Carnival Destiny to Become Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Cruise Lines will be undertaking its biggest renovation yet in early 2013 when Carnival Destiny will undergo 49 days in drydock and $155 million in investment, emerging as Carnival Sunshine. This is part of the line’s $500 million Fun Ship 2.0 initiative, but it is an exceptionally large part. Drydock for the Liberty, Glory and Conquest are set at two weeks each.

President and CEO Gerry Cahill described it as “our most ambitious ship conversion project to date and it will radically transform the Carnival Destiny into essentially an entirely new ship…”

Among the changes is the addition of 182 new staterooms, 96 of which are spa staterooms, bringing the passenger count from 2,624 to 3,006. Lania Rittenhouse, vice president of product development, said the company is adding a partial deck forward (Deck 14), that will house the top level of a three-deck adults’ Serenity area. Staterooms are being added in the aft portion of Deck 5, as well, replacing a lounge there. “We’re looking carefully at relaxed and high-energy areas and grouping them,” Rittenhouse said.

Additions to the Lido Deck will include a new Comfort Kitchen, featuring favorites like mac and cheese and meatloaf, and an Asian restaurant that will follow the Cucina pattern of complimentary lunches and table service with a small fee for dinner. The Cucina restaurant also will be added, along with Guy’s Burger Joint, the BlueIguana Cantina, RedFrog Pub, RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar and much more. Carnival's Seaside Theatre and The Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez will also be installed.

Kids and teens’ facilities will have new features, including an outdoor seating area in Club 02.

Carnival Sunshine will launch a series of Mediterranean cruises beginning with a 14-day Venice to Barcelona cruise departing April 12, 2013. She will then operate nine- and 12-day Mediterranean cruises either roundtrip from Barcelona or sailing between Barcelona and Venice.  After a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing departing Barcelona Nov. 1, 2013, Sunshine will be deployed year-round in New Orleans one three seven-day itineraries: Western Caribbean, Exotic Western and Bahamas/Florida.

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