In February 2012, the cruise ship Carnival Destiny was dry-docked in order to undergo a massive remodeling and transformation. The ship will emerge in April, after 49 days of being dry-docked, as the newly-named Carnival Sunshine. Carnival is investing more than $150 million into the ship’s extreme makeover, and cruise-goers familiar with the Carnival Destiny will notice the changes right away. The Carnival Sunshine will have new venues, new cabins, and travelers will notice changes in the food, bars, accommodations and activities, and even the itineraries.
- Food. Two new poolside restaurants will be available to those who want to grab a quick bite before going back to sunning and splashing. The surcharge-free Guy’s Burger Joint was created in conjunction with Guy Fieri, whom you may recognize as a popular Food Network personality and best-selling author. Guy’s Burger Joint offers, as you might expect, a variety of burgers served with seasoned fries. In the mood for something a little spicier? Complimentary Mexican eatery BlueIguana Cantina serves up burritos, tacos, and chips and salsa. You’ll also want to try the Cucina del Capitano, for Italian dishes like Spaghetti Carbonara and Nonna’s Linguine and Meatballs. The Italian restaurant is free for lunch and charges a fee for a full-service dinner. Also new to the Sunshine are the fee-free Pizzeria del Capitano and Comfort Kitchen station. The main dining rooms will also be getting new décor and new menu items.
- Bars. Some of the popular watering holes from other Carnival ships will now be available to Sunshine passengers. Stop into the RedFrog Pub for Carnival’s private label brew, ThirstyFrog Red. You can also stop at the Redfrog Rum Bar, which can be found poolside. Enjoy tequila-based cocktails and beers at the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, also found by the pool. Gamers and sports fans alike will enjoy the EA Sports Bar, where guests can play video games and watch live sporting events.
- Accommodations and Activities. The Carnival Sunshine is adding 182 new cabins to the ship. The Sunshine’s cabins will be decorated in a tropical style. The sun deck is being revamped to include a three-deck adults-only retreat called Serenity Space, a SportSquare recreation complex, and a kids’ water play area called Splash Zone. There will also be WaterWorks, a water slide attraction. And speaking of kid stuff, the children’s play areas have also been redesigned as well.
The first trips the Carnival Sunshine will make as it emerges from dry-docking, will be nine- and twelve-day Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona and Venice. In October, the Sunshine will head to its new home in New Orleans, and will start offering seven-night cruises departing from New Orleans to locations in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Florida.
