Skip to main content
Tracking 380+ ships170+ ports

Ship comparison

Carnival Sunshine vs Norwegian Jewel

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Norwegian Jewel wins 5 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

Category
Carnival Sunshine
Norwegian Jewel
Size
102,853 GT
93,502 GT
Passengers
3,002
2,376
Year built
1996
2005
Crew ratio
2.6 guests per crew
2.3 guests per crew
Space ratio
34.3 GT per guest
39.4 GT per guest
Decks
13
No data
Length
272 m
294 m
From price
$614 pp
$449 pp

The verdict

Comparison Verdict

Carnival Sunshine is the larger vessel at 102,853 GT, 10% more than Norwegian Jewel's 93,502 GT. Norwegian Jewel offers more personal space with a space ratio of 39.4 GT per passenger versus 34.3. Built in 2005, Norwegian Jewel is 9 years newer, an advantage for travelers seeking modern amenities and design.

CategoryWinner
SizeNorwegian Jewel
CapacityCarnival Sunshine
ModernityNorwegian Jewel
ServiceNorwegian Jewel
SpaciousnessNorwegian Jewel
DecksNo data
LengthNorwegian Jewel
Fleet PowerCarnival Sunshine

Bottom line: Norwegian Jewel leads 5–2 across our categories, strongest in Size. Choose Norwegian Jewel for overall superiority; pick Carnival Sunshine if Capacity matter more to you.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose Carnival Sunshine if

  • Size matters to you (102,853 GT)
  • More onboard variety (3,002 guests)
Book Carnival Sunshine

Choose Norwegian Jewel if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2005, 9 years newer)
  • More crew per guest (2.3 guests per crew)
  • More space per guest (39.4 GT per guest)
Book Norwegian Jewel

Prices

See Current Prices

You have compared the ships. Now see what they cost.

Carnival Sunshine

from $614 per person

Book Carnival Sunshine

Norwegian Jewel

from $449 per person

Book Norwegian Jewel
Cruise and flight packages

We may earn a commission from partner bookings at no extra cost to you.

Fares

Sailing Prices

DetailCarnival SunshineNorwegian Jewel
Cheapest$614 pp$449 pp
Per nightNo data$90 pp
DepartingNov 8Nov 23
Durationnull nights5 nights
View sailingView sailing

Prices from Cruisebound, per person, for the sailing shown.

Go deeper

Deep Dive

Sailings

Upcoming Sailings

Upcoming Sailings on Carnival Sunshine

Powered by Cruisebound

Upcoming Sailings on Norwegian Jewel

Powered by Cruisebound

Hotels & Accommodations Near Port of Norfolk

Compare prices from 100+ booking sites

See Accommodations

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.