norfolk Virginia)	$466	Check price
Jan 9, 2027	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	7	8 Day Eastern Caribbean (from Norfolk Virginia)	$567	Check price
Jan 17, 2027	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	5	6 Day Bahamas (from Norfolk Virginia)	$496	Check price
Jan 23, 2027	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	7	8 Day Eastern Caribbean (from Norfolk Virginia)	$527	Check price
Jan 31, 2027	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	5	6 Day Bahamas (from Norfolk Virginia)	$496	Check price
Feb 6, 2027	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	7	8 Day Eastern Caribbean (from Norfolk Virginia)	$577	Check price
Feb 14, 2027	Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Sunshine	5	6 Day Bahamas (from Norfolk Virginia)	$608	Check price

Sister ships

Carnival Sunshine has two sisters, both rebuilt the same way: Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Triumph, 1999, rebuilt in 2019) and Carnival Radiance (formerly Carnival Victory, 2000, rebuilt in 2021). They are slightly smaller and share much of the same layout and venues. For a newer Carnival ship, compare Mardi Gras.

Carnival Sunshine FAQ

How big is the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship?

Carnival lists it at 102,853 gross tons and 892 feet long, with 3,002 guests and 1,040 crew. It has 13 decks.

How old is Carnival Sunshine?

It first sailed in November 1996 as Carnival Destiny. It was rebuilt and renamed in 2013 and had its latest drydock in January 2025.

Where do Carnival Sunshine cruises leave from?

Norfolk, Virginia, until mid-May 2027. In summer 2027 it sails from Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome), and from November 2027 it sails from Galveston, Texas.

Does Carnival Sunshine have water slides?

Yes. WaterWorks has five slides, including the Speedway Splash racing slide, and a splash zone for small children. It has no roller coaster.

Is Carnival Sunshine a good cruise ship?

We don’t publish star ratings or collect reviews. What the facts support: it’s an older, mid-size ship with low fares, a water park and a big adults-only area, but fewer new venues than Carnival’s newest ships.

Carnival Sunshine cruise ship: who it suits, where it sails and which cabin to book

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