Carnival Sunshine sails with fanfare from new Canaveral homeCarnival Sunshine sails with fanfare from new Canaveral home

The former Carnival Destiny emerged from a $155m renovation a year ago that added staterooms and dining, bar and entertainment features. It has redeployed from New Orleans, swapping places with Carnival Dream.

Carnival Sunshine will sail year-round from the Central Florida port on five- to eight-day cruises to Key West, the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Carnival Sunshine continues the line’s nearly 25-year relationship with Port Canaveral while further bolstering its leadership position at the port. Together with Carnival Sensation and, starting in May, Carnival Liberty (replacing Carnival Ecstasy), Carnival expects to carry 600,000 passengers annually from the port—more than any operator.

Carnival Sunshine brings all the Fun Ship 2.0 innovations to the Space Coast and provides the greatest diversity of destinations and cruise lengths ever available from Port Canaveral, according to Carnival president and ceo Gerry Cahill.

'Central Florida is one of our fastest-growing markets and our continued growth at Port Canaveral would not be possible without the tremendous support from the Canaveral Port Authority, numerous community leaders and many highly valued travel agent partners,' he added.

'Port Canaveral is proud to homeport the latest innovative ship from Carnival Cruise Lines and we look forward to the continuation of this long-time successful partnership,' said port ceo John Walsh. 'Carnival Sunshine will provide our community with expanded business opportunities and more vacation choices for both our residents and visitors.'