Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny) is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She debuted in 1996 as the first passenger ship ever built to exceed 100,000 gross tons, and was the world's largest passenger vessel, holding it until 1998. Built by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy, she was christened as Carnival Destiny in Venice, Italy, in November 1996 by Lin Arison, the wife of Carnival Cruise Line founder Ted Arison.
M.S Carnival Sunshine (Former Carnival Destiny) in November 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 as Carnival Destiny |
| Maiden voyage |
|
| In service | 1996–present |
| Renamed | Carnival Sunshine |
| Refit | 2008, 2013, 2018 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| Notes | |
| General characteristics (As built) | |
| Class and type | Destiny-class cruise 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 | |
| General characteristics (After 2013 Refit) | |
| Class and type | Sunshine-class cruise 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) |
| Capacity | 3,002 passengers |
| Crew | 1,150 |
| Notes | Renamed Carnival Sunshine post 2013 refit. |
In 2013, she received a major refit and a rename, with sister ships Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Radiance following suit in 2019 and 2021 respectively. At a ceremony in New Orleans on 17 November 2013, she was formally renamed, with Lin Arison once again serving as her godmother.
Since May 2019 the ship has been homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. It was originally planned to sail to Cuba from Charleston but those plans were cancelled after the Cuban travel ban in 2019.
In 2025 she is scheduled to reposition to Norfolk, Virginia where she will offer six and eight day cruises to the Caribbean.