SportsMomof4

Nope & that's what I needed to hear because I'm a stresser! Definitely not booking that flight lol!

Ok thanks. Flights are much more money after 10am. If it's not doable, I guess I have no choice, don't want to chance it.

Getting into Miami port 1st thing off the Breeze. Is this flight ok if we self assist?

I agree about the room temperature....way too warm at night!

We will be on the same ship in May. Ours is Eastern Caribbean. We are also staying on the Lido deck. Did you feel a lot of motion being on a higher deck? None of us have ever stayed that high up before. A little nervous that some of us may become nauseous.

 

Are both pools fresh water? Were they really crowded?

 

Glad to hear that you enjoyed you cruise!!! I have also read a lot of negative things about the ship. As someone said to me, People will take the time to write a negative review verses writing positive feedback. That is true! Thanks for allowing us to ask you questions.

Pool is fresh water as well. With 1 pool, yes it's crowded :eek:

Our schools here on Long Island are on spring break from 4/2-4/13. My son who goes to a local community college is on spring break from 3/28-4/6. Kind of hard to book a trip. Since college is more important, looks like my 3 in public school will miss a few days so we can go on the Breeze at the end of March :D

By far Butch Begovich. He clearly LOVES what he does. So fun & so entertaining!

We spent 2 New Years on the Breeze & even though the ship was packed to capacity both times, we LOVED it. We never once had to wait on lines for food at the buffet. We had a lido balcony both times & would never get a room anywhere else.

Are there chair hogs?? Yes of course, they are on EVERY ship & Carnival doesn't follow through with their policy so that's a Carnival issue not a Breeze issue.

After just getting off the Sunshine a few days ago, the Breeze is heaven & until the Vista comes out, no ship will compare to the Breeze. At least for us!

2 years on the Breeze during New Years, 2 years on the lido deck. I am a horrible sleeper & never heard a peep! Greatest location ever.

The last 2 New Years our family of 6 sailed on the Breeze. This year due to the same itinerary we have done, we decided to change it up & go on the Sunshine for New Years.

I have to be honest, I was really hesitant about this ship after I booked it based on so many reviews here on CC. But I decided not to cancel it, go have a good time & form my own opinion. And that, I did. So, now that I cruised on it & I am back to tell some of you who are not sure whether to sail on the Breeze or Sunshine what I think.

I will start by saying it does NOT compare to the Breeze. Just to let you know that I had not 1 complaint about the Breeze. I heard people complain about the crew members, the food, the lines etc....I can't say 1 bad thing about anyone or anything on that ship. I don't have any major complaints about the Sunshine, just some cons but nothing bad.

The cons:

1) It looks smaller (I know it is) & it definitely feels smaller.

2) Our balcony, the window & the door were salt water corroded. This really disappointed me since we could barely see out of them. They did clean them on our last sea day which happened to be our last full day so we didn't benefit from the cleaning. Plus it really didn't help.

3) We were disappointed we didn't have a refrigerator as we like to keep water bottles in it. Before we cruised I inquired about a refrigerator. I could not get any straight answers as to which rooms have them & which don't as it is very random. I was in balcony room 9200, my girlfriend in balcony room 9186, my twins in interior room 9168 & none of us had a refrigerator. My son & his friends in interior room 9209 had one. Very random & scattered.

4) My 16 yo son was disappointed that the basketball court was a 1/2 court. Breeze has a full court.

5) Comedy club is definitely smaller.

6) 1 pool with 1500 kids not good!

7) The main lido deck is way too small. By 7 am on the last sea day EVERY single chair was taken around or near the pool. I never paid much attention to the chair hog policy but I guess Carnival doesn't follow thru with it? Because some chairs were "taken" but left empty for hours. I heard people complaining for hours about not being able to find lounge chairs.

8) Twice when we were at the lobby bar, someone (I would assume a kid) up above from deck 9 spit down & it landed on the bar right next to us. The bartender was very upset about this because she said it happens ALL the time & aside from keeping a security guard up there 24/7, nothing can be done about it.

The pros:

1) The serenity area is beautiful.

2) Waterworks is amazing.

3) The crew & especially our dinner staff were AMAZING (Elbert, Jimmy & Ernie in the Sunset dining room!)

4) Sportsquare

5) Epic Rock production show was great!

6) It's a Carnival cruise :)

7) The hand washing machines!

