Carnival Breeze vs Carnival Sunshine

The Carnival Breeze was built in 2012. It's 1 year older than the Sunshine, which was built in 2013. The Sunshine was previously known as the Destiny from 1996 - 2013, but was renamed after it went through huge rennovations.

Comparison Overview

Ship Size

The Breeze is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,004 feet long and 122 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Carnival Sunshine, the Breeze is 24% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Breeze holds 23% more passengers than the Sunshine based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Breeze has more space per person compared to the Sunshine. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

Carnival
Breeze
Carnival
Sunshine
ClassDreamSunshine
Gross Tonnage128,000102,853
Length1,004893
Beam/Width122125
Passenger Decks1413
Passengers (double occupancy)3,6903,002
Crew1,386920
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.73.3
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)3534


Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Breeze has 22 different dining options like The Chef's Table, Bonsai Sushi, and Guys Pig and Anchor BarBQue. Of those options, 15 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 7 options have an additional fee.

The Sunshine has 3 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Cucina Del Capitano, The Chef's Table, and Guy's Burger Joint. 12 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 7 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Breeze might be a better choice. It has 16% more dining options than the Sunshine.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Restaurants on Carnival Breeze & Sunshine

Carnival
Breeze
Carnival
Sunshine
Blue Iguana CantinaLearn More
Bonsai SushiLearn More
Captain's Pasta BarLearn More
Carnival DeliLearn More
Coffee Bar
Cucina Del CapitanoLearn More
Guy's Burger JointLearn More
Guys Pig and Anchor BarBQueLearn More
JavaBlue CafeLearn More
JiJi Asian KitchenLearn More
Lido BuffetLearn More
Main Dining RoomLearn More
Mongolian WokLearn More
Pizzeria del CapitanoLearn More
Redfrog PubLearn More
Seafood ShackLearn More
SteakhouseLearn More
Swirls
The Chef's TableLearn More

Bars and Drinks

Piano Bar 88 on the Breeze
Piano Bar 88 on the Breeze
Atrium Bar on the Sunshine
Atrium Bar on the Sunshine

The Carnival Breeze has 3 fewer bars than the Carnival Sunshine.

Carnival
Breeze
Carnival
Sunshine
Alchemy Bar
Atrium Bar
BlueIguana Tequila Bar
Casino Bar
Havana Bar
Java Blue Cafe
Limelight Lounge
Liquid Night Club
Ocean Plaza Bar
Piano Bar 88
Plaza Cafe
RedFrog Pub
RedFrog Rum Bar
Shake Spot
SkyBox Sports Bar

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Breeze and the Sunshine below.



Pools and Hot Tubs

Lido deck pool and dive-in movie screen on the Carnival Breeze
Lido Deck Pool on the Carnival Breeze
Lido Pool on the Carnival Sunshine
Lido Pool on the Carnival Sunshine

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Carnival Breeze has a total of 2 pools and 8 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

The Carnival Sunshine has the same number of pools as the Breeze and fewer hot tubs.

Carnival
Breeze
Carnival
Sunshine
Total Pools22
Pools - General Access21
Pools - Adults Only01
Pools - Exclusive00
Total Hot Tubs83
Hot Tubs - General Access62
Hot Tubs - Adults Only21
Hot Tubs - Exclusive00


cruise coloring book

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Carnival editions with featuring places Pizza Pirate and mini-golf.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Carnival Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Carnival Edition


Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On both ships, 73% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare.

Carnival
Breeze
Carnival
Sunshine
Adult Only Relaxation Area
Arcade
Basketball
Casino
Comedy Club
Dr Seuss Breakfast
Fitness Center
Jogging Track
Mini golf
Outdoor gym
Pool-side Movies
Ropes course
Splash park
Thermal Suites
Water slides
Learn moreLearn more

Cruise Costs

Carnival is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit Carnival's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.

The cost will also vary depending on the type of cabin you book. You can see the differences between the Carnival cabins and how to choose the best one here:

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Carnival ship.

Carnival
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$16.00
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda Price$3.00
Domestic Beer Price$8.75
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$59.95 - $69.95
Learn more
Internet Plan$15.30 to $21.25 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.






About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.