Matt & Ashley's Carnival Sunshine Review (Canada, Pictures, FunTimes)

[DCCruiser1013]

We got back and dropped the car off at 1:00 and walked around the area. There was a little plaza area outside Market Square with vendors set up.

 

 

 

And a big stone moose!

 

 

 

Market Square had a little totem pole with statues and real people sitting on it.

 

 

The Sunshine from the Market Square area

 

[DCCruiser1013]

The Market Square Lighthouse

 

 

After walking around for a bit we headed back down Water Street towards the Sunshine

 

 

 

Before we got on the ship, I wanted to get some Canadian cash for our day in Halifax. I looked around in the terminal and was able to find an ATM.

[DCCruiser1013]

Then we boarded the Sunshine and dropped our stuff off in our room. Remember the picture I took earlier for reference? This is the same picture, but about 40 minutes past high tide.

 

 

 

We went up to Guy’s for lunch, and I took a few pictures of downtown St. John from the upper decks

 

 

 

 

The Lido deck was as busy at this point as it had been all cruise long

 

[DCCruiser1013]

We then headed down to have some balcony time and enjoy the nice weather. We did notice a fog bank beginning to roll in.

 

 

On our way in from St. John, Ashley and I had seen the dinner menu and weren’t really feeling anything we saw on it, so we decided to go ahead and make a reservation for 6pm at JiJi’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 3:15 we headed back down to Java Blue to get another milkshake to share in the Ocean Plaza. We headed back up to the balcony at 3:45 to watch us sail away. The fog bank was starting to get closer.

 

 

[DCCruiser1013]

We started to push away from the wharf shortly after 4.

 

 

People congregated on the balconies of the condos across Water Street to see us off.

 

 

The fog was starting to get pretty thick.

 

 

 

 

And soon St. John was almost completely out of view, as we sailed out of St. John.

 

[DCCruiser1013]

Eventually we did hear the fog horn start to go off as we were sitting on the balcony. From our position in the aft, it wasn’t too bad even as we sat outside. When we were inside the room, we could faintly hear it, but it wasn’t something that would keep us awake at night. The story may have been different for balcony rooms towards the front.

 

We headed up to JiJi’s at 6:00 for dinner and were seated at the window. Our view:

 

 

I’m sure it would have been gorgeous had it not been so foggy.

 

I didn’t get a picture of the menu for JiJi’s, but Carnival keeps it here.

[DCCruiser1013]

JiJi’s costs a flat rate of $15 per person and operates sort of on a family style serving system. Since there were two of us, Ashley and I picked two appetizers, two entrees, two sides, and two desserts to share. They brought everything out on large serving dishes and we could dish what we wanted onto our own plates. We started with the slow-braised pork belly and the jade shrimp har gow. The pork belly was delicious. We were both worried about the consistency beforehand but it ended up being fine. the jade shrimp har gow was also very good. Our entrees were peppered beef and kung pao chicken. I’m looking at the menu now and wondering why the peppered beef doesn’t have the little chili next to it, because that seemed as spicy as the kung pao chicken (which we asked to be served at a medium-level of spicy). Our sides were the Himalayan basmati fried rice with chicken, which was fantastic, and the wide noodles – which I think Ashley enjoyed much more than I did. We got the crème brulee and fried wonton for dessert. We actually asked for the caramelized crepes instead of the won ton, but we were fine with the won ton. Our entire meal was superb, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how long it took. It took 2 hours and 20 minutes from start to finish. They were pretty apologetic about it, and desserts were what seemed to be the major holdup (part of the reason we didn’t complain about the won ton).

 

After dinner we headed down to the room.

 

 

We hung out on the balcony to digest for a bit before we headed over to the atrium to check out the deck party, which had been relocated from Lido due to the fog. CD Emma was hopping around on the bar, and man those kids on the left do not look thrilled.

 

 

We roamed around the empty arcade for a big longer before we ventured back into the Piano Bar. Roddy seemed to be feeling much better this time. We stuck around for a few songs before heading off to bed at around 11:30.

 

Coming up tomorrow - Our day in Halifax!

[DCCruiser1013]

I'm greatly enjoying your review and photos. Looking forward to sailing the sunshine next spring :)

 

 

Thanks for following along! Have a great cruise!

 

 

Can't tell you how I appreciate your review. We leave in 19 days for a 7 night on the Sunshine, and I'm studying your pictures and report like there's going to be a test! Keep up the good work, and thank you!

 

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Have a great time! You'll love the itinerary, plus you get the two bonus ports of Boston and Halifax!

