lovingCCL

I have done this twice and both times it was cheaper to rent a car at the Orlando airport and drop it off at the rental place in Port Canaveral. They had a free shuttle to the port from there. It was so easy. My total costs for the rental was around $60 (including gas) each way which was about 1/2 the cost of getting 3 of us to the port via a paid shuttle.

My mistake....it was $50 including gas but the savings was only like $20. I also like the flexibility of driving myself.

I have done this twice and both times it was cheaper to rent a car at the Orlando airport and drop it off at the rental place in Port Canaveral. They had a free shuttle to the port from there. It was so easy. My total costs for the rental was around $60 (including gas) each way which was about 1/2 the cost of getting 3 of us to the port via a paid shuttle.

I just went on the Sunshine (my 8th Carnival cruise) and she was my favorite ship of all. I definitely did not feel like the crowding was any worse than on any Carnival cruise; some areas were laid out better than normal actually (the buffet) so less crowding there. I think if you look for something bad, you can find it. If i had focused on being crowded or worried about that, then maybe that is what I would have seen. I also cruise for the ocean and I have never been on any of the RC ships for that reason. I want to be able to see, hear, and experience the ocean as much as possible while onboard. Personally, I think you will have a wonderful time!

LOVE this idea. When I was on the Sunshine last month, I kept thinking they needed to do this.

Just got off the Sunshine on the 14th and I don't have another one until November -- so 177 days! :loudcry:

What Dive In Movie was this ?

We went to Rogue One and Dr. Strange, had great loungers but got there right after first movie ended.

It was definitely either Hidden Figures or Rogue One. We sat in the same general area for both. If I had to say for sure, I think it was Hidden Figures.

I was also on this cruise and I agree with most of the assessments. However, there was one point I did not agree with. In my opinion, I did not find the Sunshine to be particularly crowded. I feel like all ships are crowded at certain times and the flow of how the buffet was set up on the Lido was particularly efficient.

The electrical issues on Bonaire day and debarkation day were stressful for my mom as she is not a very experienced cruiser so that kind of stunk. We also had no toilets on day 2 and we were mid-ship deck 9. We had intermittent issues getting our toilet to flush each day. We also were given an ice bucket (plastic) that leaked and shorted out the tv as the shelf holding the ice bucket was over the TV. That was quickly fixed by maintenance. Thank goodness -- my mom would have died without the news. :-)

We did have an incident with an elderly man and woman one night on deck for the Dive In Movies. A woman was in the hot tub with her children and had towels on her chairs. This is not being a chair hog as they were right there in my opinion. However, this elderly couple did not feel this way. The couple came and moved all of the woman and children's stuff and took their seats. When the woman came over and told the couple that they had taken her chairs they literally cussed her out right on deck (in front of her kids) by calling her a B word. I t was appalling. I told them that was unacceptable to speak to that woman that way but of course by the time security made it there things had calmed down and nothing was done. The elderly couple also told the woman she was an awful mother for having her kids out so late. It was the craziest thing.

In spite of some minor issues, we had a great cruise. I really liked the Sunshine a lot and wouldn't hesitate to book her again because of her food and entertainment choices as well as her lovely decor (the serenity deck was amazing -- when you could find a chair).

WE do the YTD and never once had more than a 15 minute wait, and that was always on elegant nights.

We have waited at most like 20 minutes at the busiest time (like around 6:30) one time on my 6 cruises. Most of the time, I had no more than a 5 minute wait (if even that). The reason I stick with Carnival is because I cruise to be close to the ocean. These ships that have ice skating rinks and broadway style shows just do not interest me. I don't ice skate on land and I would much prefer to go see a show in the city so Carnival is the best option for me. I have price checked each cruise I have booked and the balcony on Carnival has always been much cheaper which is my favorite way to cruise.

Anyone seen anything? I wasn't able to find anything on JH's FB page.

To those who have gone to Palm Beach on a bus, how hard was it to catch the bus?

I have been upgraded from a balcony to a suite twice via a call a few days before the cruise. I also have been sent an email about a month before sailing offering me an upgrade to a balcony from an interior for like $150. I don't know if there is any rhyme or reason.

The Havana rooms have special access to a pool which is not open to most of the general public during the day (so no worrying about chair hogs!)

Check out some Vista reviews with people who have Havana rooms. I cannot wait to book one!

