Just OK

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

djddj

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 7

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

8 Night Eastern Caribbean (New York Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 01, 2016

Ship: Carnival Sunshine

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8128

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Carnival has gotten GREAT at "nickel and diming" passengers. EVERYTHING seems to have a cost. The soda card is now a joke. If you want to take the can with you to your room....forget it. You can't.

In the dining room, the Matre' D' continues to remind you of how great the staff is....too bad the food quality has SLUMPED over the years. Choices are much more limited than on past Carnival jaunts.

The 8 night, DR, Grand Turk, Private Island cruise doesn't leave a lot of time to enjoy any port.

That all said, going with a large group is always fun. The shows were really very good (although the male entertainers were no where near as talented as the females). The steakhouse was good too, but another "revenue stream" for Carnival.

We will probably stick with the higher end cruise lines going forward, but might hit a Carnival sale for a quick get-away if the price is right.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

The rooms were always cleaned but you needed to ask a few times if you wanted something or something was missing. For example, we asked for a room service menu (which now carries even more "extra charges") 3 or 4 times before stealing one off of the cleaning cart in the hallway.

Ship tip

Don't plan to eat late if you get hungry. The only thing to get is room service (a crap shoot to see if you can get though on the ever-ringing phone) or pizza (which only has 1 guy making personal pizzas and a 30-45 min. line anytime after midnight). There is NO such thing as a midnight buffet!

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Ports of call

New York, New York

5 out of 5

Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic

3 out of 5

Grand Turk Island

3 out of 5

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)

3 out of 5

33 Comments

mercurym 8 years ago

You can order 12 pack of water from cherry on top for 3.99

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tangc 8 years ago

Wait. What?

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millyjazz 8 years ago

Okay you guys yes it's been since 2013 but thanks for being so "helpfu" ....I just found out via a rep through a carnival agent thanks for your help I'll get on another post.... after being on carnivals funville for a few years before they done away with that I see why people tend to go elsewhere. Have a good day ladies

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momof4boys95980708 8 years ago

No wonder she's so out of the loop lol

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tangc 8 years ago

She hasn't been on Carnival since 2013...

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momof4boys95980708 8 years ago

You can no longer bring bottles of water. Keep updated

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tangc 8 years ago

You can't take water on board.

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millyjazz 8 years ago

Molly reread my top post again with the link in it

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millyjazz 8 years ago

tan_g_c.....agreed

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millyjazz 8 years ago

Right Molly I understand that that's why my first post in regards to this it says cans not bottles ...i bring to 2 packs of Pepsi in a can on board (cans) and two bottles of wine one for my husband and one for I and I bring 2 cases of 16 ounce water on board as well which totals 12 bottles of water...

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tangc 8 years ago

OAN...does water really come in cartons? I've never seen it.

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tangc 8 years ago

*milly

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tangc 8 years ago

I think molly might be on the wrong post.

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momof4boys95980708 8 years ago

@milly I have no clue where you are getting your info but it's not carnival. With carnival you can bring 1 bottle of wine per person 21 and older and 1 12 pack of CANS per person no bottles of liquid other then the wine. But it all has to be carried on. And if it's your own personal drink it is not kept by anyone. We were discussing the bubbles and cheers not rules for being on.....

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millyjazz 8 years ago

You can bring bottled water. They just have their own option to purchase there's but it's not mandatory. I'm not even gonna begin how I got hard liquor onboard... after a while you learn tricks... maybe TMI but it's the truth

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millyjazz 8 years ago

Again refer back to the link posted regarding this. It's all there

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momof4boys95980708 8 years ago

I'm going in Sept so we'll see if I can get that lucky like she did lol

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momof4boys95980708 8 years ago

My friend was able to take drinks off the ship at ports

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Deanna13 8 years ago

Lucky lol .... I just got off the sunshine august 9th and they did..... I am itching for another cruise lol

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momof4boys95980708 8 years ago

@deanna13 they didn't on valor last month

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tangc 8 years ago

They have to be carried on, Rachel14. That's a very clear rule.

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Deanna13 8 years ago

If u have the bubbles or cheers drink package they pour the soda Into a glass they will not give you a can. I asked for a can of soda he said I have to pour it Into a glass. They save the rest of the soda for the next person lol

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Rachael14 8 years ago

Cruised on Sunshine a year ago, they held our luggage until late into the evening due to UNopened non alcoholic beverages (which they confiscated). It took a dozen phone calls and several trips to customer service to even locate the luggage!! Lesson learned!

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millyjazz 8 years ago

Oops meant to say that one adult carry on one bottle of wine

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millyjazz 8 years ago

We've done it on every cruise. As long as you can carry it on its fine. Lots of folks do it. Carnival's Liquor and Beverage Consumption Policy Guest has long prohibited guests from bringing alcoholic beverages onboard (.1 bottle of wine per guest) But one can still carry on up to 12 unopened cans or cartons of water, soda and non-alcoholic beverages per person during embarkation, the cruise line said in a statement. Review their policy https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2633/~/liquor-and-beverage-policy

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rogerellenborland 8 years ago

Who told you that you could not take the Coke can to the room? You can take it anywhere you want to on the ship.

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millyjazz 8 years ago

* and three that are not on Carnival

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millyjazz 8 years ago

* I've been on 8 cruises

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millyjazz 8 years ago

I like seeing post like these... I tell folks all the time to research other lines and then come back and see if Carnival nickels and dimes you. I've been on a cruise is three that are not Carnival and believe me Carnival is your best deal. We take two cases of water on board and two cases of Pepsi on board that's all we need for the week. We also bring 2 bottles of wine as this is all acceptable if you can carry it on.

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rich0219 8 years ago

After reading reviews from other lines, I continue to love Carnival because they DON'T nickel and dime you! I've read about other lines that have all kinds of specialty restaurants that you have to reserve (and pay for). No thanks...just point me in be direction of the MDR with no stress (or extra money)!

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tangc 8 years ago

The steakhouse is the best deal EVER.

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Ssue450 8 years ago

I researched all cruise lines and you can't vote close to the prices at Carnival.

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tpost55 8 years ago

I took a 12 pack of cokes on board on our last cruise and took it directly to the room.

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