Carnival Sunshine passengers bumped for contractors

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Cruise Lines confirmed that passengers have been bumped from a sailing of the Carnival Sunshine so that their cabins can be used by contractors finishing the ship.

Spokesman Vance Gulliksen said a "small number" of passengers were affected. They were asked to rebook, given a full refund and a voucher for a comparable future cruise. Passengers were selected in reverse order of booking, Carnival said.

"We are wrapping up some behind-the-scenes finishing work and needed a few extra cabins for remaining contractors," Gulliksen said.

Carnival Sunshine is the result of a $155 million multi-month drydock to transform the former Carnival Destiny into a virtually new ship.

Passengers on the first cruise after the ship left drydock in early May were offered a $150 onboard credit to compensate for some of the ship's features not being completed yet. A group of cabins on several decks were not finished by the embarkation date.

Sunshine is sailing nine- and 12-day cruises in the Mediterranean before moving to New Orleans late this year.