Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled additional details of the $155-million makeover that will transform Carnival Destiny into Carnival Sunshine during a 49-day dry dock in Italy. The ship will re-enter service in April 2013 with all of the dining, bar and entertainment elements of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement program, along with several exciting new features.
Among the new highlights are a new racing-themed water park featuring Carnival’s longest water slide, the tropical-themed Havana Bar, a full-service Asian restaurant and more.
Carnival fans who want to get a sneak peek at these and a variety of other fantastic features of the ship can visit here, which showcases a number of interior and exterior renderings and details the ship’s inaugural European and Caribbean itineraries.
Carnival is also hosting the “Bring Home Some Sunshine and Win” contest on its Facebook page, celebrating the company’s most comprehensive ship transformation project by awarding one lucky fan with a free Carnival Sunshine cruise for submitting “before and after photos” of a space that was transformed incorporating “sunshine.”
Here’s a look at the unique features only available on Carnival Sunshine:
Havana Bar, which by day serves as a casual gathering spot for relaxing with friends and enjoying Cuban coffee and Cuban finger foods such as pastelitos and croquetas, while at night transforms into a Cuban-inspired courtyard with a Latin vibe where guests can listen to live music, enjoy classic Cuban cocktails, and dance. Located aft within Lido Marketplace, Havana Bar’s interiors pay homage to Cuba’s past with palm trees, archways and vibrant tile work, along with floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic ocean views.
WaterWorks, an all-new water park travelers can zip down five different slides and interact with 40 different water features, including a 300-gallon drenching bucket that will serve as the signature element of the SplashZone kids’ water play area. Here, guests can race to the finish on Carnival’s newest ride, Speedway Splash, with dual side-by-side 235-foot-long slides with racers’ times displayed on a scoreboard and special lighting effects. Also available is the enclosed 334-foot-long Twister slide – Carnival’s longest – featuring a crystal clear turn that extends out over the edge of the ship.
A full-service Asian restaurant that will feature favorites from the Far East, enhanced by a décor of prayer rolls, wood-beamed ceilings and other design elements. The new restaurant will feature an open kitchen where guests can view chefs preparing a menu that will offer a variety of Asian specialties, including soups, appetizers, noodle and rice dishes, as well as seafood and meat delicacies (lunch is complimentary; $12 charge for dinner).
Shake Spot, a place where where guests can enjoy hand-crafted milkshakes. In addition to an island-inspired décor, Shake Spot will offer classic milkshakes and floats as well as tropical fruit shakes and “adult shakes and floats” made with Grand Marnier, Cointreau and other liqueurs, all available with a variety of toppings. Also available is an all-inclusive “Shake Lover’s Package."
Located adjacent to Shake Spot on Promenade Deck is JavaBlue Café, the place to connect, meet up and enjoy cappuccinos, lattes, espressos and other caffeinated favorites, as well as coffees made with liqueurs, along with confections such as extra-large cinnamon buns, giant cupcakes, and huge slices of red velvet cake meant to be shared within the venue’s island-infused atmosphere featuring comfortable seating and breathtaking views of the sea.
Pizzeria del Capitano, an expansion of the line’s popular Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, allows guests to watch as chefs prepare five different kinds of authentic Italian-style, thin-crusted pies all free of charge 24 hours a day and made in a traditional pizza oven which serves as the venue’s centerpiece.
Carnival Sunshine will also offer all of the elements that make up the line’s $500-million Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement program.
For more information, just visit www.carnival.com.