mississauga

We love the Sunshine. We just spent 13 days on her and have booked another 28 days for 2018 on the Sunshine. She is our favorite ship.

It all depends on the demographics how crowded certain areas are going to be or not. We were on an 8 day one and then a 5 days one. Very different demographics and different interest in certain areas of the ship. I think this applies to all ships.

All ships will have overcrowding at certain times. Sometimes you wonder where everyone is as the ship seems empty in the area where you are.

We did cruise on the Sunshine in her Inaugural season and there were some issues. Perhaps this is when she got some low ratings. However we cruised on her again in 2015 and whatever issues we saw back in 2013 were gone. Our 2015 and 2017 were the best cruises we have had and they were on the Sunshine. Different staff and crew so it must be the ship we like.

I don't think this is a trial any more. We were on 3 ships in Jan and Feb....Pride, Glory and Sunshine. On all three ships, we were asked by the cabin steward. They actually showed/gave me the form to fill out. There were 3 choices. Morning, evening or both. You could also check off for extra towels, ice, bathrobes and a couple more items. Sorry I do not remember but the list was for about 6 items. I only checked off for a bathrobe and service for both morning and evening.

Great review so far. We're on the Sunshine in May (aft balcony deck 5) and I really can't wait. The Sunshine has been on my wish list for a while now.

 

One tip if you don't like warm cans of soda and can't stop for soda before boarding -

 

The funshops online sell soda for $10 for a 6 pack. Yes it's expensive but for the cost of your soda package ($6.50 a day x 5 days + gratuity), you can get 24 cans of soda delivered to your cabin to keep in the fridge. Which is almost 5 cans per day.

 

For us, it works out better than the soda package on Carnival (and we've tried to haul soda on board, and I won't be doing that again).

You will love deck 5. Best deck of any ship we have been on. Close to all the eating venues. We love coming out to Ocean Plaza for breakfast every morning. So quiet there. Up the elevators to Marketplace and if you are assigned to the Sunrise Dining Room, just down one or 2 decks.

I'm sure there are a gazillion threads on this app, however I just discovered it this moring. I haven't been on these boards in years. Anyway, I am going on the Vista in August, I know that it is available, I know it's $5 for cruise for the chat feature, but my question is, I can't log on and see anything until the cruise? Only the countdown clock? And from what I understand the Wifi onboard isn't free, but it says that you need to connect to shipboard wifi in order to log in. Is this free wifi upon boarding or something? So this basically means anyone who is using this app has to login and connect right when they get on the ship, before leaving port right? Thanks in advance.

You cannot log in until you are on the ship. You put your iPhone or iPad on airport mode, follow instructions and you will get all that the app has for free. You can buy the chat feature for $5 for the entire cruise. If you want to purchase the social media for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc, then you will get internet for those sites. Also available for purchase is a value or premium plan.

It looks like the dining room is above you. The symbols you see are tables and chairs

Just heard this on the TV news. Farmers can't meet the increase in consumer demand and prices are expected to rise. So don't be surprised if the bacon police replace their tongs with tweezers.

Always ask for 2 slices only and always get 6 or more. The way they prepare the bacon, the strips get all stuck together and the servers could care less that they are putting more than requested or should.

We attended a ceremony for a friend on the Vista. Her sister had her ashes in a bag and scattered them.

Seas were rough the first few days of the cruise so it was delayed until the seas were calmer. We went down to deck 0 with an environmental officer, security and a GS rep . The sister and daughters scattered our friends ashes over the side of the ship

We were in Freeport 2 years ago. There are several small food huts and shops right when you get off the ship. So if your just looking for shopping and food/drinks-there is plenty right there. We did not book an excursion at this port. When we arrived we purchase some coconut water. They take fresh coconut and drill a hole in it, then place a straw-my son loved it. We were more interested in the beach so we bought a package at the port that provided an air-conditioned bus ride to a beautiful beach. It was about a 30 minute ride. Afterwards we did some shopping at the port and ate at Senior Frogs which is also right at port.

(food was not great and it was pricey but fun atmosphere).

Hope this helps. My only advise is if you plan to venture out past the port I would highly recommend purchasing a package or excursions. The areas between the port and the beach we went past did not look safe!

What was included in the pkg besides the bus ride? Do you recall how much it cost per person? TIA

http://www.cortrans-shuttle.com

Thank you for all your replies and posting the link. I found it on another posting and have reserved our seats.

I can't understand why you were told that - many companies meet cruise ship passengers at the port and head to the airport. We have used Cortrans, $20.00 per person, pay when you get there (not in advance online). Excellent service, professional team.

 

http://www.cortrans-shuttle.com/

 

I would not recommend a ship's transfer - it will be highly overpriced. There is something to be said for saving money, but when all you have to do is walk outside and see where the driver is holding up the sign for your shuttle, it's not a big deal. :D

Thank you for posting the link to CorTrans. Many others have commented on them in other threads but no one else thought to post the contact info. Thanks for being so helpful.

