Sunshine? Opinions

[jimbo5544]

So cruising with my Mom. She's in her 80's. She's on Deck1 and I'm on Deck 8 and trying to figure out if all elevators from 1, get to deck 8, so I can guide her properly. I'm a little worried about her doing the Muster drill alone. I never even thought of this stuff until now and we're leaving tomorrow on a full ship. :( Any help would be great.

 

 

Bring her to muster early, the staff will assist as well. Getting used to a ship can take a bit a time to get used to.

[bjk7812]

Sunshine was my families favorite boat. Comedy club very crowded and small, but so many activities and dining options for the whole family. We cruised on her for 8 days in March (Spring Break).

[Cr2zCr8zy]

I too came across all of the negative reviews, even had a crew member on the pride tell me this year how much he hated the Sunshine. So booked it anyway to see for myself, I sail away to Canada on 9/3.. :D

[moxie99]

I enjoy reading the reviews .... we are very laid back and don't worry about waiting in lines or the fact there are others on the ship with us - they are basically small cities at sea - the important thing for us is having a quiet place to escape to which is why we love our balcony cabins.

 

We hit the jackpot for this cruise as I received a bounce back from the casino on our March cruise - while looking for a cruise I knew we wanted to sail from NYC - one of my favorite ports - and I knew we wanted a balcony - I was so lucky - I was able to snag an aft vista wrap around! We can't wait to board the Sunshine!

[ladygal4.4]

I loved the sunshine. February with our four children. We had a joining spa balcony cabins and had a wonderful time

 

 

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[originalgeek]

My boss (and his wife and 10 year old daughter) just came back from a Sunshine cruise about a month ago (I'm 99% sure that's what he said lol). This was his first Carnival cruise after doing several Disney cruises. He loved the food and was very impressed by the activities for his kid and he really loved the self-serve beer tap. He did say the ship looked a little worn and he didn't love the decor but then, he wasn't there to look at decorations.

 

They took him where he wanted to go at the time he could go from a port he could easily get to and for less money than he usually spends on cruises and overall was happy he went.

[crusinpsychRN]

We did eight nights on the Sunshine in February. Absolutely the most crowded ship I have ever sailed. Chair hogging was totally out of control. Lines for everything. I was able to snag chairs on deck 14 of Serenity at 7 AM. Poolside would probably require 545 AM. NEVER could get in the piano bar. Made the comedy club twice but one time was seated on the side watching the act on TV. Went up at 4 PM to get ONE seat for the Super Bowll with a 645 kickoff---- none to be had. Need to be in line 45 minutes early for shows in a Liquid a Lounge. We have never experienced crowding like this on any other cruise.

 

I know some folks love the Sunshine and it does offer a lot of activities but this was probably our last Carnival cruise.

 

There were people on 2 decks of the 3 deck Serenity at 7am! Place was packed. Comedy club is hard to figure out how to get to. Lots of food venues. Capitano was fabulous and portions huge at lunch. Havana bar was nice to get a seat after getting eggs scrambled easy but no sides available there. If you got your sides from Lido they'd be cold by the time you got your eggs. If you got your eggs they'd be cold by the time you got your sides. So many things to do I didn't get to do them all.

 

Plus a bunch of my facebook group got sick on the 4/8/16 sailing. On day 7 of 8 day cruise I had no appetite. Got home and had no energy or appetite for 6 weeks. Started to feel better and got a cold for a week! ONly now am I feeling better. Some ended up in the hospital with flu or pneumonia.

 

I cancelled my 2017 trip on her. Many cabins have no minifridge. The CD Donkey was one of the best. He did a Motown singalong in the atrium with standing room only on 3 floors for over an hour. Best show on the ship but standing for that long was a pain.

 

One day I'll try her again.

[ladygal4.4]

Oh yeah, I LOVED Donkey, the voice from above. The best cruise director I've ever had.

 

 

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[BillNY]

So cruising with my Mom. She's in her 80's. She's on Deck1 and I'm on Deck 8 and trying to figure out if all elevators from 1, get to deck 8, so I can guide her properly. I'm a little worried about her doing the Muster drill alone. I never even thought of this stuff until now and we're leaving tomorrow on a full ship. :( Any help would be great.

