Revamped Carnival Sunshine facing problems in maiden voyage

[ib4cruzn]

And for all we know all issues could be fixed by now.

 

That's correct. Just like the....wait.

 

For the cruisers' sake I hope you're right. Carnival is not exactly stellar when it comes to fixing things.

[swammie511]

I sail on the June 7th cruise and refuse to get dragged into all the negativity. I am thinking happy thoughts and

certain I will have a hot shower, a toilet I can sit on, a pool my kids can slide down and unlimited amounts of soft serve ice cream.:cool: Best wishes for a happy sailing to those folks headed out later this month! Pat

 

Love your posts DDD

[Karysa]

That's correct. Just like the....wait.

 

For the cruisers' sake I hope you're right. Carnival is not exactly stellar when it comes to fixing things.

 

Yes let's not forget that people have looked really forward to this cruise and saved up, and used their vacation time for it. Those getting their jolly's off of others misfortunes is just not nice.

[Sargent_Schultz]

I'm really looking forward to boarding Carnival Sunshine in 9 days!

 

Meanwhile, JH posted:

 

Anyway, thanks for your company here today and it’s time for me to sign off. Back with news and your questions answered tomorrow and on Monday or perhaps at the latest Tuesday there will be a blog for you including Mr Radu’s tour with his camera of the Carnival Sunshine.

[Dry Dock Dave]

I enjoy your input.

 

I guess the bottom line is did Carnival choose to sail knowing there were deficiencies? Why?

 

My guess from a company standpoint the decision would be profit motivated, right? At whose expense though?

 

At which point does customer satisfaction vs. profit tip the scale? Judging by recent happenings their trend seems to be "profit at any cost". Is it a surprise then when debacles like the Triumph happen? It shouldn't be.

 

Many folks reason that things like this "happen to all cruise lines" when, in fact, they simply don't. Not of this magnitude anyway.

 

I'm just not sure this is a sustainable business model.

 

Should folks stop cruising Carnival? Of course not. I do, however, think the customer should hold them accountable at the very least. If not, where is the motivation to improve?

 

YMMV

 

I'm not sure it's all entirely profit motivated.... coming here was probably a bad idea for me to be honest, instead of a job in ****e conditions being a challenge I enjoy to accomplish and get my work done on time, it became an eye opener that these are not just chunks of metal and wires we're dealing with. These are peoples dreams and magic moments we're responsible for ensuring happen.

 

That changes things, I was dreading being one of the first to know it wasn't sailing, I wouldn't know what to do if that had been the case. Having seen the concern of people booked and praying it left dry dock? I'd not want to be the one to break the news, and that was just to two people on here that I'm aware of (one member, one relative of a member?)

 

whoever made the call to sail is human too.... not a spreadsheet of cost vs potential revenue.... I don't know the figures of reinbursements for cancelled cruises, and I don't know the likely compensation / credits that will be dished out on this present cruising, I wouldn't even like to guess... but given the pretty substantial drop in cabin prices lately, and that the running costs of the ship have increased rather than declined (more cabins, more features, more power required, more fuel used) I'd say profit probably isn't top of the list.

 

Someone with much broader shoulders than anyone here had to make that call, it's possible they put themselves in the shoes of those that would be let down?

 

Facts are the ship could sail, it's sailing now which proves that to be true.... the question is should it have? Only people that can answer that are those on it, and their experience while on it... remains to be seen how they feel when they return

[glavine4746]

I'm not sure it's all entirely profit motivated.... coming here was probably a bad idea for me to be honest, instead of a job in ****e conditions being a challenge I enjoy to accomplish and get my work done on time, it became an eye opener that these are not just chunks of metal and wires we're dealing with. These are peoples dreams and magic moments we're responsible for ensuring happen.

 

That changes things, I was dreading being one of the first to know it wasn't sailing, I wouldn't know what to do if that had been the case. Having seen the concern of people booked and praying it left dry dock? I'd not want to be the one to break the news, and that was just to two people on here that I'm aware of (one member, one relative of a member?)

