Sunshine

Item: Carnival Sunshine
Rating: 4
Author: kimmberann

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

kimmberann

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 28

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

Verified Review

8 Night Eastern Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 18, 2016

Ship: Carnival Sunshine

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 2201

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

I love cruising with Carnival but I will have to say that this ship doesn't have enough outside space for all the passengers on board. The at Sea days were very crowded on deck and in the Serenity area. Great destinations, easy to get on and off the ship at these ports.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

old ship, very crowded

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Located Mid ship it was an easy location. Not as nice as a balcony but the window was good. No refrigerator in the room. No more chocolates left in the room.

Ship tip

Guys Burgers are very good. The taco bar was tasty. Overall the food on this ship was pretty good. We ate in the dining room all but 1 night. The Japanese restaurant was well worth the $15.00 fee.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

5 out of 5

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

5 out of 5

Basseterre, St. Kitts

5 out of 5

San Juan, Puerto Rico

5 out of 5

Old Town was great just walking around. Go see the Fort and Castle.

Thumbs Up 0

Grand Turk Island

5 out of 5

Beautiful blue warm water. Beach is right next to the dock. Nice place to just relax

Thumbs Up 0

25 Comments

jenascar6 8 years ago

I can't wait to see her!

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Jason5150 8 years ago

It's nbd, I wasn't saying that to start a message board battle. (Haha). My original point was, and is, that the Sunshine, more so than other Carnival ships I've been on, really has more people on it than it should based on its size. But it's still one of our favorite ships but ONLY bc of the 2.0 features and location of the port it sails from (since we drive).

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

jenascar6 8 years ago

Well that was me that actually said that lol, but for the record I do not move personal items ever. If its just towels and nothing else I do move them and Ive never had anyone come back and say "hey that was my towel". I would never move or touch personal items.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Jason5150 8 years ago

And to the person who said u remove stuff no matter what...you're part of the problem. If we were in the pool or getting a drink does that mean u can just move our stuff too? You're just as bad as the people that lay towels out for hours unattended. Like anywhere else, idiots roam free on cruises too but we've somehow found a system that works and doesn't negatively affect others.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

Jason5150 8 years ago

I'm nuts. I wake up to see the sunrise every day...so yeah, early. But I'll get up, get coffee, and lay my stuff out. Take coffee to my wife after an hour or so and then head back to the chairs to wait for her. We eat then come back to the chairs again. We are never gone longer than the 40 minutes. This isn't EVERY day, but yeah it's like this on sea days to be sure.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

jenascar6 8 years ago

Like what time early? Do you have time to eat breakfast before you grab a chair? I dont mind going early as I like to make the most of my time on a cruise but I gotta eat. Lol

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Jason5150 8 years ago

And, for those of you in PA here's to you!

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

Jason5150 8 years ago

We have cruised the sunshine twice and will again next January. It definitely is lacking for space, no question about that, but if you modify and adapt you can find a seat anywhere at any time...if you are early. For some, that isn't a "laid back" approach but it's just the way it goes. Once I'm sitting in my chair with a drink I'm definitely laid back even if I had to go early to get it. :)

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

wildbill24 8 years ago

This the most common thing said about the Sunshine, I agree with it.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Skincaremonkey 8 years ago

I thought it had plenty of space outside Any environment, too. "Vegas like" or quiet.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

jenascar6 8 years ago

I will move stuff from "saved chairs" in a heartbeat. Ive done it multiple times on Disney cruises and no one has ever came back and said anything. Its ridiculous to think a towel is gonna save your seat all day. Lol

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

mtankle 8 years ago

Oh well. They actually ran two shows a night on Fantasy. The shows on Sunshine are in the Liquid Lounge aren't they? Don't they convert to a nightclub after the show?

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

robandkatecamarro 8 years ago

It wasn't the case, maybe 1 got repeated...

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

mtankle 8 years ago

RobandKate: when we cruised the Fantasy last year, all of the shows were repeated at least once during a 5 day cruise. Is this not the case on Sunshine? BTW, we are from Philly, good PA representation here.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

georgiapeach1234 8 years ago

I totally agree with the outdoor space issue. We've been on several ships and this one is by far the most difficult one to find a quiet spot on an outside deck. And the ship was very difficult to navigate traveling with a wheelchair. Don't get me wrong we still had a good time it just felt like we worked harder to get around.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

lidomiddeck 8 years ago

From butler county but have lived in florida since 1988. My brother in law was sales manager for Beasley ford in York at one time and our nephew is a phys-ed teacher in York now.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

robandkatecamarro 8 years ago

We live in York , PA. Are you in PA also lidomiddeck.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

lidomiddeck 8 years ago

We just got off the ship on saturday, 8 day eastern robandkate. By the way where in PA are you from?

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

rogerellenborland 8 years ago

Yes the lido deck is crouded on sea days when the ship is sold out. The good thing is that there are other things to do.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

robandkatecamarro 8 years ago

Dont misunderstand me, we booked another one for next Jan on the Sunshine.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

robandkatecamarro 8 years ago

Huh, we went in Jan, you lidmiddeck.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

lidomiddeck 8 years ago

I just didn't experience that Robandkate, there were empty seats at the shows and for lunch on lido we just gravitated to the Havana bar and always found seating with no problems. The only place there was sro was at the piano bar on the second night.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

robandkatecamarro 8 years ago

What about the seating on the lido deck during lunch on sea days. Holy crap and the shows 800 seats for 4000 people are you kidding me. Don't get me wrong I LOVE CARNIVAL. We did 15 days on the Sunshine and it was my favorite cruise ever. It was the only one I saw a fight on also. (It was over a lounge chair during the dive-In movie.) Somethings are definitely in need of mentioning though.

Thumbs Up 5

Flag

jtrbug0226 8 years ago

We cruised the Sunshine for a 13-day 8 island vaca in February. It was the cruise of a lifetime! We didn't have lines to speak of, but I agree with the lounge chair situation. I guess everyone wants a lounge chair and I'm not sure of a solution, BUT the 40-minute rule will be enforced if you report it. Just "me, mine" attitude. But really a fabulous cruise.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

lidomiddeck 8 years ago

I found all the waiting lines very short on our cruise, was impressed with the entire ship. I believe that if cruisers would only save the lounges for when they are physically using them instead of trying to make it available for the entire afternoon is where the problem is. I got mine attitude never works in these circumstances. Great cruise with outstanding weather. Love Carnival. Don't forget Donkey, the voice from above.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

8 day cruise