Review of our Spring Break '15 Cruise on Carnival SunShine

[camper49]

We have an aft corner on the Sunshine this coming Sept. Can u tell me what room u had. Thanks.

 

We have an aft wrap too....which cabin do u have? We have 7325

[jimbo5544]

Cruisers were myself, DW Karen, DS Spencer 18, and DS Britt 14. We also had two other families on the cruise with us that have kids our sons ages.

 

 

 

This was our second Spring Break cruising without our oldest son Bryson 20 since his college SB is a different week than our two younger sons. Bryson will be going with us this coming July on Carnival Pride.

 

 

 

This was our third cruise on this ship, but our first since she was renamed Sunshine. Other than some of the copper décor on the fire doors / stairwell area, there is very little of Destiny in evidence on Sunshine.

 

 

 

The short version of our cruise on Destiny:

 

 

 

Like many others here we had read of the problems with the refurbishment and read reviews slamming her and blaming her for bad experiences, but without hesitation I can recommend her; she was in fine shape and her crew was very proud of her. Sunshine is high on our list of ships we plan to sail again.

 

 

 

Was everything perfect? For us, yes. For one of the families traveling with us, no; they had a midship deck 7 suite and had many electrical issues as well as no AC. They also had a water issue one night where they lost all water and also had electrical issues that night as well. Even with all of the issues they experienced, they never once mentioned that it ruined their cruise nor did they overwhelm the guest services desk with demands of refunds. Other than telling us what happened, they didn't mention it at any other time.

 

 

 

Our ports were Nassau, St Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk. We made all ports on time and enjoyed each one.

 

 

 

Food and shows were great (Yes, we went to the shows this time).

 

 

 

Embarkation was smooth as was debarkation.

 

 

 

End of short version of review.

 

 

 

 

 

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Longer version;

 

 

 

Last year we enjoyed driving to Baltimore, but that drive was less than half the distance of Port Canaveral. We left home on Wednesday April 1 at around 1:30PM. Ten hours later we pulled in to our hotel Amelia Hotel at the Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hotel offers a continental breakfast which was very tasty.

 

 

 

Amelia Island allows 4x4 vehicles on the beach so of course we had to try that out;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basically there's enough area to do a large circle and room to park. We expected to be able to drive up and down the beach and spin circles.....and I'm glad that option wasn't an option.

 

 

 

 

 

After our drive on the beach we headed for the golf course and warmed up on the driving range;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We played 18 holes and enjoyed a nice lunch at the club house in between the front and back nine. I also had to purchase four gloves for my foursome and some extra balls. Suffices to say that our morning of golf was quite a bit longer than we had planned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent more time among the moss covered trees than on the fairway so that's what I have pictures of.

 

 

 

 

 

We had planned to golf in the morning, then drive to Cocoa Beach and spend the late afternoon on the beach watching the ships sail away, but it was after dark by the time we arrived at Cocoa Beach.

 

 

Hey Paul, another great start to what will be a stellar review. Two short paragraphs and you have already put to sleep all those naysayers! We will be on the Sunshine in August and February. Can't wait for the rest! I may use some of your pics for dour Sunshine pre cruise party if that's ok.

 

Still working on the bride to join you on the Vista in 2017.

[camper49]

Nice concise review, and your pics are great!!

 

What was your cabin number?

[sjn911]

Hi Paul...as usual fabulous review...and following along...I feel very bonded to Pt Canaveral from reviews...LOL..glad to have another hotel on the list and just love your kids and your wife and family having fun together. LOL...My grandpa..well both grandparents were good golfers...one nephew who only knew the grandma is now. I took it in college to be able play a few times with grandparents..great memories...and yeah...needed the glove. "we won't count that one"... great when your "Bapa" is keeping score...they will never forget your trips...never..so great...Sarah ...thanks again!!!

[cruizinisthebest]

What was your cabin number?

 

I think you quoted the wrong post. I haven't been on the Sunshine yet. But soon! Promise I'll come back and review my cabin:D

[rdler]

Yay! Another Paul Medik review!

 

Paul, you consistently do the best reviews on here, and many like me look forward to them every year.

 

Thanks.

[dab141]

I love reading your reviews.

[SunnyDayz4me]

Another great start to another great review ! Thank you.

[jimbri]

Love your review and photos. Looking forward to the rest.

[reerun25]

Enjoying the review so far, and looking forward to the rest! Sailing on the Sunshine for the first time in May 2016... Can't wait!

[jus4fun]

Great review. We sail on the Sunshine on May 9th. The more I read your review, the more excited I get!

[PaulMedik]

Hey Paul, another great start to what will be a stellar review. Two short paragraphs and you have already put to sleep all those naysayers! We will be on the Sunshine in August and February. Can't wait for the rest! I may use some of your pics for dour Sunshine pre cruise party if that's ok.

 

Still working on the bride to join you on the Vista in 2017.

 

 

Jim,

 

Thank you.

 

You are welcome to use whatever pics you like.

 

Our school's SB has our plans for next year and 2017 up in the air, but I'm thinking of going thru with bookings and just take him out of school if the breaks don't match up.

 

What was your cabin number?

 

 

Camper49,

 

Our cabin was a 9C #6373 AKA the starboard aft wrap. I had planned to book the aft wrap suite on deck 5, but since they didn't wrap the balcony I opted for deck 6.

