dolfndreams

I did one of the Med sailings and definitely had scary reviews before we left. I was glad we went ahead and went since we didn't run into any of the issues. Did see a couple of buckets the entire 12 days but otherwise no real issues I haven't seen on any other sailing I've been on.

I really enjoyed her and have no issues with the fact she has had a facelift and isn't new which seems to cause alot of the negatives. We had a aft oceanview cabin on Deck 2, no buckets or smells. Thought the look of the Sunshine was lovely all around.

Loved the dining options and found that if we went to Havana section it was much quieter and laid back than the lido seating area and tended to either use the omlette bar for breakfast there of collect our food in the lido and carry it to that section. Never had problems with seating and the food was very good.

We didn't do the shows which may be why we had no negatives. Did use the serenity deck a couple of times taking the advice to go higher and towards the back for a quieter experience. It was definitely busy but very, very nice.

Go with a open mind, it may not be the perfect ship for everyone; however none of the ships are.

Our last trip (2013) we were during the San Sebastian festival and were easily able to walk with both large and small roller luggage from Victory to the Hotel Milano; it wasn't by choice but no taxis were going into town; but truly not a bad walk at all and that was through crowds.

And if you are going to the ship it is downhill:)

Love the Southern Caribbean itinerary and repeated the same cabin twice since I was lucky enough on the Victory to have the 2 window oceanview cabin when it was considered a 1A. Cheapest room on the ship with a couch queen bed and two windows. I actually got home from my first cruise and booked that week to return same cabin.

Third time I went with a sister who was sharing expenses the third time so we did the aft wrap which was amazing. Changed up the hotel to Hotel Herencia a wonderful B&B from my basic Plaza de Armas, but still did mainly the same excursions so she could share them with me.

And scheduled to go again with another sister, although on another ship since they switched out with the Valor. However did manage to get a two window oceanview that looks like it may be as great as my Victory room.

I did others in between but found myself missing starting from Old San Juan and my catamaran and snorkel trips that enjoyed each time. Plus I get to share it with my sisters which is amazing.

I find myself looking over other cruises but my wish list cruises still a bit out of my price range and ability to take time off. For relaxation and the guarantee of a lovely time I'll take my Southern Caribbean for now. High on my list of things to do though are the Fjords, Alaska Land and sea, and Australia/Fiji.

One day perhaps, but happy to repeat whatever makes me happy.

I agree with the above posts. Stayed there on my last southern Caribbean during the San Sebastian festival 2013. Within walking distance from the port (we discovered as cabs weren't going into town during the festival:) )

Thought it was a perfectly acceptable hotel, clean and decent. Let us leave our luggage until check in. Great place to eat across the street I'm going to look up on our trip this year. Just a counter service sandwich/coffee;drinks etc but it was excellent.

Great location. Perfectly fine overnight if not fancy.

I followed the whole process during dry dock because we were doing a Med sailing on the Sunshine and truly have not seen such a backlash. I'm so glad I decided to chance it and go anyway. I think the low rating is a holdover from that. It definitely had major issues in the beginning and I was glad we weren't on the first few months sailings.

Our experience was wonderful and I would definitely sail her again. Loved our 12 day on her. Lovely ship, can see that the public areas might be crowded, however I have had crowds on other ships also.

One trend I noticed on the Sunshine is the number of negative comments from people who actually never sailed on her only were absolutely OUTRAGED that she was remodeled and not a new ship. If I had a dollar for every "lips on a pig", "she isn't new" comments I could take a nice 3 day cruse. Still confuses me but whatever.

I'm hoping over time the positives will start compensating for those early days; she may never be many peoples favorites and definitely there were valid concerns, and for many still some concerns on public spaces and theater that would make them chose another ship.

I'd sail her again in a minute if I liked the itinerary. She is a lovely ship, none of them are perfect as all cruise reviews show:D,

Has anyone stayed during San Sebastian festival? We recently booked a cruise out of San Juan in January and later found out we will most likely be there during this festival. Either hotels are incredibly expensive in SJ or the festival has jacked prices up but I'm having a hard time finding a place for a little less then $200 that doesn't seem to be bed bug infested. We were looking at Tres Palmas, but I am starting to have second thoughts about the location. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

I ended up coming off the ship on our 2013 trip, but luckily had heard it was San Sebastian and booked a hotel for the night after the cruise, again luckily it was within walking distance because taxi's were not going into town at all and very, very backed up to get out to the airport.