[hockeyluver]

Thanks, cant wait until its our turn on the Sunshine !!!

[Psychobueller]

I was on this sailing with you! Thanks for the very detailed review. I feel like I'm back on the ship.

[tawaik]

Awesome review!

[nycmedic]

Great review. Sailed the Sunshine last Sept NE/ Canada. Going again this Sept 16!!

[adam3313]

Matt and Ashley, really enjoying your review! Always nice to see a review from someone from my area!

 

I'd like to do a Canada cruise one day, so this is really helpful. I have cruised the Sunshine as well, and enjoyed the ship!

 

I see you're cruising on the Getaway next year. I am actually doing that same itinerary in February, so maybe you'll be able to use my review in the future!

 

 

 

 

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[DCCruiser1013]

Thanks, cant wait until its our turn on the Sunshine !!!

 

It'll be here in no time! Have a great cruise!

 

I was on this sailing with you! Thanks for the very detailed review. I feel like I'm back on the ship.

 

Awesome, it was a great cruise. Nice sailing with you!

 

Awesome review!

 

Thanks for following along!

 

Great review. Sailed the Sunshine last Sept NE/ Canada. Going again this Sept 16!!

 

Thank you! Have a great cruise!

 

Matt and Ashley, really enjoying your review! Always nice to see a review from someone from my area!

 

I'd like to do a Canada cruise one day, so this is really helpful. I have cruised the Sunshine as well, and enjoyed the ship!

 

I see you're cruising on the Getaway next year. I am actually doing that same itinerary in February, so maybe you'll be able to use my review in the future!

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I'm glad you're enjoying the review. Honestly before the cruise we were less excited about the ports than we are usually for Caribbean cruises, but we ended up loving both of them, and we're considering visiting them again as land vacations so we have more time to explore.

 

 

If you write a Getaway review I will be the first one signed up to read it! We're really excited about it, but the NCL boards don't have a ton of reviews, but I'm hoping that changes once she comes back over to Miami.

[JaniceB]

Happy to find another review of yours. I loved your Pride review. I have cruised the Pride and did a cruise from NY just to St. John years ago on the Triumph. Seeing your pictures is bringing back some great memories. I live in your childhood neck of the woods but still haven't been to a blue crabs game. I used to go to Baysox games a lot when my kids were young. I agree about having doubts about a northern cruise, but loved mine too1 I want to do another that goes farther into Canada with stops in Boston one day.

[trippingpara]

Great review! My wife and I were on this cruise with you. I was just getting gearing up to start my review when I noticed yours. Good I did. Well written and great photos! Thanks for taking the time to do this. Guess, I'll be going back now and reading your other reviews!

[Cyber Kat]

Day 2 - Tuesday, August 8 – Fun Day at Sea

 

 

 

Awesome - thanks for the Fun Times - not every ship does the Steak House cooking demo and we love it! Now I know when, we can plan to be early so we can get in!

[Clarea]

Awesome photos, thanks much!

[dchoney]

Thanks for your review and the awesome pictures. I was on this cruise as well but loved seeing it from your perspective. You really took the time to get some excellent photos! I also love that you were bold enough to rent a car and really explore St. John at your own pace! Great idea!

[DCCruiser1013]

Happy to find another review of yours. I loved your Pride review. I have cruised the Pride and did a cruise from NY just to St. John years ago on the Triumph. Seeing your pictures is bringing back some great memories. I live in your childhood neck of the woods but still haven't been to a blue crabs game. I used to go to Baysox games a lot when my kids were young. I agree about having doubts about a northern cruise, but loved mine too1 I want to do another that goes farther into Canada with stops in Boston one day.

 

Welcome back! We're glad this review is rekindling great memories!

 

Yep, I went to a lot of Baysox games growing up too. Those were always fun.

 

There are lines that go deeper into Canada. When we were in Halifax we saw the Maasdam, which had gone all the way down the St. Lawrence River to Montreal and was on its way back to Boston. That's a pretty long cruise, though.

 

Great review! My wife and I were on this cruise with you. I was just getting gearing up to start my review when I noticed yours. Good I did. Well written and great photos! Thanks for taking the time to do this. Guess, I'll be going back now and reading your other reviews!

 

Thanks! I'd love to check out your review also if you still plan on writing one. It'd be interesting to see this voyage from someone else's perspective.

 

Awesome - thanks for the Fun Times - not every ship does the Steak House cooking demo and we love it! Now I know when, we can plan to be early so we can get in!

 

No problem! We have yet to attend the cooking demo but I do love cooking steak so maybe we'll have to check it out on a future voyage.

