Picture Review of SUNSHINE and Western Caribbean Ports of Call

[mchlhaystead]

Can you please tell me which 2 night were elegant nights? I have gotten many different answers! Ty

 

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[lisajm]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your review! Not going on the Sunshine but 3/4 ports on my upcoming cruise are the same. Great pictures and insights, you have a beautiful family!

[Swampbaby]

Wish to say a huge THANK YOU for posting this review. There were many areas on the ship we did not go to but that was our choosing. The shows in the main lounge were very good and we also enjoyed the piano bar at night. We saw the family comedy shows and enjoyed them a lot. Every show we would get there about 20 - 25 minutes early and had seats right in the front. Sat in front of the dancer on the "water table" and used the plastic poncho Jaime handed out to stay dry. For someone with children or who like to lay out in the sun this was a good ship EXCEPT for the main pool area. As you noted, way too crowded.

 

We took the Southern cruise and I was reading your review as we go to most of these ports next year on the Blogger's 9 cruise out of Galveston. Started at the original post and love, love, love all the pictures. You did a fabulous job taking them. Was wondering what camera you used and it took pages and pages before someone asked. Those underwater shots are some of the best I've seen in reviews. Color was not washed out and they were very clear. Again, thanks for taking the time to actually take all the pictures and then time to post.

 

Did not realize the cabins you were in were 4J's. We had a 4J on 7th deck all the way in the front. Will keep this in mind in the future. We are booked in a 6B for the next cruise so will see how we like being lower. Have always been on the Empress decks, every cruise.

Edited February 28, 2015 by Swampbaby

[CookiePie]

Blue Kay looks perfect for us when we do the same itinerary in April! I just found their website and it says it's $30/pp for a day pass... This wasn't the case for you though huh? since the time in this port is short I was loving the fact that you buy food and drinks and you don't have to pay a fee to use the resort! Can you confirm that this was free when you visited?

[mpcaruth]

Blue Kay looks perfect for us when we do the same itinerary in April! I just found their website and it says it's $30/pp for a day pass... This wasn't the case for you though huh? since the time in this port is short I was loving the fact that you buy food and drinks and you don't have to pay a fee to use the resort! Can you confirm that this was free when you visited?

 

Yes, it was free to use the facilities, as long as we purchased food and drinks. The day passes are optional and cover the use of the bicycles, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment. I think if you have a longer port day and it wasn't extremely hot, it would be fun to ride bikes along the Mahahaul.

[mpcaruth]

Can you please tell me which 2 night were elegant nights? I have gotten many different answers! Ty

 

Sent from my SM-T210R using Forums mobile app

 

The first sea day (Sunday) and Costa Maya (Thursday) were the Elegant Nights.

[mpcaruth]

Wish to say a huge THANK YOU for posting this review. There were many areas on the ship we did not go to but that was our choosing. The shows in the main lounge were very good and we also enjoyed the piano bar at night. We saw the family comedy shows and enjoyed them a lot. Every show we would get there about 20 - 25 minutes early and had seats right in the front. Sat in front of the dancer on the "water table" and used the plastic poncho Jaime handed out to stay dry. For someone with children or who like to lay out in the sun this was a good ship EXCEPT for the main pool area. As you noted, way too crowded.

 

We took the Southern cruise and I was reading your review as we go to most of these ports next year on the Blogger's 9 cruise out of Galveston. Started at the original post and love, love, love all the pictures. You did a fabulous job taking them. Was wondering what camera you used and it took pages and pages before someone asked. Those underwater shots are some of the best I've seen in reviews. Color was not washed out and they were very clear. Again, thanks for taking the time to actually take all the pictures and then time to post.

 

Did not realize the cabins you were in were 4J's. We had a 4J on 7th deck all the way in the front. Will keep this in mind in the future. We are booked in a 6B for the next cruise so will see how we like being lower. Have always been on the Empress decks, every cruise.

 

Thanks! I have come to realize through reading other reviews, that everyone really does have a different experience on the ship. The world would be boring if we all enjoyed the same things.

