Sunshine Cruise Review 2/9/14-2/16/14 with pictures! (Western Caribbean)

[Ciardasully]

Hello. My husband Bryon (bmckim) and I just returned from our Western Caribbean Sunshine Cruise. We live in Albany, NY with our cat and it was so nice to get a break from the cold and snow.

 

Our first cruise was last winter on the Glory and we loved it so much and we were hooked. We booked the Sunshine almost a year ago. Well Bryon booked it. He is the planner. I just show up and enjoy the vacation. But don't worry, Bryon will be on here to answers all those questions you may have that pertain to planning.

 

Anyway, we decided to to cruise out of New Orleans because Bryon had never been there before and we felt it was a good place to visit once before we have kids. Bryon also wanted to go on the Sunshine.

 

So stay tuned and I hope you enjoy our review!

[Ciardasully]

We planned to spend a couple of days in New Orleans before our cruise. We had enough room nights at the Marriott to cover that and we had enough airline miles to fly free. We left Albany on Thursday afternoon (2/6) and flew to Chicago. Our layover in Chicago was extended due to the fact that our plane to New Orleans was stuck in Dallas due to snow. Go figure. We got into New Orleans 8-8:30. We got our rental car from Avis.

 

Here are some pictures of flying into Chicago. It was too dark when we got into NOLA to get any photos. :(

 

 

 

 

We stayed at Townplace Suites in Metairie. The receptionist upgraded us to a two bedroom suite. At first Bryon and I were wondering "Why? We don't sleep in separate rooms?" But we did put all our luggage in one bedroom so it was out of the way. I forgot to get photos.

 

Then we went to dinner at Chick-Fil-A but no food porn. We stopped at a drive in daiquiri place just because we could and Bryon learned the hard way that he should order a small and not the large. He only drank 1/4 of it. Then we went to bed.

[afskatr]

Can't wait to read more and see your pics! Thanks for doing a review! We sail on the Sunshine in August!

[Ciardasully]

I won't go into too much detail about our time in Louisiana but I will tell a little but just in case you take a cruise out of NOLA and want some ideas. On Friday, 2/7 we decided to take a road trip because we don't know when we will get to Louisiana again and we wanted to see the area.

 

First we had breakfast at Waffle House (no food porn here either) because we don't have them in our area. Then we drove two hours away to Avery Island to go to the Tabasco factory.

 

 

Some Ragin' Cajun's.

 

 

 

 

 

The tour is free. It starts out with a video that is essentially a long Tabasco Commercial and then you walk through the plant. It is a brief tour, but it was free.

 

Lots of Tabasco

 

[Ciardasully]

Can't wait to read more and see your pics! Thanks for doing a review! We sail on the Sunshine in August!

 

It's my pleasure. I enjoy reading others reviews and like to pay it forward. I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise!

[Ciardasully]

We went to the store to get some souvenirs. I never thought there were so many Tabasco products. They even had ice cream. Bryon tried the jalapeno ice cream and like it. I tried the Rasperry Chipotle ice cream and did not like it.

 

 

Is it worth it to take the trip out there? Probably not for most people. But Bryon and I like road trips so it was fun for us.

 

 

Then we were on the road again. We were heading to Baton Rouge but we stopped at Bordens Ice Cream in Lafayette. Then we drove some more and got to Baton Rouge.

 

State Capitol

 

 

We were planning on seeing Mike the Tiger at LSU but ran out of time. We still had to head to Abita. We missed the brewery tour but their pub was open.

 

Then we headed back to New Orleans via the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway. We had to make it to Emeril's NOLA for 6:30 reservations.

 

 

We had time to change at the hotel and then we had a lovely dinner at NOLA. It was not cheap but it was delicious. Then we went to the Irvin Mayfield Jazz Club on Bourbon Street. It was really nice and smoke-free too.

 

And that was Friday.

[Ciardasully]

Saturday, Feb 8th.

 

Saturday morning was full of errands. I had my mani and pedi that morning because it was boots weather back in NY and last hear my polish got sock imprints. It was about 55-60 degrees and I am sure many of the locals thought I was bizarre for walking around in flip flops but I didn't feel cold.

 

We stopped at K-mart to get some soda and a wine shop for some wine to carry on.

 

Sat afternoon we went to Fairgrounds race track. Bryon grew up in Saratoga Springs, NY and likes to see other race tracks when we travel.

 

 

Bryon and I aren't sure we liked the enclosure. Saratoga is only open in the summer so we are used to watching outside.

 

 

 

 

Bryon had a fancy drink. The toe lights up.

