New Orleans Welcome for Carnival Sunshine

Naming Ceremony

Back in May, the Carnival Sunshine emerged from dry-dock after the $155m refurbishment of the Carnival Destiny which brought new features, such as the new dining options and waterpark to what is now known as Carnival Sunshine.

The ship was sailing in Europe until this past weekend when it arrived in New Orleans which will be its new home through May 2014.

Farewell Destiny Hello Sunshine

On Sunday, Lin Arison, wife of the late Ted Arison, Founder of Carnival Cruise Line, named the ship following an event that paid homage to the arts.   About 600 people were in attendance for the
performance by YoungArts, which included jazz classics, tap-dancing and modern dance.  

On stage in the Liquid Lounge theater, Arison, along with Sunshine Captain Giuseppe Giusa, pulled a ribbon attached to an oversized replica of a Champagne bottle -- the crowd then watched on video monitors as the real thing smashed on the hull of the ship as is the nautical tradition.
 
Carnival's Senior Cruise Director John Heald recaps the Carnival Sunshine's naming ceremony in this video:
   

Senior Cruise Director 

John Heald Tours 

Carnival Sunshine

How do you breath new life into a 17 year old cruise ship?  

 

Watch these videos as Senior Cruise Directory John Heald takes you on a guided tour of the changes made to what was previously known as Carnival Destiny.  You will be amazed at the transformation.  It's just as good as having a brand new ship introduced to the fleet and it becomes more cost effective.

 

 

Farewell Destiny Hello Sunshine

Destiny Went In and Sunshine has Emerged

Serenity Deck on Carnival Sunshine   Courtesy CCL

The long awaited transformation of Carnival Destiny into the Carnival Sunshine is now complete as the ship sailed it's inaugural voyage out of Venice with some work remaining to be completed.

This is amongst the largest re-makes in the cruise industry and certainly the largest undertaking for a Carnival cruise ship.   See what you think...

  Watch the Transformation of Carnival Destiny into Carnival Sunshine   
Inaugural Voyage Not All Sunshine

When the revitalized Carnival Sunshine set sail from Venice on its inaugural 12-Night Mediterranean voyage on May 5th, there still was some work to be done to totally complete the transformation. It wasn't until 3 days before the cruise ended that the new WaterWorks Aqua Park was opened to the public. The Rope Course was another feature that was unavailable until near the end of the voyage.

Since Mediterranean cruises are so sightseeing intensive, there might not have been a lot of time to enjoy the facilities on board the ship anyway, but Carnival did the right thing and compensated passengers with a $150 on board credit.

Was It Worth the Wait?

The $155M transformation had originally been slated to be completed by April, but the Carnival Triumph fire that left that ship stranded had a cascading effect on the entire Carnival fleet.   President and CEO Gerry Cahill promised to increase operating redundancies, emergency power and fire prevention, detection and suppression systems fleetwide, so the dry-dock was extended to complete that work on the new Carnival Sunshine.

Read more about the delays: Carnival Triumph & Sunshine Returns Delayed

Carnival Sunshine becomes the first ship in the Carnival fleet to have all of the Fun Ship 2.0 features as well as the first ship to deploy the new safety improvements making it an ideal ship for your next vacation at sea.

Want to Learn more about Fun Ship 2.0? TOUCH this Image and then move your mouse over the various interactive buttons.  Watch Videos, View Menus, Get More Facts.   Enjoy !!

 

 Highlights:

• A fleet first: Carnival Sunshine's WaterWorks area introduces Speedway Splash, featuring two lanes of long-distance waterslide racing action.
• With a brand-new Cloud 9 Spa, plus 95 brand-new Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms, Carnival Sunshine practically floats on air!
• Carnival Sunshine's Serenity Adults-Only Retreat spans three decks, which means relaxation on a whole new level... or two, actually.
• Hungry for something new? Carnival Sunshine will feature 10 dining venues that are either brand-new or completely redesigned.
• Even with all the added decks, staterooms and fun features, Carnival Sunshine's weight will only grow by about 1% (from 101,353 to 102,853 tons).
• 3,006 passenger capacity, 1,150 onboard crew, 893 length in feet

Learn more about the changes:  Destiny Goes In Sunshine Comes Out

Click for Carnival Sunshine Sailings

Destiny + 49 Days = Sunshine

What happens if you take Carnival Destiny out of service for 49 days?

