CRocks

On 2/24/2019 at 2:25 PM, SSBrickNJ said:

#1 We are non smokers. ONE reviewer on Cruise Critic said they were on the Sunshine as non smokers but the ventilation system (in their opinion) was not good and they could smell cigarette smoke throughout the ship (in non smoking areas). So, I'm seeking former Sunshine cruisers to either agree with that reviewer or hopefully disagree with her. 

#2 How was the Main Dining Room Food on the Sunshine?

#3 Share anything positive or negative to help me decide if this would be the good cruise for my family of three (Potential Cruise date 12/23/19 5 nights Charleston SC to Bahamas)

Myself(Steve)age 57 at sail date

Wife...younger than me(withholding age 🙂

Daughter age 18 at sail date

Thanks in advance for anyone's feedback 😉

 Sailed Destiny/Sunshine many times, love the ship. Just got off her last month, food was fabulous. JiJi's is a MUST! Casino can be a little smokey, didn't experience any problem elsewhere. Sunshine's got all/most of the amenities like Blue Iguana, Guys, etc.  Now the downside.....your destination. Sorry, not a fan of the Bahamas especially with young ladies!!!

Thanx for the replies. Not sure where I got in my head it was formal.

We've avoided the steakhouse cuz we don't bring formal attire. But, we'd like to try it on our upcoming Alaskan cruise + it seems to me I read somewhere it's cruise casual on the first nite. can someone please confirm this. I did a search + it turned up nothing. TIA

19 hours ago, coevan said:

no, there are much better cards out there. Capital One is 2 miles per dollar on anything and you can use your miles any way you like. 

Best card going! Blows away the Carnival card or Chase Sapphire which I also have.

17 hours ago, beshears said:

Up till now, I have never had any problem with putting money/jewelry, etc. in the safes on the ships.  Normally we have been using a credit card to open/close the safe, but I don't know if that is what is used now.

 

My question, if you have used the safe in the room, have you ever had a problem with someone getting into the safe, other than someone you knew?  The reason I ask, I read Clark Howards emails, and he was saying the safes in a lot of hotels are not safe anymore, because there are "key numbers" they can put into the safes to open them up.  Just wanted your opinion on this, as I cannot afford to lose what I would be putting in the safe.  Up to this point I have "trusted" everyone that cleaned up my room, but I thought I would ask anyway.

I've never had a problem leaving money in the safe or accidently leaving it out in the stateroom. But, I think your question now is how do the safes operate. They used to operate off the magnetic strip on the back of any credit card or even your sail n sign. Now, they operate off a keypad and 4 digit code which you select to lock the safe. That same 4 digit code will open it. And yes, there's obviously a 4 digit master code which will open any/all safes.

14 hours ago, justpiddlin said:

thank you kindly for your replys!  Just spoke to a Carnival booking agent and said I should receive the Platinum card when boarding the next cruise even though I will become platinum during the cruise.  From most comments on internet, they say you won't become platinum until after the cruise.  Either way it's going to happen one day! lol

 

Login to your cruise on carnivals site. Click on cruise documents, then luggage tags. Your tags shoulkd already say "priority". And like the others said, you'll board with a platinum card + services.

1 hour ago, Cruiseman38 said:

Yes, you will be Platinum from day one.  It happened when we turned Gold.  We turned Gold on the third day of our cruise but were Gold from day one.

Yup, what they said. And if you login to your cruise on Carnival's site + click on cruise documents, your luggage tags should already say "priority". If they don't, contact your TA or Carnival.

And it's a good idea to break those big bills on the ship + NOT in some tourist trap ashore. I wouldn't take anything larger than a $20 ashore.

You don't say what time of year you'd be sailing. Unless it's in peak summer months, the first + last days on a cruise outta VA could be pretty cool at sea. For me, that would be a deal breaker on just a 6 day cruise.

8 hours ago, mr. godfredo said:

We are booked on the Panorama for March of 2020! We are really looking forward to a new and beautiful ship finally based out of the West Coast! 😎

I'll do my best to leave you a beer, we're booked for Jan 18th.

Myself, I'd spend the extra $$$. In fact, I'm booked on the Legend 7/23 + did spend the extra $$$.

Look at the Legend deck plan. I'm not crazy about the balconies which are set back into the ship. That obstructs your view fore, aft, and down even if you're not on deck 5 + behind a lifeboat. Guarantee categories fill up the cabins not chose by others. Not too difficult to figure which ones these would be on a Spirit class ship.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/carnival-legend-deck-plans/dp/?deck=5&shipID=253

Just got off Sunshine's Journey cruise. Fourth time I've sailed this ship, once as Destiny. Ji Ji's is a must! It was incredible first time, even better this last time. Make sure you try the duck + the pork belly. Also, as mentioned, Cuban Bites and Blue Iguana both very good.

