OfcSupport Posted September 15, 2014 #1 Share Posted September 15, 2014 We just got off the Sunshine yesterday and wanted to do a quick review. We've been on several other Carnival cruises. I was a little concerned going in based on a lot of negative reviews. We had a nice time. There were a few things we did not like but they were not anything that kept us from having a good time. We probably won't go this ship another time but don't regret trying it out. I'll start with the not so great things and end with the things we loved. We had "Any Time" dining and were disappointed with the service by the wait staff the first two nights (same waiter). It took us almost two hours from start to finish for dinner and the waiter had no personality. We were at a table for two. He was waiting until he had a bunch of tables seated and passing out menus at the same time. A man at a table seated beside us had two main courses. One was a steak that arrived after a seafood item. While we were ready for dessert the waiter made us wait until he ate his steak so all tables could order dessert together. We skipped the dining room the third night. When we went back we requested seating in a different area. This time we had a great waiter and dinner took us 45 minutes from start to finish. I think that they may have made some adjustments to accommodate the extra passengers added when they added extra cabins. Not sure it's working out well. My advice is if you are not happy with your service ask for seating in a different section. The other thing that I noticed in the main dining area was that the entrance area was too small at times to accommodate people waiting in line for it to open. People were backed up in the stairway and others would get off of the elevator and bump into the crowd. We avoided this by just showing up a little later each night. We only experienced this on the first night. I didn't like having to go wait in line at one location to get your seat assignment and then go to the dining room on a different level. I think this only affects "Any Time"dining. We love to read and were a little disappointed that the serenity area is so close to the big screen and it is never quiet. On other ships we had no trouble finding a quiet place to read a book. They have a library bar but there is low volume music in there and others were in there playing cards and talking. We ended up laying in bed in our room when we wanted to read. The sports bar was great but there was not enough seating in there during game time. My advice here is to go early if you want to watch a game to be sure to get a seat. Please be careful in the Lido area. They have a ceramic tile on the floor that is very slippery even when dry. We saw someone take a fall and the seas were very calm. The captain makes a daily announcement warning people to be careful. The casino robbed us but that was our fault. We knew that going in. I really think that a lot of the issues I mentioned above had to do with the renovations. I don't know why they thought reducing common areas and adding more passengers was a good idea. Now for the good stuff. We had a beautiful balcony cabin. I was a little concerned the mattress might have been hard as some have discussed. I have a pillow top mattress at home I love. This one was not a pillow top but it was comfortable. Our cabin steward did a fantastic job. We loved the BlueIquana but wish it was open later in the day. I had pasta from the Italian place at lunch and it was great. JiJi's must have been good. I waited in line for ten minutes at lunch time and when I realized it would take another ten or fifteen minutes to get to order I gave up. Here's a little tip. I'm not big on crowds and sometimes the Lido breakfast area is a little crowded. It's not bad but I just prefer something more laid back and quiet. If you to to the Tasting Bar near the Alchemy Bar in the mornings they have a simple breakfast bar with coffee and plenty of seating. We also really enjoyed watching a movie at night on the big screen outside. The gym was spotless and the equipment was great. The only issue here was that the satellite tv on the equipment was unreliable. I found the same to be true in the cabin from time to time. I'm glad I took my iPod so I could listen to music on the treadmill when the satellite went out. We had been to all of the ports in the past and don't have much to say here other than we really think Grand Turk and the beach there is beautiful. Some people have commented about a smell in the ship. I only noticed that one time and it was in the area between the place that makes milkshakes and casino. It didn't bother me at all. If you have future plans on the Sunshine I am sure you will have a great vacation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gammie1964 Posted September 15, 2014 #2 Share Posted September 15, 2014 ////for the review! We leave this Saturday and are super excited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minaq2 Posted September 15, 2014 #3 Share Posted September 15, 2014 ////for the review! We leave this Saturday and are super excited! Gammie1964, we're on it too! So excited that it's finally cruise week. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camper49 Posted September 15, 2014 #4 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Glad you had a good time..thanks for sharing... Curious as to what the breakfast bar offered at the Tasting Bar?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted September 15, 2014 #5 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thanks for a fair and balanced review. From what friends have said this is a ship to avoid. Carnival has many better ones for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OfcSupport Posted September 16, 2014 Author #6 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Glad you had a good time..thanks for sharing...Curious as to what the breakfast bar offered at the Tasting Bar?? I think they had oatmeal, yogurt, eggs, fruit, some kind of meat, potatoes, pastries, milk and coffee. They could have had other items. I only had oatmeal and yogurt and didn't pay much attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harleymom08 Posted September 16, 2014 #7 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Gammie1964, we're on it too! So excited that it's finally cruise week. :D We're on it too!!! We ended up with a HUGE obc & were assigned a spa balcony. I'm so excited I think I may bust!! Thanks OP for the nice, simple review! I'm glad you included the good & the bad :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deetrayn Posted September 16, 2014 #8 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I was on that sailing with you OfcSupport, and had a similar issue in the MDR. We had anytime dining, and it only took me one night to decide not to go back there for dinner. I spent the rest of my evenings alternating dining at JiJi's and Cucina Del Capitano. We also went to the steakhouse one night. I enjoyed those restaurants very much! Overall, I had a great time and would go again. I had fun with the people I traveled with, and the new friends we made on the ship. If I ever sail the Sunshine again, I will be sure NOT to have a cabin on the 11th or 12th deck. We had a spa balcony on deck 12 and only two elevators go up there. It was frustrating at times having such a long wait for an elevator to get to my cabin. I had a great cruise, but the Liberty is still my favorite ship! I now have to see if the Breeze will change that. Lol Dee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onegroundcafe Posted September 16, 2014 #9 Share Posted September 16, 2014 We are on the 09/20 sailing as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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