amy2313

We had a lot of OBC from price drops and a promotional amount, too. We had already paid the gratuities and did private excursions. We just cashed it out at the machine right near the casino. It was quick and easy.

 

We also used some of it in the slot machines in the casino, and then cashed that out, too. You use your SnS card in the slot machines, so you can use your OBC in that way. Just transfer in as much as you want. You have to take the slip to the casino desk to cash that out, though. Easier to get the OBC as cash from the Carnival machine (not an atm machine, a special "check your balance" kiosk)

This is exactly what is happening to us! We had lots of price drops as well as a few carnival gift cards/certificates that friends gave us so we have a pretty good amount and would really like to just cash it out but were concerned with whats refundable and nonrefundable.

Do you know if it matters if the onboard credit is what Carnival refers to as refundable or nonrefundable, can either be used in the casino??

We are going on the Sunshine soon and are debating going to one of the specialty restaurants one night. I know they are completely different but which do people prefer and why on the Sunshine??

Also, after 15+ Carnival cruises we have never gone to one of the specialty restaurants (love the main dining room & getting to know our dining room team). I've looked at the menus, but for the surcharge at each restaurant what exactly do you get? Is it one item from each section of the menu? One app, one entree, one desert?? What happens if you want to try different items?

Thanks!

I haven't been able to get a definite answer on this question with Carnival over the phone so I am wondering if anyone on here might have some experience or insight on this topic...

We have onboard credits for our upcoming sailing. On our boarding documents there is a section that shows how much we have and it is listed as two separate line items: the first says "Onboard Credit: $X" and the second line says "Promotional Onboard Credit: $x (nonrefundable."

Does this mean the first line amount is refundable and can be cashed out? We've had money on our account before that was refundable like gift cards or such and we could cash it out.

Next question, for either of these credits, can you use the money/onboard credit in the casino? I know you can "charge" a dollar amount to your sail and sign to gamble with so can you therefore use the onboard credits on your SnS card?

Last question, can you use onboard credits that you have to book a future cruise while on board. Basically we want to use some of the onboard credits we have as our deposit on a future cruise booking.

Thanks for any help on this!!!

 

The door to Serenity is very thick and sturdy and don't recall a loud slam. THE best was being so close to the elevators.

I like the sound of that. I'm sure will help with any noise!

I noticed that there are two Sunshine spa balcony questions on the board with no replies. Are they that bad or just so few to review?

I have the other Sunshine Spa cabin question posted. I was beginning to worry about the same thing. Hopefully we will get some more info about these cabins but my biggest concern is the possible noise. I hope you do not mind but since we are both asking similar questions, I thought it might be worth posting my questions here too in case you get more attention to this thread.

1. Has anyone stayed in this cabin?
   
2. Any pics of the room? Bathroom?
   
3. I see from the deck plans it is the first cabin next to the serenity area. Will it be noisy in the early morning hours?
   
4. It says that there is an upper pullman. Does this mean our 3rd person in the room sleeps in a bunk bed?
   
5. Since we got upgraded to the spa cabins, do we also get free access to the spa features similar to the package that passengers receive for these cabins?
   
6. And lastly, the other balcony cabins mention a "full bathroom" but the spa cabins do not. What is the difference?
   

I've been trying to see who our cruise director might be for upcoming sunshine cruise in April and John doesn't seem to have an updated schedule on his blog. Does anybody have any information on the CD schedule?

Hi Everyone,

We just got assigned our balcony cabin for our upcoming Sunshine cruise and we were put in spa cabin 11035.

1. Has anyone stayed in this cabin?
   
2. Any pics of the room? Bathroom?
   
3. I see from the deck plans it is the first cabin next to the serenity area. Will it be noisy in the early morning hours?
   
4. It says that there is an upper pullman. Does this mean our 3rd person in the room sleeps in a bunk bed?
   
5. Since we got upgraded to the spa cabins, do we also get free access to the spa features similar to the package that passengers receive for these cabins?
   
6. And lastly, the other balcony cabins mention a "full bathroom" but the spa cabins do not. What is the difference?
   

Thank you!

