Help sunshine versus liberty June 2017 family cruise

[Bonbon10]

Hello! I need help. We have a family of 9 (7 adults and two 12 yr olds). All first time cruisers but me. Trying to decide between the carnival liberty and the sunshine. Same ports (Nassau and Freeport). Mid June cruise. The ratings on multiple sites on the sunshine are awful! Why? It seems to have more restaurants and water slides, activities, etc. I don't understand the difference between the two ships with the ratings.

We will be traveling peak time for kids and families but worried about it being to crowded. Is one ship better than the other? Also I have been told I should just pay the extra money and do a Disney cruise instead (the dream sails around the same dates but way more $$).

This is a big family vacation-once in a life time trip. We want it to be the best experience for all.

Thank you in advance for your help and guidance.

Edited December 27, 2016 by Bonbon10

[A&Jfamily]

Only you can decide about the money but for me, given the ages I would avoid Disney unless the whole family is a huge fan.

 

Sunshine is our favorite ship - and the favorite ship of our two boys - now 18 and 12. We have cruised her multiple times and have never found her to feel more crowded than other ships. Yes, the comedy club is smaller and can form a line. Plan and it's no big deal. The food options are the best in the fleet and the sports square and water park is great for active kids. Sunshine wins hands down - there are many many many on here who list her as their favorite.

 

 

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[Bonbon10]

Thanks A&J family. It is great to get an opinion from someone who has cruised a lot. I might need to post this under the sunshine to see more people pipe in! I just can't understand why the ratings are so low. Makes us all nervous about the trip.

I found this link for reviews and ratings and it ranks 24 of 24.

http://travel.usnews.com/cruises/carnival-cruise-lines-288/carnival-sunshine-325/

[lindnja]

This was my 18th cruise and we did not like Sunshine and neither did my kids. Ship is too small and they don't have enough room for comedy shows, you can see of the back of the ship, and the casino is so smoke filled I couldn't gamble. Parts of the ship are much enclosed and warmer than other areas. They turn the show area into the after hours disco. Service was fine, food fine, the ship is just too small trying to be big. Even my kids who have been on over 8 cruises didn't like it!

[Bonbon10]

Thanks Lindnja. I have read a number of reviews like yours. We have specific dates we are stuck with for this trip. my options are Sunshine, Liberty or Disney Dream (which is way more $$).

I see you have been on the liberty - is that ship better than the Subshine? It seems like the Sunshine has more restaurants and activities yet rates way below the Liberty.

[tandemcruzr]

We've been on the Sunshine for 6 cruises (3B2Bs) and would easily pick her over the Liberty. Sunshine has a very nice Water Works area for the kids and a 3 level Serenity area with a waterfall for the adults.

 

The Havana area, deck 9 aft was never crowded for us. We could always find a seat at breakfast and lunch. Some of the most amazing staff we have experienced from Cabin Stewards to Bartenders to Wait Staff and Guest Services Staff.

[Kermarkim]

Hello! I need help. We have a family of 9 (7 adults and two 12 yr olds). All first time cruisers but me. Trying to decide between the carnival liberty and the sunshine. Same ports (Nassau and Freeport). Mid June cruise. The ratings on multiple sites on the sunshine are awful! Why? It seems to have more restaurants and water slides, activities, etc. I don't understand the difference between the two ships with the ratings.

We will be traveling peak time for kids and families but worried about it being to crowded. Is one ship better than the other? Also I have been told I should just pay the extra money and do a Disney cruise instead (the dream sails around the same dates but way more $$).

This is a big family vacation-once in a life time trip. We want it to be the best experience for all.

Thank you in advance for your help and guidance.

Disney cruise is for 5 year old little girls. My 12 year old was totally bored. Disney of course is more upscale, food much better but most activities are geared toward little children. Their private island was worth it and the IMAX theatre was a nice touch but save the money and do the liberty.im glad I gave its try butforwhat wepaid we could have done carnival twice. Carnival is indeed the funship.

