Carnival Sunshine crowded??

[atlsea]

I have been looking into going on Carnival Sunshine this July. The ship looks really great but I've read complaints about the Lido deck and more specifically the main pool being over crowded and people not even being able to go into the pool or find a chair. Is this true? Has anyone been on Sunshine in the middle of summer and experienced the ship being to crowded?

[poison7fl]

Magic 8 ball says..."Future too cloudy"

 

:rolleyes:

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Sailed Sunshine in March. The rumors are true. The deck is extremely crowded on sea days. Tuff to find a deck chair anywhere if your not up early.

[psk2347]

I have been looking into going on Carnival Sunshine this July. The ship looks really great but I've read complaints about the Lido deck and more specifically the main pool being over crowded and people not even being able to go into the pool or find a chair. Is this true? Has anyone been on Sunshine in the middle of summer and experienced the ship being to crowded?

 

Every cruise ship is busy during the summer, its not just a Sunshine thing. If you want to guarantee getting a deck chair, spring for a balcony room.

[LMaxwell]

Very crowded. One of worst passenger space ratios of any mass market cruise ship

[OCruisers]

Hearing these bad things about Sunshine is not making me happy ... but best to know before we go!

Sunshine will be doing some sailings out of Charleston (very convenient port for us) next year so we're looking at the 10 day May 30, 1016. If the public areas are always really crowded ... maybe not. :o

LuLu

[Podna's]

Every cruise ship is busy during the summer, its not just a Sunshine thing. If you want to guarantee getting a deck chair, spring for a balcony room.

 

 

Agreed. We've sailed her twice, both times at capacity. Was it crowded, yep but nothing different than I've experienced on other cruises on sea days. If you want your pick of chairs on the lido or the serenity deck I'd get there no later than 9-9:30. You'll love the serenity deck if you choose to sit or lay there. It's 2nd to none.

Give her a try. Beautiful ship!

Edited May 9, 2015 by Podna's

[psk2347]

Hearing these bad things about Sunshine is not making me happy ... but best to know before we go!

Sunshine will be doing some sailings out of Charleston (very convenient port for us) next year so we're looking at the 10 day May 30, 1016. If the public areas are always really crowded ... maybe not. :o

LuLu

 

I will be on the Sunshine in July, and I will be happy to report how busy it is. I do have an aft balcony booked so I am not overly concerned about deck space.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Hearing these bad things about Sunshine is not making me happy ... but best to know before we go!

Sunshine will be doing some sailings out of Charleston (very convenient port for us) next year so we're looking at the 10 day May 30, 1016. If the public areas are always really crowded ... maybe not. :o

LuLu

 

As I stated earlier it is crowded as far as deck space goes. Due the large waterpark (which is fabulous by the way) even with the crowd it is our favorite ship.

[dolfan9088]

We just sailed on her April 11th. They announced that we had 3600 people with Kids plus crew... Over Max.. Lido was a bit crowed from 11-3 on sea days, but HAND DOWNS the BEST cruise ever! Loved Cucina, Sushi Restaurant, Jin Jin, Havana Bar, the ropes course, Serenity, and The fast water slides (Yellow was a little rough). Jaime Dee is an awesome Cruise director. Don't miss the 80's party or Marti gras! If you have kids make sure to do the Dr. Suess Breakfast and Parade!

[OCruisers]

Thanks so much for the reassurance from all of you who responded to my post .

LuLu :)

[atlsea]

Every cruise ship is busy during the summer, its not just a Sunshine thing. If you want to guarantee getting a deck chair, spring for a balcony room.

 

 

I actually have not sailed in the summer recently (my family usually chooses a Thanksgiving cruise every year) therefore I'm not to familiar with how busy cruises get in the summer, so then would you be able to compare the crowdedness to a Thanksgiving cruise?

[cruzeluver]

Hearing these bad things about Sunshine is not making me happy ... but best to know before we go!

Sunshine will be doing some sailings out of Charleston (very convenient port for us) next year so we're looking at the 10 day May 30, 1016. If the public areas are always really crowded ... maybe not.

LuLu

 

We are already booked on the 10 day out of Charleston. Come join us! Its going to be a great trip!!

 

ALL Carnival ships have crowding issues, particularly on the lido on sea days. We are not at all worried about it. Sunshine has so many food and activity options its insane!!

[OCruisers]

We are already booked on the 10 day out of Charleston. Come join us! Its going to be a great trip!!

 

ALL Carnival ships have crowding issues, particularly on the lido on sea days. We are not at all worried about it. Sunshine has so many food and activity options its insane!!

 

Thanks! Having a crowded Lido deck is of little importance to us.

Is the outside smoking area crowded?

To be perfectly honest and not to start a smoking thing PLEASE (and really mean PLEASE) ... but DH has a problem there is no place to smoke a cigar inside on Sunshine. There's not even a place inside to smoke a cigarette except the casino while playing.

Please again ... no wish to turn this into a smoking thread debate. Just saying it's a major consideration on our not booking yet.

LuLu

[jolyroger]

Funny cause like everyone else has read all the reviews about the Sunshine I took them all with the hole salt shaker like many. We went during the height of spring break, due to our kids spring break schedule, we went 4/18...can I say myself who is a sun worshiper always found plenty of deck chairs? And even on the lido and Serenity Deck....I never found an area on the Sunshine that did not have 2 or more chairs together.And this was not at the wee morning hrs.