 

You asked about my camera: I use a compact-zoom 20x Panasonic Lumix (DMC-ZS19) point and shoot most of the time on this cruise, including underwater. I love the Lumix lens they have on the Panasonics. This is my third Lumix and I am thinking of upgrading to the latest model. I purchased an Aquapac waterproof bag to use the Lumix underwater, and my camera has an underwater pre-set. CC will not let you link to most websites, but here is a Youtube viedo showing my underwater bag and how to use:

. It is a little challenging with the aquapac bag, but the bags are only around $50 and can fit on most cameras. I also used my Cannon Rebel DSLR occasionally when I felt like lugging the big guy around.

[mpcaruth]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your review! Not going on the Sunshine but 3/4 ports on my upcoming cruise are the same. Great pictures and insights, you have a beautiful family!

 

Thanks for your compliments!

Edited March 1, 2015 by mpcaruth

[mchlhaystead]

thats what i thought....carnival was telling me the roaton night! ty

[mpcaruth]

MISCELLANEOUS:

 

 

We decorated our cabin door for my son's 14th birthday.

 

 

 

Casino:

I used my free OBC credit to upload money to the slot machine. I always have a limit and allow myself $30 for the slots for the week (yep, that's why I have never got a free cruise offer from the casino). Every time I walked through the casino (which is along the main path on Deck 5) I would say that I wanted to play that Michael Jackson machine. Well, on the last sea day, the machine was empty. I uploaded $10 and hit a $0.50 bet. I immediately won $47, and put my earnings back on my Sail & Sign card. Yippee! That would offset the $50 I wasted on FTTF! Except one problem... I forgot to cash out my money that night. I had always wondered what would happen if you forgot, well, I found out. I went the final morning to Guest Services to ask, and they said I would get a check in the mail in about 6 weeks. It has been 4 weeks and I have not seen it yet. But when I get it, I will put the money in my kitty for our next cruise.

 

 

 

 

Mr. Potato Head at the Camp Carnival entrance:

 

 

The aft view is my favorite:

 

 

 

Or... is my favorite the sunset?

 

[mpcaruth]

MISCELLANEOUS:

 

 

Our traditional sail-away drinks and photo:

 

 

 

Another picture of pre sail-away found on my cell phone:

 

 

 

 

Debarkation:

 

The debarkation process always seemed the most confusing for us when we first started cruising. So, I have scanned in the cabin flyers regarding debarkation. As we had a 12 drive home, we wanted to get off the ship as soon as we could. We always do self-assist, and this works great. Each of us has a rolling suit case and a back pack on our back. The only physical constraints is being able to lift the suitcases on and off the escalator (may be difficult for a smaller child). You board and exit the ship at Port Canaveral on deck 3, Lobby (where our cabin was). Since we had FTTF, we were among the first group of self-assists released to get off the ship. The were less than 50 people in front of us. Please note, the Taste Bar breakfast area is not open on debarkation day. So, we were off the ship, through customs, on the shuttle, and dropped off at our car by 8:00. Please note, this is much earlier than the times indicated in the flyer below for self-assist. We have found that they almost always let you off the ship earlier, as soon a custom's releases the ship for debarkation.

 

 

 

[mpcaruth]

Faster To The Fun:

 

Right after booking this cruise, I noticed there were two FTTFs available on the Carnival website. I knew they were very limited and hard to come by, so I said, "What the heck, lets try it".Though I have included details throughout the review, I will also provide a summary of our experience:

 

Embarkation: Literally, we got on the ship (11:25) only 10 minutes before our neighbors on the shuttle bus who did not have FTTF.

 

Cabin readiness: Our cabin was clean and ready as soon as we went to our cabin (11:35). We did get to drop off our backpacks.

 

Early arrival of luggage: fail. We did not see our luggage until after muster drill (approx. 3:30). This was a nuisance, as we had planned to change attire once onboard (shoes for ropes course).

