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Live and Almost Live from Carnival Sunshine, May 17-26, 2013

Sargent_Schultz

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Sargent_Schultz

Sargent_Schultz

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Well the GoPro Hero3 (piece of junk - absolute grbage) continues to be a pain and now isn't working at all and won't let met reload, so Ropes Course Cam isn't going to happen. Probably no webcam unless I get motivated and switch to a different host.

Water slide cam might still happen. Tomorrow in port might be the only time.

 

 

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Earliest boarding time? Dunno - wouldn't be guaranteed anyway. Earliest debarkation - usually 6am or maybe a little earlier.

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There is NO list

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Haters gonna hate, but Carnival Sunshine is a great ship - still many MINOR details to finish, plus the main pool.

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Fun Times will be scanned and posted but this is only a 9day cruise. There are a number of itineraries.

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Sometimes rules and regulations interfere with plans (e.g. Bonsai Sushi)

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There is direct access to the Serenity areas from the cabins on those decks

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Whenever I've checked during the day, the music level on Lido has not been obnoxiously loud. At sail away, they can crank it up.

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The big screen speakers are in the screen, to the left and right.

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Cokes from the machines cost $1.95. Cokes from the bar come up to $2.44 when VAT added.

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There is a Piano Bar

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Yes, Destiny is Dead, Long Live the NEW Carnival Sunshine.

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I seriously doubt the pool tables are self leveling

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Luandry machines use S&S cards - Coke machines, No.

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A number of drink packages and specials - alcohol, sodas, coffee, shakes, wine

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Serenity is sheltered from the wind. In a hard turn water from the Serenity jacuzzi can escape

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The ship has not felt crowded at all.

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Pretty sure I have all the menus but need to double check

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The food and service are great.

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The pizza is outstanding

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The forward main dining room since being converted to one floor seems noisy and sometimes a little warm but the a/c is certainly working, May need a tweak.

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Embarkation at BCN is smooth for Platinum/Diamond. They will hand you a boarding number - probably not 1. Just take it. There IS VIP check-in on the 3rd floor (or 2nd if the first level is 0). Take the elevator or stairs to one level above the normal check-in area, then go back down one level to board whenever they are boarding. Forget whatever zone is on the boarding card they hand you.

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Our group met in the Habana Bar after the Safety Briefing.

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Elegant dinners - we have two - the first was the first full day of the cruise and the second is tonight (sea day).

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Two Ports - they have mostly cleared your balcony of "stuff"

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Have not noticed any kids in the Serenity area and certainly not in the pool.

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Some muster stations inside, some outside

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Coffee and tea are available from room service. Everyone is charged gratuity, but can be adjusted.

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The drink packages are not worth it to me, but they can be, if you take full advantage of them.

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2Ports

2Ports

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Well the GoPro Hero3 (piece of junk - absolute grbage)

 

 

I've had one for several years, Sarge - absolutely love it! I use it for diving, ziplining, rafting, just walking around, on my motorcycle, you name it. Take it back to the store and give it another try before you give up on it. You'll be glad you did.

 

 

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Two Ports - they have mostly cleared your balcony of "stuff" -------------------------------------

 

 

Cool!

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Casinocouple

Casinocouple

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My wife and her two sisters went: Said he was great! I'm not much into piano bars, so spent my time at the Blackjack table ;)

 

Noticed you said you were at the blackjack table whic is also a favourite location of mine. Just wondered how many blackjack tables they had had what the minimum bet was. Thanks

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hbrote

hbrote

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I was wondering about access to the pools. They seem to be ladder access with no shallow areas?

 

Wondering about those with more limited mobility gettting in & out The artist renderings with loungers would be perfect for someone wanting to get into some H2O but has some difficulties getting around.

 

As you can see access is no problem.

Serenity_zpscbbcb3a6.gif

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Sargent_Schultz

Sargent_Schultz

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I've had one for several years, Sarge - absolutely love it! I use it for diving, ziplining, rafting, just walking around, on my motorcycle, you name it. Take it back to the store and give it another try before you give up on it. You'll be glad you did.

 

 

 

 

 

Cool!

 

The previous models are supposed to be great. It is the Hero3 that has lots of issues. At least two major software updates.

 

This is at least the 3rd time it has let me down at critical times. But I'll keep trying - just not on this cruise.

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Sargent_Schultz

Sargent_Schultz

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10121 & 10123 - connect per Guest Services deck plan - so probably

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Our cabin stays stocked with three 1.5 liters of bottled water - not sure how much they charge for it.

