A big disappointment in many ways

Item: Carnival Sunshine
Rating: 2
Author: LMC10

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review to Canada, New England, New York

LMC10

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 4

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

4 Night Bermuda (New York Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 30, 2016

Ship: Carnival Sunshine

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

We just returned from our 4 day Carnival Sunshine cruise, it was our first Carnival cruise and our last. The dining areas and pool areas were filthy. Dirty dishes everywhere! Not enough food service staff to keep the areas clean. On 3 occasions I was given "clean" utensils with food baked on them. Picked up a coffee cup and it also was dirty. People would drop plates from the buffet area and just put them back on the pile! Food at the buffet areas were cold and same old stuff for lunch and dinner every night. The only good thing about the food was the evening fine dining, the waiters did a great job! Drunk group of people 3 staterooms down from ours, letting their kids run up and down the hallways until 1 am. Then my child had the Bottomless Bubbles for soda and he had to go to the smokey casino bar to get his sodas or the outdoor bars. Carnival should seriously consider doing their drink packages differently! The staff did not enforce the "Cruise Elegant" nights either, people came in with basketball shorts, A/C D/C tshirts, baseball hats and were welcome. They also did not care if you cleaned your hands prior to eating, pretty much an "anything goes" cruise line. Entertainment was repetitive and sub par. So no thanks Carnival, we'll stick to Disney or Royal Caribbean it may cost more but you get what you pay for!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Buffets were terrible but the fine dining was good. Very dirty common food areas, dirty dishes everywhere! Plus the windows were so filthy on some windows it was hard to look out!

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

nothing great

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Very lacking and repetitive.

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Our fine dining evening meal waiters did an outstanding job!

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Not clean at all. Dirty windows, Dirty dishes everywhere, even the "clean" dishes were dirty in some cases.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Our balcony room was roomy and housekeeping did an outstanding job.

Ship tip

If you've cruised on other cruise lines and this is your first Carnival do not expect it to be like the others. I'm sorry to leave such a negative review, but its just the way it was!

Thumbs up

Ports of call

New York, New York

5 out of 5

Saint John, New Brunswick

5 out of 5

13 Comments

sunshine220 8 years ago

Nobody says you need to drink soda there's free lemonade tea water juice all by the buffet why let some dirty dishes bother you if your not the one who has to do them and yes some people do like to stay up late on vacation people should dress better for dinner but don't let others bother you they just make themselves look bad

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

chvygrl10 8 years ago

I did go in one night in cut off Jean shorts (made that way of course) but it was 9pm the 1st night & my mom who's never cruised wanted to try the Chocolate Melting cake. I felt weird but they assured me I was fine. I do like to dress up because I never get the chance to much

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

CindyOS 8 years ago

I have been on many cruises and enjoyed the "dressing up". Now I just want to cruise and enjoy myself and not worry about "dressing up" for dinner. Due to that I feel I have to eat at the buffet on formal night. But I have noticed a tremendous change in how people dress to go to the MDR on formal night. Doesn't bother them.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

thieverge9170 8 years ago

Obviously some people are there to judge and not have fun.

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

rogerellenborland 8 years ago

Who cares what other people wear. Are you there to judge others or have fun?

Thumbs Up 6

Flag

thieverge9170 8 years ago

I guess while on vacation for some people they still expect 10 star treatment. Shoot. Relax and enjoy your time away from home, weather, work (for some), etc. Stop whining. I am sure that you didn't wash your hands every 5 minutes.

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

bdisney 8 years ago

Also I saw tshirts and jeans on formal night as well. Doesn't bother me what other people wore, I was dressed up though!

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

bdisney 8 years ago

I just got off the 5 day cruise Thursday. I didn't get any drink packages, so can't comment on that. I agree with you totally on the other stuff. It won't stop me from sailing with Carnival again. I do hope if I sail on the sunshine again they improve the service on lido.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

rogerellenborland 8 years ago

Don't believe everything you read.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

judyclark 8 years ago

Sounds like you was watching more than enjoying your cruise I love CARNIVAL it is known for the fun cruise after all

Thumbs Up 4

Flag

chvygrl10 8 years ago

I was totally surprised about how many places they didn't enforce the dress code. The MDR I had no problem with but the buffet was like you said. Same thing over & over. I did see people in shorts but not on the elegant nights. We were in the Sunrise dining room & went early. People are also supposed to cover bathing suits if they are anywhere but around the pool but plenty ignored that & ate at the Lido Marketplace all the time in just swimsuits. We called on the people next to us 4 times in 2 days for smoking on their balcony. Cruiseline.com says it's ok to do so but Carnival's site says no way.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

tangc 8 years ago

*waving* Buh-bye

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

rdbrn 8 years ago

Didnt care if you cleaned your hands prior to eating?! They arent there to raise adults...thats at any buffet you go to!!

Thumbs Up 7

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

1st Anniversary getaway

Wonderful First Trip

A Birthday Celebration