By the Caribbean Journal staff

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine is coming to Charleston.

Carnival is repositioning the 3,002-passenger ship to kick off a year-round schedule of four and five-day cruises beginning in May 2019.

Four-day cruises will visit Nassau, Bahamas, while five-day trips will include both Nassau and the company’s private island called Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

Carnival Sunshine will also operate a special 11-day voyage from Charleston in December 2019 that will call on Caribbean ports including St Thomas, Aruba, Bonaire, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos and Half Moon Cay.

“The decision by Carnival Cruise Line to homeport the Carnival Sunshine in Charleston is an important affirmation of their success and commitment to operations in Charleston,” said Newsome, South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) president and CEO. “The Port succeeds through having world-class brands, such as Carnival Cruise Line, as its direct customers and looks forward to continuing this productive relationship.”

Indeed, Carnival Sunshine is expected to carry around 220,000 passengers each year from the port.

Carnival Ecstasy, which currently sails from Charleston, will shift to Jacksonville, Fla to operate year-round cruises in May 2019.