On the other hand it was kind of fun. We walked (asking police who were on every corner for directions) Pricing for hotels does jack up during this time.

We stayed at the Hotel Milano (it was about 3 blocks up from pier if I remember right) not too much trouble even pulling luggage and the cheapest price I could find, can't remember exactly but seems it was around 150-160; basic but clean and nice. And they let us drop our luggage off until check in.

We made it to the hotel, dropped the luggage in the lobby and went out into the crowds for a bit. Picked up some good street food from the venders and watched the set up progressing for the entertainment. Cheerful packed streets, didn't stay out late when the biggest entertainment started but picked a room high up and leaned out to see masses of people going up and down our street at the hotel as it got darker. Don't plan on sleeping much:)

It is a experience. If you don't mind crowds could be alot of fun if you aren't fighting traffic one way or another.

Congratulations, that is a great deal.

Just back myself from a lucky solo supplement cruise b, actually scored the aft wrap, but definitely not for $120.

Enjoy; solo cruises are fantastic:D:D

I've done both Calabeza and Silvermoon in Barbados and highly recommend either of them. Very nice Catamaran with food and drinks along with great snorkeling.

I'm going back with Calebeza in February. For either of them if interested check very, very early. I took the last two slots with Calebeza and that was 11months out. She only takes 12. Silvermoon has a 12 and 24 person catamaran if I remember right. Very class acts.

Another favorite I've done 3 times and probably will repeat in an is in

St. Maarten. Captain Alan 3 island Snorkel.

http://www.captainalan.com/

Captain Alan's is a basic speed boat, takes about 6 people and for some reason is one of most enjoyable snorkel trips I do even though not lots of luxury or extras. I love ending with them on the Southern Itinerary. No drinks except water and now they do serve some basic food but mostly it is just the fun of jumping over the waves with my feet hooked under the bar at the front of the ship with some pretty good snorkeling. Great captains, Have been with both Capt Paul and Francois and both were wonderful. Fun snorkeling and just basically a good time. Have done both the 4 and the 6 hour and either are great.

St. Kitts and St. Lucia aren't know for their snorkeling. I am looking for other options but loved visiting Clay Villa in St. Kitts with a island tour and have done both Cosol and Herold on St. Lucia who do great island tours but wanting something different next year.

St. Thomas is lovely but have done mainly island tours there and looking for a good sail next years trip.

Have a great time, this is a awesome itinerary. Just back from the Western which was nice but I really really missed my Southern ports, so booked it while on the Conquest and just as excited as I was the first 3 times:D

I used the package on the 12 day Med cruise in Oct and was surprised how fast it was. However just off the conquest and it was terrible. Now I'm wondering if I just got lucky or if Sunshine had a updated wireless connection.

I put up pictures on Facebook, emailed and web surfed almost as quickly as my home connection except for a few slow down times when more people were on line. Definitely was worth it on the Sunshine.

Can't promise it will be the same for you but a significant difference from other Carnival ships I have used it on. I only did a longer package on the Conquest however and it was awful; can't remember the older trips but I think they also were pretty slow. I only bought the Conquest package because of my good experience on the Sunshine and did end up regretting spending that much for mostly waiting time.

Just off the Conquest in a aft wrap also in 7440 and agree no couch and no chair (however there are 4 regular chairs and 2 loungers on the deck and I just moved one into the room and it worked great. Not a huge room (used to picking the odd sized oceanviews that tend to have more floor space) but absolutely loved the room and deck.

Very quiet, largest section does not have much of a overhang so a bit sunny much of the time with the smaller section around the curve giving a nice area of shade with a overhang. Depending on what you look for it is a great location.

When I was studying up I think I read that 8th deck wraps had more shade with more overhang and 6th the least amount of overhead and so the sunniest deck.

Just planning another trip to the Southern and checking the boards. Happy to second the recommendation for Clay Villa and their tours.

I have gone twice on two different trips both arranged through Clay Villa web site. Once solo and once with my sister and had a great time both times.

I did a island tour one visit (the solo one) actually ended up being the only person on the tour as another family didn't show up and still was treated with great respect both by Phillip and by the taxi driver who did my island tour. Felt completely safe and had a awesome island tour.

My sister and I did the same tour as pictured on another trip and had just as much fun as the first time. Delightful host and a beautiful villa/gardens and the island tour is a great bonus.

