eagletwo

On our August 29th sailing on the Sunshine, the parking lot opened at 10:00 am (guess this can change depending on how fast passengers get off the ship and get their cars out of the lot).  Followed the line to where you pay for parking (pre-paid online or credit card, no cash), then to a second stop to drop off the bags.  Next we went to the handicap parking area (parking was free for handicap with appropriate tag/sticker) and walked across the street to the check-in building. As you approach the stairs to enter the building, we were greeted by employees checking to see if you had your boarding pass and ID ready in your hands.  Upon entering the check-in building, went right up to one of the check-in counters, had our photo taken and documents checked and sent to the waiting area (we had FTTF).  The boarding process started at 11:00 am with the priority guests going first, then the FTTF group.  It's a quick 5 minute ride by bus to the cruise terminal, go through security and then to the ship.  We were in our stateroom by 11:40 am or so.  

On 11/5/2019 at 9:34 PM, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

We were supposed to go to Ocean Cay last fall on our Seaside cruise.  Didn't happen.  Got no OBC or refund.  Somehow survived.  Now we're supposed to go to Ocean Cay December 6.  Maybe, maybe not.  Somehow, I think the world will not end.  Some of this weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth is a bit much, in my view.  

Thank you for a perfect statement about cruising. 

Not sure how the casino rate works. My wife plays the slots with max bet on whatever machine she plays. On our 4 day cruise in August, she played every day, about 2 hours each day. Came out ahead by $200. This was a four day cruise to nowhere with Dorian in the Bahamas. 

Two weeks ago, she received a casino offer with a great rate on the cruise,  some onboard credit and free drinks in the casino for her. We booked the Sunshine for November 21st out Charleston, again. 

14 minutes ago, jbethel11 said:

On the Sunshine in a 6th floor cabin, my parents simply asked for a mini-fridge and the cabin stewards gave one to us!

Thank you!  That would be awesome.

2 minutes ago, eagletwo said:

Thanks for your advice.  I had already confirmed with the Carnival rep about no mini fridge.

7325        9C          185/75 sq ft
Beds: twin/king 
View: window and wrap-around balcony                             
Bathroom: shower-toilet-sink   
Features: flat-screen TV, telephone, 110 AC current, individual climate control, hair dryer, safe, 2-closets, desk and ottoman seat, sitting area with sofa and coffee table
Balcony features: 2 patio chairs and table / balcony partition opens to: 7319

3 minutes ago, shof515 said:

some cabins do have mini fridge on deck 7. it depends on your cabin number. Look up your cabin number here: https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/759

Thanks for your advice.  I had already confirmed with the Carnival rep about no mini fridge.

We are sailing on the Carnival Sunshine November 21st in a Vista balcony cabin, deck 7.  Seems there is no refrigerator in this cabin.  Besides asking our room steward for a bucket of ice daily, are there any other options?  Would like to keep some soda and water cold.

Really look forward to your reviews.  We sail on this ship in March 2020 and have the YC booked.  Been getting nervous with some of the reviews.

https://www.carnival.com/~/media/Images/explore/fun-activities/menus/redfrog-pub-menu.pdf

No food on the Sunshine.  Below is from the Carnival website.

Note: Food menu is available on Carnival Breeze and Carnival Magic, for an additional cost.

Took our rechargeable fans on the Sunshine in August.  Helps keep the air moving.

I am always amazed by the questions on tipping.  It is a personal thing.  Don't tip if that is what you want to do.  Me and my wife, we pay the auto tip and will give more if we feel the service is up and beyond normal.  What is normal? We were in the Owners Suite on the Caribbean Princess two years ago.  We asked our room steward for MDR menues for each night so we could order diner in our suite.  He did not want to do it.  We did get them about an hour before diner on first night and usually by 3 pm the rest of the week.  The tips at the end of our cruise were half of what we normally would give.

We were on the Carnival Sunshine for the August 29th sailing during Dorian.  We received a 50% refund on the the cruise, which showed up on our credit card about 3 weeks after we returned and a 50% future cruise credit.  We received a letter in our cabin about the 50% refund and credit and explaining the process, had to be used by 2021.  There is a form to fill out and submit after you book your next cruise.  I called Carnival after finding the cruise we wanted and the customer service rep asked for our previous booking number and was able to fill out the form from her side and have it submitted.  This was on a Friday and by Monday afternoon, Carnival Customer Service had sent us an email confirming the credit and updated the booking price.

