Revamped Carnival Sunshine facing problems in maiden voyage

[swedish weave]

I will ask the same question again since I have not seen the information.

 

How many cabins are without hot water? What is the number behind Frank's comment that COUNTLESS NUMBERS are forced to shower in the spa?

 

I just don't know how high Frank can count.

[mairead224]

I do not mean to change the subject. I just checked CCL website and our cruise on June 7th, on the Sunshine, is not offered for resevations.

Am I worring about nothing or does CCL cut off resevations with-in 30 days of cruise(which is today)?

Thanks for your replies.

 

 

Im on the same sailing and I imagine it is sold out! Full ship!!! 30 days who hoo!!!!

[Sargent_Schultz]

I will ask the same question again since I have not seen the information.

 

How many cabins are without hot water? What is the number behind Frank's comment that COUNTLESS NUMBERS are forced to shower in the spa?

 

I'm certain I can count quite high without need for fingers or toes. I'm not so sure about those who can't locate a light switch.

[glavine4746]

Im on the same sailing and I imagine it is sold out! Full ship!!! 30 days who hoo!!!!

 

Thats great you are on the same cruise. Like I just stated yesterday I checked our cruise and 62 cabins were available. I am just a natural worrier.

[ShanteS]

I will ask the same question again since I have not seen the information.

 

How many cabins are without hot water? What is the number behind Frank's comment that COUNTLESS NUMBERS are forced to shower in the spa?

 

I just don't know how high Frank can count.

 

I'm not there so I can't say for sure BUT I believe I read in one of the posts that the new cabins that were added are the ones experiencing the water and plumbing issues. I could be wrong and I know someone will correct me if I'm wrong ;) but I remember reading it.

[mairead224]

Thats great you are on the same cruise. Like I just stated yesterday I checked our cruise and 62 cabins were available. I am just a natural worrier.

 

 

Given that the are relaunching the ship and all teething problems should be ironed out by our sailing date (hopefully:o), they maybe reserved for travel agents/reviewers? Just a thought?

[golfadj]

I say this exact thing all the time. It is crazy the way some of these people act. I have never seen people so desperate to have their personal choices validated. It is so sad.

 

Anyway, I am guessing there is a bit of a truth to some of this, but not near as harsh as some have made it out to be. I will find out very soon as I am on the next sailing. Personally, I can roll with whatever. I am a little more concerned due to the fact that I am taking a first time cruiser with me on this one. I certainly want him to be wowed and not turned off by any means.

 

Have a great cruise. Hope all the problems have been taken care of by than. Say hi to JH for me.

[glavine4746]

Given that the are relaunching the ship and all teething problems should be ironed out by our sailing date (hopefully:o), they maybe reserved for travel agents/reviewers? Just a thought?

 

Hopefully, I just have read alot about the "Sunshine castaways" from the cancelled cruises and I just do not want to be faced with rebooking.

 

But on a happier note, we are leaving exactly

 

in 4 weeks. Our flight leaves at 11:12.

[Sargent_Schultz]

Have a great cruise. Hope all the problems have been taken care of by than. Say hi to JH for me.

 

JH isn't on the ship.

[bitemyfly]

“All this bickering between CCL and RCCL afficionados is pretty pathetic though. Why is there the need? It's like kids arguing between XBox and Playstation. “

“I say this exact thing all the time. It is crazy the way some of these people act. I have never seen people so desperate to have their personal choices validated. It is so sad.”

I’m beginning to suspect that most of the posts auguring between lines are not from a personal perspective /choice.

I think there are many folks with the main motivation of money

From -TA’s who see writing on the wall with carnival leading the way with booking direct rather than thru commissioned sales

To -Carnival employees/PVP who make a living taking orders for sailings

And in between people who have websites/blogs who drive traffic for click thru and or add revenue

Not to mention group leaders getting free cabins

I take everything with a grain of salt.

Go out and cruise, try all lines

Have fun

[swedish weave]

Thank you Warren. I love reading your annual report every year.;)

 

A few pennies for me ----- A few million for you high rollers !!!!:D

 

BTW it is up 15 cents this morning to $35.69 !!!

[CdrescherRBL152]

Keep in mind the current CARNIVAL SUNSHINE cruisers didn't expect to be the first cruise after a dry-dock. Carnival canceled the April 12 and April 26 sailings, and the poor folks on the May 3 sailing ended up being the guinea pigs with no choice in the matter.

 

I'm a little surprised the ship is not fully completed, especially the Water Works. According to Carnival, the dry-dock was extended to install new redundant safety measures (generator & electrical switchboard) and not because more time was needed for things like the Water Works and cabins. They had an extra three weeks to complete everything so what happened? I can only imagine what a disaster the first cruise would have been if they stuck with the original dry-dock schedule of an April 12 debut.

 

The first cruise wouldn't have been much different. Worst thing you can do is a contractor extra time. Cause they will slow down as not to get done early. Take your car in for repairs and tell the mechince no rush you will be away for a week. Your oil change that should take an hour will get finished about 15 mins. after you show up to get the car. A week later.

