100% honest review of the Sunshine.

[bgvic24]

So glad you have given a completely thorough review! Thanks muchly! We live near to Port Canaveral and many times have wanted to sail out of here - but wind up sailing out of Miami instead. Was interested when the Sunshine came to port as we thought "at last - an affordable larger ship" (the dream was a bit out of reach initially for our little budget). But I have seen many many negative reviews. Even your review, in my humble opinion, was very negative for a ship as large and as newly furbished as this was.

 

My question to you was - if you had a teenager - says 16 yrs old - would you make this their first cruise with you? She has been wanting and wanting to cruise with us, and DH does not want to sail out of Miami again, so I thought maybe we would chance going on Sunshine - but I am constantly hearing "its a good ship - BUT......".

 

As a recent Sunshine cruiser - what is your take on that?

 

Again, thanks for the review!

 

 

 

 

 

If I had a Teenager... LOL Yes I would sail the Sunshine. I went on the waterslides and will have to say they were awesome. A child would love that portion. The whole water works area is great. They have their own club which is in its own area kind of private for them which is cool... Well if I was 16 again I would think it was great. We saw many children on this cruise... maybe most I have ever seen. They all looked to be having a great time and I think Carnival does a great job catering to them. Remember those are your future cruisers!!!! They did a scavenger hunt and need a picture with someone who has Tattoos.... as I am covered.. I took the picture with them... thought it was funny.

 

As far as the standard Carnival things... Sailing this ship is no diff than other one. I think you should go on it... As I did. I never let a single negative review deter me from booking. My wife and I had a GREAT cruise.... It was just the ship..... still looked old in my opinion it was cramped.... It does have the smallest Space to Passenger ratio. I would sail the ship again if there were no sea days :) Hope this helps.

[eponym]

I guess I'm glad our first cruise will be on the Sunshine. No expectations. We just wanted to go to the Styx concert and decided to make a family vacation out of it.

 

That Styx set sounds like a great add to start a voyage!

[rdrack5]

That Styx set sounds like a great add to start a voyage!

 

Definitely! :D

[Out to sea!]

When your in the serenity area, how quiet is it? Can you hear the music from the pool area?

 

On the Sunshine, the Serenity area is just forward of the main pool area. Depending on which level you are on (Deck 10, 11, or 12) will determine how much noise you hear. Deck 12, very little. Decks 10 & 11, quite a bit.

[Igt2beme]

Have sailed the Sunshine twice and quite frankly its one of my favorite ships. The only time I noticed any crowds or lines was the first morning at the breakfast buffet and I think that was because we got to port at about 8AM. Never did notice any of the terrible problems that I see people posting about. If you like the itinerary give her a try. Booked on her again in July and we can't wait!

[leedm]

I have been reading the pros and negative comments about the Sunshine since it was renovated. We have sailed the Sunshine once and are booked again Nov 2015, and I can say it is not the perfect ship but far from all the negative comments. On any ship on sea days or at prime dinning times you will have crowds, we have seen that on almost all our cruises, Carnival and Norwegian. I some times think people like to be critical rather than see positives. For me the Sunshine is a great ship and I will rank her in my top 5 ships. Just my opinion.

 

Live to Sail:D

[easternLIers]

Question for anyone who's been on the Sunshine. I like to gamble but hate smoke. I've seen reviews that complain about the smoke in the casino. Does anyone know if they are allowed to smoke in the casino on this ship or even around the ship in general?? Thanks ahead of time. classmates are looking at a 40th reunion cruise on Sunshine.

 

Jim

[mishka422]

Smoking permitted at half the casino bar, specific slot machines, and deck 10 port side

[easternLIers]

Thanks Mishka. Appreciate the feedback. I'm reading more and realize there is probably no way around it.

 

Jim

[mishka422]

Every ship has smoking areas and every ships casino allows smoking so, no, I don't think there is any way around it.

[RaMar]

I have been reading the pros and negative comments about the Sunshine since it was renovated. We have sailed the Sunshine once and are booked again Nov 2015, and I can say it is not the perfect ship but far from all the negative comments. On any ship on sea days or at prime dinning times you will have crowds, we have seen that on almost all our cruises, Carnival and Norwegian. I some times think people like to be critical rather than see positives. For me the Sunshine is a great ship and I will rank her in my top 5 ships. Just my opinion.

 

Live to Sail:D

 

I am so glad to hear this.

[sailingwithfriends]

I can say that the Serenity deck is not serene at all. It is right there with the TV speakers and the DJ blasting music toward it. Bring earplugs. :)

 

The advantage to Sunshine's Serenity deck is it is three layers. On the lowest layer, you have an adult only area with great seating and lounge chairs where you can hear the music. On the next level, it is a little quieter and has more shade and great seating. On the highest level, no music and great relaxing chairs. I guess the design is to accommodate everyone's wish for music, movies or quiet time.

