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View Deal →Carnival Sunshine vs Costa Pacifica
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated February 2026
Costa Pacifica is the larger vessel at 114,500 GT — 11% more than Carnival Sunshine's 102,853 GT. Costa Pacifica offers more personal space with a space ratio of 38.0 GT per passenger versus 34.3. Built in 2009, Costa Pacifica is 13 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
Score: 2 – 5
Quick Compare
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Category
Carnival Sunshine
Costa Pacifica
Size
102,853 GT
114,500 GT
Passengers
3,002
3,012
Year Built
1996
2009
Crew Ratio
1:2.6
1:2.7
Space Ratio
34.3
38.0
Decks
13
—
Length
272m
290m
From Price
$1,008/pp
$1,235/pp
Comparison Verdict
Costa Pacifica is the larger vessel at 114,500 GT — 11% more than Carnival Sunshine's 102,853 GT. Costa Pacifica offers more personal space with a space ratio of 38.0 GT per passenger versus 34.3. Built in 2009, Costa Pacifica is 13 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Costa Pacifica |
| Capacity | Carnival Sunshine |
| Modernity | Costa Pacifica |
| Service | Carnival Sunshine |
| Spaciousness | Costa Pacifica |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Costa Pacifica |
| Fleet Power | Costa Pacifica |
Bottom line: Costa Pacifica leads 5–2 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Costa Pacifica for overall superiority; pick Carnival Sunshine if Capacity matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Carnival Sunshine if...
- Better service ratio (2.6:1 crew ratio)
- Save $227/person on sailings
Choose Costa Pacifica if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2009, 13yr newer)
- Size matters to you (114,500 GT)
- More onboard variety (3,012 guests)
- More space per guest (38.0 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.
