Carnival Miracle vs Carnival Sunshine

The Carnival Miracle was built in 2004. It was renovated in 2025. It's 9 years older than the Sunshine, which was built in 2013 and renovated in 2025. The Sunshine was previously known as the Destiny from 1996 - 2013, but was renamed after it went through huge renovations.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Miracle is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 963 feet long and 106 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 12-story building. Compared to the Carnival Sunshine, the Miracle is 14% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Miracle holds 29% fewer 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 Miracle 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.

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 Miracle has ten different dining options like Pizza Pirate, The Chef's Table, and Blue Iguana Cantina. Of those options, eleven are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other four options have an additional fee.

The Sunshine has four more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are The Chef's Table, Pizzeria del Capitano, and Bonsai Sushi. Twelve of these restaurants are complementary and the other seven have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Sunshine might be a better choice. It has 40% more dining options than the Miracle.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Miracle might be a better choice then the Sunshine. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Restaurants on Carnival Miracle & Sunshine

Bars and Drinks

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

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

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

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Carnival Miracle has a total of 3 pools and 3 hot tubs.

Carnival Sunshine has fewer pools than the Miracle and the same number of hot tubs.

Looking to get away from the kids onboard? Try relaxing in the Serenity Adult-only area, for guests 21 and older only. Only the Miracle has an adult-only pool in its Serenity Area (it’s a full-depth pool). The Serenity Area on both ships is unenclosed and open to the elements. The Miracle’s adult-only area is in the back, while the Sunshine’s is in the front. Typically, the back of the ship has less wind and better views than the front of the ship.

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. You might up paying more while on board the Miracle. Only 71% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Sunshine, 73% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

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. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Carnival Miracle will likely be cheaper than on Carnival Sunshine.

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.

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