kublaieod

I'm looking to book the Sunshine 8-day Caribbean cruise leaving on November 13th, 2015 out of Miami (stops are Aruba, Bonaire & Grand Turk) and the reviews I'm been reading about this ship are mainly negative about the crowds and the deck space and common areas really don't accommodate the number of guests on board.

 

Wondering if there are certain times of the year that is worse than others. Should it be a big concern beginning of November?

 

We love the "at sea" days and there are many on this 8-day cruise BUT if I'm going to be battling to get two chairs together on the decks daily, that might be annoying.

 

We are contemplating this cruise or an 8-day caribbean on the Breeze that leaves Nov. 7th.

It seems there is so much negative written about the sunshine. I just got off an 8-day May 24th and it was absolutely amazing. Wonderful amenities with the refurb from the destiny. I never found it any more crowded than any other ship. The Lido deck can be a bit crowded when it comes to walkways but mainly because the chairs are put to close to the edge leaving a small walkway by the Red Frog and Blue Iguana. With all the additional eating venues on Sunshine I never had to wait in line very long at all. Obviously there is crowding during certain events that will create crowding on any ship. Many people know that during the refit more cabins were put in and they are quick to blow the "crowded" whistle. Don't change your plans based on other peoples reviews. It is my 4th different carnival ship and I loved them all for different reasons. This one has all the 2.0 upgrades and an amazing sportsquare and waterslides (and I am 50 and loved it).

Enjoy your cruise.

It is plenty loud and easy to understand and I am hard of hearing. Yes there were a couple of times a small group would be oblivious to the movie and walking by but it was the exception and not the rule.

Man do I feel unlucky. I am 0 for 1.. January 2015 on Liberty we were a NO go, so only Nassau and Detroit err Freeport.

It is an interesting idea, it would prevent seeing 10/12 year old kids walking around with platinum cards. Saw a number of those last cruise. For some reason that just doesn't seem right to me. But good for them.

Hi,

John posted the June list of movies. Now, are all of these movies going to air while I'm on my cruise? The only one's that interest me are Night at the Museum and maybe Insiduous.

Thanks,

Futurz

Just got off the Sunshine on the 24th May. They show two different ones each night, nice list. Here are some that I can remember

Night at the Museum (latest)

Interstellar

Transformers 3

Hobbit - five armies

Hunger games

Into the Woods

Guardians of the Galaxy

Captain America - winter soldier

Don't recall family night flicks - train your dragon 2 maybe

I must a few but should give you some idea.

I know I am often amazed that people come back from a cruise and say they were bored to tears. Maybe we set our standards lower than others but I don't expect to be entertained every waking moment.

 

Just like you I can find two or three areas of any ship that appeal to me and I am good to go. Usually it is a shady spot at a bar on the Lido, the casino and a pub like the Red Frog.

 

I am glad you had a good time.

If they are bored to tears than they must simply be boring people.. Not ever been bored on any of my cruises. Most of the time I have to choose between a couple of different things..

I am a fairly new cruiser as my signature shows. It was a little odd that the dance club is the show lounge converted but they do a great job of changing the ambiance. The pull curtains where the balcony is and take out all the chairs in the middle. Has a nice size bar in the lounge and nice comfy round sofas and many other places to sit. The DJ uses the stage. Works pretty nice actually. Just no where you are used to seeing it (promenade back to mid ship).

Between the Alchemy bar and the amazing serenity area I was very happy as I spent about 80% of my time in those two places.

Not even close. The club is actually the main show lounge that converts to the dance club after the shows (Liquid Lounge). It is in the rear of the promenade deck next to the plaza dance floor (trivia zone and bands) and the red frog pub.

Shane

Just got off the sunshine and the alchemy bartenders are amazing. Parviz, Miroslav and Maria are very charismatic and they are very easy to talk to and make great drinks. I made a point in my survey to mention them. I actually had Parviz on the Liberty in January as well.

If you are going on the sunshine in the next few months you are in for a treat. :D

Kind of funny that in the beginning of the cruise the Alchemy is never busy. buy mid-cruise it is THE happenin place. That should say something right there.

You are correct on the Elation moving. Will be replacing the Fascination in Jax.

Sorry I asked this question. I was just wondering. Some of you are just plain vicious while assuming things about me that are not true. Not all but some.

 

I have never requested the gratuities to be refunded, and never plan to even if there is something wrong. And I take a dim view of those who do. The folks on the ships work plenty hard and I always make sure I thank them not only with words but with cash as well.

 

As a matter of fact, I always give my room stewards a nice tip as well as the staff in the MDR. When I see a staff member doing a great job in the buffet area I will often approach them and give them $5.00 or $10.00 and say thanks for your good work and making things so nice for us.