[rjrpar]

Hello! I need help. We have a family of 9 (7 adults and two 12 yr olds). All first time cruisers but me. Trying to decide between the carnival liberty and the sunshine. Same ports (Nassau and Freeport). Mid June cruise. The ratings on multiple sites on the sunshine are awful! Why? It seems to have more restaurants and water slides, activities, etc. I don't understand the difference between the two ships with the ratings.

We will be traveling peak time for kids and families but worried about it being to crowded. Is one ship better than the other? Also I have been told I should just pay the extra money and do a Disney cruise instead (the dream sails around the same dates but way more $$).

This is a big family vacation-once in a life time trip. We want it to be the best experience for all.

Thank you in advance for your help and guidance.

 

 

We just got off the Sunshine on 1/29. We are experienced cruisers on multiple lines, including Carnival 4 times. Here is our issue with the Sunshine. The food, entertainment, and service were all fine, however, the ship is grossly overcrowded. It was so packed in certain areas that it was our least favorite ship out of the 16 that we have sailed. With 1000 less people, it would have been great. I can only imagine that during the summer with many, many more children, how painful it would be.

 

 

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[siestakeys04]

DH and I sailed the Liberty it was a very nice ship our first balcony. We went in November so not to many kids. If you do disney it will be more money but what does the rest of the family want to do? Me I would do the Liberty and then the money you would have paid for a disney cruise in the summer use for a couple of days at WDW. Never taken a disney cruise but dh and I will be going to WDW this fall!!

[cruzeluver]

We cruised Sunshine twice in 2016 and I cannot for the life of me figure out the complaints of crowding. Compared to other lines we like (Royal and Celebrity) ALL Carnival ships feel more crowded, but Sunshine was no worse than other Carnival ships and she has a great variety of dining options if that appeals to you. Great Waterworks area plus Skycourse for the kids and kids-at-heart. Only Sunshine has a three-deck high Serenity as well as its own pool (with waterfall!). Yes the lounge for the comedy club is smaller than some other ships but we always managed to get in and get decent seats. The Liquid Lounge has a different layout than other ship theaters but was never more than 3/4 full so getting a seat was never an issue.

[rjrpar]

We cruised Sunshine twice in 2016 and I cannot for the life of me figure out the complaints of crowding. Compared to other lines we like (Royal and Celebrity) ALL Carnival ships feel more crowded, but Sunshine was no worse than other Carnival ships and she has a great variety of dining options if that appeals to you. Great Waterworks area plus Skycourse for the kids and kids-at-heart. Only Sunshine has a three-deck high Serenity as well as its own pool (with waterfall!). Yes the lounge for the comedy club is smaller than some other ships but we always managed to get in and get decent seats. The Liquid Lounge has a different layout than other ship theaters but was never more than 3/4 full so getting a seat was never an issue.

 

 

The comedy lounge is way too small, forced people to get in line a half hour early. The main pool area is nice but should be twice as large and the buffet is a wait at every station and finding a table is difficult. Congestion is subjective but the Sunshine was not for us.

 

 

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[NCCRUISER9691]

My wife and I love the sunshine and have booked it again for November. So far its our favorite ship. I have sailed the Valor which is identical to the Liberty even though they area little bigger we prefer the Sunshine. However I would sail the Valor again with the right ports. I would suggest comparing the two on the Carnival website. Seems to be more options for kids and more food choices on the Sunshine. As far as being crowded I had never really thought about it. The pool area does have less open floor space so maybe that makes it seem crowded. Your family will probably enjoy either one.

[h3dwig0wl]

Disney will definitely cost you more but I think it is worth doing once if you are Disney fan. The rooms are great, the shows are top-notch. Castaway Cay is beautiful. We are Platinum on Disney and have started exploring the other lines for variety. We prefer the food on Carnival as we feel that the Disney dining room food is too fancy sometimes. We can get a higher category room on Carnival for the prices you pay for an inside or oceanview on Disney. We are excited to be trying out the Liberty next week.

