By
Rebecca Gibson |
Godmother Lin Arison, wife of Carnival Cruise Line’s late founder Ted Arison, officially named Carnival Sunshine on 17 November at her New Orleans homeport.
Arison, a noted philanthropist, arts education advocate, author and producer, renamed the former Carnival Destiny during an onboard ceremony attended by local dignitaries and travel agents. She previously christened the ship as Carnival Destiny in 1996 and also launched Mardis Gras in 1972 and Holiday in 1985, making her the only person to serve as godmother to three Carnival ships.
During the event, Carnival donated US$25,000 to both the Miami-based National YoungArts Foundation and New World Symphony, which were founded by Ted and Lin Arison to support emerging artists and musicians. Alumni from the YoungArts Foundation also performed during the ceremony.
On 18 November, the ship embarked on a six-day inaugural voyage from New Orleans to Couzemel, Mexico and Grand Cayman.
“Cruising is big business at the Port of New Orleans and Carnival’s commitment of this fabulously transformed ship is evidence of that,” said Gary LaGrange, the port’s president and CEO. “Carnival is a wonderful partner of the port, the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana and has been for more than two decades. Carnival has consistently increased its presence here and we will continue to work closely with them to expand in the future.”
Carnival Sunshine was launched in Europe in May 2013 following a US$155 million, 75-day refurbishment, which introduced a range of onboard innovations and elements of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement programme.
The 102,853 gt ship offers a top-deck SportSquare recreation area, a three-level, adults-only Serenity retreat and a WaterWorks water park featuring the Fun Ship fleet’s longest slide. The vessel also has a range of bars and dining venues, including the RedFrog Pub, Havana Bar, BlueIguana Cantina and the line’s first full-service Asian restaurant Ji Ji Asian Kitchen. Passengers can also stay in 182 new cabins, including 95 spa staterooms adjacent to the renovated Cloud 9 Spa.
“The transformation of Carnival Sunshine is unlike anything that’s ever been done before and the results are simply extraordinary, with a variety of truly fabulous features and unique innovations for our guests to enjoy,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. “We are delighted that Carnival Sunshine will make its inaugural US sailing from the Port of New Orleans, one of our most popular homeports and a valued business partner for the past 20 years.”
Carnival Sunshine will offer a series of seven-day Caribbean cruises until the end of March 2014. She will sail three different itineraries from New Orleans including a western Caribbean route featuring calls at Belize, Mahogany Bay and Cozumel; a Bahamas/Florida cruise to Key West, Freeport and Nassau; and western Caribbean departures to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.