 

I also tip the folks that are sweeping the floors, cleaning the railings and those who I see on the decks cleaning the pool areas. I always take along a lot of extra 10s and 5s to thank those who most would not tip.

 

Frankly I wish all would pass along a little more thanks and money to those who are not in direct contact with us like those doing the sweeping, cleaning, mopping and those making sure the pool area is nice for the next day at 2AM. Tip those people as I do.

I sincerely apologize for my comments. They were uncalled for and assumptions should not have been made as the issues are not related what so ever. It was a valid question and used it as a catalyst for another topic which is a touchy one for me. From your response you are much like I am. Outside of my military career I work in service industry for 15 years and I have a deep passion for what they do and the lengths they go to (remembering names for one) to make our vacation the best it can be. Once again I apologize for my comments.

My cruise next week has been sold out for some time so I haven't expected any calls..

For those that do.. awesome.. enjoy.

Well if you cruise carnival for the sole purpose of getting a higher status I feel sorry for you. Let it come naturally. I will be gold on my cruise next week and really don't give a rip whatsoever. I can understand the complaints if it were something you paid for, but the VIFP club is FREE.

There isn't too many businesses in the world that their sole purpose is to LOSE money. Of course it is about the almighty dollar, but to get that you have to juggle amenities and customer service with costs.

I am not brand loyal and have looked at using other lines RCL, NCL but Carnival is always the best in price, I like my money and want it to stretch as far as possible. So Carnival wins and I have yet to have a bad cruise.

I fully support their move. Their most loyal customers should be treated the best. Obviously there are a lot more gold now that add to the platinum/diamond group for each cruise. Really is a testament to Carnival's success and the rise of the interest in cruising.

I leave on the 16th with my first Gold card and the change is the 15th.. But I could care less. I buy cheers so the free drink doesn't do me anything, but again who cares... I take everything free they give me with great appreciation and believe me I enjoy my cruise and not find ways to complain.

Everyone enjoy your next cruise.. PLEASE.. Its a VACATION!! :D

Well it hasn't changed much since 2012. Still a wonderful ship with a great staff. Nothing 2.0 on it but a ship doesn't have to be 2.0 to be great. It is will maintained for her age, still has the darn box in the corner of the room though.. :rolleyes:

Wow some people can be really snarky on this board "no offense":rolleyes:

 

I am new to cruising so I do not understand the whole loyalty status thing. We have been going to DisneyWorld every year for the past 10 years and spend at least a week at $5000 a pop. You know what kind of loyalty Disney gives me? NONE. I can't even get a special pin code room discount because they know I'm already on the hook and will book without one. Does that stop me from going? Nope, my kids love it there.

 

I did not start cruising for the perks or the bragging rights to say I am diamond or whatever. I go because I want to cruise, Carnival does not owe me anything.

 

People will always complain about something. Live life and have fun people.

I totally agree with you. Well everyone is entitled to their opinion, we all have one just like other things we all have in common. ;)

Send me email address and I will send the fun times. Too big to send over his system.

udlcommish@gmail.com

Very nice of you to take the time. I leave on 16th..

R/S

:D

I wanted to make sure when I got home I wrote about our experiences with our cabin, it was an Ocean Suite 5293 on the Pride, to possibly save someone else's vacation.

 

First, we are not prone to motions sickness. Before I left I was aware from many postings that there is a bit of "vibration" back there, and read many different opinions on it and what it felt like. Most people described it as a minor "vibration" and that it put them to sleep, kind of like a humming or steady vibration. My husband that I sleep with a sound machine, and we would not have minded some vibration.

 

Well once we boarded, we found our cabin and it was definitely shaking, not vibrating. It was more like slow rumbles, and we thought, "I hope it's not like the the whole time..." and boy were we in for a much WORSE experience than that.

 

So it was definitely NOT vibration. It was similar to being trapped inside a paint shaker. it was violent shaking/rattling. Like teeth rattling shaking. The ENTIRE time. Not just pulling into ports. Each night before bed, we had to ask our room steward for extra washcloths to stuff inside every light fixture, in the ceilings, between the drawers and cabinets, etc. to muffle all of the rattling noises going on in our room from the violent shaking. Everything was moving, we had to get rid of all of the glasses, put books all around the TV to stop the rattling and keep things from squeaking. it was AWFUL. The noises in the room from the shaking was almost worse than the actual shaking itself. You could see they had stuffed pieces of wood in certain parts of the ceiling to calm the rattling noises.

 

We paid a lot of money for this suite and ended up avoiding it like the plague. We only went in there at night, and we were sick from the shaking. It was scrambling our brains and making us ill. Thank god we had Zofran with us. After the second night we would have traded anyone with an inside cabin for our suite just to stop the shaking. The boat was sold out though.