[QUOTE=Langley Cruisers;49995159] We have used Cortrans, $20.00 per person, pay when you get there (not in advance online). Excellent service, professional team.

 

http://www.cortrans-shuttle.com/

 

I agree with using Cortrans. We used their services in February of this year when we got off of the Sunshine. We had rented a car pre cruise but needed a lift to MCO on disembarking. They were ready when we called and very professional in every way. D

 

Deb

Do you have to call them after you disembark? They are not there waiting outside the terminal?

Shuttles need to be pre-booked......

Do you have the contact info for prebooking with ConTrans? TIA

Contact info for CorTrans please and thank you.

We just did this last Monday for an 11:35am flight. Took the Cortrans 9am shuttle, left a little before 9am and were at MCO before 9:45am.

Was this prebooked or were there vans waiting outside? Was 9am the earlier shuttle available? How many people to a van?

Could someone post the website or email for booking with CorTrans please? TIA

Can someone give more info about Cortrans? Does it have to be prebooked? Is it $20 per person as posted above?

If not prebooked, are there shuttles waiting at the port to go to MCO?

We usually rent a car but car rentals are either not available for our date or is twice or three times the rate we usually pay. Guess they can charge so much more because of the high demand and low availability.

First of all you should know that Half Moon Cay is not a guaranteed stop. Since it is a tender port, it is dependent on weather. Many times, it is missed.

You usually will not know until the morning of, that the Captain has decide that the ship will not go to Half Moon Cay.

Do you get the milestone to use ON your 25th (or later), or for use AFTER your 25th? I have been told you get the letter after you complete your 24th cruise to use on your 25th or later. I will be joining that club this year so I want to make sure.

You can use it on your 25th or after. Just make sure it is one of your more expensive cruises to get the most benefit from it. If you want to use it on your 25th cruise, you might have to ask your PVP or TA to apply it for you. Some of us got the letter after completing our 24th cruise but it has been reported that some have not.

Another tip. Even though the letter will say that you have 18 months to take the cruise, it is not mandatory. It is only a one time benefit so the rules aren't followed to the letter.

So as others have said, wait until you book a longer, more expensive cruise to get more OBC.

It never shows up on paperwork until you get on the cruise. Just in case your fare drops, you get the 25% OBC on your final fare. They told me they could not tell me what the OBC was until 2 days before my cruise. Since we left for Europe 4 days before the cruise, did not find out until we got on board. However, you can work it out yourself. 25% of your fare, not including taxes and fees.

If you did not book ES, they may be able to tell you after final payment as you would not get a price drop otherwise. Whatever your fare was at final payment, that will be what they will use to calculate the 25%

Nicole, I always love reading your reviews. You are such a prolific storyteller and always has such wonderful adventures. I love the way you and Stephanie share in the planning and ordering of your activities.

Even though I have been on the Vista twice, the inaugural and the TA, I know this will be a great read and I will learn from your review.

Very curious though. Kinder eggs are banned in the USA? Why? Here in Canada, it is very easy to buy just like any other candies or chocolates.

I found it very curious that John also mentioned about how Carnival hopes to be in Boston in 2018 in Thursday morning's video. Since no one said year round from Boston, I could see Boston getting a ship in the Spring of 2019, but not the Fall of 2018. If Carnival sends a ship to Boston for the summer of 2018 someone else is down a ship at least temporarily until Horizon arrives.

 

 

Sent from an iPhone using Tapatalk.

I believe that the Horizon will do a TA in June 2018( from conversation I had with JH ). Maybe port in NYC for the summer and fall. So not unreasonable that Boston would be on a 2018 itinerary.

Europe was not profitable for the Vista this year so that I believe that the Horizon will only be in the Med for cruises in Mar, Apr and May and then do a TA to North America in late May or June. Also all other brands under Carnival Corp are in Europe for the summer so Carnival does not want to compete with them.

OP, how many people will be in each cabin? Just be aware that on the Vista, there is only 1 hanging closet in the interiors. The other closet with shelves also has less shelves as the safe and drawers are in there too.

The balcony will have the usual 2 hanging closets plus the one with shelves and drawers.

Whatever you decide, enjoy your cruise.

OP, according the deck plan I have, both your cove balconies were under the kitchen. You were forward of the stairs and elevators. The dining room is aft from the stairs and elevators. I am guessing that is why your cabins were noisy, from noises in the kitchen above your cabins.

I was on a shuttle with a couple who had a Havana lanai. The woman insisted you could see the ocean. I looked at her questioningly and said I thought the lanai cabins had more of a patio with a walkway in front of it. "No! It's like a balcony!" Her husband finally said it was indeed a patio and people walked by it all the time.

 

That's the one reason why I'll never, ever pay for a Havana lanai cabin. The last thing I want is to go out on my "balcony" and have people wandering by day and night.

The woman was right. You can see the ocean from the patio and that walkway you are referring to is only accessible by other Havana Lanai occupants along your side of the ship. Maybe 10 cabins?

Edit: there are 14 lanai cabins on each side of deck 5.