 

Awesome photos, thanks much!

 

Thanks for following along!

 

Thanks for your review and the awesome pictures. I was on this cruise as well but loved seeing it from your perspective. You really took the time to get some excellent photos! I also love that you were bold enough to rent a car and really explore St. John at your own pace! Great idea!

 

Thanks, but we're only halfway done! We'll be posting about our time in Halifax later this evening. Yeah I'm glad we went with the rental car route. I think it was a lot cheaper than an excursion and, like you said, it let us do things on our own time. We did make sure to bring our passports with us in case something went wrong. We hope you had as great of a time as we did!

[pghsteelerfan]

For those who are curious, they did ID people who looked like they might not be 18 yet, and we did see someone get kicked out, despite their parents being there. The comedian, Jason Blanchard, was very funny.

 

I'm really enjoying your review and pictures. I remember reading your Pride review and really enjoyed it. I was going to wait until you were finished before commenting, but since Jason Blanchard was one of the comedians on your cruise, I just had to ask...did he close out his show with a towel animal? We saw him on Liberty in April 2014 and, to date, he is the funniest comedian I've seen on a cruise. I laughed through his entire show. He closed that show with one of the "naughty" towel animals in relation to a subject he touched on during his show. Classic!!!

 

Now that I'm commenting, I really enjoyed your pictures as you sailed out of NYC, the tour of Sunshine, and am really looking forward to the rest. The day you were driving up to New Jersey was the day I was driving back from the Pittsburgh, PA area (visit "home" with family/friends) and was so glad that I was following all of that rain and not driving the entire four hours back to Virginia through it.

[Keith1010]

An absolutely wonderful thread between your write ups and the terrific photos.

 

Keith

[pghsteelerfan]

Great review! My wife and I were on this cruise with you. I was just getting gearing up to start my review when I noticed yours. Good I did. Well written and great photos! Thanks for taking the time to do this. Guess, I'll be going back now and reading your other reviews!

 

Nice seeing a CC friend on here! I remember you were going on a cruise to Canada but had forgotten exactly when. So glad to see you'll be doing review too, so I'm looking forward to following along again.

 

DCCruiser1013...sorry for the quick "hijack" but just saw an old friend on here and just had to comment. I just got caught up with the rest of your review and pictures from your day in St. John....wow, just wow!!! The pictures you got on the Fundy Trail Parkway are just breathtaking. I hope you plan to enlarge and frame a few of those. :) I also enjoyed your pictures as you sailed into St. John early in the morning. Looking forward to the rest.

Edited August 15, 2017 by pghsteelerfan

[Raxter54]

Thanks so much for the review. We're sailing on the Sunshine in February, and appreciate the ship info...

[DCCruiser1013]

I'm really enjoying your review and pictures. I remember reading your Pride review and really enjoyed it. I was going to wait until you were finished before commenting, but since Jason Blanchard was one of the comedians on your cruise, I just had to ask...did he close out his show with a towel animal? We saw him on Liberty in April 2014 and, to date, he is the funniest comedian I've seen on a cruise. I laughed through his entire show. He closed that show with one of the "naughty" towel animals in relation to a subject he touched on during his show. Classic!!!

 

Now that I'm commenting, I really enjoyed your pictures as you sailed out of NYC, the tour of Sunshine, and am really looking forward to the rest. The day you were driving up to New Jersey was the day I was driving back from the Pittsburgh, PA area (visit "home" with family/friends) and was so glad that I was following all of that rain and not driving the entire four hours back to Virginia through it.

 

He did indeed finish his set with a very specific towel animal demonstration. To mention any other details would probably be a violation of the CruiseCritic Terms & Conditions! He was very funny, and I would agree, one of the best we've seen on Carnival. Thanks for following along on the review!

 

Nice seeing a CC friend on here! I remember you were going on a cruise to Canada but had forgotten exactly when. So glad to see you'll be doing review too, so I'm looking forward to following along again.

 

DCCruiser1013...sorry for the quick "hijack" but just saw an old friend on here and just had to comment. I just got caught up with the rest of your review and pictures from your day in St. John....wow, just wow!!! The pictures you got on the Fundy Trail Parkway are just breathtaking. I hope you plan to enlarge and frame a few of those. I also enjoyed your pictures as you sailed into St. John early in the morning. Looking forward to the rest.

 

No problem on the hijack. Thanks for your comments on the Fundy pictures. The funny thing is the pictures hardly do it justice. It was definitely a very cool experience.

 

An absolutely wonderful thread between your write ups and the terrific photos.

 

Keith

 

Thanks for following along!