 

 

 

Thank you all for your kind comments.

 

 

 

 

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[PaulMedik]

After sailaway we spent the evening relaxing on our balcony then had dinner. We had 13 for dinner and YTD on Sunshine is different from all other ships we've been on. The dining room for YTD is on deck 3 aft, but you sign up for seating on deck 5 at a desk near the Alchemy Bar. We signed up at 6:00PM, but there were no tables for 13 available so we opted for a table and two booths nearby. There was a mirror beside our table which made it possible to get a shot of all three tables;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think most of the ship had an early dinner to get up on deck in time for the NCAA Final four;

 

 

 

Camp Carnival is located near all of the areas of interest to kids;

 

 

On Carnival Sunshine I took a picture of the public bathroom (Which is the second public bathroom picture that I recall taking. The other one was on Carnival Breeze);

 

Edited April 27, 2015 by PaulMedik

[sakapfet]

After sailaway we spent the evening relaxing on our balcony then had dinner. We had 13 for dinner and YTD on Sunshine is different from all other ships we've been on. The dining room for YTD is on deck 3 aft, but you sign up for seating on deck 5 at a desk near the Alchemy Bar. We signed up at 6:00PM, but there were no tables for 13 available so we opted for a table and two booths nearby. There was a mirror beside our table which made it possible to get a shot of all three tables;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think most of the ship had an early dinner to get up on deck in time for the NCAA Final four;

 

 

 

Camp Carnival is located near all of the areas of interest to kids;

 

 

On Carnival Sunshine I took a picture of the public bathroom (Which is the second public bathroom picture that I recall taking. The other one was on Carnival Breeze);

 

 

I just threw up in my mouth seeing those 2 adult male guys eating dinner with a baseball cap on. Did they think they are eating at McDonalds? This is so wrong.

[PaulMedik]

Sunset on our first day;

 

 

 

 

When Karen and I returned to our room we discovered our first towel animal and a 2 of our 4 chess sets (Platinum gift);

 

 

 

 

There was also a note that Carnival had deposited our CCL shareholder's credit;

 

 

Karen was booked in the boys room and Britt was booked with me so we made a trip down to Guest Services to swap out the room keys. We book separately for two reasons; CCL stock ownership credit is per cabin and since we both own CCL stock, we can't collect if book together. An adult is required for each cabin unless adjacent and since the boys cabin was interior, it was not adjacent.

 

I enjoyed a late night snack up on deck;

 

 

Karen and I had a good first evening in the casino; we both finished in the black with two black chips each.

 

After enjoying a night of gently rocking I woke up later than planned and discovered we were already docking in Nassau. Fantasy was beside us and the ship you can see towering over her is Oasis of the Seas;

 

 

 

 

 

On all of our previous aft wrap cruises we were always awakened by vibration as the ships maneuvered for docking. Carnival Sunshine had no such vibration on the first port, nor any of the other ports. I had planned to get many pics of the ships in port with us as we came in, but I overslept.

Edited April 27, 2015 by PaulMedik

[diamonddaddy]

Hey Paul. remember when we were walking by you when you dropped your Carnival towel when we were on the Liberty? Lol I still remember that . Hope you and the family are doing great.

[falkcor]

oh hey paul, just saw you got this started, i've got some catching up to do, but just wanted to say i'm glad to see another review from you and will be following! :)

[Club Disney Chandler]

Subscribing, our 1st CCL cruise isn't until June 2016 on the Vista. I'm reading about all the things I need to learn about Carnival. I loved the pictures from your balcony of the Disney Fantasy, been on her twice and her sister the Dream once, but the same itineraries are getting old so time to try something new. Am really looking forward to reading more.

[anewmac]

Following along, we are debating between the Sunshine or the Breeze again, same itinerary on both ships. Can't wait to read more

[camper49]

Thank u for the cabin number...we have 7325 aft wrap for our next cruise...I assume it will be the same.

[ReggaeRoy]

Nice review. Thanks!

[fuddrules]

Jim,

 

Camper49,

 

Our cabin was a 9C #6373 AKA the starboard aft wrap. I had planned to book the aft wrap suite on deck 5, but since they didn't wrap the balcony I opted for deck 6.

 

My P's had the same room on our Med cruise. Great room, great balcony. The glass around the balcony was a little "tired" but otherwise a near perfect room.

 

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Especially since tomorrow the P's are getting the Big D ;(

Edited April 27, 2015 by fuddrules

[jbhcw]

Thanks for your review...always enjoy them:) We sailed the Destiny when she was about 12 weeks old...loved the ship and really want to sail the Sunshine...

[PaulMedik]

Hey Paul. remember when we were walking by you when you dropped your Carnival towel when we were on the Liberty? Lol I still remember that . Hope you and the family are doing great.

 

 

 

Diamonddaddy,

 

Yes I remember that day quite well; Carnival towels float!

 

 

 

oh hey paul, just saw you got this started, i've got some catching up to do, but just wanted to say i'm glad to see another review from you and will be following! :)

 

 

Mark,

 

Thank you.

 

Hopefully I'll get some time tomorrow evening to get further along in the review.

[kybluecruiser]

I've been waiting for this review for a long time. Glad you all had a great ime. Looking forward to more.