Dissapointed :(
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas
5 Night Bahamas (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)
Sail date: January 08, 2017
Ship: Carnival Sunshine
Cabin type: Oceanview
Cabin number: 5301
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 7 years ago
Review summary
Embarkation went well. It was downhill from there. Our bags were late getting to us with no reason given. Our dinner request couldn't be accommodated. We were left to wait for a seat and be treated like a typical restaurant. The service was not great. The food was never exceptional. It was all about the same as any other restaurant you would go to. That was disappointing because one of the most exciting things to us about a cruise is the dinner experience and getting to know the staff on a somewhat personal level. Our room was good. Our room steward was great. But, shared a wall with a bar and was loud. Most nights that bar had LOUD live music. I have no idea why it was so loud because it was a small space. We heard loud banging noises through the night, that didn't seem to come from the bar. They were from below us somehow. That kept us up most nights, if the music didn't already have us up. The staff wasn't nearly as friendly as in past cruises. In fact, most staff just answered questions, took our order and generally acknowledged us. Carnival has a reputation of exceptional service and super friendly staff, which is another reason why I have loved the 2 previous cruises. But we didn't have that experience this time. Also, the room the comedians was in was TINY. We had to wait in line to even have a hope of getting seats. There weren't as many options for entertainment as in past cruises. One of the main reasons we chose this cruise was the Half Moon Cay stop. But, because of weather, we didn't get to stop there. We were compensated with another day in Nassau, which isn't comparable at all. We weren't compensated in any other way, or even offered anything else. I could continue complaining, but would rather not. I called Carnival to let them know we were disatisfied, and all they offered was $25 for me and $25 for my husband bar credit on our next cruise. That's after spending $1800 on the ship in things that they made complete profit on (drinks, casino & WIFI package). Overall, we were very dissatisfied with this cruise, and will probably not cruise again. We would rather try all inclusive resorts or other vacations.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ports of call
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)
7 Comments
sunshinel9ver 7 years ago
Greg1780 7 years ago
sarahjocochran 7 years ago
Thank you for your comments. Lessons learned for sure. Most importantly, I will not take a "last minute cruise deal" as an actual deal. The rooms left are most likely the least desirable and the things that I enjoy will most likely be sold out or no longer available (dinner times, faster to the fun & excursions...). Although I did book through a travel agent, I will also do my own research to ensure I'm happy with my cabin before booking.... Thanks again for the comments.
cruznjan 7 years ago
I recently sailed on the Sunshine, and I found the crew to be nothing but friendly.
ctav 7 years ago
The three previous reviews has a much more favorable review than your review and it was for the same cruise.
hummm
glomarrone 7 years ago
The selection of your cabin is most important when booking a cruise. You need to take the time using a deck plan on your computer, or use the free services of a travel agent to see what will be next to you, above you and below you. Never book adjacent to a bar or other public area. Avoid rooms above, or below the theater, kitchen or lounges.
It is always disappointing not to get the dining option that you wanted. It has happened to me, too. As for late delivery of luggage, someone had to be late but next time, I'll bet you get it sooner. At least it didn't get lost. I am sure that you will be happier on your next cruise.
as fopr food, remember that cruise ships have to serve many passengers at the same time at each seating. Personally I think that they do a great job. I really don't expect better food on a crise ship than i get in a good restaurant locally.
Let's hope that your next cruise is a better one for you.
BonMike 7 years ago
It's too bad that you were disappointed in so many ways. The crew have several thousand pieces of luggage to deliver and it takes hours to do that. You can look at the deck plans to choose your room, unless you chose the option to have Carnival select your room. Why would you expect compensation for missing a port? The cruise contract states that itineraries can change. Didn't get the Dining option you wanted? There are limited seats in the MDR so not everyone can be seated. Booking early and doing online check in early will help assure you get your choice of time. It looks like you were disappointed because you had chosen to spend so much money on optional things on the ship.
Perhaps an all inclusive resort will be better for you.