[ib4cruzn]

Everybody needs to chill. The ship floats and has all its propulsion works and there is plenty of great food including guys.

 

Boy, I want to cruise with YOU!

 

unless, of course, you're a zombie then not so much...

[kybluecruiser]

Boy, I want to cruise with YOU!

 

unless, of course, you're a zombie then not so much...

 

Not a zombie. I'm just not a nitpicker. Life is too short.

[ib4cruzn]

You know, I can't help but wonder how many successful companies would be so if their patrons didn't expect much.

 

I think this attitude is the major difference between dissenters here. The diehards are willing to settle for whatever pablum Carnival provides while seasoned cruisers know the difference and aren't willing to settle.

 

It's kinda like the difference between WDW and Bob's Korner Karnival. You expect a certain experience from the mouse while settling for Bob's because of price.

 

I guess you can't have BOTH.

[halos]

Excellent post

I agree!!

 

While your point is worth considering it is factually wrong. There have been many times when cruise ships have literally been cut in half and had new sections added with the net result being to lengthen the ship and provide more space for cabins and public spaces. From an engineering perspective, that is a much larger and complicated task than the extensive face lift given to the Sunshine/Destiny. There was a good documentary several years ago showing this process on an NCL ship, but many other lines have done the same thing.

 

It is fine to place some accountability on the shipyard or to argue that passengers coming on an early sailing should expect issues, but what is mind blowing to me is that with size of the investment in the refurb, the amount of paid and free press, and the PR damage the company has already suffered (fairly or unfairly) I cannot understand why the company leadership did not have a strong enough project manager on site at the ship yard to make sure everything was perfect. Due to the stakes, I would have had VP level types on site making sure this happened as planned, on schedule, and on budget. Allowing this ship to sail in the shape it is reported it is in with elevator issues, the water issues, the pool and water park not open, and dust and dirt everywhere is a huge mistake. This is a series bloody nose for Carnival and the responsiblity rests completely on the shoulders of upper management.

 

One poster arguing on behalf of the cruise line makes a point about the company deciding to sail with an unfinished ship versus canceling the sailing and seems to indicate the better choice was to sail in the unfinished state. Again, I get the point, but that fact is that the cruise line should never have allowed themselve to be put in this position. They should have been side by side with their vendor (the shipyard) through the whole process and made sure the work went flawlessly. They should have allowed enough time (even though they ended up with extra time) to finish the project and get it done right.

 

Carnival is an excellent cruiseline and normally serves thier market well, however bad decisions like this are making them an easy target for a media that already has them in it's sights. If I were a stockholder in the company, I would want answers, and the customers on these sailings deserve more than lunch and a bottle of wine. Carnival better shape up or face very real challenges in the market place by companies that are doing it better. They could see a serious errosion of their market share if they don't step up and manage these issues better.

 

Their main focus, since the 2nd or even 3rd 'issue' (whichever that was...I forget at this point) should be to be PERFECT...or as perfect as humanly possible, because any little glitch was going to be jumped on.

They have done a piss-poor job of keeping their name out of the media. How much more bad press they will be able to withstand is yet to be seen.

 

I still don't understand how they haven't had a major overhaul in upper management yet...my DH works for a very large international company and something 99% less significant that these issues would have had people escorted out the door pronto.

[cbowls30]

Hi all

 

Just to add I've got a text from my friend who is on sunshine (also her first cruise) and she still has no hot water in her cabin and has found certain facilities to not be in working ordere (didn't say what) - but she said the crew are fantastic and doing everything they can to sort things out and most people are in good spirits and just getting on with it and as they are docking at a new port nearly every day it hasn't been a major issue as she has been getting off and going off exploring for the day, doesn't seem to be hampering her enjoyment, must be some of that 'Brit wartime spitirt' we are so famous for! Lol

[Toflyin]

I do not mean to change the subject. I just checked CCL website and our cruise on June 7th, on the Sunshine, is not offered for resevations.

Am I worring about nothing or does CCL cut off resevations with-in 30 days of cruise(which is today)?

Thanks for your replies.

 

It is not just your cruise that has been pulled from the Carnival site, but all of the Sunshine cruises before June 28th! You can still book other ships for as soon as May 16th. I don't think you have to panic though. Here is my take on it, and it is only my opinion of what I would do if I was a manager at Carnival. Since not all the rooms are working, I would stop booking until I could determine EXACTLY how many rooms I can actually use. By not filling up the next few cruises they will make less money, but it is better to have 80% occupancy with 100% satisfaction than the other way around. As rooms become available they will put them back up I suspect.

Or it could be a computer glitch.

Or they could think that the world is coming to an end and there is no sense in accepting any other bookings (this would only be an option if they spend too much time reading the doom and gloomers on this site!)

[dakotariley]

If they can't get on the internet, how did you get it?

 

And why the ridicules font size?

