I was on sunshine 3 times and besides serenity area which is the best on Carnival the ship is worn and old. They made a big mistake not getting that type of serenity area on Sunrise. I was on sunrise once and it was 8 days of cramped, dirty and a neglected ship and it was only a couple months after it was refurbed into the shape it’s in now.
I was on Horizon once and they also did not maximize common areas to fit the number of people. Ship was new but again nobody keeping it up or cleaning when we were on it.
I was on Fascination once and loved the small ship. Great use of common area.
Miracle was my first ship and prob their best design.
Magic is also well done and better than Vista class but they let her rust away and was filthy when I was on last summer.
I was on been on Splendor as well 4 times and it’s as Carnival as it gets.
Overall carnival can do a better job keeping their ships in better shape from outside in. The product is the same today as when I ent on my fist ship 10 years ago - nothing new. I have not been on the excel ships yet but I can say I have been on ships that are as old as the carnival ship on Celebrity/NCL/RC and they have been modernized better and the companies keep them in better shape.
I will continue to cruise carnival when I can but only when it’s at the low price I want. All things equal I chose the others.
Back to the point - sunshine ships are the worst carnival class and as they made more they missed the mark even more.