If your credit was 25% off say a $1500 cruise (base rate, not taxes or port fees), you would receive a $375 credit off the base fare on your next cruise, still paying the taxes and port fees.  We are very happy with Carnival for the refund and future cruise credit.  We sail on the Sunshine November 21st and our aft wrap around balcony on deck 7 cost less than Cheers. 

Great question.  Wife and I had a hard time finishing all the food served.  Maybe trying a few different apps would be nice, but could not imagine ordering more than one main course, but that is just me. I don't know the answer, but my "guess" would be to charge extra for at least another main dish. 

Love the tomahawk chop! Some of the best service and food on the Sunshine.

On 9/28/2019 at 7:39 PM, Gettys84 said:

We had the same boarding window. We got to the port to park at 10:30. We were on the ship at 11:20!  Loving this ship so far. Let us know if you have any other questions. 

The parking lot opens at 10 am. We had Faster to the Fun and the shuttles started heading to the ship at 11 am. We boarded the ship by 11:15 and were in our cabin by 11:30 am. Port charges $20 a day to park. Handicap Plachard parking is free, (Must have person in the car that is issued the Plachard),  Pre-pay online or credit card at the Port, NO CASH PAYMENTS ACCEPTED.

Wife had knee surgery in July.  We sailed on the Sunshine August 29th.  She had a cain to help and when we went down to muster drill, the staff sent us to an inside station. Very nice.

This Thursday, August 29th, is our first trip on Carnival (Sunshine).  We booked about two months ago and FTTF was sold out.  I checked almost daily to see if FTTF would open up.  About 2 weeks ago, we were able to buy the FTTF, the next day it was sold out again.  Hope it is worth the $$.

We always buy travel/medical insurance.  I am in the private air charter business.  A one-way pick-up in a light jet from Nassau back to my home in SC is over $10,000.  Gets more expensive the further down you go in the Caribbean. Mexico gets very expensive, lots of extra fees private operators have to pay the government.  In Cancun, it would be over 14K+ to come home.  The thought of having to use a hospital in a 3rd world country makes me cringe. When we were in Grand Turk on a Segway tour, our guide was telling us how greatful he was that the locals could go to the US for medical procedures.  He said you don't want to have a serious procedure done in our local hospitals.

We always have.    

On 8/16/2019 at 8:03 AM, beerman2 said:

Only because they had a "perfect" scenario. EVERYTHING was in their favor. Most pax don't have that option.

I was referring to the second part of the answer.

Now can the OP do what I do?  Probably not.  With a regular self assist debarkation and normal USCB lines he might get to the airport by 9 or 9:30.   If checking luggage, there's an extra line to wait on.  Carnival recommends a noon departure or later.  I'd say if the OP is doing self assist walkoff and taxiing to the airport, an 11AM flight should be doable.  If the OP has checked luggage and doing a zone departure from the ship, then maybe best to stick with the noon recommendation.

8 hours ago, evandbob said:

 

I have booked flights for 11AM when cruising from FLL and using the nearby airport.  I've even been able to switch to a 9:00AM flight when I arrived at the airport at 8AM.

 

I can do Diamond self depart walk off and taxi to the airport.  I also have Global Entry, but that is pretty useless when I arrive so early that there are no security lines. I just wheel my carry on to the gate and board.  No waiting at my home airport either with just the 1 carry on piece.

 

Now can the OP do what I do?  Probably not.  With a regular self assist debarkation and normal USCB lines he might get to the airport by 9 or 9:30.   If checking luggage, there's an extra line to wait on.  Carnival recommends a noon departure or later.  I'd say if the OP is doing self assist walkoff and taxiing to the airport, an 11AM flight should be doable.  If the OP has checked luggage and doing a zone departure from the ship, then maybe best to stick with the noon recommendation.

Best answer I have seen in a long time.

FTTF for our cruise August 29th on the Sunshine had been sold out as we only booked a few weeks ago.  Looked this morning online and it showed FTTF available and booked it.  First Carnival cruise, hope the extra $$ is worth it.  Only 16 days to go.

Thank you for the well written review on the YC.  We are booked on the Meraviglia, YC in March 2020. Yeah, we are excited!    

We cruise on the Sunshine August 29th.  I made the booking request last week for the Steakhouse in the Carnival planner.  Took about 2 days to receive an email confirmation from the restaurant manager.  Printed out the email to take with us on the cruise.