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View Deal →Carnival Breeze vs Carnival Sunshine
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated February 2026
Carnival Breeze is the significantly larger vessel at 130,000 GT — 26% more than Carnival Sunshine's 102,853 GT. Built in 2012, Carnival Breeze is 16 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Carnival Breeze accommodates 688 more guests (3,690 vs 3,002), making it the larger resort-at-sea — Carnival Sunshine trades capacity for a more intimate atmosphere.
Score: 6 – 1
Quick Compare
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Category
Carnival Breeze
Carnival Sunshine
Size
130,000 GT
102,853 GT
Passengers
3,690
3,002
Year Built
2012
1996
Crew Ratio
1:2.7
1:2.6
Space Ratio
35.2
34.3
Decks
—
13
Length
306m
272m
From Price
$504/pp
$632/pp
Comparison Verdict
Carnival Breeze is the significantly larger vessel at 130,000 GT — 26% more than Carnival Sunshine's 102,853 GT. Built in 2012, Carnival Breeze is 16 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Carnival Breeze accommodates 688 more guests (3,690 vs 3,002), making it the larger resort-at-sea — Carnival Sunshine trades capacity for a more intimate atmosphere.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Carnival Breeze |
| Capacity | Carnival Breeze |
| Modernity | Carnival Breeze |
| Service | Carnival Sunshine |
| Spaciousness | Carnival Breeze |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Carnival Breeze |
| Fleet Power | Carnival Breeze |
Bottom line: Carnival Breeze leads 6–1 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Carnival Breeze for overall superiority; pick Carnival Sunshine if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Carnival Breeze if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2012, 16yr newer)
- Size matters to you (130,000 GT)
- More onboard variety (3,690 guests)
- More space per guest (35.2 GT/pax)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the comparison score calculated?
We compute scores across 8 categories using real spec data — gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity, year built, length, deck count, space ratio, and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship.
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; mass-market ships often fall in the 30-40 range.
What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?
Passengers per crew member. Lower is better — more staff per guest means better service. Luxury lines aim below 2:1; large mainstream ships may be 3-4:1.
Are the prices shown accurate?
Prices are sourced from Cruisebound and reflect real-time availability. They may change based on cabin type, date, and demand. Click through to see the latest fares.
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+ vessels, revalidated every 5 minutes via ISR. The "Updated" timestamp shows when records were last modified.