 

whoever made the call to sail is human too.... not a spreadsheet of cost vs potential revenue.... I don't know the figures of reinbursements for cancelled cruises, and I don't know the likely compensation / credits that will be dished out on this present cruising, I wouldn't even like to guess... but given the pretty substantial drop in cabin prices lately, and that the running costs of the ship have increased rather than declined (more cabins, more features, more power required, more fuel used) I'd say profit probably isn't top of the list.

 

Someone with much broader shoulders than anyone here had to make that call, it's possible they put themselves in the shoes of those that would be let down?

 

Facts are the ship could sail, it's sailing now which proves that to be true.... the question is should it have? Only people that can answer that are those on it, and their experience while on it... remains to be seen how they feel when they return

 

DDD I like your posts, also. Thanks

[alpal1993]

The pictures I have seen today look great to me.Marseille is lovely.So happy the Cheers program will be offered,not that interested in the water works,more The Serenity type.The water probably will be too cold for me anyways.Can't wait to board the ship in Barcelona,and start our vacation lots of saving planning and dreaming have gone into this cruise for DH and I Too much to have it ruined by negative people.

[mazimmer]

Do you think CCL turned off the internet so no one could post pictures/post from the boat during the cruise?

[spencercoop]

Do you think CCL turned off the internet so no one could post pictures/post from the boat during the cruise?

 

Are you being serious?

 

There are plenty of other ways people could post pictures if they wanted to.... cell phones, internet cafe's in port, etc.

[JTRiker9]

What the heck are you doing trying to get on the internet. DROP the Computer and eyephone and enjoy the Ship. SHUT THE HECK UP.

[JTRiker9]

OK this sound all good and right for the most part BUT it is ALL WRONG. 1 - Weather was a GIANT FACTOR in things not being finished on time. 2 - The Cabins that were not ready were those in direct connection to what was going on outside. It's know wonder bad rumors get started here, Because Your Critical of everything CCL does. Sometime LOOK IN THE MIRROR Before writing An Article.:eek::eek::eek:

[S.S.Oceanlover]

OK this sound all good and right for the most part BUT it is ALL WRONG. 1 - Weather was a GIANT FACTOR in things not being finished on time. 2 - The Cabins that were not ready were those in direct connection to what was going on outside. It's know wonder bad rumors get started here, Because Your Critical of everything CCL does. Sometime LOOK IN THE MIRROR Before writing An Article.:eek::eek::eek:

 

Thanks for clearing this up. You should have come on here 3 days ago though.:)

 

Bill

[HoganUK]

But are these numbers because they reduced the amount of available cabins? I doubt they all sold out at the same time.

 

It does seem odd that all the mentioned sailings seemed to be removed at the same time. Maybe the solution is to finish the work on the cabins and not fill the ship to the max whilst they do so.

 

We shall see!

[halos]

I think the thing is, it all depends on WHY you cruise.

I would never be upset with a water slide out of commission, or minor things being unfinished...Other people who cruise with young kids probably feel different.

I wouldn't mind if the weather was bad and I missed ports. But that is because I don't sail for the destination the majority of the time. (If it was about the destination, I would fly there)...other people go insane when ports are missed.

I could probbaly put up with the AC in my cabin not working (of course, from my perspective...because I would likely be in a balcony and be able to have fresh air, even if it is humid air)....Perspective is the big issue here.

 

Things that would absolutely impact my cruise enough to make me hate it would be that things in my bathroom didn't function. I don't care if it's only a couple days or even ONE day. I expect toilet and shower (with hot running water) to work properly...

I am sure other people have no issue with skipping a shower or two...or ten :rolleyes:

....it's all a personal matter.

[HoganUK]

The pictures I have seen today look great to me.Marseille is lovely.So happy the Cheers program will be offered,not that interested in the water works,more The Serenity type.The water probably will be too cold for me anyways.Can't wait to board the ship in Barcelona,and start our vacation lots of saving planning and dreaming have gone into this cruise for DH and I Too much to have it ruined by negative people.