 

Guest Services priority line: Only used Guest services twice and there was no one in line at either counter, so really not a benefit: 1) upon boarding we had holes punched in our Sail & SIgn cards for our lanyards, and 2) the morning of debarkation when I inquired about my casino winnings.

 

Priority Tender: we saw two other non-priority groups go before us while waiting. These groups were NOT Carnival tour groups, as they had gone earlier. We waited in the lobby area standing with the FTTF group for more than 25 minutes before being escorted down to the tender boat. Since I am an early rising, get a zone ticket for tendering would not have been a problem.

 

Embarkation: we were among the first to get off the ship as FTTF pass holders and also doing self-assist. We were off the ship by 7:45. Finally, we had reaped a benefit of FTTP. Though, it may have only got us 5 to 10 minutes, as we would have normally been the second group called for self-assist.

 

So, I tried FTTF and thought it was a complete waste of money for us. I think the reasons it did not benefit my family so much is because we always arrive at the port early, our prepared, and know what to expect (rarely need guest services). Our cabin steward question me about FTTF, and smirked wanting to know if I thought it was worth it.

[mpcaruth]

My Tips for Cruising the Crowded Sunshine:

 

I have provided little tidbits throughout this review, but I know others are like me, and don't necessarily like to read completely through long detailed reviews (Yes, I admit it).

 

• When eating on the Lido deck, head to the aft at the Havana Bar seating area. It is cooler, less crowded, quieter, and has more seating.
   
   
  
• The Taste Bar on Deck 5 (Promenade) offers a large breakfast. There are no lines and plenty of seating. The Lido Marketplace can be extremely crowded, chaotic and bursting with cranky rude passengers at breakfast (especially on port days).
   
   
  
• If you truly want serenity, try the port and starboard outside decks on Deck 3 (Lobby). Beautiful ocean views (sunsets and sunrises), lounge chairs, shade, and very few passengers.
   
   
  
• If you really want to take a dip in the main pool, hit it before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM. It is a crazy, crazy zoo in between those times.
   
   
  
• If you are in a hurry, do NOT go to Sea Day Brunch. The service here has been a crap shoot with every Carnival cruise we have been on.
   
   
  
• Get to the Comedy shows at least 15 minutes early, or you may have seats around the corner and have to watch via TV screen, have to stand, or be turned away.
   
   
  
• The floor seats in the main theater (Liquid Lounge) fill up quickly, but if you don't mind a side stadium seat, you can arrive right up until showtime.
   
   
  
• If you choose Your Time Dining and want to eat dinner between 6:30 and 7:30, you WILL have to wait. Wait in line to get your name on the list, and then wait to be buzzed when your table is ready. We always went to dinner before 6:30 and never waited more than 5 minutes in line, and never had to wait for our table after we had checked in.
   
   
  
• The waterslides and the ropes course often have long lines on sea days. We have found that there are never lines on port days upon getting back on the ship. This is a great time to try all three slides out quickly before you shower and get dressed for dinner. By the way, the slides are super fast and awesome: two thumbs up!
   
   
  
• Dive In Movies (outdoor seaside theater screen) are nice for a quiet, crowd-detoxing experience. Wrap up in a blanket, snuggle, and enjoy the free popcorn.
   
   
  
• The Serenity has a hot tub, which is nice to enjoy at night.
   
   
  
• And if you want to be where the action is at night, head to the Ocean Plaza area. It is bustling with live music and bars.
  

 

 

Well, folks, that's it! We really enjoyed this cruise and I gave it a 4/5 overall rating. I am sure I have overlooked some things in my review. Please feel free to ask questions if you have any. Or, even to make additions to my review. I am sure there are other tips out there for avoiding the crowds, saving money, cool things to do, or great places to hang out on the ship.

 

Happy cruising everyone!

Edited March 1, 2015 by mpcaruth

[jolyroger]

Absolutly awesome honest review!! I have to say its refreshing to read a review about the Sunshine that is a positive one. We normally don't pay to much attention to the negative ones , and that's with any ship or cruiseline.. Your review was great! Thank you for taking the time to write one.