All in all, we had a fantastic time. We were on a cruise so how could we not? There was nothing major that would've ruined the trip but we will not be sailing on the Sunshine again. Too small & too crowded for us.

Ok thank you. Will look into a couple things.

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We get into PC on Saturday 1/3. Our flight doesn't leave until 6 pm from Jacksonville.

Looking for ideas what to do with 6 teens & an 8 year old. I know we drive thru St. Augustine & Daytona Beach. Is there anything for us to do in those areas besides the beach?

Any suggestions would be wonderful as I am from NY & have no idea what to do with them lol!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Just a followup for Sportsmom -

Sapphire is our favorite beach to stay on because your patio or balcony is right on the beach and the waves lull you to sleep at night and Red Hook is nearby for evenings. But it is also a gorgeous beach for a day visit with lots of character and nice island views and a quieter vibe with the 3 condo properties there.

 

All of the popular beaches including Sapphire can get busy depending on the day, and Coki will surely be much busier with a much more lively crowd. But Coki is arguably the nicest beach on STT. Magens is very popular and in our opinion isn't quite as nice as the East End beaches but is a nice bay (looks gorgeous from Drakes Seat and Mountaintop, though). Lindqvist (now Smith's Bay Park) is not the laid back, quiet beach it once was.

 

A great alternative for someone looking for a nice quiet beach that offers snorkeling and food and drink is Cowpet Bay or Elysian Beach. Just taxi to the Elysian condo property, very few if any cruisers there. You can call a taxi for the return, or more likely have the driver return as he/she will probably also drop others off at nearby Secret Harbor.

 

Folks have posted their experiences and opinions in this thread, it's gotten a little long but the first several pages provide descriptions that are helpful in choosing a beach for the day or for just a couple hours.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1993432

 

Jost for the day is doable if your time in port allows, there's a shuttle and private operators that make that run. Foxy's in Great Harbor is a fun spot to relax when Foxy is spinning his stories. And even though White Bay has increased in popularity and gets busier on weekends (and more folks are traveling today) you can get away from the crowd at the commercialized Soggy $ Bar and enjoy other spots. Ivan's is off the beaten path, and Foxy's son Seddy at his One Love Bar is fun with his card and magic tricks. But if considering a visit to Jost, plan a land vacation to Tortola and experience the islands of the BVI the right way. You can split your time with STT and experience the difference between the BVI and USVI.

Just a thought!

Thanks Blue Water. I think Coki is the best option for us & 9 teens!!

How do I know where we will dock? I will be on the Carnival Sunshine on 12/30.

LOL, Port Royal. If someone wants to avoid noisy cruise herds, one should avoid going on cruises! Also, I'm not sure how long ago you were at White Bay, but it is pretty over run now.

 

I completely disagree with staying on the ship. Why on earth would you take a vacation to the Caribbean and then sit on the ship?

 

Water and beach: John Brewer's Bay and Hull Bay will be off the beaten path. I agree with Coki for fun, but also teenage fun at Honeymoon Bay, Water Island (if you are docked at Crown Bay) and Morning Star Beach and Bolongo (if you are at Havensight).

I agree. Definitely not staying on the ship. Just reading ideas now.

Thank you for all the responses. Been so busy getting ready for Christmas & the cruise that I haven't been back on. I will read all the ideas & ask any questions if needed. Thank you!

Will do...thank you!

Thank you. I tried looking lol. Couldn't find it.

Can't find info anywhere about which ships have them? Thank you!

Does anyone know if this ship will have a waterpark or waterslides?

I have yet to sail on NCL but looking to do so in December 2015. I can tell you every detail about Carnivals ships but know nothing about Norwegians ships :confused:.

Is there a thread or a link I can read about them (ie...old ships vs new ships, amenities, size etc...)? I know Breakaway & Escape are new. There are some other itineraries we are interested in on other ships but I want some info 1st.

Thank you!

Glad to hear the positives & as we are leaving on the Sunshine in 20 days. After spending the past 2 New Years on the Breeze I've been reading that we would be disappointed :(

We spent the last 2 New Years on the Breeze & all the decorations were up. I believe they take them down after New Years.

Are these dispensers on every ship? We were on the Breeze last 2 times & had them. Going on the Sunshine in 3 weeks & assuming they have it also but want to be sure? Also, is it shower gel, shampoo AND conditioner? Can't remember. Thanks!