Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Sunrise
- Cruises
- 12
- From
- $189
Ship comparison
Carnival Sunrise vs Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Sunshine
- Cruises
- 37
- From
- $423
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Sunrise is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 2,984 passengers, in service since 1999. Carnival Sunshine is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,002 passengers, in service since 2013.
Choose Carnival Sunrise if you want a lower starting fare: its cruises start from $189 (vs $423).
Choose Carnival Sunshine if you want a more active cruise, a newer ship or a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores Carnival Sunrise for active (6.5 vs 4.0) and spa & fitness (9.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2013 (vs 1999).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Sunrise | Carnival Sunshine | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Cruise Line |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1999 | 2013 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 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 | 14 | 12 |
| Length | 893 ft | 892 ft |
| Beam | 116 ft | 116 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 (better) | 7 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 12 | 37 |
| Upcoming sailings | 116 | 78 |
| Cruise lengths | 4–6 nights | 4–15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $189 (better) | $423 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Sunrise leads on 2 of the ten, Carnival Sunshine on 3, with 5 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
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.
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 Sunrise or Carnival Sunshine?
Which is bigger, Carnival Sunrise or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunshine is bigger at 102,853 gross tons, against 101,509 gross tons for Carnival Sunrise. Carnival Sunrise carries 2,984 passengers and Carnival Sunshine carries 3,002.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Sunrise or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunshine is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2013 against 1999 for Carnival Sunrise.
Which has more space per passenger?
Carnival Sunshine, with 34.3 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 Sunrise, with one crew member for every 2.7 passengers against one for every 2.9 on Carnival Sunshine.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Sunrise scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 7.8 for Carnival Sunshine.
Still deciding?
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