In 2013, Carnival Sunshine had a $155 million makeover that added new bars, restaurants and top-deck features including a refurbished and expanded kids’ club. The design throughout is radically different from that found on the old Carnival ships. Colours are subtle and the palette throughout is distinctly soft. Sunshine still attracts Carnival’s highly diverse passengers of all ages. The ship’s friendly atmosphere is attractive to families.

[fa type=”bed”] Accommodation

The big change on Sunshine is the design: muted decor of whites and browns with blue carpeting and pillows has replaced the bright orange and pink found on previous ships. Standard inside, oceanview and balcony cabins each feature two twin beds that form a king when combined. Category 1A insides have bunks and decent storage options, including couches with inset drawers, bedside tables with shelves, and closets. The 32-square-metre Grand Suites, which have eight-square-metre balconies, are each one big room with a larger L-shaped sofa and a large closet in a separate room adjoining the bathroom. The bathroom includes a vanity desk and sink. They’re designed with marble-topped surfaces, full bathrooms with double-width shower-whirlpool tub combos, bidets, double sinks, marble flooring and mosaic tiles on the walls.

[fa type=”cutlery”] Food

A few additions in the ship are Guy’s Burger Joint, the BlueIguana Cantina and Cucina del Capitano.There are two main dining rooms: the double-deck Sunrise, and Sunset in the midship. The former offers fixed-seating dining nightly; the latter has open dining from 5.45pm to 9.30pm. Both restaurants feature salads, appetisers and chilled soups, with entrees consisting of pasta, meat, fish and vegetarian options. Breakfast and lunch are served in Sunrise. The menu items – omelets, cereals and breads for breakfast, and sandwiches, burgers and salads for lunch – are not much different than the buffet offerings, but they’re served in a more formal setting. The Lido Marketplace buffet has been extensively revamped. There are themed food areas such as pizza, comfort food and an excellent made-to-order deli. More casual dining options and seating spill out onto the ship’s main pool area. At the adjacent midship Beach Pool area, Guy’s Burger Joint serves heart-attack-inducing burgers with the option of mayo and oil-soaked onions or mushrooms.

[fa type=”ticket”] Activities

The headline-grabbing addition to Sunshine is Serenity, a triple-deck adults-only retreat, complete with hot tubs, cabanas, bars and a triple-height waterfall and plunge pool. It’s by far the biggest adults-only area Carnival has on any of its ships. The spa leads to the fitness centre, which offers all the latest cardio and weight-training equipment and a wide range of instructor-led exercise classes. Basic ones, such as stretching, are included in the cost of the cruise; Pilates, yoga, boot camp and spinning are $12 a class. Sunshine’s SportSquare includes a ropes course, mini-golf course, a basketball court, jogging track, table tennis, Foosball and pool tables. A running track goes around SportSquare and the basketball court.

[fa type=”group”] Families

The two biggest changes are WaterWorks and a completely revamped Camp Carnival, adjacent to it. The Camp Carnival play area caters for two- to 11-year-olds and is divided into three main sections, depending on age group. There are video game consoles, as well as swimming under the stars, scavenger hunts, sport challenges and various other fun activities. Circle C lounge has a dance floor, video jukebox, music, video game consoles and Fun Hub stations. Adjacent to Circle C is Club O2, a teen club where older kids can make new friends and dance to the latest hits cranked out from the D.J. booth. The ship also offers numerous kid-friendly culinary choices, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, 24-hour pizza and soft-serve ice cream, available in the casual poolside Lido Marketplace restaurant.

Verdict

With a variety of dining, activities and entertainment options, a kids’ club, teen disco and Carnival’s largest spa, there is something for everyone.

– Cruise Passenger

“Carnival decided to overhaul Destiny (now Carnival Sunshine) to include all of the elements of the “Fun Ship 2.0″ program, the half-billion-dollar fleetwide identity program that focuses on food, booze and entertainment.”

– Cruise Critic

“After a lengthy refurbishment, the ship shouts ‘Party, party, party!’ It’s a good ship for families with children.”

– Berlitz