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Sunshine 3/24/18, 4/1/18, A surprise back to back!

bjd2

By bjd2,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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bjd2

bjd2

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We just returned from 13 wonderful nights on the Sunshine. We did an 8 night to Aruba, Bonaire and Grand Turk, and the back to back to Half Moon Cay, Nassau and Freeport. I wanted to jot some details here while they're still somewhat fresh.

 

We had an absolutely amazing trip. My husband knew about the 8 night cruise for a long time. He didn't know that I added the 5 night to it after he lost his parents last year. I wanted to do something really special for him and was he ever surprised!

 

On the first leg (we were finally Platinum), I had purchased Cheers and the social media package. I also purchased the Pixels package where we got all of our prints when that opened for sales on 3/22. We got our monies worth on all accounts. We must have over 100 prints. Crazy.

 

On the 2nd leg, I didn't purchase Cheers, I should have, lol. I didn't get an internet package at all, and strangely Messenger continued to work that week though nothing else did. I wouldn't have even tried it but my brother was sending me messages so I tested sending to others and it was working.

 

Platinum notes: We were told at check-in that our cabin would be ready. The signs on the doors were of the "do not enter" variety, but we did as we were instructed to and our cabin was ready.

 

Some things that we enjoyed greatly: Dinner at Cucina (x2) Jiji's (x2), Steakhouse (x2), Bonsai, Chef's Table. Breakfast and Sea Day Brunch in the dining room daily. I think we got breakfast only on the last morning from the buffet.

 

For the first time in all of our cruises, we did the Steakhouse Cooking Demo on the first sea day. AMAZING! We also did a slot pull for the first time, mainly because of the Platinum perk of buy one get one entry. I WON! Craziness.

 

We had a slot pull on the 4/1 sailing (I missed the first one, oops). There were just 11 of us and we each put in $15. We played for a while until it was gone and then hubby and I sat down and he put a 20 in. On the 3rd spin, we hit $1,025! Our other pullers were still nearby and we called for them and went and got the cash and gave $100 to each person, including the 2 of us. I guess we didn't have to do that, but it felt like the right thing to do, and the Mojitos told us to, lol.

 

Well, That's all for now. I'm at work and on a lunch break. If there are questions I'd be glad to answer if I can. The only negative that I can speak of is the worst sewage smell at times. I think mostly in the Pixels gallery is where we noticed it the most. On other ships it has been more of a fleeting smell that would be gone almost as fast as we noticed it. Not this time. It was pretty bad. We wouldn't have had such a great time if our cabin had been located in an area where it was lingering.

Edited by bjd2
typo
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bjd2

bjd2

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How was the Chef's table? Did Cucina have the new menu with the polenta lemon cake? How was JiJi's?

 

Thanks!

We sail on her in a couple more weeks!

 

Cucina had the old menu. JiJi's was so great. We tried many things over our 2 dinners there. Wow.

 

Chef's Table. I wish I could say it was as amazing as the last 2 times we did it, but perhaps because the menu is the same, it didn't have the "wow" that we're used to. There was also a couple with a developmentally disabled 13 year old daughter across from us. I'm happy for them that they got to do that with her, but honestly it was very distracting as she couldn't speak but made lots of random noises and odd gestures with her hands. She was fed by her mom and maybe had one bite from each dish. I'll do Chef's Table again, but only when I see it is a different menu than the one that begins with the Mango Sphere.

 

Have a great cruise!

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bjd2

bjd2

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I'm going on the Sunshine in a couple of weeks. I've never sailed on her. Thanks for the review.

 

This was our 2nd/3rd on the Sunshine. We really do enjoy this ship. I hope you do too!

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Hogan3105

Hogan3105

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Can you tell me if the booze package is available on the second day. My husband and I are still thinking over this. We drink but we are at 4 ports and worried we would waste since we are off the ship so much on our 8 day!!! It is like 900 for the two of us.

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bjd2

bjd2

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Thank for the review. We are doing a Back 2 Back on the Sunshine next year. Can you tell me how the switch over day was? Thanks in advance.

 

Switchover day was very nice. We were instructed to meet in the dining room off of the lobby at 9:45. We stayed in our cabin while the rest of the commotion was going on around us.

 

We went to the dining room as instructed. There were 10 of us. We were given our new S&S cards and when customs was ready for us they escorted us down so they could look at our passports. We were escorted back on and each received a free drink and they took a picture with us.

 

New guests began coming in as we were finishing the picture so we didn't have any time to ourselves to roam the ship.

 

I did get to the excursions desk first and was able to get my cabana of choice on Half Moon Cay :cool:

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bjd2

bjd2

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Can you tell me if the booze package is available on the second day. My husband and I are still thinking over this. We drink but we are at 4 ports and worried we would waste since we are off the ship so much on our 8 day!!! It is like 900 for the two of us.

 

Yes, you can purchase it on the 2nd day. It does not go back and cover drinks purchased on day 1. We always get the program and enjoy not worrying about how much we're spending.

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