Highly recommended

Just off the conquest and had to smile having just read the above linked thread about there not being bar soap. I did have some I brought along but almost wondered if my steward had read it.

I was travelling solo and had 5 bars of soap on the counter in the bowel with the samples:D Good thing I hadn't used much space bringing extra.

Still the same shampoo / body wash dispensers. Don't mind the shampoo but I always bring my own conditioner and used the bar soap.

Just back from Miami Conquest sailing with FTTF and got the 1:30 letter also.

I ignored it and was on the ship by 11am.

sorry duplicate

I had that room on our Med trip and it is a great room, snap it up.

Felt like alot more space with the odd shape that gave you a lot of floor space to the left of the beds and had a extra counter space with a shelf we used to put up our pictures we bought in Europe. Felt like decorating our own room. Also had a sofa, looked good but a bit stiff great for tossing things on but not sure I would want to sit on it for any length of time. Beds were great, very comfortable. There was only one window.

Absolutely awesome oceanview. I know people always complain about more noise in aft, but didn't notice it myself. Keep in mind that the aft rooms are a preference of mine and I am a early riser. Nothing stands out though. Would definitely do this room again.

Only thing I can even think of I noticed was that the art gallery kept their cart in the hall a few feet down but when that is the only downside things are pretty good.

Short walk to the elevators and straight shot to the lido. Two floors down to debark for excursions.

I was just poking around because I was bored and ended up getting the aft wrap on Conquest with no solo supplement, how often does that happen....switched my next Feb planned trip to 4 weeks out (at that time) 4 more days to Miami:)

Now to be sure to relax enough to get my moneys worth; couldn't resist since I never thought I'd be able to do the aft wrap again, plus spring break not my favorite time to sail so I have my own private quiet zone:D

Actually check all levels if you are interested in something other than a interior. I actually ended up with the Aft wrap on a March 9 sailing with no solo supplement.

Not something that happens often I'm sure, but glad I happened to be bored that day and looked. Since I'm usually paying for two people. $1000 for a aft wrap was insanely great price.

I just was wandering around the site pricing and ended up changing from a cruise planned next year to leaving the next month; luckily work cooperated and let me off since I put the money down immediately.

For my 12 day Med trip in Oct I didn't have any of the extreme complaints. No sewage smells. Did see a bucket or two over the 12 days I wouldn't even had noticed had I not been following extreme comments on the months before the cruise.

Stayed Aft oceanview on deck 2 and spent most of the other ship time on Lido and deck 5. Busy in ports excursions on this cruise so that may have effected the feel of the ship as far as crowded and didn't do the entertainment so can't help there.

MDR was fine, not something I usually do so can't compare with other ships. Food decent and waiters were great. Didn't realize the Maitre D sings and waiters dance EVERY NIGHT, thought it was once a week. Not my thing I suppose but people seemed to be having fun... it would have helped if we weren't under a speaker. Started to brace ourselves every night as Desert was served. OK it was fun as a running joke with our tablemates....and I admit he does have a nice voice. I'll always associate Sunshine with Sinatra.

Sunshine is a lovely ship. Favorites were the 2.0 upgrades in dining choices. Cuchina /Jiji area is a quieter area away from the lido that we ate in even when we weren't eating from the Cuchina / JiJi stattions; and don't forget that there are made to order omelettes there in the morning.

Had been a bit concerned with hard bed comments afraid with it being a new roll out we would have them; but our room was great. I did ask as usual for the extra duvet to be added for softness but the beds but probably didn't even need them. the room was great, bedding comfortable comfortable and like the Sunshine's warm and a bit more subdued colors.

I even managed to get one of the great curl up chairs a couple of mornings in the Serenity area which is admittedly very busy but very nice and much larger than any I have had a chance to try before so even though it is close to the big screen is relatively quiet in the higher levels.

Loved the Sunshine and would be happy to sail her again. Hope you have a great sailing. Don't let all the reviews sway you. Always a chance something could go wrong but that could happen on any ship.

I actually picked up a aft wrap for March 9 Conquest Caribbean on a no solo supplement rate of $1050. Just happened to be doing a "I'm bored today" search randomly a couple of weeks ago.

It was $300 more at that moment than I would have payed for a balcony but insane to think I could afford a aft wrap as a solo. Nothing like a wrap for $150 a day. My usual solo is a oceanview. Since it is spring break, not my favorite time of year worth the extra cost to live on my own balcony in peace and quiet for the week.

