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$200m re-do will transform Carnival Triumph into Carnival Sunrise

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Behold the 'new' Carnival Sunrise, to debut April 29, 2019, in Norfolk
Carnival Cruise Line will spend nearly $200m to make over its 1999-built Carnival Triumph with the brand's latest food, beverage and entertainment features. The ship will re-emerge as Carnival Sunrise.

Just as Carnival transformed cruising's first ship larger than 100,000gt, the 1996-built Carnival Destiny, into Carnival Sunshine in 2013 (for $155m), this project will touch all areas, including accommodations.

Carnival Cruise Line's first dry dock at Cadiz

The work will take place in Cadiz, Spain, starting March 1, 2019. After a renaming ceremony, Carnival Sunrise will begin sailing from Norfolk, Virginia, April 29. Cruises from New York and Fort Lauderdale follow.

'For a number of years, we've been investing heavily to upgrade and enhance our ships,' Carnival's chief operating officer Gus Antorcha said. 'We're adding new amenities and features our guests love.'

This will be the Carnival brand's first docking in Cadiz; the ship will spend 38 days in the dock and be out of service 59 days.

All staterooms will be updated with island-inspired decor in bright colors and soothing pastels. Two luxurious Captain's Suites will be added above the bridge.

Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Cue Smokehouse

Food additions include Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Cue Smokehouse, Bonsai Express, Cucina del Capitano, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, a Lido Marketplace with a Seafood Shack, Pizzeria del Capitano and Deli, a glass-enclosed Chef's Table in the forward dining room, and expanded JavaBlue Café and Cherry on Top candy shop.

New lounges/bars include a multipurpose Liquid Lounge housing Punchliner Comedy Club, Playlist Productions revues and Hasbro, The Game Show. An amped-up Piano Bar 88 will have new decor. A RedFrog Pub will be installed.

Outside, Carnival Sunrise will have a SportsSquare with a suspended ropes course, basketball court, miniature golf and other recreational activities. The new WaterWorks will offer a long AquaTunnel slide, a Twister slide, PowerDrencher dumping bucket and kiddie area. An adults-only Serenity area will be added, too.

The Cloud 9 spa will be expanded, and a new Camp Ocean for kids and new Circle 'C' and Club O2 areas for teens are in the plans. Retail will be enlarged, as well, into a mall-like shopping area.

Captain's Suites

Antorcha said 'a handful' of cabins will be added, including the two Captain's Suites above the bridge wings, with 'incredible views from floor-to-ceiling windows, the same views as the captain has.'

Following Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph is the line's oldest Destiny-class ship. Now, like the former Destiny, it will bcome part of the Sunshine class.

The ship currently sails from New Orleans but, as previously announced, changes in Carnival's Gulf of Mexico deployment will see it replaced by sister ship Carnival Valor. Triumph's new routes were also outlined earlier

Norfolk, New York and Port Everglades

Antorcha said it hasn't been decided where Carnival Sunrise will be renamed, though that will take place stateside. The inaugural seven-day cruise from Norfolk on April 29 will be followed by several five- and six-day sailings.

Carnival Sunrise will then reposition to New York for a series of four- to 14-day voyages beginning May 23. The schedule includes four- to eight-day Bermuda cruises, seven-day Canada/New England fall foliage cruises and two different eight-day Caribbean itineraries. Several longer voyages, including a 14-day 'Carnival Journeys' Panama Canal cruise, are also in store.

The ship's next home will be Port Everglades, for four- and five-day cruises beginning Oct. 28, 2019. The five-day itinerary includes Cuba.

More refurbishments to come

Antorcha said further ship refurbishments are in the cards for 2019 and 2020.

'Our strategy is adding amazing features that guests love to all our ships—every homeport, every ship, every itinerary.'