[mishka422]

The advantage to Sunshine's Serenity deck is it is three layers. On the lowest layer, you have an adult only area with great seating and lounge chairs where you can hear the music. On the next level, it is a little quieter and has more shade and great seating. On the highest level, no music and great relaxing chairs. I guess the design is to accommodate everyone's wish for music, movies or quiet time.

Exactly. We loved being on the bottom serenity deck on our sea day because there was so much going on on lido and we could see it all and hear it all from there. On the other days we stayed on the top deck where it was nice and quiet. Perfect balance

[lifeisgoodPat]

Can you tell me on what deck do you get your ATD ticket and then how far do you have to walk to the ATD. Can I have my husband go directly to the Dining room and wait for me to bring the ticket to go to dinner? Is there someplace to sit outside the Dining room? Which Dining room is for ATD? He has a problem with walking and can not go too far too fast.

[mishka422]

Ytd check in is on deck 5 aft near the taste bar. It is right next to a large lounge area and the red frog pub and alchemy bar so lots if seating to wait if your table isn't immediately available. The dining room is the sunrise aft dining room in deck 3. The elevators are just across fun the alchemy bar, down two decks and you come out immediately in front if the dining room. The reason they did it this way is because there is nowhere at all to sit and wait outside the dining room as the elevator is right there. We only waited for a table twice. Elegant night and one other night when we ended up being ready to go at a very peak time (about 7pm). Elegant night we waited about 20 minutes but the taste bar had food to sample and there was entertainment in the seating area. The time flew by. The other time we waited less than 10 minutes. Keep in mind, we did a private table every night and the ship was at max capacity. Not too shabby!

[lifeisgoodPat]

Ytd check in is on deck 5 aft near the taste bar. It is right next to a large lounge area and the red frog pub and alchemy bar so lots if seating to wait if your table isn't immediately available. The dining room is the sunrise aft dining room in deck 3. The elevators are just across fun the alchemy bar, down two decks and you come out immediately in front if the dining room. The reason they did it this way is because there is nowhere at all to sit and wait outside the dining room as the elevator is right there. We only waited for a table twice. Elegant night and one other night when we ended up being ready to go at a very peak time (about 7pm). Elegant night we waited about 20 minutes but the taste bar had food to sample and there was entertainment in the seating area. The time flew by. The other time we waited less than 10 minutes. Keep in mind, we did a private table every night and the ship was at max capacity. Not too shabby!

 

Thank you so much, that was very helpful. I am a little less worried now.

[4104ever]

I have been reading the pros and negative comments about the Sunshine since it was renovated. We have sailed the Sunshine once and are booked again Nov 2015, and I can say it is not the perfect ship but far from all the negative comments. On any ship on sea days or at prime dinning times you will have crowds, we have seen that on almost all our cruises, Carnival and Norwegian. I some times think people like to be critical rather than see positives. For me the Sunshine is a great ship and I will rank her in my top 5 ships. Just my opinion.

 

Live to Sail:D

 

 

We will be on the same November sailing as you and I agree that the Sunshine is a great ship. Sailed her last Oct. and had a great time.

[mishka422]

Glad to help! I was frankly scared that we were going to feel jammed on this ship after reading the reviews and that totally unfounded. This ship isn't any more crowded feeling than most work the exception of two choke points on either side of the lido

[AmberTeka]

We sail on the Sunshine later this month. My husband would sail on a wooden raft if it sailed out of Jax. or Port. Canaveral.

 

And whine and complain and moan if he has to go to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale or even Tampa.

 

Your review is great. It helps US know what to avoid. and what to do. Go to lunch later. Go to the back to the Havana Grill. Or Bar or whatever.

 

We are on Deck 3. in one of the new obstructed cabins...that has a window and space that is 220 sq. ft. New. New showers. Mini fridge. Learned that on this board.

 

We don't swim. We live in Florida and avoid the sun mostly. Love it, but we get too much. And I know, for folks coming from the winter the north has had this year. That sounds smug...but Melanoma is real. so no worries there

 

don't go to comedy shows. BUT Need to get to productions shows at least 20 minutes early. Will do.

 

We learned enough about ATD from this site to get a 6 o'clock set dining time....first time in years we have done that.

 

Thank you all. Your reviews show us what to what out for........how to avoid it...

Edited June 2, 2015 by AmberTeka

[Out to sea!]

We sail on the Sunshine later this month. My husband would sail on a wooden raft if it sailed out of Jax. or Port. Canaveral.

 

And whine and complain and moan if he has to go to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale or even Tampa.

 

Your review is great. It helps US know what to avoid. and what to do. Go to lunch later. Go to the back to the Havana Grill. Or Bar or whatever.