 

Two years ago we were on the Carnival Splendor with my in-laws, both in their 80s. They let us join them in the muster drill at their station, and made a notation that we were took part in the drill at that station.

 

 

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[tandemcruzr]

Havana bar was nice to get a seat after getting eggs scrambled easy but no sides available there.

 

Our last 2 cruises on the Sunshine (January and April) there were sides at the end of the Omelette Station at Cucina del Capitano.

[riclop]

Reviews are not the best.

[drvannostrund]

Some questions for those that have sailed on the Sunshine recently:

 

1) on an 8 night cruise, which night are the formal nights? Carnival's we site said it either night 2 or 3 and the second one is the 3rd or 2nd to last night.

 

2) Do the balcony doors stay open when opened or do they automatically close after opening?

 

3) A friend was telling me that a lot of the cabin walls will hold magnetic hooks? True?

 

4) Are power strips allowed in the cabins or can you only bring cube taps?

 

Thanks for any help.

[tandemcruzr]

Some questions for those that have sailed on the Sunshine recently:

 

1) on an 8 night cruise, which night are the formal nights? Carnival's we site said it either night 2 or 3 and the second one is the 3rd or 2nd to last night. Usually first Sea Day and next to last day before arrival at home port.

 

2) Do the balcony doors stay open when opened or do they automatically close after opening? Ours closed and we held them as to not let them slam.

 

3) A friend was telling me that a lot of the cabin walls will hold magnetic hooks? True? Don't know. Don't use magnets.

 

4) Are power strips allowed in the cabins or can you only bring cube taps? Yes, as long as they aren't Surge Protector strips.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

You're welcome. :)

[JennN]

You can do a search of these threads and get many opinions, as you will in starting your own thread.

 

That being said, of all the ships I've sailed on, Sunshine was my favorite. From the dining to the decor to the BEST SERENITY DECK EVER (um, they finally got it right with no screaming kids and adults from the slides on top of the quiet). Love that pool.

 

The spa is meh...small and not well kept up throughout the cruise. That was my only "complaint." But mostly, a cruise is what YOU make of it, you know? You'll have a blast I am sure.

[blessedwith12]

I was on the Sunshine in January with 4 of my daughters ages 16-24. We had a fantastic time!!

The number of free food options is amazing! We loved the variety of food choices at lunch and we could all choose our favorites and yet still eat together. My daughters loved the sky course and did it several times - usually with almost no waiting in line. Food and service at dinner was amazing.

 

These would be my suggestions to you:

1. Go with realistic expectations. The pool area and Serenity area are going to be crowded. So, either get there early or find an alternative location. We loved being on one of the chair areas close to the Waterworks area but on the side. Not very crowded and a little more quiet. I mainly used the Serenity area around 4-5 when many were going back to their cabins to get ready for dinner.

 

2. Get tips from these boards. Like, we always ate in the Havana Bar area for lunch and dinner. Most of the time we could get a table by the windows.

The more you learn ahead of time, the more you can avoid problems and have a really enjoyable trip.

 

It sounds like you have a great attitude so you will probably have a great cruise. I think knowing what to expect ahead of time is very key to making the most of your cruise.

[Cr2zCr8zy]

Looks like I'll have to be up on the serenity deck by 5am/11 :D

[DiverGal]

Just got back from the Sunshine and really liked it. Not my favorite ship, but a very nice experience. The crew and staff were fantastic and the food was great, especially the Cucina deal Capitano. Love the Red Frog Pub as a music venue and Serenity was lovely, though I only used it for a bit while staying on ship at port.

 

Crowds? Yes, but no more so than other ships. Never had problems getting an elevator (I have bad knees, and use those elevators). Between the Lido restaurant and the Havana Club, we always found somewhere to sit--not always easy on other ships! So that was a plus.

 

My only complaints might not bother others. The Hub ap, which sounds so promising, did not ever work in our cabins, so the $5 chat feature was mostly useless for finding other family members, unless in public spaces. And the bathroom in our balcony cabin really annoyed me. I either had to sit sideways on the toilet, or put my feet in the shower to sit on it properly/comfortably. Having visited countries where I had to use a hole in the ground behind my accommodations, I can live with that toilet. But that design element is NOT an improvement!

