Aldeya

I think being close is harder. That last month is grueling. I start traveling two weeks from today. I feel like I still have so much to do. Mentally, I'm already out the door. I can't get enough cruising. Im glad I discovered periscope.

The last week before the cruise is the hardest.

About periscope.. Any suggestions to follow someone who is "cruise obsessed:D " It would definitely make days before our cruise in November go faster!

Details, and more details! Every little one you can think of!

I need something to keep me busy before our cruise!

Did I mentioned details? :D

Does anyone have menu for the Anthem's Solarium Bistro?

Are they all the same for the ships that have this venue?

This is a great review! I loved the way you separated it into GOOD, BAD, etc. I have cruised the Breakaway 4 times already, with my 5th Breakaway cruise booked for October. I'm really shocked on your thoughts about DanDan, though! I've had him on the Gem and to date, he was THE BEST Cruise Director we've ever had out of 22 cruises! Maybe he's still getting used to the size of BA? :confused: And funny, I've had Julie a few times and dare I say I can't stand her?!?!? ;)

 

Thanks again for a great review! :cool:

Same here. I loved DanDan on Gem and I couldn't stand Julie on Breakaway.

To us a great Cruise Director makes a huge difference in cruise experience.

We had Kevin Spacey on RCL years ago and to this day this was one of the best cruises we took. We still laugh when we remember his Love and Marriage show! I know people who tried to book a cruise when this CD was on board :)

There was another great CD on Grandeur, Eric (don't remember his last name). He was everywhere and he was SO much fun!

Great memories.

There is no way to do this. The discount is only available before the cruise, and your OBC only exists during the cruise. You have to choose.

 

That said, the spa staff can offer all kinds of discounts at their discretion, so you can always try negotiating with them on board.

Thank you hawkeyetlse. Just booked passes online and saved $40.

I'm sure my husband will have no problem spending our OBCs onboard :)

I'm about to buy these spa passes online .

My question is.. We have OBC which I can't apply online.

Is there anyway to rebook? these passes on board to use OBC but keep the online price? Or there is some other way to do this?

We just came back fro Sunshine cruise and had a spa balcony cabin with thermal suite access included.

We always try to purchase a thermal suite pass and usually enjoy the amenities very much. Not his time.

First and it was a biggy for us.. There is no thalasssotherapy pool in the thermal suite on the Sunshine.

The thermal suite is quite small. It has three sauna type of amenities, one is hot, the second one is cold with heated benches, and the third one is I believe is aromatherapy (I can never remember the names of these places).

There is also a dry sauna in the men and women locker rooms. In other to access this sauna you have to go out the thermal suite so don't forget your access card to get back :) Oh, ladies .. if you take a shower in the locker room after a gym or spa there are no hair dryers available.

Out of 7 days using the spa we had to ask 4 times at the front desk to turn the heat on. Every time we were told that "they operate in cycles and I will reset it for you ". Thank you but it got old pretty fast.

There are also 2 showers with multiple functions which were nice and refreshing but not all features were working.

IMO the best amenity in the Sunshine thermal suite are the heated lounges. There are 10 of them I believe. Very relaxing, some people got a good nice nap on them. We were able to find a lounge available almost every day, except the last cruise day.

At the end we enjoyed an hour each day in the thermal suite but we wouldn't buy the pass on Sunshine. It was not worth it for us especially without a pool or Jacuzzi.

I am the OP of this thread so I thought the follow-up would be in order.

We just came back from Carnival Sunshine.

We solved the problem for a table for 2 by asking for a booth every night. We had YTD and went for a dinner at different times (5:30 to 7:30 usually). We didn't get the booth only once, on the last night of the cruise, all other nights there were no problem getting one.

We loved it! There were 2 of us at the table for 4, plenty of space. We enjoyed our dinners together very much.

So I want to say THANK YOU to those who suggested asking for a booth! I would never thought about asking for one if not for the advice of people on this board.

I owe you a drink.. or two.. :D

You do realize the American Table menu closely resembles that of the MDR menus on your precious cruise line right? :rolleyes:

 

As far as those who sail both lines, the overwhelming majority prefer Carnivals food over your precious cruise lines food. If you are gonna deny that, prove me wrong. There is no comparing their included options and Chops just wish it could be half the steakhouse Carnivals steakhouses are.