[Toobar]

Fantastic review!! Thanks for taking the time to create a great story. The pictures were very good too. We will be on the Sunshine in about 4 weeks and can't wait.

[rdevine10]

I appreciate the time you took to write this positive and honest Sunshine review! We head out in April and its got me very excited!

[mpcaruth]

I think it is awesome that you have raised your daughter to where she thinks of others even heading out on vacation! Kudos to her!

 

Thank you. She is a good kid. Both of my kids are. They are both in numerous clubs which encourage service to others: scouts, 4H, and church. I am actually a Girl Scout and 4H leader and really enjoy spending time with and teaching the youth. Kids really have so much to offer and just need a little encouragement and guidance.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

Great review and detail.

Liked that you put all your promo's and sources for OBC, one of my favorite ones is owning CCL stock which pays OBC every cruise ;)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mpcaruth]

Great review and detail.

Liked that you put all your promo's and sources for OBC, one of my favorite ones is owning CCL stock which pays OBC every cruise ;)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

I tried to take advantage of the CCL stock, but barely missed out. Back last fall, the CCL price dropped to $33. I didn't have enough cash in my brokerage accout, and it took 1.5 days to transfer the additional cash. I placed my buy limit, but the stock only kept going up, to which I determined it was not a value for me. It is now over $43 per share.

[laura Bra]

Well, folks, that's it!

 

hello Everyone.

great review, and thanks Bud.

[mpcaruth]

Absolutly awesome honest review!! I have to say its refreshing to read a review about the Sunshine that is a positive one. We normally don't pay to much attention to the negative ones , and that's with any ship or cruiseline.. Your review was great! Thank you for taking the time to write one.

 

Thanks!

 

The Sunshine offers just about every amenity a Carnival ship offers, just on a smaller ship than the Dream Class ships. I think most of the negative complaints stem from the ship feeling crowded. We did not experience the hot ship temperatures or the foul sewage smells. The only bad service we had was at the Sea Day Brunch, and the Sunshine is not unique in this. I honestly believe the bountiful amenities offered outweighed the crowded feeling. But then again, we planned our activities to typically avoid the most crowded areas during the most crowded times.

[mpcaruth]

I usually end my reviews indicating our next cruise plans. I thought I had it all figured out, and that we would be sailing on the Breeze next January. But then an unbelievable promo came up...

 

 

Norwegian ran a promo of "Kids Sail Free" combined with the free Ultimate Beverage Package. So, I immediately booked Norwegians newest ship, the Getaway, for a 7-day cruise to Ochos Rios, Great Stirrup Cay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. We will be in our first ever balcony cabin in a guarantee (GTY) cabin for the 4 of us. The balcony GTY cabin was actually cheaper than the Large Ocean View. My husband and I get unlimited drinks and the kids get the soda package. AND, we get $125 OBC. And the total cost including taxes and fees is... drum roll... $2052!!! Unbelievable.

[cruisetodayteachtomorrow]

Was this a specific offer for you or is there a link you can send me too? I see the kids sail free but don't see the beverage package.

[mpcaruth]

Was this a specific offer for you or is there a link you can send me too? I see the kids sail free but don't see the beverage package.

It was their February promo. No special link, sorry.

 

I just checked the prices for January 2016, and the beverage package is still available, but not combinable with OBC. You have a choice between Ultimate Dining Package, free gratuities, Ultimate Beverage Package or OBC. You have to book an OV or higher to get the beverage package. After selecting the cabin type, you enter "CHOB" in the promo line. The BX (balcony GTY) cabin has gone up $300 since we booked. It's still a good deal, though not as good as it was last month.

Edited March 2, 2015 by mpcaruth

[cruisetodayteachtomorrow]

Found some offerings in the NCL app that have combinations of different offerings, thank you!

Enjoyed your review as well, we sail in August on the Sunshine but it's the Southern route!