 

In sum, would definitely sail on the Sunshine again. Oh, and I liked the decor. :)

[winddawn]

I have read some not so great things about the Sunshine. We are thinking of booking it for next April. Is it really that bad or would this non picky family of 4 have a great time on it? We have sailed bigger and smaller Carnival ships before.

I loved sailing Sunshine. Sunshine's Serenity area is my favorite out of all of Carnival's ships.

 

You would have a great time.

[kimmimom]

so much to do, so many food options. No more crowded than any other ship we have sailed on. We did not go to comedy on our sailing so can't comment on that. Love their hand WASHING stations (rather than sanitizers) at the buffet areas. We got seats every time we went to serenity, way bigger than any other serenity we have seen. Didn't get to do or try everything (it was 5 night cruise) so booked for April 7, 2017 with our 3 kids (22, 17, 14).

[slmwo]

I have read some not so great things about the Sunshine. We are thinking of booking it for next April. Is it really that bad or would this non picky family of 4 have a great time on it? We have sailed bigger and smaller Carnival ships before.

 

 

 

We sailed on Sunshine last month. This was my 8th cruise and 2nd on this ship (sailed previously when it was the Destiny). It's a wonderful ship with lots to do and delicious food. I did notice lots of lines for food and crowded walkways throughout the ship. The lines were especially long to get on/off the ship They really did seem to put too many people on this ship for the size. It didn't ruin my vacation by any means! We had a wonderful time and unless you are a very impatient person, I think you will too. I'm not sure I would choose this ship again given the lines/cows factor.

 

 

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[crooooze]

Just book it. You'll have a great time. There's no such thing as a bad cruise!

(Unless you were on the Triumph in Feb 2013... Or the Titanic.... :-) )

 

 

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[dna529]

Just book it. You'll have a great time. There's no such thing as a bad cruise!

(Unless you were on the Triumph in Feb 2013... Or the Titanic.... :-) )

 

 

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True statement! :)

[crusinpsychRN]

so much to do, so many food options. No more crowded than any other ship we have sailed on. We did not go to comedy on our sailing so can't comment on that. Love their hand WASHING stations (rather than sanitizers) at the buffet areas. We got seats every time we went to serenity, way bigger than any other serenity we have seen. Didn't get to do or try everything (it was 5 night cruise) so booked for April 7, 2017 with our 3 kids (22, 17, 14).

 

Why would anyone want to put their hands in that stuff so many others stuck their hand in?

 

Great music at the Havana Bar at night.

[sshs]

.

 

It sounds like your experience was far different than ours. We are easy going and rarely complain but our Sunshine cruise was CROWDED ! I think Carnival must have hired Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder to redesign this ship. There was not enough seating in the public areas to handle the amount of passengers . Perhaps your cruise was totally different. I am glad you enjoyed the Sunshine. I guess she just is not for us.

 

Just got back yesterday and agree strongly that it was too crowded. Also seemed really understaffed, which makes sense given that they added a lot of passenger cabins in the redesign, but not crew cabins. The crew they had seemed mostly good and usual Carnival friendly. She was just not for us either.

[Longstockingpippi1]

Well I guess I'm one of those "negative" people because my opinion is different from others. My first cruise was with the Sunshine last month. Since I have never cruised before my opinion should hold less value than others, I will be more experienced after my next cruise, which will NOT be with Carnival. I am trying NCL.

I had an accessible room in the spa area, which was not easy to get to. The quickest way was often the most crowded way.

I can't believe the "pool" is actually called a "pool"! It was so tiny! For the 3000 people the ship holds I thought it was laughable.

I made the mistake of only doing the buffet on the first two days. Too crowded and it was tough pushing a wheelchair with my left hand and holding a plate of food with my right hand. The dining room is a better way to go.

I never received a muster drill. I was herded into the game room with others and quickly forgotten about. I tried to get someone to attend to us, but had no luck. We went back to our room after about 15 minutes and I just read the literature myself and tried on my lifejacket.

The ropes course and water slides looked like fun, but with my circumstances I couldn't do those things.

Emma was the cruise director, I never met her but could hear her British accent. She was trying but I didn't find her funny and found her laugh annoying. I am not being mean or catty, just honest.......She has a tough job, I don't think I could do it!!

We were on the ship pretty quickly in NYC but getting off took much longer. We were one of the last zones called and didn't get off till bout 10 or so.

Hmmm, think I covered it. Thanks