 

Yep, you are a broken record spewing your usual anti Carnival drivel and everyone has caught on and Im sure your opinion means nothing here.

Incredible, just incredible. All of this just for someone expressing their opinion.

Thank you so much drvannostrund and cruzeluver!

Is there any place besides the buffet open for lunch on the Carnival Sunshine on embarkation day?

After a long flight I don't think I'll have the strength to fight people for a salad in the buffet :)

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Just sent my oldest child DS(22) off to North Dakota for his first real job in his chosen field post college graduation. Both of my kids have been living at home to save money by going to a local University 5 minutes from home. I was so glad I was able to get one last cruise in with him in May after he graduated. We made vacations a priority for us from the time of our Honeymoon. When the kids came along we made to sure to have at least one yearly week long + trip with them and a long weekend for just the 2 of us....plus as many weekend/long weekend trips we could fit in/afford as they were growing up. I don't regret any of it. The memories are priceless to me.

Can't agree more. This is what we did when our daughter was little.

Sometimes I look around and see that we don't have a fancy car, or a big house like my friends do (they laugh that me and my husband "cruised away" the "big stuff" :)

But the memories we created by cruising together as a family, the adventures and the little moments like watching sunset at the balcony or swimming with dolphins in Bermuda can't be measured in 'stuff".

As you we do not regret a minute of it. These memories ARE priceless to us.

Last December, we had YTD on Sunshine. We got around the 2" table issue by requesting a booth each night. We might have had to wait a few extra minutes but we will do this again! It worked perfectly and is the best solution I could find. Those tables that are almost on top of each other really get under my skin!

Great tip. Just did some search and it looks like the booths are for 4 people.

So they put just 2 of you in the booth?

Thank you everyone for responses.

We have YTD this time on Sunshine.

I wonder if anyone on YTD e-mailed maitre'd and managed to book a table for two or it's only possible for traditional dining?

New to this. How does the wine package actually work?

I see Deluxe 5 wines package. There are 10 wines listed for this option.

Does it mean I have to choose only 5 wines from the offered list or somehow I can mix the selection during the cruise?

Thank you.

On our recent NCL and Celebrity cruises the tables for 2 inches were placed literally inches from each other.

We were sitting so close to other 2 couples that you could call it table for 6. It's nice when you want to interact with others but it feels really awkward when you want a private table.

What is the situation on Sunshine with tables for 2? Is this something that all cruise lines do nowadays trying to put as many tables in MDR as possible?

We'll be on Sunshine in August and would really like to have a nice quiet dinner for 2 in MDR.

Thank you.

This would work only for traditional dining, right?

We are waitlisted for YTD on our Sunshine cruise in August.

Just curious how would it work when we are on board? Any experience with wait list for YTD?

Thank you stephlauryn! Very good information.

We used to go to the MDR every night then it started taking longer and longer. Now we go the the Steakhouse one night, the MDR 2 nights and at least one night we do Guys right before they close and maybe pub grub late at night. The rest of the nights are the Lido.

Same for us. The meals in MDR are getting longer. I just don't have patience anymore to sit for 2-2.5 hours for a meal.

We'd love to get the cabana but it's almost impossible.

They are sold so fast online.

Any tips or tricks? :)

you can request one, especially if you have a reason for needing one. My sister asked for one and said she needed it for milk for her 18 month old. Her cabin wasn't supposed to have one but they had one available and provided it to her.

Did she requested the fridge ahead of time (e-mailing, etc) or she asked after boarding?

I will need a fridge to keep my medicine so it would be helpful if I can request one.

Thank you.

How long do you have to use them. I don't currently have a cruise booked, but would mind stocking up on a few.

They don't expire.

Can these cards be applied to other cruise lines that are under Carnival umbrella or only to Carnival cruises?

We've been on Breakaway twice but this is the first time I'm reading about free breakfast and lunch in Moderno.

Is it listed in Fun Times or you have to be a member of secret society to enjoy them?:D