Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Radiance
- Cruises
- 7
- From
- $237
Ship comparison
Carnival Radiance vs Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Sunshine
- Cruises
- 37
- From
- $423
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Radiance is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 2,984 passengers, in service since 1998. Carnival Sunshine is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,002 passengers, in service since 2013.
Choose Carnival Radiance if you want a more romantic trip, more adventure and nature or more culture: it outscores Carnival Sunshine for romantic (6.0 vs 2.0), adventure & nature (5.0 vs 2.0) and cultural (5.0 vs 3.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Carnival Sunshine if you want a better-rated spa and gym, a newer ship or more cruises to choose from: it outscores Carnival Radiance for spa & fitness (9.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, its maiden voyage was in 2013 (vs 1998) and it has 37 cruises on sale (vs 7).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Radiance | Carnival Sunshine | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1998 | 2013 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2021 | 2021 |
| Gross tonnage | 101,509 | 102,853 |
| Passengers | 2,984 | 3,002 |
| Crew | 1,108 | 1,040 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 (better) | 2.9 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 34.0 | 34.3 (better) |
| Decks | 13 | 12 |
| Length | 893 ft | 892 ft |
| Beam | 125 ft | 116 ft |
| Speed | 24 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 7 | 37 |
| Upcoming sailings | 227 | 78 |
| Cruise lengths | 3–14 nights | 4–15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $237 (better) | $423 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Radiance leads on 6 of the ten, Carnival Sunshine on 3, with 1 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Radiance
Carnival Radiance, formerly Carnival Victory, has been reengineered and reimagined from stem to stern for short jaunts out of Long Beach, Calif., to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico, where cruisers can enjoy beaches, shopping and excursions. The ship debuted in November 2021.
Sailing now
7 cruises on sale, from $237.
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 Radiance or Carnival Sunshine?
Which is bigger, Carnival Radiance or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunshine is bigger at 102,853 gross tons, against 101,509 gross tons for Carnival Radiance. Carnival Radiance carries 2,984 passengers and Carnival Sunshine carries 3,002.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Radiance or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunshine is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2013 against 1998 for Carnival Radiance.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Sunshine, with 34.3 gross tons per passenger against 34.0 on Carnival Radiance. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Carnival Radiance, with one crew member for every 2.7 passengers against one for every 2.9 on Carnival Sunshine.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Radiance scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 7.8 for Carnival Sunshine.
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