 Carnival Sunshine inCharleston, South Carolina on November 11, 2023 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name |
|
| Owner | Carnival Corporation & plc |
| Operator | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Port of registry | |
| Route | Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean |
| Ordered | 1994 |
| Builder | Fincantieri,Monfalcone,Italy |
| Cost | US$409 million |
| Yard number | 5941 |
| Launched | 15 November 1995 asCarnival Destiny |
| Maiden voyage |
|
| In service | 1996–present |
| Renamed | Carnival Sunshine |
| Refit | 2008, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2025 |
| Identification | |
| Status | In service |
| Notes | [1][2][3] |
| General characteristics (As built) | |
| Class & type | Destiny-classcruise ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 272.2 m (893 ft) |
| Beam | 35.5 m (116 ft) |
| Draught | 8.3 m (27 ft) |
| Decks | 12 |
| Deck clearance | 2,920 mm (115 in) |
| Speed | 22.5 knots (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph) |
| Capacity | 2,642 passengers |
| Crew | 1,150 |
| Notes | [1][3] |
| General characteristics (After 2013 Refit) | |
| Class & type | Sunshine-classcruise ship |
| Tonnage | 102,853 GT |
| Length | 272.2 m (893 ft) |
| Beam | 35.5 m (116 ft) |
| Draught | 8.3 m (27 ft) |
| Decks | 13 |
| Deck clearance | 2,920 mm (115 in) |
| Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)[4] |
| Capacity | 3,002 passengers |
| Crew | 1,150 |
| Notes | RenamedCarnival Sunshine post 2013 refit. |
Carnival Sunshine (formerlyCarnival Destiny) is acruise ship operated byCarnival Cruise Line. She debuted in 1996 with several size records. She was the first passenger ship ever built to exceed 100,000gross tons, and was the world's largest passenger vessel built up to that time (breaking theRMS Queen Elizabeth's 54 year record), holding it until 1998.[5] Built byFincantieri at itsMonfalcone shipyard inFriuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy, she waschristened asCarnival Destiny inVenice, Italy, in November 1996 byLin Arison, the wife of Carnival Cruise Line founderTed Arison.[6][7]
In 2013, she received a major refit and a rename, with sister shipsCarnival Sunrise andCarnival Radiance following suit in 2019 and 2021 respectively.[8] At a ceremony inNew Orleans on 17 November 2013, she was formally renamed, with Lin Arison once again serving as her godmother.[9][10]
Carnival Sunshine sailed 7 night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from New Orleans until April 2014, when she repositioned to Port Canaveral, Florida. From Port Canaveral, she sailed 5 to 9 night Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, and Southern Caribbean voyages.
During the Summer of 2016 and 2017, Sunshine sailed from New York City, Charleston, and Norfolk, alternating homeports. From these home ports, she sailed 4 and 5 night trips to Bermuda as well as her usual 6 to 8 night Eastern Caribbean sailings.
From May 2019 to January 2025, the ship was homeported full time inCharleston, South Carolina.[11] She predominantly sailed 4 and 5 night cruises to the Bahamas. She also offered occasional 6, 7, and 8 night trips to the Eastern Caribbean. It was originally planned to sail to Cuba from Charleston but those plans were cancelled after the Cuban travel ban.
In February 2025, she repositioned toNorfolk, Virginia, and is now offering six to nine day cruises to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.[12] This marks the first time that a ship has been homeported from the Port of Norfolk year-round.
On 6 March 2012, Carnival announced thatDestiny would undergo a US$155-million dollar refit, and renaming of the ship asCarnival Sunshine.[13][14]Carnival Destiny went intodry dock inTrieste,Italy in 2013 to be refitted and renamedCarnival Sunshine. The refitting, which was completed in May 2013, was delayed by a month to install new back-up generator systems.[13][14] The ship was re-launched on 5 May 2013.
In May 2023, the ship suffered extensive damage in a storm. Some crew were evacuated from their cabins due to flooding, and the crew bar was destroyed.[15]
Following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2005,Carnival Destiny featured three pools, a variety of dining options, lounges, nightclubs, a casino and a spa.Carnival Destiny received more modifications when in drydock to fix a propulsion problem in 2010, including a movie screen on the Lido deck andcabin renovations.[16]
The 2013 refit included a racing themed waterpark with one of the biggest slides in Carnival's fleet.[17]
Other than an 18-day cruise across the Atlantic to position her for the refit in Italy, the ship has always operated from ports in the United States cruising primarily to Caribbean destinations.[18][19]Carnival Sunshine formerly did three- to five-night voyages from Charleston that visitedNassau,Freeport,Half Moon Cay, andPrincess Cays. She also participated in the fun ship meet up in March 2022 to commemorate Carnival's 50th anniversary. Since February 2025,Carnival Sunshine has sailed out ofNorfolk, Virginia for year-round cruises to various ports inThe Bahamas.[20]
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