 

Anyway, I wanted to describe this just so people can see another point of view. I can also say that we stayed aft on the Allure of the Seas and experienced no vibration, actually no movement anywhere on that ship, so it may just be these spirit class ships are the worst. I can tell you the whole boat really shook. Even when we were in the Mermaid Grill up on deck 9 mid ship, we felt the shaking even then. (not nearly like in our cabin, but there was still shaking, and people commenting on the shaking there.) The dining room shook badly.

 

We had a good time otherwise, feel free to ask any other questions!

Wow sorry about your shaking, but you still had a good time, which is all that matters. Last June we booked an aft-extended on the Dream and it wasn't constant but for long lengths of time it would do that shaking/vibrating and it honestly didn't bother me, but my wife said she was not a fan and wants this to be the last aft room we book.

BAHAHAHAHAHA...I had tears rolling down my eyes just reading those reviews!!

 

FYI..I've been on Cunard and had no problem finding a deck chair...ever.

 

I was on Azamara once and NO ONE was on deck. I had my pick of the litter...all day, everyday. ;-)

As an avid people watcher I love this thread. From the very serious to the people that think its no big deal, all great stuff.

It is safe to say that CHOGGING threads get a TON of traction.

I know you really don't need another opinion but like everyone else I feel obligated.

I do think it is rude for people to come up on the deck at 0600 and plop an item on chairs and then go about their day knowing they have a chair in a prime spot should they ever need it.

That being said I wouldn't remove anyone's stuff either, I would be the guy that removed a towel and it belonged to a single mom that just sat in the pool with her kids for 10 minutes.

Ultimately I am on vacation and I am not going to let the lack of a "prime" deck seat ruin even one minute of my cruise.

I just love to sit and watch the fireworks on a daily basis regarding this age old pastime.

Everyone enjoy your next cruise.

Thanks! I hate that for the Liberty cruisers. Hope y'all get an even better port!!

Hmm.. 16 May by chance. Headed to Kitts (19 may) on Sunshine beginning 16 may. If by chance it is same cruise then HELLO, if not, enjoy your cruise.

Only 4 cruises under my belt - Balcony, Aft-Extended Balcony, OV and Interior.

When we booked the interior it was specifically to see if we could bare it after 2 balconies. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. We LOVED the coziness and no light. If you don't like that then do NOT book an interior unless that is all you can muster with your finances.

As said already you don't spend much time in your room.

Our new rule of thumb is if we are going to familiar ports bring on the Interior, new ports I would much rather have a balcony.

Just think of how much more OBC you have if you book an interior vs balcony. Enjoy your cruise.

Best player odds in any casino is blackjack.

Blackjack is much better than slots but the BEST odds in any casino is the craps table provided you ONLY play the DON'T PASS or pass line and lay/place MAX odds. Problem is that is REALLY hard to do at a craps table. And at only 2X odds in a cruise casino your FREE odds aren't as powerful. Most casinos are 3x,4x,5x or 10X odds which can lower the house edge to UNDER 1%.

There are a number of great websites that will give you all that info if you are trying to learn where to be smart about giving your money away.

Sometime will just complain about anything and are never happy.

I love reading some of the complaints..

google them, they will bring a chuckle to your day. :D

Yea no points for table games. Much more subjective system. I get maybe 300 points on a 5 day cruise buy by morning of day 2 can have a drinks on us due to my table play. Talking to a host they like to see that you are a player that is not afraid to bet high amounts on a regular basis. I always start at 20-25 but can easily be at 60-90/hand. A few hours of that and you will most likely get on their list.

We had strawberries delivered one day and a bottle of wine delivered to MDR on another (this is a typical system I have learned).

Whether you win or lose money, doesn't matter, it is your ACTION.

Slots are much more cut and dry depending on length of cruise which has already been addressed on a couple of replies.

Parking at NOLA can get you into gridlock.. I have parked in the Fulton Garage the last couple of times. Cheaper with an efficient shuttle service to take out the hassle..

New Orleans a great port for embarkation. Very efficient. Get there by 10:00-10:30 if you want to be on board soon after they begin. If you don't already have FTTF or Priority then you can get an early ZONE by getting there around that time. You will wait but will be pretty quick as most of the craziness at the port at that time is people trying to LEAVE.

If you want the EASIEST/Quickest, then definitely go in the afternoon. After 1330 is a good time to know you won't be in long lines and can get right on board.

I prefer to get on EARLY but spend the first hour or two just walking around the ship as the lido food troughs are pretty hectic.

Enjoy the Dream.. its a great ship.