Carnival Cruise Lines is to spend $155m on the refit of Carnival Destiny, before renaming it Carnival Sunshine and deploying it for a series of Mediterrean cruises in summer 2013, followed by the launch of a year-round service from New Orleans.
Representing Carnival’s most ambitious refit and transformation project ever, the refit of Carnival Destiny will add 182 cabins and incorporate all of the line’s “Fun Ship 2.0” dining, bar and entertainment features, as well as a variety of exciting new innovations.
The redesign will also include a reconfigured layout, the addition of a partial deck and the expansion of two other decks within the forward section of the ship, providing the opportunity to incorporate a number of new on-board spaces.
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.
Carnival Sunshine will boast a range of new eating options, including Mexican, Italian and Mongolian cuisine. All of the main dining rooms will be completely renovated, offering extensive menus and wine lists.
Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and chief executive, said: “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.”