We really did love this this! From recently cruising the Breeze, this was a great ship!

[b_cruise]

I was on her in July..europe cruise..I don't think the ship was full. LOVED LOVED LOVED IT. But YES SEA days are crowded for sure. I was beside this one lady who got up to go get a drink and this other lady stoled her chair...I couldn't believe it, lol...

 

I got up to the deck by 830 to get a chair, but if u wanted one after 10... There were not even singles. One day I gave up my chairs to go have lunch but never did get a chair back.

 

Just get up there early and u will be fine!!

 

I honestly did not find any other space crowded. Saw the smoking area but I don't recall it being crowded.

[Rock712]

Wow , if you read reviews , the Sunshine seems to get more mixed reviews than all of the other ships combined. Recently though it seems the reviews have started trending towards the positive , and a couple of weeks ago a friend of our sailed her and loved it. Said that some of the public area's did get crowded during peak times , but no worse than any other ship he had been on. We've always been a little reluctant to book due to the reviews , but have finally broken down and are booked on the Journeys 9 day cruise next April and based on what I've been reading lately really looking forward to it !!!!

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Positives far outweigh the negatives

[eponym]

Thanks! Having a crowded Lido deck is of little importance to us.

Is the outside smoking area crowded?

To be perfectly honest and not to start a smoking thing PLEASE (and really mean PLEASE) ... but DH has a problem there is no place to smoke a cigar inside on Sunshine. There's not even a place inside to smoke a cigarette except the casino while playing.

Please again ... no wish to turn this into a smoking thread debate. Just saying it's a major consideration on our not booking yet.

LuLu

 

He can't fire a cigar in the piano bar with a cognac in the other hand?

It's a bar, there isn't supposed to be children in there. There are no other places aboard a carnival ship to smoke a cigar and enjoy a drink except in the casino or one outdoor designated area? I too am asking. No cigar bar setup?

 

As far as crowding. As someone else posted, increased passenger capacity on that ship when 2.0 retro was done. Numerous complaints on this board, but certainly could be time of year/manifest size driven.

Edited May 10, 2015 by eponym

[MrMileStoner]

He can't fire a cigar in the piano bar with a cognac in the other hand?

It's a bar, there isn't supposed to be children in there. There are no other places aboard a carnival ship to smoke a cigar and enjoy a drink except in the casino or one outdoor designated area? I too am asking. No cigar bar setup?

 

As far as crowding. As someone else posted, increased passenger capacity on that ship when 2.0 retro was done. Numerous complaints on this board, but certainly could be time of year/manifest size driven.

 

Have you ever cruised on Carnival? Piano bars have been non-smoking for quite a while. No cigar smoking in any of the casinos.

 

We've been on Sunshine several times and have another Sunshine cruise coming up. This time not in a balcony. Not concerned at all.

 

Personally, I don't care for second hand smoke or hearsay reviews.

[eponym]

No cigar smoking in any of the casinos.

 

We've been on Sunshine several times and have another Sunshine cruise coming up.

 

Personally, I don't care for second hand smoke or hearsay reviews.

 

Well, that was an overwhelming answer to simple question that I preferred having answered by a more civil human. No, again, I don't sail Carnival very often, and the reasons mount the more I hear from you specifically.

 

Don't know what the hearsay is. Carnival announced they increased capacity of that ship when in drydocked in 2013. Additionally, there are NUMEROUS first hand complaints on this board about overcrowing on that ship at times - whether that fits your brand cheer or not.

 

Ok, THEN, They need a cigar bar, so people can enjoy what they want when vacationing, including you.

[MrMileStoner]

Well, that was an overwhelming answer to simple question that I preferred having answered by a more civil human. No, again, I don't sail Carnival very often, and the reasons mount the more I hear from you specifically.

 

Don't know what the hearsay is. Carnival announced they increased capacity of that ship when in drydocked in 2013. Additionally, there are NUMEROUS first hand complaints on this board about overcrowing on that ship at times - whether that fits your brand cheer or not.

 

Ok, THEN, They need a cigar bar, so people can enjoy what they want when vacationing, including you.

 

I thought you were ignoring me?

 

Sunshine is a great ship and absolutely no overcrowing.

 

The cigar bars were removed from Carnival years ago for good reason. I don't see them returning - ever.

[eponym]

I thought you were ignoring me?

 

Sunshine is a great ship and absolutely no overcrowing.

 

The cigar bars were removed from Carnival years ago for good reason. I don't see them returning - ever.

 

That is more civil. I appreciate the clarity. What was the good reason, since you intentionally failed to disclose it?

 

Yeah, you keep hounding me on my posts so sometimes I just can't take it anymore.

[MrMileStoner]

That is more civil. I appreciate the clarity. What was the good reason, since you intentionally failed to disclose it?

 

Yeah, you keep hounding me on my posts so sometimes I just can't take it anymore.

 

i'm ignoring you, your misinformation, and your insults.

[eponym]

i'm ignoring you, your misinformation, and your insults.

 

Please do, I have asked for this for quite some time, and you insist to keep racheting every post with trivial confrontation.

 

Much abliged.