 

Any onboard pictures from passengers currently onboard!?

[Dead-metal]

OK this sound all good and right for the most part BUT it is ALL WRONG. 1 - Weather was a GIANT FACTOR in things not being finished on time. 2 - The Cabins that were not ready were those in direct connection to what was going on outside. It's know wonder bad rumors get started here, Because Your Critical of everything CCL does. Sometime LOOK IN THE MIRROR Before writing An Article.:eek::eek::eek:

 

What a brilliantly written post, bar the grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. If you had posted this sooner the thread would have been finished.

 

CCL gave the shipyard three weeks extra to finish and the ship is still unfinished and cruising with fare paying passengers.

 

Doesn't that show that either CCL or the shipyard screwed up?

[Flying Scot]

Why are people so nasty to each other. I'm confused ???

 

Is this not supposed to be about something fun ???

[dakotariley]

comments

 

 

 

Kevin Wiesner · Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Realty Partners Inc.

As someone who is on this cruise I can tell you its all pretty much true. Excpet its not just a few minor incidents. Many people just lost water again. I was just down at customer service but the line is always about a 2 hout wait. There are some people who just said they had water running down their walls. My wife and I just lost AC in our room as well. There is one pool open. No hot tubs. Slides, skyzone, sports area and running track not open. Back 1/4th of the top of the ship with all those things is not even accessable. Some rooms tvs don't work and some people are just getting phones in their rooms today. Its not like its the worst time in the world but this has not been as great on the boat as past cruises we have taken. Food is still great and bars and casino are open so there is that.

Reply · 2 · · Monday at 4:30pm

 

Jenny Brinkman · Works at Alamo Drafthouse Kansas City

You are on this cruise now?

Reply · 1 · · Monday at 4:34pm

 

Jackie Pearson · Top Commenter

Good to hear from someone who is there. So they are saying serenity it open, but hot tubs aren't operational? I guess you can sit in a lounge chair still - but a bit misleading if one of the main features is not working. What are they offering you if your a/c doesn't work? Do you have a balcony that can be left open? I hope they fix things for you soon. Disappointing to have problems like this on a cruise I'm sure you've looked forward to.

Reply · 1 · · Monday at 6:05pm

 

Kevin Wiesner · Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Realty Partners Inc.

They had hot tubs full but never opened them. Guys were testing chemicals in it yesterday. Fans are being given to people with no ac. Ours kicked back on. Made me pretty upset to see the carnival rep saying those things and being very misleading. But that's her job I guess. Not gonna let these things ruin our trip! Unless crap starts running down the walls. Then I'm out! There havebeen at least 3 couples I have seen get off the ship all together and demand refunds.

Reply · 1 · · Tuesday at 5:27am

View 1 more

 

Douglas Godin

The disappointing thing is that Carnival already added 3 weeks to the drydock to increase backup systems. These incompleted projects were not even the reason they extended the drydock period. I will be on the ship May 26th, so I hope all is functioning by that time.

Reply · 2 · · Tuesday at 7:13am

 

David Yarbrough · Top Commenter

The reason why I don't book inaugural cruises, or after extended dry docks for enhancements. Doesn't matter if it is Carnival (and their other lines) or RCCL (and their other lines), or NCL, etc. Let other people be the guinea pigs.

Reply · 2 · · Monday at 12:55pm

 

Shavonne Shanks

Technically, this wasn't the inaugural cruise; April 12 was supposed to be, but that cruise and the one after it were cancelled. So, the May 3 sailing became the inaugural cruise by default. But I do know what you mean.

Reply · 1 · · Monday at 1:49pm

 

Robert Kurpinsky · Top Commenter · POLYTECHNIC

Another good reason to say no to Carnival. When will they figure this out. Sound's to me that some head's need to roll! Changing the name of a ship will not fix the problem with the operator.

Reply · 2 · · Monday at 11:23am

 

Tommy Plante

Sound like BS to me!

