Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Splendor
- Cruises
- 21
- From
- $323
Ship comparison
Carnival Splendor vs Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Sunshine
- Cruises
- 37
- From
- $423
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Splendor is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,006 passengers, in service since 2008. Carnival Sunshine is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,002 passengers, in service since 2013.
Choose Carnival Splendor if you want better-rated staterooms, a better-rated spa and gym or a lower starting fare: it outscores Carnival Sunshine for staterooms (8.0 vs 6.0) and spa & fitness (10.0 vs 9.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $323 (vs $423).
Choose Carnival Sunshine if you want a more active cruise or a newer ship: it outscores Carnival Splendor for active (6.5 vs 4.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2013 (vs 2008).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Splendor | Carnival Sunshine | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2008 | 2013 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2021 |
| Gross tonnage | 113,300 | 102,853 |
| Passengers | 3,006 | 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 | 37.7 (better) | 34.3 |
| Decks | 13 | 12 |
| Length | 952 ft | 892 ft |
| Beam | 144 ft | 116 ft |
| Speed | 24 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 21 | 37 |
| Upcoming sailings | 102 | 78 |
| Cruise lengths | 2–15 nights | 4–15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $323 (better) | $423 |
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 4 of the ten, Carnival Sunshine on 2, with 4 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 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 Splendor or Carnival Sunshine?
Which is bigger, Carnival Splendor or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Splendor is bigger at 113,300 gross tons, against 102,853 gross tons for Carnival Sunshine. Carnival Splendor carries 3,006 passengers and Carnival Sunshine carries 3,002.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Splendor or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunshine is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2013 against 2008 for Carnival Splendor.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Splendor, with 37.7 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 Splendor, with one crew member for every 2.6 passengers against one for every 2.9 on Carnival Sunshine.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Splendor 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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