Charleston Gets New and Larger Year-Round Ship
Carnival Cruise Line will position a newer, larger ship to Charleston in May 2019 when the 3,002-passenger Carnival Sunshine moves to Charleston for year-round four- and five-day cruises.
Carnival Sunshine features a wide array of food, beverage and entertainment options, including WaterWorks aqua park and SportSquare recreation area, a three-deck-high adults-only retreat featuring a waterfall and adjoining pool and several specialty restaurants. Over 550 staterooms feature private balconies.
Carnival Sunshine moves to Charleston to begin four- and five-day itineraries on May 18, 2019. Four-day cruises will visit Nassau, Bahamas while five-day voyages will include a visit to Nassau and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay. Each of these destinations offers a fabulous beach day and plenty of water sports activities, including kayaking, paddle-boarding and snorkeling.
Among Carnival Sunshine’s dining and drinking venues are Ji Ji Asian Kitchen – serving Asian-Fusion selections, Havana Bar with its Cuban cocktails and live Latin music, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, and a favorite among Carnival guests – Guy’s Burger Joint.
Read more: 7 Reasons to Take a Shorter Cruise
Family-friendly choices include Seuss at Sea from Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Hasbro, The Game Show and complimentary children’s programs for kids in three age groups. Entertainment and activity choices are just as varied with high-tech Playlist Productions revues, the Punchliner Comedy Club offering adults-only and family-friendly performances, lively deck parties and live musical performances throughout the ship.
Outdoors you’ll find a lot to do: at WaterWorks there’s Speedway Splash with its dual-racing slides, SportSquare with a suspended ropes course with breathtaking views to the sea 150 feet below and a miniature golf course. The three-deck-high Serenity adults-only retreat is a great place to escape with its oversized umbrellas, comfortable chaise lounges and chairs, as well as a waterfall and its own pool.
Special 11-day Southern Caribbean cruise
In addition to the short cruises from Charleston, Carnival Sunshine will operate an 11-day Carnival Journeys cruise round-trip from Charleston Dec. 3-14, 2019, calling at St. Thomas, Aruba, Bonaire, Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay. This cruise will offer unique on-board experiences where guests can enjoy local cuisine, entertainment and cultural opportunities while at the various ports of call. Activities focusing on topics such as photography, cooking and arts and crafts and a special 1980s-themed “Throwback Sea Day” will be offered, as well.
“Who’s on first”?
Carnival Ecstasy, currently sailing out of Charleston, will relocate to Jacksonville, Fla., for year-round four- and five-day cruises beginning in May 2019. Carnival Elation, currently based in Jacksonville, will reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., in May 2019, for a new schedule of four- and five-day cruises from the Space Coast.