[lovingCCL]

My husband and I were on the Liberty in November of 2015 and we loved her. She was my favorite ship (out of the 7 I have been on). With that being said, I have a cruise booked on the Sunshine in May and I cannot wait. Crowds don't bother me as I just get to where I want to go early enough to find seating, etc. With all that being said, I think if you want to have a great time -- you will on either ship. I personally would not want to spend the extra $$ for a Disney cruise. I could cruise at least two times on Carnival for the cost of a Disney cruise.

[moondog73]

I just don't get all the Sunshine bashing. I look at things like this. You are confined on a ship with lots of other people who want to do some of the same things as you at the same times. When you are at home and you go out to eat at a popular place at 6:00, is there a wait? When you go to a movie on opening night, do you walk right in as the opening credits are rolling and sit in a prime seat? So you may have to stand in line to go to a comedy show. I did that on Valor too. So they re-purpose the theater into the nightclub. Oh the horror!! Who goes to the nightclub anyway? With all the food choices for breakfast & lunch, who stands in line at the buffet? A little research would show you there are plenty of other places to eat. I have been on the Valor, Sensation and Sunshine and found the Sunshine no more crowded than the other 2. I am a planner though so I research things and rarely show up anyplace at the last minute.

[erinzma]

Carnival allows you to compare ships side by side on their website, so maybe you want to give that a try and see what their differences are. Size, etc. might just help you make your decision easier?

[arpie05]

My last cruise was on the Sunshine and my next is on the Liberty. We have sailed the Glory which is same class as Liberty. The problem with the Sunshine as many have stated is the crowding. What happens is due to the location of the lido/food areas - everyone is crammed into one area - not many go to the Havana area which is awesome. Also there were so few options late at night. There were many HS kids on our sailing and they all are wanting to eat after the Comedy Club at 11 pm and there is nothing ready. Its' like a small town when the basketball game is over - and nothing is open or the one open is closing and they have to slowly prepare.

You would think they would time things better - 15 mins after movies or shows over - start prepping food? And the food/midnight options were icky hot dogs and they kept them closed until they were ready to serve.

 

The Serenity Area is amazing!! I would sail for that area. DOn't get me wrong. I would sail on the Sunshine again. I was more unhappy when I got off than I am now - the badness has faded and all I can think of is I want to cruise!!

[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.

[hotsauce126]

I took a 9 day cruise on the sunshine last year, and I really can't figure out what people's problem with the Sunshine is. Its the only ship besides the Vista right now that has all of the new stuff -- Cucina, JiJis, Havana Bar, Red Frog Pub, etc. It has a huge Serenity area too. I thought it was great. My only complaints are that theater doesn't feel like much compared to the other ships since it converts to the nightclub later in the night, and that there's a little less outdoor space since the Havana Bar is where the aft pool is on other ships.

 

Then again since it was a 9 day cruise the average age of the crowd was a lot older, and the Ocean Plaza area where they do things like trivia always seemed to be crowded, but I didn't really spend much time there.

[CookiePie]

We love Sunshine too!!! Why our family loves her is mainly because of all of the restaurant options, water slides and ropes course. We've been on Valor which is similar to Liberty and she is also great we loved the seafood place but, I understand their is an upcharge for that now. I think that your travel companions would be happy either way but I believe the 12 year olds will really enjoy the 3 water slides! I don't really understand Sunshine's bad reviews! I find having all of the additional options that Sunshine has, makes her our favorite so far.

[sunset785]

I haven't been on the Sunshine yet but I am going in 3 weeks. I am going for all that it has to offer young kids. As far as people saying with the crowding of the comedy club and lining up to wait for a comedy show- I have seen that on EVERY cruise- Magic, Sensation, Destiny (what the ship was before the Sunshine). I have also seen long lings for the buffet on every single one of these ships too.

[heath7767]

Cruised the Sunshine last month with my 3, 6, and 8 year olds and absolutely loved it. So many food and entertainment options for the kids! Every "major" complaint that I had read about on this board, from chair hogs to insane crowding, was not a problem for us at all. I would sail her again today if I could! :)