 

 

Because no one who is reading the boards believes what is going on on the ship -- you should see the pictures I received this morning -- and I have travelled extensively all over the world. I would post the photos - but don't know how.

 

and why the ridiculous font size so you guys on the ship would realize how frustrated some of the passengers are and how the people back "home" can't imagine what is going on on your voyage -- they should have left your ship in dry dock several more weeks to fix everything.

 

His mom is traveling with him and she step on a large screw -- their lights would not go off all night - their spa treatments were done with out air, no water - no clean glasses and no bottled water -- and they have a large suite - it doesn't matter where you travel in this ship - it effects everyone ... I am sure you know that people have disembarked the ship already and have asked for money back?!

 

this is a nightmare for people who has saved up for a long time to take a cruise to places with a great itinerary and to have to deal with this. I take a lot of cruises on Oceania - and believe me - their customer service is horrible - they don't apologize for anything -- so -- in my heart of hearts I believe you all deserve some kind of compensation for what you are going through.

 

In fact the last Carnival disaster my husband, who is a lawyer in Hollywood, FL - represented many people who got caught up in the debacle with that one -- You guys aught to take eveyone's name and do some sort of class action - should you have to pay for what you are not receiving -- I have been cruising since 1972 -- and we warned our friends that we didn't think this was a good idea ... and boy - the updates daily are proving it --

 

I wish you and your family no ill will and to have a very nice trip - and hope you get some sort of rebate for the inconveniences you have encountered.

 

Next time try Celebrity -- or another cruise line -- believe me -- I'm just a passenger and I get nothing for typing my opinions - just feel really bad for everyone on board ... Leslie

[Sargent_Schultz]

Apparently they are planning on showing the NEW Carnival Sunshine to some.

 

[big_duck]

I take a lot of cruises on Oceania

 

+1 for the humble brag.

[kybluecruiser]

Because no one who is reading the boards believes what is going on on the ship -- you should see the pictures I received this morning -- and I have travelled extensively all over the world. I would post the photos - but don't know how.

 

and why the ridiculous font size so you guys on the ship would realize how frustrated some of the passengers are and how the people back "home" can't imagine what is going on on your voyage -- they should have left your ship in dry dock several more weeks to fix everything.

 

His mom is traveling with him and she step on a large screw -- their lights would not go off all night - their spa treatments were done with out air, no water - no clean glasses and no bottled water -- and they have a large suite - it doesn't matter where you travel in this ship - it effects everyone ... I am sure you know that people have disembarked the ship already and have asked for money back?!

 

this is a nightmare for people who has saved up for a long time to take a cruise to places with a great itinerary and to have to deal with this. I take a lot of cruises on Oceania - and believe me - their customer service is horrible - they don't apologize for anything -- so -- in my heart of hearts I believe you all deserve some kind of compensation for what you are going through.

 

In fact the last Carnival disaster my husband, who is a lawyer in Hollywood, FL - represented many people who got caught up in the debacle with that one -- You guys aught to take eveyone's name and do some sort of class action - should you have to pay for what you are not receiving -- I have been cruising since 1972 -- and we warned our friends that we didn't think this was a good idea ... and boy - the updates daily are proving it --

 

I wish you and your family no ill will and to have a very nice trip - and hope you get some sort of rebate for the inconveniences you have encountered.

 

Next time try Celebrity -- or another cruise line -- believe me -- I'm just a passenger and I get nothing for typing my opinions - just feel really bad for everyone on board ... Leslie

 

Lol yeah let's sue......... You just added credibility to your post right there. In case you didn't notice that was sarcasm. You can add photos by clicking the little paper clip above where you write your post. So lets see these incriminating photos.

[Flying Scot]

It is not just your cruise that has been pulled from the Carnival site, but all of the Sunshine cruises before June 28th! You can still book other ships for as soon as May 16th. I don't think you have to panic though. Here is my take on it, and it is only my opinion of what I would do if I was a manager at Carnival. Since not all the rooms are working, I would stop booking until I could determine EXACTLY how many rooms I can actually use. By not filling up the next few cruises they will make less money, but it is better to have 80% occupancy with 100% satisfaction than the other way around. As rooms become available they will put them back up I suspect.

Or it could be a computer glitch.

Or they could think that the world is coming to an end and there is no sense in accepting any other bookings (this would only be an option if they spend too much time reading the doom and gloomers on this site!)

 

 

Its Difficult not to worry a bit. I have non-refundable flights and hotel bookings around this (June 16 sailing) so would be up **** creek for want of a better phrase, if they cancelled.

[Sargent_Schultz]

Its Difficult not to worry a bit. I have non-refundable flights and hotel bookings around this (June 16 sailing) so would be up **** creek for want of a better phrase, if they cancelled.

 

IF they were to cancel - highly doubtful - Carnival would reimburse you for non-refundable costs.

[kybluecruiser]

Apparently they are planning on showing the NEW Carnival Sunshine to some.

 

 

Sarge can you decipher this for us who don't speak in tongues? Lol