Destiny Goes In Sunshine Comes Out

Update:  Return to Service now May 5th, 2 European Cruises Cancelled

Carnival Triumph & Sunshine Returns Delayed

Last March we wrote the article above about the $155M project that Carnival Cruise Lines announced which will transform Carnival Destiny into the new Carnival Sunshine. The makeover incorporates all of the line’s “Fun Ship 2.0” dining, bar and entertainment features, as well as a variety of exciting innovations unique to this vessel. (Click on the title above to learn more about the specific changes.)

Highlights:

• A fleet first: Carnival Sunshine's WaterWorks area introduces Speedway Splash, featuring two lanes of long-distance waterslide racing action.
• With a brand-new Cloud 9 Spa, plus 95 brand-new Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms, Carnival Sunshine practically floats on air!
• Carnival Sunshine's Serenity Adults-Only Retreat spans three decks, which means relaxation on a whole new level... or two, actually.
• Hungry for something new? Carnival Sunshine will feature 10 dining venues that are either brand-new or completely redesigned.
• Even with all the added decks, staterooms and fun features, Carnival Sunshine's weight will only grow by about 1% (from 101,353 to 102,853 tons).
• 3,006 passenger capacity, 1,150 onboard crew, 893 length in feet

Click for Carnival Sunshine Sailings

Destiny Goes In Sunshine Comes Out

49 Days + $155m = Sunshine

Carnival Destiny will undergo a $155 million makeover next year that will incorporate all of the line’s “Fun Ship 2.0” dining, bar and entertainment features, as well as a variety of exciting innovations unique to this vessel.

Next February, Carnival Destiny will go into a 49-day dry dock at Fincantieri shipyards. This project represents the most ambitious refit and transformation that Carnival Cruise Line has ever done.

 

During the dry dock, Carnival Destiny will be transformed into Carnival Sunshine, which will emerge from the shipyard with a reconfigured layout, the addition of a partial deck, and the expansion of two other decks within the forward section of the ship.  This transformation  provides the opportunity to incorporate a number of new and exciting on-board spaces. 182 cabins will be added, as well.

Update:  Return to Service now May 5th 2013, 2 European Cruises Cancelled

Carnival Triumph & Sunshine Returns Delayed

Following the dry dock, Carnival Sunshine will embark on a schedule of nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona and Venice from April to October 2013 then launch year-round seven-day Caribbean departures from New Orleans beginning November 2013.

“This is our most ambitious ship conversion project to date and it will radically transform the Carnival Destiny into essentially an entirely new ship offering a variety of exciting dining and beverage choices, spectacular outdoor spaces and entertainment options, and on-board innovations not available anywhere else" said Gerry Cahill, Carnival President and CEO.

Fun Ship 2.0 + New Features

• A full-service Asian restaurant inspired by the line’s popular Mongolian wok casual eateries , with no charge for lunch, but a nominal fee for dinner.
• The Comfort Kitchen: Located in the Lido Marketplace, it will offer a tempting array of American-style “comfort food” entrees and side dishes.
• Havana Bar, a tropical-inspired nightspot located aft within Lido Marketplace featuring a panoramic ocean view from its floor to ceiling windows and offering a unique and memorable venue for cocktails, live Latin music and dancing.
• New Sunshine Bar, an elegant lounge with sun-splashed interiors located at the lobby level of the ship’s towering atrium.
• A new cigar bar concept offering fine cigars and a variety of brandies, cognacs and liqueurs, ideal for pre- or post-dinner drinks and conversation.


• Carnival’s first three-deck-high Serenity adults-only retreat, with plush chaise lounges and chairs, a whirlpool, a cascading waterfall, teak-planked decks, a pool and complimentary dining area.
• SportSquare, Carnival Sunshine’s new open-air recreation complex that includes a ropes course, mini-golf course, a lighted half court for basketball and volleyball among other sporting amenities.  