We booked a balcony room for the Sunshine in April and we switched from an early saver to a guaranteed balcony b/c of the huge savings with a recent promotion. Now that we are in a guaranteed balcony when do people suggest we complete our online check in? Would it help get a "better" balcony if we completed the check in info or should we wait until it gets closer? Do you think that matter?

We are thinking about going to Pillory Beach in June. Anyone who has been there before, can you tell me if you can snorkel directly from shore or do you have to take a boat excursion??

We will be in GT at the end of June and have been trying to figure out something fun to do while there. We originally had thought about Bajari Beach but have not read great things. Then we looked into the Dune Buggy excursion but again we read mixed reviews and this is more paved roads then off road dune buggies. Which brings us to snorkeling and maybe golf carts to do our own thing.

We read that Pillory Beach is the place to snorkel. We have snorkelers off all levels so we try to stick to beach snorkel spots.

How far is Pillory Beach from the cruise port?

Can you take the rented golf carts??

Is there another snorkel spot closer to the cruise port with great snorkeling?

Any other ideas for us??

Thinking about doing the Dune buggy excursion in Grand Turk but heard a lot of mixed reviews. We've done a lot of ATV excursion's before and are looking for something fun. We have heard that this is more sightseeing on paved road would that be correct? How much of this is off roaring, do you get to go on the beach with the dune buggy's? Can you book this directly through the tour company or does it have to be booked through the cruise line?

We are also interested in this excursion for June. I don't want to hijack your thread and had a couple questions as well and thought it best to get all the answers in one place. I have read the reviews on trip advisor and still had a couple questions:

1. What is the snorkeling like at this location?

2. It mentions water inflatables - are there a lot offered? What types? (Considering what I have heard about the sharp coral - are these enjoyable/usable?)

3. Can this be booked directly through Bajari or do you have to go through the ship?

4. If we are interested in a great spot for snorkeling plus a beautiful beach location for the whole group is there another possible recommendation?

Thank You!

Thanks so much for the quick answer. Does Carnival run the buffet? If so,

Anyone know if the Carniva beverage Package works off the ship there too since it's the ship doing the buffet?

Does Half Moon Cay have a free buffet lunch for Carnival Guests during the time at port?

Can anyone recommend a reliable and great price car service for transportation from Fairfield County, CT to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal? We need transportation for a party of 8-10.

Thank you.

Thank you to you both!!

One more question... what is the difference between West End and West Bay??

No suggestions?? Do we just get off the ship and take a cab? Or should we book something ahead of time to go only to West Bay for 2 hours?

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/menus/7dy_mdr_dinner.html

thank you!

So should I then assume that the Sunshine will have the menus we've seen for the past few years across the entire fleet and are familiar with?

And I tried to do a google searched for the 7 day cruise menus but couldn't find them all so if anyone can post the Sunshine's menus that would be great!

So should I then assume that the Sunshine will have the menus we've seen for the past few years across the entire fleet and are familiar with?

I posted this question back in early October about whether or not the Sunshine had the new American Table menu. As of the fall it had not been changed over to the new menu.

Is that still the case??

Does anyone have a timeline for when it will be rolled out to the sunshine if at all??

We are cruising in April (I know we have plenty of time) but we are already getting excited and were thinking about going to Cuchina Capitano one night instead of the main dining room and we were going to try and look at the nightly menus in MDR to decide which night would be best to go to the Italian restaurant.

Any help would be great.

Thank you everyone!! The info was such a huge help!!

We just checked out Paradise Beach and we think we are going to check that one out for the day. I know there is very limited snorkeling there but everything else that is offered and how it is ala carte is exactly what we are looking for; from the water activities to the food. I have one traveler that is VERY picky and probably won't eat anything while the rest of us love mexican food.

And the pics of Paradise Beach look amazing!

Thanks everyone!!

One more question, does anybody know what hours they are open for lunch each day?

Thanks so much.

Is it a pasta bar each day for lunch?? Same menu?

Couple questions about Cucina del Capitano on Sunshine...

1. Is it open for lunch on embarkation days?
   
2. Does it have the same menu for lunch and dinner?
   
3. does anyone have a lunch and dinner menu they can post?