Cruise Spotlight
Helping you find cruise ships you'll love
All about the Carnival Sunshine
The Carnival Sunshine was built in 2013. It's considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 893 ft long and 125 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.5 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 13-story building. The Sunshine was previously known as the Destiny from 1996 - 2013, but was renamed after it went through huge rennovations.
Carnival Sunshine Overview
- Ship and Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Carnival Sunshine Size and Passengers
The Sunshine can hold 3,002 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Sunshine has a space ratio of 34. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship has less space per person than average.
| Carnival Sunshine | |
|---|---|
| Class | Sunshine |
| Gross Tonnage | 102,853 |
| Length | 893 |
| Beam/Width | 125 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,002 |
| Crew | 920 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 3.3 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 34 |
Carnival Sunshine Space Ratio
30
34
52
The Sunshine is one of three Sunshine-class ships currently sailing with Carnival. Sunshine-class ships are all previous Carnival ships that have been completely overhauled. They've been upgraded with bigger splash parks, a SportSquare, ropes course, new dining options like Cucina Del Capitano, and more. The Sunshine is very similar to its sister-ships; Sunrise and Radiance, although each ship may have some differences.
Carnival Sunshine Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Carnival Sunshine. You have 14 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 7 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 7 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 50% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.
| Restaurant | Restaurant Type | Cost | Type of Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Iguana Cantina | Quick serve | Included | Mexican |
| Bonsai Sushi | Sit down | A la cart | Asian |
| Carnival Deli | Quick serve | Included | Sandwiches |
| Cucina Del Capitano | Sit down | Flat fee | Italian |
| Guy's Burger Joint | Quick serve | Included | American |
| JavaBlue Cafe | Quick serve | A la cart | Coffee |
| JiJi Asian Kitchen | Sit down | Flat fee | Asian |
| Lido Buffet | Buffet | Included | Buffet |
| Main Dining Room | Sit down | Included | Main dining room |
| Pizzeria del Capitano | Quick serve | Included | Pizza |
| Seafood Shack | Quick serve | A la cart | Seafood |
| Steakhouse | Sit down | Flat fee | Steakhouse |
| Swirls | Quick serve | Included | Dessert |
| The Chef's Table | Sit down | Flat fee | Foodie |
Carnival Sunshine Bars and Drinks
Carnival Sunshine has 13 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail.
| Bar | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| Alchemy Bar | Deck 5 Mid | See Menu |
| Atrium Bar | Deck 3 Mid | See Menu |
| BlueIguana Tequila Bar | Deck 9 Mid | See Menu |
| Casino Bar | Deck 5 Mid | See Menu |
| Havana Bar | Deck 9 Aft | See Menu |
| Java Blue Cafe | Deck 5 Mid | See Menu |
| Limelight Lounge | Deck 4 Mid | See Menu |
| Ocean Plaza Bar | Deck 5 Mid | See Menu |
| Piano Bar 88 | Deck 4 Mid | See Menu |
| RedFrog Pub | Deck 5 Mid | See Menu |
| RedFrog Rum Bar | Deck 9 Mid | See Menu |
| Shake Spot | Deck 5 Mid | |
| SkyBox Sports Bar | Deck 5 Mid | See Menu |
Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
Carnival also serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship.
Pools and Hot Tubs on 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 in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. 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 Sunshine has a total of 2 pools and 3 hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only.
| Carnival Sunshine | |
|---|---|
| Total Pools | 2 |
| - Pools - General Access | 1 |
| - Pools - Adults Only | 1 |
| - Pools - Exclusive | 0 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 3 |
| - Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 |
| - Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 1 |
| - Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
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
Carnival Sunshine Features and Activities
There are quite a few things to do on the Sunshine. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.
| Carnival Sunshine | |
|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | Included |
| Arcade | A la cart |
| Basketball | Included |
| Casino | A la cart |
| Comedy Club | Included |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | A la cart |
| Fitness Center | Included |
| Jogging Track | Included |
| Mini golf | Included |
| Outdoor gym | Included |
| Pool-side Movies | Included |
| Ropes course | Included |
| Splash park | Included |
| Thermal Suites | Flat fee |
| Water slides | Included |
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.
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:Carnival Sunshine 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 & services | 18% |
| Soda Price | $3.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $7.75 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $59.95 - $69.95 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $12.75 to $18.70 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.
Articles Related to This Ship
Compare the Sunshine to Another Ship
First ship:
Second ship:
