Typical Mid-Range Carnival Cruises Experience
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 6
Helpful Votes: 114
5 Night Bahamas (Charleston Roundtrip)
Sail date: May 28, 2022
Ship: Carnival Sunshine
Cabin type: Oceanview
Cabin number: 2271
Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 2 years ago
Review summary
This was a typical mid-range Carnival experience. It met my expectations but did not exceed my expectations or 'WOW' me. As usual, the main dining room has really gone downhill and it is a shame that specialty dining is required in the evenings for an excellent meal at dinner. Fortunately, breakfast/brunch and a few lunch offerings like Guys Burgers and the pizza place, are excellent in comparison to similar offerings on other cruise lines i've sailed. Entertainment was highly recycled from previous cruises I have been on since the restart (even other ships) and was OK but once again did not 'WOW' me. At least the comedians and general musicians were great and helped the entertainment quality. The friendly and creative bartenders are one of the best things about the entire cruise like many Carnival cruises ive experienced as well. Rooms do not have USB ports near the beds despite the updates and my ocean view cabin was spacious but a little lacking in terms of comfort, etc. The service was memorable as always though and is one of the things I love about Carnival. Embarkation and debarkation in Charleston was a nightmare compared to embarkation/debarkation at all of the ports I have been to before.Embarkation
Embarkation in Charleston is a terrible experience. I am so glad that I did not have a long travel time to get to this port too. You are first forced to park far away from the ship itself and then walk to a warehouse that is also very far away to check in. Then you get on a crowded shuttle to the ship and have to wait for each shuttle in front of you to unload. Then you have to wait in a long line to get through security before boarding. I arrived at 10:00am and got onboard at 11:30
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The service in the food and drink areas was outstanding but the food was very inconsistent in all areas. Breakfast and brunch in the MDR blew me away. Most lunch offerings, including the Mongolian wok and Cucina lunch, were terrible however. Stick with Guys burgers and Pizza at lunch. The only amazing meals I had were in the specialty dining options but they were worth it.
Onboard Activities
Trivia and other daytime activities inside or not on the lido were recycled from previous cruises within the last year. Perhaps this was partly due to staffing issues but there was not much outside of the typical sales demonstrations. Entertainment was very limited before the evening despite a nearly full ship. Perhaps this was due to staffing issues but it was disappointing for them to fill the ship and limit daytime activities. There is only one hot tub for adults despite the abundance of seating on the serenity deck. I have been on other mid-size ships on Carnival with better facilities for adults. Yes the waterpark is very nice but this ship does seem very much geared towards kids and families versus adults.
Entertainment
The musicians and DJs on the ship were enjoyable overall. The piano bar guy did not disappoint either. Carnival is always good at finding some of the best musicians at sea. The stage shows themselves were not particularly memorable however and while the love and marriage show is usually good, its the same show on every ship so nothing special imho. The cruise director, TJ, was one of my favorites ever though and truly enhances the shipboard experience as well.
Children's Programs
I do not have any children
Service and Staff
The service I received onboard was five stars in every single category. Although my room steward wasn't the best I have ever had and wasn't particularly memorable, she did her job well and efficiently (except for forgetting to bring fresh beach towels one night). The dining room crew went above and beyond, despite being understaffed, to the point that I felt guilty for all they were doing. The food was delicious for brunch and breakfast in the MDR but left a lot to be desired in the evenings but this was not the fault of the dining room crew. The crew at the Javablue coffee shop were extremely quick and efficient without cutting corners, even when there were long lines. Every single bartender I encountered took a lot of pride in their work and made delicious, strong drinks. The fun crew were also entertaining and I was made to feel like they truly wanted an engaging environment even when the activities themselves were limited. Guest services was also quick and efficient while still being friendly.
Ship Quality
Everything was very clean and well-maintained despite the crew/staff shortages.
Cabin / Stateroom
Beds were a lot more firm and less comfortable than what I am used to on a Carnival ship. Couch was a good size and standard in comfort for Carnival. Desk space was nice but the television was a lot smaller than it has been on other updated Carnival ships in my experience. There were no usb outlets near the beds though and the plug ins were limited and far away from the beds unfortunately. Window was nice as usual and the room location was relatively stable and quiet. The bathroom space was slightly more than usual due to a larger shower than usual, which was nice as well.
Ports of call
I did a private excursion through Tru Bahamian Food Tours. I was not super impressed with the food offered but the drinks and walking tour of Nassau was enjoyable. We were however approached by multiple beggars and aggressive vendors throughout the tour despite having our guide with us. Downtown Nassau was not a pleasant shopping experience for the same reason. This stop continues to be one of my least favorite ports despite the decent offerings for food and beaches. I do not get off the ship but like 50% of the time.
Thumbs Up
0
Disembarkation
Disembarkation was just as unpleasant as embarkation except worse bc you just want to go home. There was a long line getting off the ship into customs and then multiple porters were needed to get your luggage to your car because of the shuttle and the distance required to take your luggage (all of which expected an individual tip).