September 5, 2026
5-Night Bahamas Cruise
Departing from Miami
From
$364
Price / day
$73
Carnival Sunrise|Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Sunrise vs Carnival Sunshine
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
Carnival Sunrise
Carnival Cruise Line
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
Carnival Sunrise
Built in 1999
3 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Sunrise
$77 / day
$32 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Carnival Sunshine
34.3 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Carnival Sunrise vs Carnival Sunshine: Quick Comparison
Carnival Sunrise is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 1999, it is 3 years newer than Carnival Sunshine, which entered service in 1996. Carnival Sunshine is approximately 1% larger by gross tonnage at 102,853 GT. Carnival Sunshine also carries 18 more passengers. Carnival Sunrise has upcoming sailings in Bahamas, while Carnival Sunshine has sailings in Canada and Bahamas. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Carnival Sunrise 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 Sunrise | Carnival Sunshine |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 1999Newer | 1996 |
| Gross Tonnage | 101,509 GT | 102,853 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 2,984 | 3,002 |
| Space per Passenger | 34 GT | 34.3 GT |
| Length | 272.82 m | 272.2 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Carnival Sunrise vs Carnival Sunshine
Age
Carnival Sunrise was built in 1999, making it 3 years newer than Carnival Sunshine, which was built in 1996.
Size
At 102,853 GT, Carnival Sunshine is approximately 1% larger by gross tonnage than Carnival Sunrise at 101,509 GT.
Passenger capacity
Carnival Sunshine carries up to 3,002 passengers compared with 2,984 aboard Carnival Sunrise, a difference of 18 passengers.
Passenger space
Carnival Sunshine offers more space per passenger: 34.3 GT per guest, compared with 34 aboard Carnival Sunrise. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Sunshine cover a similar region and trip length.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Sunrise has the lower average starting price per day at $77 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Carnival Sunrise
5-Day The Bahamas from Miami, FL
- Departure Port
- Miami
- Region
- Bahamas
- Nights
- 5
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 5, 2026Miami
- Day 2 · Sep 6, 2026At Sea
- Day 3 · Sep 7, 2026RelaxAway
- Day 4 · Sep 8, 2026Nassau
- Day 5 · Sep 9, 2026Celebration Key™
- Day 6 · Sep 10, 2026Miami
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 Sunrise
September 10, 2026
4-Night Bahamas Cruise
Departing from Miami
From
$321
Price / day
$80
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 Sunrise
Average
$77 / day
VS
Carnival Sunshine
Average
$109 / day
Carnival Sunrise is currently 29% cheaper per day for comparable sailings
$77/day vs $109/day
About $32 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 Sunrise if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Bahamas.
- Departing from Miami works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Choose Carnival Sunshine if…
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- 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 Sunrise.
Carnival Sunrise vs Carnival Sunshine: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Carnival Sunrise
Built in 1999
3 years newer
Bigger
Carnival Sunshine
102,853 GT
1% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Carnival Sunrise
$77 / day
About $32 less per day
- Carnival Sunrise is 3 years newer.
- Carnival Sunshine is 1% larger by gross tonnage.
- Carnival Sunshine carries 18 more passengers.
- Carnival Sunshine offers more space per passenger (34.3 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Carnival Sunrise or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunrise is newer. It was built in 1999, while Carnival Sunshine was built in 1996, making Carnival Sunrise 3 years newer.
Which is bigger, Carnival Sunrise or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunshine is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 102,853 GT compared with Carnival Sunrise at 101,509 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Carnival Sunshine has a passenger capacity of approximately 3,002, compared with 2,984 for Carnival Sunrise.
Which ship is more spacious, Carnival Sunrise or Carnival Sunshine?
Carnival Sunshine has the higher passenger space ratio at 34.3 GT per passenger, versus 34 for Carnival Sunrise. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Carnival Sunrise or Carnival Sunshine?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Carnival Sunrise has the lower average starting price per day at $77 per day versus $109 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Carnival Sunrise sail?
The upcoming Carnival Sunrise sailings currently listed cover Bahamas, departing from Miami.
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