Reply · 2 · · Monday at 1:05pm

 

Brad Burge

My wife was on this ship and got a full refund and left the ship. She took pictures of everything! There was water dripping on one bed, coming in from the balcony and from underneath the refrigerator. There was layers of dirt on both beds and on the floors, toilets did not work and there was an awful smell emitting from the bathroom. Crews were still welding and working on her floor making for loud noise and smells. Many people left the ship because of these reasons and my wife said other guests had worse complaints. Needless to say she is done with Carnival!

Reply · 1 · · Tuesday at 4:17am

 

Dennis Lui · Singapore, Singapore

Post the pictures! (otherwise people will doubt your claims)

Reply · 1 · · Tuesday at 6:45am

 

 

[HoganUK]

Mixed views on Carnivals official facebook page:

 

Our son is on SUNSHINE maiden voyage. We received two messages from him. Afternoon of 5/6 he said "Lots of unhappy people on this ship. Lots of rooms not done. No hot water or A/C in some rooms. Slides and skyzone on back of ship not done so back of ship not accessible. Guest Services line a mile long." Late evening 5/6 he said. "Things starting to get interesting. Most rooms, including ours, just lost water for about 30 minutes. Some people have flooded rooms. Our A/C just went out."

 

Ohhh stop! I am cruising the Sunshine now. In port (MESSINA). Ship is fine and tons of fun & hot water. My cabin has been renovated and its a really sweet suite. Yes, The water slide work doesn't yet but the $150 cabin credit made this cruise a really sweet deal.

[Flying Scot]

Going by previous experience the complaint threshold is different for everyone and some nationalities see faults much easier. Often I've seen accommodation completely panned by everyone from one particular country on TripAdvisor only to get there and find I have no complaint at all.

 

That said some of these things are worrying and I really hope the slides are available for my oldest when we sail. There's over a month to that tho so you'd think that's ample time to resolve the majority of issues.

[Goldwolf]

Personally I think there have been enough compatible reports to suggest that this is more than just the usual 'post-dry dock things'. Maybe it was due to the weather being poor, but it's clear the whole water park and sports deck was not finished before they sailed. The problems with the staterooms sound quite substantial. I'm surprised that no pictures of the issues have surfaced though in the new social media age.

 

I'm glad I'm not sailing until August, if I was on the next one I'd be getting concerned now to be honest.

[BeachChik]

Mixed views on Carnivals official facebook page:

 

That is one of the things that really annoys me. Someone posts a complaint and someone else, just because it isn't their experience, feels the need to post that the other person is just being a complainer or ridiculous.

[Miss UK]

Where are the photo's, can somebody point me in the right direction please?

[Karysa]

We have not heard from DS or DBIL ( on the Sunshine) since they face timed us from the airport. This is very unusual for them. The reports of " 2 hr " and " mile long" waits at the customer service desk is very distressing to me. They were so happy last Friday when I spoke to them and until this morning I was still hopeful that the problems were isolated and just a bit of an annoyance. After reading the posts from the gentleman on the ship I now think that it's more than that.

I will post when I hear from them.

[sumguy1]

it is quite possible that the IT on the ship blocks sending any files of specific formats (such as images of any kind) .. they know what will happen if they allow photos ..

 

 

our sailing of June 16 along with earlier ones have gone off the booking page all at once .. carnival reps said its "sold out" .. I am now 100% sure that carnival have doubts about the problems they have getting fixed on these sailings , and they simply closed the door on new reservations . i for one, was checking the available prices few times every day .. up until the morning when they took it off the were many cabins for all categories that suddenly sold out in a matter an couple of hours ? strange if you ask me ..

 

 

DDD,

greatly appreciate your postings everywhere on this forum . i should have anticipated these problems when you posted your youtube of water flooding in your cabin on the other thread ..

 

The question is , do you think the techs on board can handle these problems indefinitely without dry dock ? or they will treat symptoms as they appear .. and how many could there be ? enough techs to deal with all these problems ?

 

Thanks for your help