In 2013, she received a major refit and a rename, with sister ships Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Radiance following suit in 2019 and 2021 respectively.[8] At a ceremony in New Orleans on 17 November 2013, she was formally renamed, with Lin Arison once again serving as her godmother.[9][10]
Since May 2019 the ship has been homeported in Charleston, South Carolina.[11] It was originally planned to sail to Cuba from Charleston but those plans were cancelled after the Cuban travel ban in 2019.
In 2025 she is scheduled to reposition to Norfolk, Virginia where she will offer six and eight day cruises to the Caribbean.
On 6 March 2012, Carnival announced that Destiny would undergo a US$155-million dollar refit, and renaming of the ship as Carnival Sunshine.[12][13]Carnival Destiny went into dry dockinTrieste, Italy in 2013 to be refitted and renamed Carnival Sunshine. The refitting, which was completed in May 2013, was delayed by a month to install new back-up generator systems.[12][13] The ship was re-launched on 5 May 2013.
Carnival Sunshine, Ex Carnival Destiny After receiving modifications in 2013, in Curaçao 2014.
In late 2021, Carnival Sunshine was repainted into Carnival's new livery.
In May 2023, the ship suffered extensive damage in a storm. Crew were evacuated from their cabins on one deck due to flooding, and the crew bar was destroyed.[14]
Following a multimillion-dollar refurbishment in 2005, Carnival Destiny featured three pools, a variety of dining options, lounges, nightclubs, a casino and a spa. Carnival Destiny received more modifications in 2010, including a movie screen on the Lido deck and cabin renovations.[citation needed]
The 2013 refit included a racing themed waterpark with one of the biggest slides in Carnival's fleet.[15]
Other than an 18-day cruise across the Atlantic to position her for the refit in Italy, the ship has always operated from ports in the United States cruising primarily to Caribbean destinations.[16][17] The Carnival Sunshine is primarily doing three- to five-night voyages from Charleston that visit Nassau, Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Princess Cays. The ship also participated in the fun ship meet up in March 2022 to commemorate Carnival's 50th anniversary. It will also do various ten day voyages that visit St. Thomas, St. Martin, Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan, Princess Cays, Grand Turk, Aruba, and Bonaire.[citation needed]
In 2025 she is scheduled to reposition to Norfolk, Virginia where she will offer six and eight day cruises to the Caribbean.