Mediterranean Cruises

• 14-day Venice to Barcelona (Apr 6-23, 2013)
• 9 and 12-day R/T Barcelona or Between Barcelona and Venice (18 voyages)
• Ports include: Marseilles, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Livorno (Pisa/Florence) and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Transatlantic Cruise

•  16-day departing Barcelona Nov1 arriving New Orleans Nov 17, 2013

Year-round Deployment - New Orleans

• 6-day from New Orleans (Nov 18-24, 2013)
• 7-day schedule begins Nov 24, 2013 (3 different itineraries)
• western Caribbean route to Belize City, Belize; Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan, and Cozumel, Mexico
• Bahamas/Florida schedule to Key West, Fla., Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas
• western Caribbean departures to Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel

Carnival Sunshine will replace Carnival Conquest, which is currently based in New Orleans. Additional details on the Carnival Conquest deployment will be announced in the near future.

Cruise Itineary Changes Due to Matthew

NHC Experimental Graphic TS Matthew  (click for latest)

Tropical Storm Matthew is producing heavy rainfall in Central America.  Carnival Cruise Line has altered several itineraries as a result of this storm.   We will continue to bring you updates from Carnival and other cruise lines as they become available.    Since these advisories can occur at any time, we have also included links so that you can see if the information has been updated.

For details about the storm itself, see related blog post:

Tropical Storm Matthew Prompts Hurricane Warnings

Carnival Cruise Line :  (click for latest update)


TROPICAL WEATHER UPDATE 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 – 6:00 PM
We are closely monitoring Tropical Storm Matthew which has developed in the Gulf of Mexico.  Based on the current information, we will be making changes to the following itineraries to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests.

Carnival Cruise Line Itinerary Changes
Carnival Destiny: Day    Port                         Arrive        Depart  Sat     Miami                                       4:00PM Sun    Fun Day at Sea Mon   Grand Cayman     7:00AM    4:00PM Tue    Ocho Rios             7:30AM    3:30PM Wed   Fun Day at Sea Thu    Miami                     8:00AM	Carnival Elation: Day    Port                         Arrive        Depart Sat     Mobile                                      4:00PM Sun    Fun Day at Sea Mon    Freeport               11:00AM   6:00PM Tue    Key West               9:00 AM    5:00PM Wed   Fun Day at Sea Thu    Mobile                   8:00 AM
Carnival Freedom: Day   Port                            Arrive      Depart  Sat    Ft. Lauderdale                         4:00PM Sun   Fun Day at Sea Mon   San Juan                 5:00PM   Midnight Tue   St. Thomas              7:00AM    6:00PM Wed  Antigua                     7:00AM    6:00PM Thu   Tortola                       7:00AM   3:30PM Fri     Fun Day at Sea Sat    Nassau                     Noon      7:00PM Sun Ft. Lauderdale           8:00AM	Carnival Inspiration: Day   Port of Call                Arrive       Depart        Sat   Tampa                                         4:00PM Sun   Key West                   Noon    10:00PM Mon   Fun Day at Sea Tue   Grand Cayman         8:00AM   5:00PM Wed   Fun Day at Sea Thu   Tampa                       8:00AM
Carnival Liberty: Day   Port                             Arrive       Depart Sat    Miami                                          4:00PM Sun   Fun Day at Sea Mon  Ocho Rios                 9:30AM    5:30PM Tue   Grand Cayman         9:00AM   6:00PM Wed  Fun Day at Sea Thu   Cozumel                     8:00AM   5:00PM Fri      Fun Day at Sea Sat     Miami                         8:00AM	Carnival Triumph: Day   Port of Call                 Arrive       Depart        Sat    New Orleans                                4:00PM Sun   Fun Day at Sea Mon   Key West                   10:00AM    6:00PM Tue    Fun Day at Sea Wed  Isla Roatan                  8:00AM    6:00PM Thu   Cozumel                       9:00AM    5:00PM Fri      Fun Day at Sea Sat    New Orleans               8:00AM

In addition, all of Carnival’s other ships are operating the scheduled itineraries.

We will post updates on Carnival.com as new information becomes available.  Most importantly, we look forward to welcoming our guests onboard this weekend.

Links to other  Cruise Lines

MSC CRUISES: 


Norwegian Cruise Line:

Royal Caribbean International:  

Celebrity Cruises: 

Tropical Storm Bonnie Aims for Bahamas and Gulf

5-Day Forecast Cone for Tropical Storm Bonnie (Credit: NOAA NHC)

Click for Current 5-Day Graphic

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

FINAL UPDATE:  400 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 2010
...BONNIE DEGENERATES INTO A DISORGANIZED AREA OF LOW PRESSURE...