Welcome back to Carnival! I can answer a few questions for you. You don't have to get bottomless bubbles for everyone in the room (the way you do for a cheers package). You can bring 12 cans of soda onboard with you but you cannot bring bottled water. Carnival has made the water onboard much cheaper than previously when they took away this option so I don't mind this at all. I just order my water before I board (for like around $5 I think) and it is waiting for me in my room when I board. You do have to go to the bar as Carnival doesn't have the machines to my knowledge (unless this is something new on the Vista class as I haven't been on that class yet).

I think that you will find the shows on Carnival to still be lacking greatly when compared to NCL. I don't cruise for the shows so that doesn't bother me. I do like the comedy shows (but they venues are small so get there early).

You can either book the speciality dining beforehand or you can book once you board. I generally look over the funtimes for that itinerary and the dinner menus (if any kind person has uploaded them) and decide which night I will eat in the steakhouse (which is a flat fee of $35 including tip). Generally, I don't like the first night's menus as well so I eat in one of the speciality restaurants that night.

If you book under an easy saver rate, then you can get onboard credit up until the day of the sailings. Easy saver does have a $50 penalty if you need to rebook though so be aware of that.

I am going to be on the Sunshine in 18 days so I am loving your blog.

Thanks!

I love coconut but HATED the cheesecake. Very bland and tasteless. I have had varied experiences in the steakhouse overall though. I was on the Magic last May and it was also just "ok" compared to a couple of my other experiences.

I have been on both and enjoyed both immensely. I voted for the Liberty based on the ship's decor -- it is very pretty! However, now that I see the choice is between 4 or 5 days, I would for sure go for the Conquest. The longer the cruise = the happier I am. Also, my sister and her husband went on RC last year and did not like it at all in comparison to Carnival. The said the free food options on Carnival was much better and they just had more fun on Carnival. Go with an open mind and have a great time!

When we first started cruising in 2004, we had only suites and balconies. Now, (because I try to go as often as I can) it's whatever we can afford. I have done interior bunks and been perfectly fine. I will do anything to cruise. I actually found that I sleep amazing in inside cabins!

That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks!

I am going on my 8th cruise in May and I am, as always, super excited. However, I am really stressing the fact that we have an interior booked. I have only had balcony or suites before. Has anyone downgraded like this before? Was it a huge deal or no biggie? Thanks!

Thanks for reading! You picked a great ship for your honeymoon! I wish I had a dollar for every WCMC order that I've had! :D I guess over the years I just got tired of them, and started trying other things. Now I'm hooked on the kid's banana splits. Go figure! :D

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the endorsement! The next time we are in Bonaire we will go there no matter what!! Our tour was okay, but I was not impressed with Coco Beach. :)

I am so confused (easily done I am sure). :-) I emailed the Plaza Beach Resort in order to see if I could reserve 3 one-day passes for when we are in port in May and they said this:

pleaseclick on the link above for all desired information.

Reservations in advance are not necessary.

How did you guys get your day passes?

Loved this review so much! I am doing the partial transit in January of 2019 and am so glad you suggested reading your review on my post. Also, I am going to Aruba and Bonaire this May so reading about those ports was a nice bonus. Thanks so much!

Boarding the Sunshine in 30 days! So glad to read the positive review. I love the pictures of the serenity deck and cannot wait to be on it!

I am so excited! I just booked the Freedom out of Galveston for January of 2019 for the Panama Canal journeys cruise. It's also the cruise I will turn platinum so even more reason for excitement. Has anyone been on a journey's cruise to the canal? Did you like it? We are also going to Cartagena, Colombia and Limon,Costa Rica which are both new ports. Anyone been there and have any tips on what to do?

Thanks!

My husband and I were on the Liberty in November of 2015 and we loved her. She was my favorite ship (out of the 7 I have been on). With that being said, I have a cruise booked on the Sunshine in May and I cannot wait. Crowds don't bother me as I just get to where I want to go early enough to find seating, etc. With all that being said, I think if you want to have a great time -- you will on either ship. I personally would not want to spend the extra $$ for a Disney cruise. I could cruise at least two times on Carnival for the cost of a Disney cruise.

What places are open for lunch? Does JiJi's have a Mongolian grill type lunch? Thanks!

I just want to say I love you all. You are beautiful, generous people who have just enhanced my cruise. LOL

 

One question, though - when I read Magic Bullet, I think of something a teensy bit different. So there is a bullet that is actually a blender? LOL

HAHAHAHAHHA -- this made my morning!