Just looked this week and a balcony is $1500 for a solo. Feeling very happy:)

Transferred my next years planned vacation to a month and a half out and prayed that my boss would say yes, so that was a risk but well worth taking..hard to find wraps open that close to sailing let along without a supplement.

Sorry didn't mark it here but just discovered this thread. Now bookmarked for future finds.

Sorry ended up on wrong thread

I was on Aft deck 2 for a 12 day Med and no sewage smell in that area on our trip. Main areas I went to otherwise Lido of course and Serenity deck no issues.

Also loved the shake shack worth the extra:)

I did the Mediterranean on the Sunshine and it was awesome. Did see one of the infamous buckets (1) and I am one of the guilty who didn't do a positive review.

Truthfully I chose not to review deliberately. I haven't seen so many people getting slammed over their opinions over my last 5 or 6 years here on Cruisecritic over a ship. Just not worth the aggravation and in fairness it was a heavy port cruise so I didn't do any nighttime or entertainment so had no opinion on it. I do try to put my opinion in on individual posts asking specifically.

No the ship didn't list, no there weren't buckets covering the hallways, no I didn't run into any sewage smells. I'm sure it is crowded with a less port intensive cruise, however most of my cruises I've been on have been pretty crowded. Thumbs up on Sunshine from me. Thought she was lovely and would be happy to sail her again. Yes I'm probably a Carnival Cheerleader in that I chose her for the price point and have a great time on all my cruises.

I loved it though and would happily do it again. Laugh every time I see the bucket comment. I kept tripping over the Art work cart parked in front of my room and again certainly didn't effect my cruise. The 1 ok maybe 2 buckets I saw over the 12 days were the least of my troubles. I'd take my room again in a heartbeat, large and quiet (2347 aft oceanview).

Loved the theming and dining options and had a great time.

I've only gone with Holland America my first two cruises with no complaints but....still trying to use a cruise credit but wasn't a different enough experience to pay the extra. Still looking for a price I can live with but Carnival keeps throwing me great sales. Just managed a Aft wrap on Carnival the (finally.....back) no solo supplement for less than a balcony; oh yes...

Carnival - love the price point definitely

Love the bedding very comfortable.

With some research on the CC boards I have been able to have extremely nice large rooms for incredible prices

I don't do the nightlife/entertainment and often not even dining room so with the price point don't feel I'm missing out. A great hotel that lets me wake up and experience a new adventure and port every day (or as close to every day as I can get)

Did do the dining room on Sunshine and it was nice, but if travelling solo still prefer to grab something and find a comfy spot. The whole 1-2 hour deal isn't really my thing although trying new food was interesting.

Love the Deli, fresh omlette bars and with new 2.0 upgrades other dining options I'm just starting to try so I can grab what I want; when I want.

Had great room stewards on all of my cruises; friendly staff who work hard

As they said a complete renovation. Absolutely loved it even with a occasional bucket that everyone was flipping out about on the boards. Suspect most of the mechanical issues are completely resolved now. I kept myself entertained the 6 months before sailing with all the hysteria around the Sunshine. Hadn't seen such a uproar before, but faith was justified and it was a great sailing, couldn't have been better. I thought the Sunshine was lovely.

Really liked all the dining options and ability to spread out, the Havana section particularly seemed less crowded and very nice and enjoyed the Serenity deck although it does fill up quickly.

I had the oceanview aft 2347 and it was a great room, because odd shaped alot of extra space. Also like the aft as a straight shot up to Lido and Serenity dec.

Definitely would have that room again. We did have to go around the a flat with Art which the gallery tended to keep in our hallway but no other issues on our Med sailing in Sept/Oct.

I agree with avoiding lounge if possible. I had a room above lounge on Victory and since it was a aft wrap it was ok, but had to life with some pretty annoying noises. If I had a choice would pick differently. I aim for cabins above and below if at all possible.

On the Sunshine I was in room 2347 a 6B aft oceanview and it was lovely. Picked it because it looked larger, which it was. Pretty sure it will have been snapped up but a good one to grab if available.

You'll enjoy the ship. Aft was great because it is a short hop up the elevator to serenity deck and often more importantly Havana and lido. Enjoy. Had a great time on the ship and thought the dining areas were great with how spread out they were. The Havana area always seemed less crowded and very comfortable, felt like a restaurant and not a ship cafeteria.

I used the Destiny to check rooms also, still a lot of pics and while may be different will give you a feel for things.