Ships working on Gulf Oil Spill Return After TS Passes 

  200 PM EDT FRI JUL 23 2010

...BONNIE...LESS ORGANIZED...MOVING RAPIDLY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD OVER
THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA...

Tropical Depression Three has become the second named storm in the Atlantic basin for the 2010 Hurricane Season.   The storm produced heavy rains over the Bahamas and continued towards the Gulf of Mexico. Bonnie is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches over south Florida with possible isolated maximum amounts of 5 inches. NHC issuing advisories on TS BONNIE

Current Watches & Warnings

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* THE FLORIDA WEST COAST FROM EAST CAPE SABLE NORTHWARD TO ENGLEWOOD
* DESTIN FLORIDA TO MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA...INCLUDING LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.

Discussion & Outlook

SUMMARY OF 200 PM EDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION (23 Jul)

LOCATION...25.8N 81.1W
ABOUT 55 MI...90 KM ESE OF NAPLES FLORIDA
ABOUT 75 MI...120 KM SE OF FT. MYERS FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1008 MB...29.77 INCHES

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  THESE WINDS ARE CONFINED TO A FEW RAINBANDS. NO IMPORTANT
CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST WHILE BONNIE CROSSES THE FLORIDA
PENINSULA. HOWEVER...SOME SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE WHEN THE
CYCLONE MOVES OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES...140 KM
MAINLY TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE CENTER.

Cruise Line Advisories

Port of Key West Closed - July 22nd     (Details)

Ships Rescheduled

The two ships - Carnival's Destiny and Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas - have been rescheduled and will arrive in port on Sunday. Destiny will dock at the Outer Mole pier from 12:30 until 8 p.m. and the Grandeur will be at Pier B from 2 until 8 p.m.

 
CCL: www.carnival.com      Weather Update
Updated: July 22, 2010
In an effort to ensure the safety and comfort of all our guests, we are closely monitoring the path of Tropical Depression #3.  At this point, the port of Key West will be closed on Friday, 07/23.  This will impact the Carnival Destiny 07/22/10 departure requiring that we reverse the sequence of port calls.  Our revised itinerary is as follows:
Day      Port of Call                  Arrive              Depart                                            
Thu      Miami, FL                                            4:00PM
Fri        Fun Day at Sea                      
Sat       Cozumel                     7:00AM           4:00PM
Sun      Key West, FL              12:30PM         8:00PM                                  
Mon     Miami, FL                    8:00AM

We will continue to provide further updates if other developments occur.


RCI: www.royalcaribbean.com     Tropical Weather Update
July 23, 2010 - 10:00 AM EST
Royal Caribbean International

Since the U.S. Coast Guard closed the Port of Key West due to Tropical Storm Bonnie, Grandeur of the Seas was unable to make its scheduled port call there today. The ship is sailing directly to Cozumel, Mexico, where it will arrive on Saturday. No other Royal Caribbean International ship's itinerary is currently being affected by Tropical Storm Bonnie.

Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises
Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises are closely monitoring the path and progress of tropical depression #3 to ensure our guests enjoy safe and comfortable cruises, and to make certain our ships steer clear of the storm.  The safety of our guests and crew members is always our foremost concern.

At this time, no Celebrity Cruises or Azamara Club Cruises ship is being affected by tropical weather.   We will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information if there are any changes.




HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND...WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE ALONG SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA
WHILE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS MAINLY IN SQUALLS ARE EXPECTED TO
SPREAD OVER SOUTHWEST FLORIDA DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

RAINFALL...BONNIE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF
1 TO 3 INCHES OVER SOUTH FLORIDA...WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS OF 5 INCHES.  

TORNADOES...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVER EXTREME SOUTHERN
FLORIDA LATER TODAY.

STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 3 TO 5 FEET ABOVE
GROUND LEVEL ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST NEAR AND TO THE RIGHT OF
WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL ON THE NORTHERN GULF COAST.

Tropical Storm Resources (click links below)
Tropical Storm BONNIE	National Hurricane Center
Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook	National Weather Service
Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion	Hurricane Preparedness
Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook (ATL)	Real-Time Hurricane Information
Active Storms	NOAA Satellites & Information
NASA: Latest Storm Images	WMO Severe Weather Information Centre
Real-time Monitoring (Atlantic)	The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Real-time Weather Sites	Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking