Carnival Sunshine Naming Ceremony and Inaugural US Cruise

[Sargent_Schultz]

As one of many winners of a slogan contest, we were invited to attend the naming ceremony of the Carnival Sunshine, Nov 17, 2013 in New Orleans. We promptly accepted. Since we would already be on the ship, why not book the cruise leaving on Monday, Nov 18? I checked and prices looked good, and we were set to spend another week on the "newest" ship in Carnival's fleet.

 

As it turns out, there was a huge ophthalmologist convention in the city (got to see a cousin who had come in for it), and also the San Francisco 49ers were in town to lose to my New Orleans Saints. Who Dat!

 

We decided it would be more relaxing and certainly easier to park at Galatoire's Bistro in Baton Rouge for our pre-cruise, stomach stretching ritual. A relative of the more famous one in New Orleans, a number of the same dishes are served.

 

Including delicious warm french bread!

 

 

 

 

 

oysters en brochette appetizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

crabmeat maison

 

 

 

 

 

 

escargot

 

 

 

 

 

 

nice pompano

 

 

 

 

Fried Eggplant

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

a plain grilled fish with crabmeat topping (off menu)

 

 

 

 

gulf fish meuniere amandine

 

 

 

 

 

 

and profiteroles

 

 

 

 

 

 

{plus some other stuff!}

[arush5268d]

You do always make very good food porn pictures.

[Rsebdb]

Hooray! I love your reviews and am truly looking forward to your review of Sunshine's first US sailing. My family and I will be there soon. Thank you!

[Sargent_Schultz]

You do always make very good food porn pictures.

 

Thank you. That became more of a challenge on this trip as we shall find out.

 

Hooray! I love your reviews and am truly looking forward to your review of Sunshine's first US sailing. My family and I will be there soon. Thank you!

 

Thank you and you're welcome. :) Enjoy your cruise!

[lulu_cruising]

We're going to have a couple days before our December trip to enjoy New Orleans....the food pics look amazing! Can't wait.

 

Have your posted a review or your cruise yet?

[Sargent_Schultz]

Before I forget, and for those who might be cruising on Carnival Sunshine before I otherwise get to it, there was a cooking demonstration the first sea day in the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse. These can be interesting and usually an opportunity to taste some different foods - maybe even make an lunch out of it. ;)

 

It was a popular event and filled up to capacity. They turned a number of people away (including me!), so if interested, try to get there early.

 

Also, I posted a large number of pictures of Carnival Sunshine from out May 17th Med cruise in this thread:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1845665

Edited November 30, 2013 by Sargent_Schultz

[Webb of Joy]

I was on the crossing had really wanted to stay for the christening ceremony. What was it like was it fun or a serious event.thank you for the photos they are awesome

[Sargent_Schultz]

We're going to have a couple days before our December trip to enjoy New Orleans....the food pics look amazing! Can't wait.

 

Have your posted a review or your cruise yet?

 

Just to clarify - the restaurant we went to is not in New Orleans, but related to one there. The one in New Orleans is even better and yes, the food can be amazing.

 

If a restaurant takes reservations, it is always a good idea to make them. A number of them do not. A good rule of thumb is that if it is meal time, and most restaurants are busy, if a few are not, there is probably a reason.

 

http://www.nomenu.com/ is a good site to check out restaurant possibilities.

 

I have uploaded the pictures but haven't posted them here, yet.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[Sargent_Schultz]

I was on the crossing had really wanted to stay for the christening ceremony. What was it like was it fun or a serious event.thank you for the photos they are awesome

 

Not to make you feel too bad (:p), but it was great.

 

It was seriously fun but all of top management from corp were there, so employees were a little careful not to get too stupid. I thought it was perfect and the entertainment appropriate for the city.

 

Will have more on that later.

[Sargent_Schultz]

Everything related to the naming ceremony, from parking at the port, to food, to stateroom was included. I did contact the port to find out how to pay for cruise parking at the same time we arrived for the naming ceremony and they got all that figured out in advance so it was painless.

