Carnival Sunshine

M.S Carnival Sunshine (Former Carnival Destiny) in November 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
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes[1][2][3]
General characteristics (As built)
Class and 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[1][3]
General characteristics (After 2013 Refit)
Class and 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)[4]
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.[5] 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.[6][7]

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.[8] At a ceremony in New Orleans on 17 November 2013, she was formally renamed, with Lin Arison once again serving as her godmother.[9][10]

Since May 2019 the ship has been homeported in Charleston, South Carolina.[11] 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.[12]

  1. ^ a b Ward, Douglas (2005). Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. ISBN 978-9812467393.
  2. ^ "Carnival Destiny (448228)". Port State Information Exchange. United States Coast Guard.
  3. ^ a b "Advanced masterdata for the vessel Carnival Destiny". VesselTracker. 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Carnival Sunshine Fact Sheet". carnival-news.com. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  5. ^ "World's First 101,000-ton Cruise Ship Detailed" (Press release). Carnival Cruise Lines. 24 November 1996. Archived from the original on 7 February 1998. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  6. ^ Carnival Sunshine 2013 Commemorative Inaugural Book. Miami Beach, FL, USA: Onboard Media. 2013. p. 15.
  7. ^ "Carnival Sunshine (9070058)". LR ships in class. Lloyd's Register. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  8. ^ Knego, Peter (18 May 2013). "Sunshine debuts". Maritime Matters. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  9. ^ Sloan, Gene (18 November 2013). "Revamped Carnival ship renamed in New Orleans". USA Today. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  10. ^ Norton, Theresa (19 November 2013). "The New and Improved Carnival Sunshine Finally Officially Christened". TravelPulse. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  11. ^ Carnival Sunshine to Offer Year-Round Cruises from Charleston 7 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Cruises coming year-round to Norfolk, beginning in 2025". 13newsnow.com. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2024.