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People who get seasick should be prepared - not just for this ship, but for any ship. Carnival can't control the weather.

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I did like the Avignon tour - just wish the weather had been better. tonight we will drink a bottle of wine that we picked up at the winery.

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Mini-golf and main pool still not open. When I asked about the main pool, they didn't have an estimated time for when it would be operational.

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Ji Ji is basically a Mogolian Wok by day. Lunch there is free.

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Yes, TVs have an HDMI input.

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Costs $1.99/minute for phone calls FROM the ship. More if people are calling TO the ship.

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There are launderettes on the ship for passengers to do laundry. They charge to your S&S crd.

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Sea Side Dogs are okay, but one was enough for me. Tasty, but could use a larger bun or a smaller dog, IMO.

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We probably got to the BCN port at about noon.

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The plate in the last picture had some pastries from Habana Cafe breakfast. Ham croquette, Cheese Pastry, and some sort of cheese puff with a jelly?

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Spending $155 million on the conversion is no cutback.

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Water slide scoreboard didn't seem to be working, but did look like someone might have been working on it.

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Tea on Sunshine is in the Aft MDR. 3pm today.

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Scarlettmama

Scarlettmama

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Thank you Sarge for answering all of our questions!

 

We have a balcony on the port side sailing in July on Sunshine. This will be my first time ever in Europe and I was hoping to enjoy the Med coastline while sitting on the balcony. Will I be able to see it or is the ship going to be too far out to sea? Thanks again!

 

 

countdown.pl?image=Beach-9&name=scarlettmama&date=7-19-2013&text=&ship=Carnival Sunshine

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gailjen

gailjen

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Thank you Sarge for answering all of our questions!

 

We have a balcony on the port side sailing in July on Sunshine. This will be my first time ever in Europe and I was hoping to enjoy the Med coastline while sitting on the balcony. Will I be able to see it or is the ship going to be too far out to sea? Thanks again!

 

 

countdown.pl?image=Beach-9&name=scarlettmama&date=7-19-2013&text=&ship=Carnival Sunshine

 

You will be able to see certain parts of the coast, we did last year between Livorno, Civiteveccia up to Messina, then from Dubrovnic to Venice & back. Depends which way your cruise goes.

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Crusing from Colorado

Crusing from Colorado

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Noticed you said you were at the blackjack table whic is also a favourite location of mine. Just wondered how many blackjack tables they had had what the minimum bet was. Thanks

 

Never really counted the Blackjack tables, but there are at least 7 or 8, never had a problem finding a seat. All the minimums appear to be $6.00. You can bet $5.00 on the hand and $1.00 on any pairs. On a side note: We went to the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco, they had 2 Blackjack tables open, minum bet $25 Euros, they also have the Pairs bet with a Minimum bet of $10 Euros.

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hbrote

hbrote

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Are you now allowed to drink wine purchased ashore, during the cruise? I thought it had to be handed in!

 

They did not make you turn in any wine / liquor bought in any port during this trip. Not like in the states.........

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Casinocouple

Casinocouple

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Never really counted the Blackjack tables, but there are at least 7 or 8, never had a problem finding a seat. All the minimums appear to be $6.00. You can bet $5.00 on the hand and $1.00 on any pairs. On a side note: We went to the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco, they had 2 Blackjack tables open, minum bet $25 Euros, they also have the Pairs bet with a Minimum bet of $10 Euros.

 

Thanks for the info. My wife's just told me I'm only allowed 1 bet in Monaco but I've still got a few weeks to work on her lol

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Casinocouple

Casinocouple

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Never really counted the Blackjack tables, but there are at least 7 or 8, never had a problem finding a seat. All the minimums appear to be $6.00. You can bet $5.00 on the hand and $1.00 on any pairs. On a side note: We went to the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco, they had 2 Blackjack tables open, minum bet $25 Euros, they also have the Pairs bet with a Minimum bet of $10 Euros.

 

Ps i forgot to ask, is there a strict dress code for the casino at Monte Carlo

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spencercoop

spencercoop

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Thank you for all the time you've spent on this thread and your pictures. They are great like always.

 

One question though. What did you mean by this?

 

Sometimes rules and regulations interfere with plans (e.g. Bonsai Sushi)
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2Ports

2Ports

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That's for all your responses Sarge, something is intriguing me tho, why do you call Havana, Habana?

 

"Havana" is the Anglesized/Americanized spelling of "La Habana". (Florence/Fierenze, Rome/La Roma, Paris/Paris...)

 

and Cuba is pronounced KOObuh not Qbuh

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