September 6, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Departing from New Orleans
From
$532
Price / day
$76
Carnival Liberty|Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Liberty vs Carnival Sunshine
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
Carnival Liberty
Carnival Cruise Line
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
Carnival Liberty
Built in 2005
9 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Liberty
$81 / day
$28 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Carnival Liberty
37 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Carnival Liberty vs Carnival Sunshine: Quick Comparison
Carnival Liberty is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2005, it is 9 years newer than Carnival Sunshine, which entered service in 1996. Carnival Liberty is approximately 7% larger by gross tonnage at 110,000 GT. Carnival Sunshine also carries 28 more passengers. Carnival Liberty has upcoming sailings in Western Caribbean and Bahamas, while Carnival Sunshine has sailings in Canada and Bahamas. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Carnival Liberty has the lower average starting price per day. The sailings shown cover a similar region and trip length, so the price per day figures are reasonably close to like-for-like. Cruise fares vary significantly by itinerary, departure date and cabin availability, so any price difference should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent gap.
Ship Comparison
| Spec | Carnival Liberty | Carnival Sunshine |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2005Newer | 1996 |
| Gross Tonnage | 110,000 GT | 102,853 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 2,974 | 3,002 |
| Space per Passenger | 37 GT | 34.3 GT |
| Length | 290.2 m | 272.2 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Carnival Liberty vs Carnival Sunshine
Age
Carnival Liberty was built in 2005, making it 9 years newer than Carnival Sunshine, which was built in 1996.
Size
At 110,000 GT, Carnival Liberty is approximately 7% larger by gross tonnage than Carnival Sunshine at 102,853 GT.
Passenger capacity
Carnival Sunshine carries up to 3,002 passengers compared with 2,974 aboard Carnival Liberty, a difference of 28 passengers.
Passenger space
Carnival Liberty offers more space per passenger: 37 GT per guest, compared with 34.3 aboard Carnival Sunshine. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Carnival Liberty and Carnival Sunshine cover a similar region and trip length.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Liberty has the lower average starting price per day at $81 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Carnival Liberty
7-Day Western Caribbean from New Orleans, LA
- Departure Port
- New Orleans
- Region
- Western Caribbean
- Nights
- 7
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 6, 2026New Orleans
- Day 2 · Sep 7, 2026At Sea
- Day 3 · Sep 8, 2026At Sea
- Day 4 · Sep 9, 2026Isla Tropicale
- Day 5 · Sep 10, 2026Belize
- Day 6 · Sep 11, 2026Cozumel
- Day 7 · Sep 12, 2026At Sea
- Day 8 · Sep 13, 2026New Orleans
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Carnival Sunshine
8-Day Canada from Norfolk, VA
- Departure Port
- Norfolk
- Region
- Canada
- Nights
- 8
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 5, 2026Norfolk
- Day 2 · Sep 6, 2026At Sea
- Day 3 · Sep 7, 2026At Sea
- Day 4 · Sep 8, 2026Saint John
- Day 5 · Sep 9, 2026Halifax
- Day 6 · Sep 10, 2026Sydney
- Day 7 · Sep 11, 2026At Sea
- Day 8 · Sep 12, 2026At Sea
- Day 9 · Sep 13, 2026Norfolk
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Carnival Liberty
September 13, 2026
7-Night Bahamas Cruise
Departing from New Orleans
From
$592
Price / day
$85
Carnival Sunshine
September 5, 2026
8-Night Canada Cruise
Departing from Norfolk
From
$845
Price / day
$106
September 13, 2026
6-Night Bahamas Cruise
Departing from Norfolk
From
$666
Price / day
$111
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Carnival Liberty
Average
$81 / day
VS
Carnival Sunshine
Average
$109 / day
Carnival Liberty is currently 26% cheaper per day for comparable sailings
$81/day vs $109/day
About $28 less per day
This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown.
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose Carnival Liberty if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- You want to sail in Western Caribbean and Bahamas.
- Departing from New Orleans works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Choose Carnival Sunshine if…
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Canada and Bahamas.
- Departing from Norfolk works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Carnival Liberty.
Carnival Liberty vs Carnival Sunshine: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Carnival Liberty
Built in 2005
9 years newer
Bigger
Carnival Liberty
110,000 GT
7% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Liberty
$81 / day
About $28 less per day
- Carnival Liberty is 9 years newer.
- Carnival Liberty is 7% larger by gross tonnage.
- Carnival Sunshine carries 28 more passengers.
- Carnival Liberty offers more space per passenger (37 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Carnival Liberty or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Liberty is newer. It was built in 2005, while Carnival Sunshine was built in 1996, making Carnival Liberty 9 years newer.
Which is bigger, Carnival Liberty or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Liberty is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 110,000 GT compared with Carnival Sunshine at 102,853 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Carnival Sunshine has a passenger capacity of approximately 3,002, compared with 2,974 for Carnival Liberty.
Which ship is more spacious, Carnival Liberty or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Liberty has the higher passenger space ratio at 37 GT per passenger, versus 34.3 for Carnival Sunshine. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Carnival Liberty or Carnival Sunshine?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Liberty has the lower average starting price per day at $81 per day versus $109 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Carnival Liberty sail?
The upcoming Carnival Liberty sailings currently listed cover Western Caribbean and Bahamas, departing from New Orleans.
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