Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Conquest
- Cruises
- 9
- From
- $164
Ship comparison
Carnival Conquest vs Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Sunshine
- Cruises
- 37
- From
- $423
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Conquest is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 2,980 passengers, in service since 2002. Carnival Sunshine is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,002 passengers, in service since 2013.
Choose Carnival Conquest if you want more culture or a lower starting fare: it outscores Carnival Sunshine for cultural (6.0 vs 3.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $164 (vs $423).
Choose Carnival Sunshine if you want a better-rated spa and gym, a newer ship or more cruises to choose from: it outscores Carnival Conquest for spa & fitness (9.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, its maiden voyage was in 2013 (vs 2002) and it has 37 cruises on sale (vs 9).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Conquest | Carnival Sunshine | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2002 | 2013 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2021 |
| Gross tonnage | 110,000 | 102,853 |
| Passengers | 2,980 | 3,002 |
| Crew | 1,150 | 1,040 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.6 (better) | 2.9 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 36.9 (better) | 34.3 |
| Decks | 13 | 12 |
| Length | 952 ft | 892 ft |
| Beam | 116 ft | 116 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 9 | 37 |
| Upcoming sailings | 125 | 78 |
| Cruise lengths | 3–11 nights | 4–15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $164 (better) | $423 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Conquest leads on 3 of the ten, Carnival Sunshine on 3, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Conquest
Cruise passengers will find little time for boredom with all the restaurants, lounges and live entertainment aboard Carnival Conquest. Check out Guy's Burger Joint, RedFrog Rum Bar and EA SPORTS Bar to grab a bite or to simply watch some sports.
Highlights
- Watching movies on the Seaside Theatre LED screen
- Shopping on the Promenade deck
- Ping pong, mini golf, shuffle board and more activities at City Sports Park
Sailing now
9 cruises on sale, from $164.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Sunshine offers something for everyone in your family or group. First, there's the biggest Serenity Adult-Only Retreat on any of the Carnival ships, featuring three decks, plenty of recliners and even a waterfall. Carnival WaterWorks, the onboard water park, features waterslides such as the slick Speedway Splash.
Highlights
- Relaxing at Carnival's largest Serenity Adult-Only Retreat
- Grabbing a burger from Guy's Burger Joint
- Playing some ping pong at SportSquare
Sailing now
37 cruises on sale, from $423.
Questions
Carnival Conquest or Carnival Sunshine?
Which is bigger, Carnival Conquest or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Conquest is bigger at 110,000 gross tons, against 102,853 gross tons for Carnival Sunshine. Carnival Conquest carries 2,980 passengers and Carnival Sunshine carries 3,002.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Conquest or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunshine is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2013 against 2002 for Carnival Conquest.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Conquest, with 36.9 gross tons per passenger against 34.3 on Carnival Sunshine. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Carnival Conquest, with one crew member for every 2.6 passengers against one for every 2.9 on Carnival Sunshine.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Sunshine scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 7.8 out of 10, against 7.0 for Carnival Conquest.
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