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View Deal →Carnival Horizon vs Carnival Sunshine
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated February 2026
Carnival Horizon is the significantly larger vessel at 133,500 GT — 30% more than Carnival Sunshine's 102,853 GT. Built in 2018, Carnival Horizon is 22 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Carnival Sunshine edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.6:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 5 – 2
Quick Compare
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Category
Carnival Horizon
Carnival Sunshine
Size
133,500 GT
102,853 GT
Passengers
3,954
3,002
Year Built
2018
1996
Crew Ratio
1:2.7
1:2.6
Space Ratio
33.8
34.3
Decks
—
13
Length
323m
272m
From Price
$490/pp
$632/pp
Comparison Verdict
Carnival Horizon is the significantly larger vessel at 133,500 GT — 30% more than Carnival Sunshine's 102,853 GT. Built in 2018, Carnival Horizon is 22 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Carnival Sunshine edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.6:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Carnival Horizon |
| Capacity | Carnival Horizon |
| Modernity | Carnival Horizon |
| Service | Carnival Sunshine |
| Spaciousness | Carnival Sunshine |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Carnival Horizon |
| Fleet Power | Carnival Horizon |
Bottom line: Carnival Horizon leads 5–2 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Carnival Horizon for overall superiority; pick Carnival Sunshine if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Carnival Horizon if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2018, 22yr newer)
- Size matters to you (133,500 GT)
- More onboard variety (3,954 guests)
- Save $142/person on sailings
Choose Carnival Sunshine if...
- Better service ratio (2.6:1 crew ratio)
- More space per guest (34.3 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.
