Journey to the SUNSHINE 1/7/18 to 1/20/18

[waywyrd]

Enjoying your review, this is a cruise I wanted to go on back then but couldn't make it happen. 😊

[byrdbrain55]

8 hours ago, mlshum said:

Cruise withdrawal here, too!  I was so excited to see your review!  We’re looking forward to being on the Sunshine in February......Lord willing......

 

in in the interim...thank you!

The Sunshine was a great ship.  Fingers crossed that we will be sailing soon!  Thanks for following along.

[byrdbrain55]

4 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

thanks for bringing it back front and center.

Thanks for following along.

[byrdbrain55]

2 hours ago, waywyrd said:

Enjoying your review, this is a cruise I wanted to go on back then but couldn't make it happen. 😊

This itinerary was great.  It's too bad you weren't able to make it happen.  It was a wonderful trip.

[byrdbrain55]

Fun Day at Sea  January 9, 2018

 

Fun Times

 

 

[byrdbrain55]

I sleep like a baby on cruises so we slept in and then went to the Sea Day Brunch.  There is just something about being rocked to sleep and also having the room dark since there is no outside light coming in.  After brunch, we went to the Caribbean Shopping Show so we could get our coupon book.  I'm all about getting a good deal, lol.

 

After lunch, we went to the Military Appreciation Gathering, which is open to everyone, not just veterans.  Carnival does an amazing job honoring our past and present service members.  Lee Mason, the Cruise Director did a fabulous recognizing the different branches of service and different conflicts.  There were service members from every branch and from World War II to present.   Following the formal program, he allowed people to speak about their experiences.  Some of the stories really tug on your heart strings.  

 

[byrdbrain55]

I love sitting on the aft deck and watching the wake.  One of our favorite spots was near the Waterworks and we spent some time out there after the Military Appreciation Gathering.  The weather was starting to get warmer and it was very nice to spend some time outside without freezing.

 

We also went to the Diamonds and Gemstones Seminar.  I love going to these classes, yet I don't wear much jewelry in my day to day life.  I'm more of a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl.  I suppose, when in the Caribbean....

 

 

 

Remember the comment about my white legs, we thought this sign was hysterical (it is for the beach towels).

 

 

[byrdbrain55]

It is time for dinner.  Sorry about the glare on the menus.  It was hard to get good photos with the lighting in the dining room.  We loved the bread plates as well.  

 

 

[byrdbrain55]

Canneloni

 

Shrimp Cocktail

 

Minestrone

 

Peach Soup

 

Bacon Mac and Cheese

 

Salmon Cake

 

Southern Fried Chicken

[byrdbrain55]

PSA....Just some quick clarification, I was taking photos of everyone's meals and desserts.  Larry and I were not eating all of this food ourselves.

 

Pie Ala Mode (Peach?)

 

Mango Cream Cake

 

S'Mores Parfait

 

Sticky Toffee Brioche

 

[byrdbrain55]

We did not go to the Variety Show tonight but hit the comedy club.  All of the comedians we saw were good.  The Comedy Club fills up and you need to get there early if you want to get good seats.  

 

We ended up going to bed relatively early since tomorrow was our first port day.  

 

Obligatory never ending hallway photo.

 

 

Good night all!

 

[byrdbrain55]

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands  January 10, 2018

 

Fun Times

 

[byrdbrain55]

St Thomas was the one port on this itinerary that I had been to prior to this cruise.  My original plan was to go to Coral World, spend some time at Coki Beach and then come back to go up to Paradise Point in the afternoon.  The hurricanes that came through the Caribbean changed those plans.  Paradise Point was damaged and had not been repaired by the time we were in port and Coral World had not reopened either.

 

So Plan B...Sapphire Beach followed by shopping.  

 

We got up early and had room service breakfast delivered.  Unfortunately, they no longer offer any hot items complimentary.  We had yogurt and cold cereal.  It was good, I just would have preferred something more substantial since I knew we would be out and about and not back to the ship for food until later in the afternoon.  

 

We stay on Deck 1, which makes it very convenient for coming and going from the ship.  Especially at the end of the day, when it feels like you are dragging an anchor and you are hot and sweaty.  We just pop up one deck and straight to our room for a shower and a nap.

 

 

Tour transportation waiting for passengers from the Sunshine

 

 

Jay and Diane

 

[byrdbrain55]

We took a taxi for $9 per person to Sapphire Beach.  We saw a lot of damage to homes, including lots of blue tarps on roofs.  There was quite a bit of damage to the vegetation and boats that had been tossed on land.  However, once we arrived at Sapphire Beach, it 100% lived up to its name.  It is absolutely gorgeous and the snorkeling was great.  

 

 

 

[byrdbrain55]

Snorkeling

 

[byrdbrain55]

After Larry and I had both done some snorkeling, we decided to walk down the beach and explore.  My goal everywhere we go is to find wildlife of some kind and we were successful!  I absolutely loved the beach and would definitely go back again.  When we were ready to go back to the ship, there were lots of taxis waiting to take people back.  The open air taxis are a wee bit scary with the winding roads and the speeds they take the corners but it is all part of the adventure, lol!

 

 

[byrdbrain55]

Some of the damage we saw on the drive back...

 

 

 

 

I spy a whale tail.

 

There was a lot of construction going on during the recovery for St Thomas.

 

We were hot, wet, sticky and sandy so we headed back to the ship for a shower and lunch after a quick stop at the Harley Davidson shop for poker chips (Larry and I) and T-shirts (Jay and Diane).

 

 

Random shots in the Havensight port area

 

 

 

[byrdbrain55]

I'll write more tomorrow.  It's time for bed.

[MzOhioLady]

A Big THANK YOU for doing this Review!! It's refreshing to see some Cruise Reviews and I'm glad you decided to write the Review. I Love The Pictures!

[4hunters]

Woohoo!  So glad you decided to write up this trip as well.  Looking forward to more.  🙂👍

[1st4our25th]

Thank you so much for sharing! Oh how I have missed seeing cruise reviews.

 

I would love to go on a journey cruise one day. We have only been on one cruise so far and it was on the Sunshine last November. We will hopefully be on the Breeze in April.

[Joe817]

Beautiful pick of a tropical paradise! Thank you. 

[byrdbrain55]

3 hours ago, MzOhioLady said:

A Big THANK YOU for doing this Review!! It's refreshing to see some Cruise Reviews and I'm glad you decided to write the Review. I Love The Pictures!

This was a great trip and it is fun getting to relive it all.  Thanks for following along.

[byrdbrain55]

3 hours ago, 4hunters said:

Woohoo!  So glad you decided to write up this trip as well.  Looking forward to more.  🙂👍

I'm having fun writing it up.  Thanks for following along.

[byrdbrain55]

3 hours ago, 1st4our25th said:

Thank you so much for sharing! Oh how I have missed seeing cruise reviews.

 

I would love to go on a journey cruise one day. We have only been on one cruise so far and it was on the Sunshine last November. We will hopefully be on the Breeze in April.

We loved the Sunshine.  Thanks for following along.