I'll be curious to see the upgrades made to the terminal. We've sailed outta there twice + used to have to pray for good weather. It was a zoo 2 years ago when we took a booked full Miracle to Hawaii. I understand now there's seating inside for all, greatly needed.

Might not be a good "kickoff drink", but if you've never stopped into Alchemy Bar, do yourself a favor. The drinks are special, even the drink menu is electronic. I had a "deal closer" last cruise + it was INCREDIBLE! Here's a menu with the ingredients https://www.carnival.com/~/media/Images/explore/onboard/bars/menus/alchemy-bar-menu.pdf

We've been on just about every class ship + we loved the Miracle. Course, it's the same class as the Pride you just got off, so it's your opinion that matters. Been a long time since we sailed outta Tampa + I would imagine things have improved. At the time we sailed, the terminal + facilities were very old + had a rough time handling the crowd. However, the sailaway + 2 hr trip down the channel + under the Sunshine Skyway bridge is really, really kewl!

First, sailed Miracle to Hawaii 2 years ago + loved the ship. I don't like the way some of the Spirit class balconies are set back into the ship and the cabin you're considering is one of those. Yeah, you have a larger balcony, but you're view is somewhat obstructed fore, aft, and down (lifeboat). Personally, I avoid these when booking, in fact, I'm booked into 6283 on Legend to Alaska in July. If you look at it, it is a corner + provides much better view in all directions. Now, I've never had one of these cabins, just making you aware of my observations.

We really liked Grand Turk + were expecting the same in Amber Cove. Not so, bar/restaurant no where near as good as Margaritaville. Service was horrible, had to chase me waiter down for my change. Have a friend who got their credit card stolen here.  No beach, disappointed. IMO, plan an activity there.

Oh, and one last thing. The ship SLAMMED against the dock the entire time we were there. Seas weren't really that rough, but this is NOT a natural port. Folks were taking pics of the water shooting up between the dock + the ship. 

Update, as a Irish, former Marine, retired construction worker, if there's anything I hate it's drinkin + fightin!  They messed with the wrong guy. I'm retired, and I got nothin better to do than make these morons miserable.

Sooo, I filed complaints with them, the Orlando Airport Authority, the Port Canaveral Port Authority, Orlando Chamber of Commerce, and the Florida AG's office. I've already heard back from the airport authority + she was furious. After speaking with her,  my phone rang 30 seconds later + it was the shuttle company promising my money back. Wait till they hear from everyone else I contacted. They're gonna be way over budget on their kickbacks + payoffs this month!

Got off the Sunshine Friday, got Legend booked for July and just now booked Panorama for next Jan. Lots of changes to that class ship, can't wait to get onboard.

Been there, done that, don't recommend it. It's a madhouse trying to drop them off at the exact same time the people debarking are picking theirs up. Slamming your finger in a car door is far less painful. Take the shuttle, enjoy the ride.

https://www.goportcanaveral.com/airport-shuttle/day-of-cruise.php GREAT SERVICE!!!

Read the thread I just posted about our experience with their competition.

Avoid portcanaveralshuttletransportation.com at all cost! Also known as AA Access, Lux Transportation, and lord knows what else. These thieves left 8 couples stranded at MCO for over 4 1/2 hrs almost missing their cruise Carnival Sunshine 1/12/2019. They lied to us over + over promising we'd be picked up within 20 minutes. GoPort saved our bacon and ran a special bus for us, at a loss to them since it was nowhere near capacity, so we'd make our cruise. If you're already booked, demand a refund, you'll thank me later. Made the mistake of checking their reviews after the fact, same complaints over and over and over. DESPICABLE that the airport authority permits this to happen. They must be gettin paid off!

Unless there's been monumental changes on the Fantasy class ships since I sailed, the only way to get a balcony is to book a suite.

No cash is exchanged onboard (except casino), everything goes on sail n sign card which they'll issue you upon boarding. Same card gets you on/off the ship in port + opens your cabin door.

You will set up your expense acct when you complete the online checkin (which you should be able to do now). All transaction conducted onboard will be billed to your sail n sign acct. That acct will be secured by the credit card of your choosing. Not sure about Amex, always used Visa or MC. Discover also accepted. There's also an ATM onboard where you can use your debit card.