Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Sunshine in Charleston, South Carolina on November 11, 2023
History
Name
  • Carnival Destiny (24 November 1996 – 4 May 2013)
  • Carnival Sunshine (5 May 2013 – present)
OwnerCarnival Corporation & plc
OperatorCarnival Cruise Line
Port of registry
RouteBermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean
Ordered1994
BuilderFincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy
CostUS$409 million
Yard number5941
Launched15 November 1995 as Carnival Destiny
Maiden voyage
  • 24 November 1996 as Carnival Destiny
  • 5 May 2013 as Carnival Sunshine
In service1996–present
RenamedCarnival Sunshine
Refit2008, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2025
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes
General characteristics (As built)
Class & typeDestiny-class cruise ship
Tonnage
  • 102,853 GT
  • 73,081 NT
  • 11.142 DWT
Length272.2 m (893 ft)
Beam35.5 m (116 ft)
Draught8.3 m (27 ft)
Decks12
Deck clearance2,920 mm (115 in)
Speed22.5 knots (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)
Capacity2,642 passengers
Crew1,150
Notes
General characteristics (After 2013 Refit)
Class & typeSunshine-class cruise ship
Tonnage102,853 GT
Length272.2 m (893 ft)
Beam35.5 m (116 ft)
Draught8.3 m (27 ft)
Decks13
Deck clearance2,920 mm (115 in)
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity3,002 passengers
Crew1,150
NotesRenamed Carnival Sunshine post 2013 refit.

Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny) is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She debuted in 1996 with several size records. She was the first passenger ship ever built to exceed 100,000 gross tons, and was the world's largest passenger vessel built up to that time (breaking the RMS Queen Elizabeth's 54 year record), 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.

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.

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 in Charleston, South Carolina. 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 to Norfolk, Virginia, and is now offering six to nine day cruises to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. This marks the first time that a ship has been homeported from the Port of Norfolk year-round.