Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Splendor
- Cruises
- 21
- From
- $323
Ship comparison
Carnival Splendor vs Carnival Sunrise
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Sunrise
- Cruises
- 12
- From
- $189
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Splendor is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,006 passengers, in service since 2008. Carnival Sunrise is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 2,984 passengers, in service since 1999.
Choose Carnival Splendor if you want a better-rated spa and gym, better-rated staterooms or a newer ship: it outscores Carnival Sunrise for spa & fitness (10.0 vs 7.0) and staterooms (8.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2008 (vs 1999).
Choose Carnival Sunrise if you want a lower starting fare: its cruises start from $189 (vs $323).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Splendor | Carnival Sunrise | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2008 (better) | 1999 |
| Gross tonnage | 113,300 | 101,509 |
| Passengers | 3,006 | 2,984 |
| Crew | 1,150 | 1,108 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.6 (better) | 2.7 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 37.7 (better) | 34.0 |
| Decks | 13 | 14 |
| Length | 952 ft | 893 ft |
| Beam | 144 ft | 116 ft |
| Speed | 24 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 6 / 10 | 8 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 21 | 12 |
| Upcoming sailings | 102 | 116 |
| Cruise lengths | 2–15 nights | 4–6 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $323 | $189 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Splendor leads on 3 of the ten, Carnival Sunrise on 0, with 7 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Splendor
Carnival Splendor offers a host of innovative onboard features and facilities, highlighted by a 21,000-square-foot health and fitness center — one of the largest at sea — which features Carnival Cruise Line's first thermal suite and thalassotherapy pool covered by a glass dome.
Highlights
- Relaxing at the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat
- Testing your luck at the onboard casino
- Splishing and splashing on the Twister Waterslide
Sailing now
21 cruises on sale, from $323.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Sunrise
The 2,984-passenger Carnival Sunrise is an action-packed vessel offering warm-weather getaways mostly to the Caribbean. The Carnival Cruise Line ship underwent a $155 million makeover a few years back and emerged as the second ship in its Sunshine class along with sister ships Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Victory.
Highlights
- Four swimming pools — one with a sliding dome and one especially for the children
- Shuffleboard, volleyball and ping pong at City Sports Park
- Relaxation at Spa Carnival
Sailing now
12 cruises on sale, from $189.
Questions
Carnival Splendor or Carnival Sunrise?
Which is bigger, Carnival Splendor or Carnival Sunrise?
Carnival Splendor is bigger at 113,300 gross tons, against 101,509 gross tons for Carnival Sunrise. Carnival Splendor carries 3,006 passengers and Carnival Sunrise carries 2,984.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Splendor or Carnival Sunrise?
Carnival Splendor is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2008 against 1999 for Carnival Sunrise.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Splendor, with 37.7 gross tons per passenger against 34.0 on Carnival Sunrise. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Carnival Splendor, with one crew member for every 2.6 passengers against one for every 2.7 on Carnival Sunrise.
Which is better for families?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10.
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