 

We are on Deck 3. in one of the new obstructed cabins...that has a window and space that is 220 sq. ft. New. New showers. Mini fridge. Learned that on this board.

 

We don't swim. We live in Florida and avoid the sun mostly. Love it, but we get too much. And I know, for folks coming from the winter the north has had this year. That sounds smug...but Melanoma is real. so no worries there

 

don't go to comedy shows. BUT Need to get to productions shows at least 20 minutes early. Will do.

 

We learned enough about ATD from this site to get a 6 o'clock set dining time....first time in years we have done that.

 

Thank you all. Your reviews show us what to what out for........how to avoid it...

 

Unless you specifically don't like comedy there is no reason to miss the comedy shows. Granted, for the later shows the line can get long but for the early show, we would usually leave dinner about 1915 and walk over to the comedy show (starts at 1930) and walk right in and get a seat in view of the stage (usually in front of the bar so a great straight on view).

Edited June 2, 2015 by Out to sea!

[AmberTeka]

Unless you specifically don't like comedy there is no reason to miss the comedy shows. Granted, for the later shows the line can get long but for the early show, we would usually leave dinner about 1915 and walk over to the comedy show (starts at 1930) and walk right in and get a seat in view of the stage (usually in front of the bar so a great straight on view).

 

Thanks for that information. We might try to catch some performances.

 

Another tip I learned was from another thread. they reported that the Taste Bar, which I think is on the Plaza Deck......serves a very nice breakfast. they had photos and they showed eggs, bacon, grits but I think they were cheese grits, toast, cereal, coffee..etc. AND it was never crowded or so they said. So I thought me might try that one morning too.

[mishka422]

Definitely. It's a small expanded continental with some hot items. There are also a few breakfast items in the Havana bar. Guava pastries, chicken or ham croquettes (depending on the day), cheese pastry, and an egg pie type thing like a crustless quiche

[Out to sea!]

Thanks for that information. We might try to catch some performances.

 

Another tip I learned was from another thread. they reported that the Taste Bar, which I think is on the Plaza Deck......serves a very nice breakfast. they had photos and they showed eggs, bacon, grits but I think they were cheese grits, toast, cereal, coffee..etc. AND it was never crowded or so they said. So I thought me might try that one morning too.

 

Deck 5 just past Ocean Plaza (this is where all of the trivia games are held). But make sure you try the little goodies in the Havana Bar at breakfast and grab a nice seat with a stunning view of the wake one morning. Normal breakfast is at the front of the Havana Bar but at the actual bar (left hand side of the bar in the middle of the room as you walk in) is where the keep the little Cuban pastries.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Out to sea!

[sxyshell]

I have only been on the Dream but it is really the same as the Breeze and I would sail those ships over and over.. HUGE amounts of deck space and always a chair to grab no matter what time!!!

 

Here is how I went into this cruise.... It was between Pride and Sunshine... both offered same places. But Prides port loads were huge at every stop some places over 20k in people and all of port stops were at 8am. Sunshine had much lower port loads and all stops were at 10am. We like this because you can sleep in a bit and don't have to rush of the ship at 8am...

 

Also here is the rule I use on a ship like this... With only 2 sea days.. you will not notice it much because you only have to deal with it for 2 days... with the missed port it added the 3rd. Now our Costa Maya stop was 7am to 2pm.. so everyone WAS already up and about when call was made a 6:56 am not to port.. So.... that sea day was very busy.

 

I had read all of the negative reviews also and I don't judge until I actually do the trip. So I booked it and that was that.... But my wife and I are sun lizzard's... I knew to get up on deck and get a chair. but seeing the look on people faces at 8am.. I knew it was going to be worse than the first sea day.

 

I loved all the options the Sunshine had to offer... It really had everything!! and I wanted it so bad to be the best ship.. So I could come back on here and let everyone know how great it was....

 

However it was not great... Our cruise was AWESOME :D had a friggin blast but ship was not good.... and I will not sail it again. Funny enough we booked the Breeze for Feb 2016

 

I also said I wouldn't sail this ship again after our Labor Day cruise last year, but because we are going on a casino bounce back for $109 each with our own room and the itinerary and departure port, we booked the Sunshine again for our August cruise... We also loved JiJi's and Bonsai and the Havana area but hated how crowded the ship felt. Didn't get to see any comedy shows last year even when we got there early. Hoping to make one or 2 this time? We've even spoke with crew members who are now on different ships who agreed that the Sunshine if over crowded. We'll still have a blast and it won't break our vacation or our bank. Oh and we LOVED the Pride, it's our favorite ship to date but with it now being out of Baltimore didn't fit our requirements as far as the ports and we only live an hour from Port Canaveral so we don't need to fly or drive a long way to cruise.

Edited June 7, 2015 by sxyshell

[jenne252]

Did I misunderstand or did someone state that the Sunshine does NOT have a Thalassotherapy pool???