Port Canaveral’s newest ship, the totally transformed Carnival Sunshine, will depart on its inaugural voyage from the Space Coast when it sails on a special two-day cruise to The Bahamas later today.

Carnival Sunshine will then kick off a year-round schedule of five- to eight-day voyages visiting spectacular destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida beginning April 19.
Carnival Sunshine is the first ship to feature all of the line’s fantastic Fun Ship 2.0 bar, dining and entertainment innovations which were added during a massive 75-day, $155 million makeover that was the most comprehensive in the company’s history.

Carnival Sunshine continues the line’s nearly 25-year relationship with Port Canaveral while further bolstering its leadership position at the port.  Including Carnival Sunshine, along with Carnival Sensation and a third year-round ship launching service next month, Carnival will carry a record 600,000 passengers annually from Port Canaveral – more than any cruise operator.   Carnival’s three Port Canaveral-based ships will operate 200 three- to eight-day voyages a year visiting 18 tropical destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida.

“Not only does Carnival Sunshine bring all of our Fun Ship 2.0 innovations to the Space Coast, it offers a lineup of cruises featuring the greatest diversity of destinations and cruise lengths ever offered from Port Canaveral,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO.  “Central Florida is one of our fastest-growing markets and our continued growth at Port Canaveral would not be possible without the tremendous support from the Canaveral Port Authority, numerous community leaders and many highly valued travel agent partners,” he added. 

“Port Canaveral is proud to homeport the latest innovative ship from Carnival Cruise Lines and we look forward to the continuation of this long-time successful partnership,” said Port Canaveral CEO John E. Walsh. “Carnival Sunshine will provide our community with expanded business opportunities and more vacation choices for both our residents and visitors.”

Carnival Sunshine will operate three different five-day eastern Caribbean sailings departing Sundays and featuring calls at Key West, Nassau, and Freeport; Nassau and Grand Turk; or Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Freeport.

Port-intensive seven-day cruises depart Saturdays to the eastern Caribbean and call at Nassau, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk, while week-long western Caribbean trips depart Saturdays and call at Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan); and Costa Maya.

Two different eight-day eastern Caribbean cruises depart Fridays or Saturdays, and call at Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten; or Grand Turk, St. Thomas, Tortola and St. Maarten. Eight-day southern Caribbean sailings depart Fridays or Saturdays and include Curaçao, Aruba and Grand Turk.