Carnival Sunshine – which earlier this year underwent a massive 75-day, $155 million makeover that added a wide variety of new and expanded features – has been named “Best Ship Refurbishment” in Cruise Critic’s 2013 Editors’ Picks, which recognize cruise lines in a wide range of product- and service-related categories.
Carnival Sunshine was acknowledged for its incredible transformation – the ship “came out of dry dock nearly unrecognizable,” according to Cruise Critic editors. The ship’s makeover incorporated all of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 product innovations, from the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar and EA Sports Bar to the family friendly Hasbro, The Game Show and Guy’s Burger Joint developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, among others.
A number of innovations unique to Carnival Sunshine, including a stunning three-deck-high Serenity adults-only retreat, the Speedway Splash racing-themed water attraction, and exciting new food and beverage options such as Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, Havana Bar, ShakeSpot and JavaBlue Café, were also added, along with 182 new staterooms.
Currently sailing in Europe, Carnival Sunshine will make its U.S. debut in New Orleans next month operating a series of seven-day Caribbean cruises before repositioning to Port Canaveral, Fla., for year-round five- to eight-day Caribbean departures beginning in April 2014.