14 Night Spain & Bermuda Transatlantic
Royal Caribbean • Brilliance of the Seas
Nov 2, 2026 · 14 nights
Mediterranean
$959/person$68/night
View DealShip comparison
Brilliance of the Seas vs Carnival Sunshine
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Brilliance of the Seas wins 4 of 7 scored categories.
At a glance
Quick Compare
Category
Brilliance of the Seas
Carnival Sunshine
Size
90,090 GT
102,853 GT
Passengers
2,501
3,002
Year built
2002
1996
Crew ratio
3.0 guests per crew
2.6 guests per crew
Space ratio
36.0 GT per guest
34.3 GT per guest
Decks
No data
13
Length
293 m
272 m
From price
$229.12 pp
$571 pp
The verdict
Comparison Verdict
Carnival Sunshine is the larger vessel at 102,853 GT, 14% more than Brilliance of the Seas's 90,090 GT. Built in 2002, Brilliance of the Seas is 6 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design. Carnival Sunshine edges ahead in service at 2.6 guests per crew, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Capacity | Carnival Sunshine |
| Modernity | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Service | Carnival Sunshine |
| Spaciousness | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Decks | No data |
| Length | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Fleet Power | Carnival Sunshine |
Bottom line: Brilliance of the Seas leads 4–3 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Brilliance of the Seas for overall superiority; pick Carnival Sunshine if its strengths matter more to you.
Decide
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Brilliance of the Seas if
- You want the newer ship (built 2002, 6 years newer)
- More space per guest (36.0 GT per guest)
Choose Carnival Sunshine if
- Size matters to you (102,853 GT)
- More onboard variety (3,002 guests)
- More crew per guest (2.6 guests per crew)
Prices
See Current Prices
You have compared the ships. Now see what they cost.
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Fares
Sailing Prices
| Detail | Brilliance of the Seas | Carnival Sunshine |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | $229.12 pp | $571 pp |
| Per night | $57 pp | No data |
| Departing | Nov 16 | Oct 31 |
| Duration | 4 nights | null nights |
| View sailing | View sailing |
Prices from Cruisebound, per person, for the sailing shown.
Go deeper
Deep Dive
Sailings
Upcoming Sailings
Upcoming Sailings on Brilliance of the Seas
4 Night Bahamas Getaway Cruise
Royal Caribbean • Brilliance of the Seas
Nov 16, 2026 · 4 nights
Bahamas
$229/person$57/night
View Deal
3 Night Bahamas Getaway Cruise
Royal Caribbean • Brilliance of the Seas
Nov 20, 2026 · 3 nights
Bahamas
$468/person$156/night
View Deal
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the comparison score calculated?
We score 8 categories from spec data: size, capacity, modernity, service, spaciousness, decks, length and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship. A category where either ship has no data is marked No data and left out of the score.
What is the space ratio and why does it matter?
Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40, and mass-market ships often fall between 30 and 40.
What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?
It is the number of guests for each crew member, shown as "3.0 guests per crew". Lower is better: more staff per guest usually means more attentive service. Luxury lines aim for fewer than 2 guests per crew, and large mainstream ships often carry 3 to 4.
Are the prices shown accurate?
Prices come from Cruisebound and are per person for the sailing shown. They change with cabin type, date and demand, so open the sailing to see the current fare.
Can I compare more than two ships?
Yes, up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.
How current is the ship data?
Specifications come from our database of 380+ ships, and this page refreshes daily. An "Updated" date appears at the top when either ship's record changed in the last 30 days.