 

We probably arrived at the port around noon, even though check-in was supposed to be after 2pm. I think just about everyone else had already beat us there.

 

I was a little surprised to see some of the people I knew that were on the Transatlantic standing in the same line, including some behind us, but there they were.

 

Anyway, we finally made it on the ship about the time they said we would. Imagine that.

 

We were supposed to be in the same cabin that I booked for the cruise, but that somehow got lost in translation so had a different stateroom for the naming ceremony. Meanwhile our luggage had luggage tags for the cruise. Uh oh.

 

No problem - our luggage beat us onto the ship and I just went to the other cabin and fetched it. :)

 

One of the first things I did was look for the reported buckets in the hallways and there were none on our deck. I looked high and low.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know in the past there might have been buckets, and in the future there might be, but I couldn't find any. Some people would even tell me where they had seen some, but they weren't there when I checked.

[Sargent_Schultz]

Some pictures from our stateroom

 

 

 

 

 

a large shower (as with similar ships)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a connecting room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

I had a heavy duty magnet (50#) and tried different locations but it would only stick in a few. Lessor magnets wouldn't stick at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

There is an extra outlet where the TV plugs in.

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring the ship some

 

 

Near Limelight

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonsai Sushi is open (wasn't available on our May 17th cruise)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

Lobby Bar

 

 

 

 

 

Today was all inclusive and boy were some putting drinks away! :eek:

 

 

 

 

Liquid Lounge - I think it is a great concept better utilization of space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were rehearsing for the show later that evening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

Checking out the Piano Bar - heard Mischelle was supposed to be there but nope. It would be hours before we finally met.

 

 

 

 

 

Checking out the Dining room were we had been on the May 17th cruise and also the one we would be in on the Inaugural cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The antenna poking through the ceiling was still there. :eek:

 

 

 

 

Other areas that were not finished before, now appeared to be so..

 

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

 

 

 

 

No lines at Guest Services :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whoa - I found a bucket!

 

 

 

 

 

 

but apparently not for drips - it was dry. :D

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

The main pool that was not operational on our May 17th cruise was fully functional

 

 

 

 

 

and there was NO LIST! {but then there never was one}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sargent_Schultz]

Before I forget - talked with some of those who were on the Transatlantic. The ship handled well the entire time, a smooth ride. Did not run out of fuel, no towing required, no dry dock required, and there was most certainly not a major outbreak of Noro. So much for false rumors.

[LizaMM]

Looking forward to hearing all about your cruise and of course all the photos :)

 

Thanks for posting!

[mississauga]

Before I forget - talked with some of those who were on the Transatlantic. The ship handled well the entire time, a smooth ride. Did not run out of fuel, no towing required, no dry dock required, and there was most certainly not a major outbreak of Noro. So much for false rumors.

 

 

Agree. All true what you said. We were on the TA and some had colds like on any other cruise. Some like myself stayed healthy even with all the coughing around me. Loved those new hand washing machines as you leave the Marketplace on Lido.

 

It was a wonderful cruise!:D

[LambKnuckles]

You write wonderful reviews... I'll keep looking in on this one!! I love the décor of the Sunshine. Simple and tasteful!!!

[Sargent_Schultz]

Looking forward to hearing all about your cruise and of course all the photos :)

 

Thanks for posting!

 

you're welcome. :)

 

Agree. All true what you said. We were on the TA and some had colds like on any other cruise. Some like myself stayed healthy even with all the coughing around me. Loved those new hand washing machines as you leave the Marketplace on Lido.

 

It was a wonderful cruise!:D

 

those had washers are something else. :D

[Sargent_Schultz]

You write wonderful reviews... I'll keep looking in on this one!! I love the décor of the Sunshine. Simple and tasteful!!!

 

Thank you. Stay tuned...