 

Again, I like the locals were looking at us funny because they were all bundled up and Bryon and I were not wearing jackets. Bryon even was wearing shorts. It's funny how weather and temperature can be so relative.

 

[Ciardasully]

We wanted to go to Bourbon St but we decided we would leave once the sun went down.

 

If you ever decide to go to Bourbon St, please be very, very careful. It is definitely great people watching but just lots of craziness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MarathonMama629]

Can't wait to read more! We are going on the Sunshine out of NOLA on spring break! We are staying on Marriott points too. We are staying at the Courtyard by Marriott by the convention center. I'd like to know what you thought of your hotel. Maybe we should switch.

[Cruzface]

Great start. Looking forward to more...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Ciardasully]

Cruise Day! It finally arrived.

 

Bryon and I checked out the hotel and went to have breakfast at Cafe Du Monde. We parked at the port. Not the most economically choice but it was close.

 

Yay! I can see the Sunshine! There was some fog coming off the river.

 

 

 

Bryon has a friend that is from Louisiana and his pro-tip was to order the beignets to go because that way they will come in a bad and you can shake it and get that powdered sugar goodness all over them. It worked.

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, we went to Mass at St. Louis Cathedral.

 

I couldn't take pictures inside but it was a beautiful church and the Mass was beautiful as well.

 

[Kcarp]

Can't wait to read more! We are going on the Sunshine out of NOLA on spring break! We are staying on Marriott points too. We are staying at the Courtyard by Marriott by the convention center. I'd like to know what you thought of your hotel. Maybe we should switch.

 

Just curious, why would you leave the City to stay in Metairie? You are close to the port, and plenty of walking options.

[Macklovin38]

I love New Orleans! Our next cruise leaves from their too. Can't wait to read more.

 

 

Elation, April 2012

Fascination, September 2012

Fascination, September 2013

Dream, October 2014

[bmckim]

Can't wait to read more! We are going on the Sunshine out of NOLA on spring break! We are staying on Marriott points too. We are staying at the Courtyard by Marriott by the convention center. I'd like to know what you thought of your hotel. Maybe we should switch.

 

The one we stayed at is probably cheaper on points. But it is outside of the city, about 10-15 minute drive to the french quarter so you will certainly need to rent a car. It all depends on what you want. I would probably say if you have the points stay downtown. That way you are right where you need to be for the cruise, with a lot to do. We went exploring across the state, so location wasn't as much of a big deal for us.

 

The hotels are also different as a Courtyard is a traditional hotel and the Townplace Suites is extended stay. Just depends what you are looking for.

[Ciardasully]

Great start. Looking forward to more...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Thank you!

[Ciardasully]

Just curious, why would you leave the City to stay in Metairie? You are close to the port, and plenty of walking options.

 

Very good point. Comic Con was going on the same weekend we were there and it was hard to get a room downtown that weekend. That played a role in us choosing Metairie. I am not a big drinker so the drive was not issue. But when we did go downtown, we had to pay for parking too. Definitely look into what may be going on that weekend as far as conventions go and such.

 

But if you want the whole French Quarter experience, I would try to stay downtown.

[roohound]

great review so far!

[Ciardasully]

I love New Orleans! Our next cruise leaves from their too. Can't wait to read more.

 

 

Elation, April 2012

Fascination, September 2012

Fascination, September 2013

Dream, October 2014

 

How exciting!

Edited February 19, 2014 by Ciardasully

[Ciardasully]

great review so far!

 

Thank you!

[Ciardasully]

We dropped our rental car off and it felt like that took forever. Their shuttle was tied up so we got a taxi because we didn't want to wait.

 

Embarkation was a little chaotic. Generally there didn't seem like good flow to get into line and check in. There was a large group that required special assistance and I think the staff was a little overwhelmed. Nonetheless, we had purchased FTTF and were on the ship soon enough.

 

 

 

 

 

Finally!

 

 

And at this point, I am heading to bed but I will pick up tomorrow evening. I promise.

[Doug910]

...Great job so far! Looking forward to your review of the ship itself. Good possibility we'll be sailing on her early next year.

[cynt]

Thanks for posting a review. My last fix before I board her on Sunday.

[carol TC]

Me to hope you finish before I leave

[Travel Alot]

We had a great time in the Piano Bar with you all!;)

[ch27088]

If I'm not mistaken you and your hubby were recently married (maybe about a year or so), and I also read a review you did not too long ago. Loved your last review and can't wait to finish reading this. Thanks for sharing. By the way, my hubby and I are taking the Dream out of New Orleans in October, so the tours and pictures of New Orleans gives us an idea of pre-cruise and post-cruise tours. Thanks.