Carnival Sunshine 10/26-10/30 - AKA Neighbors Behaving Badly

[TAYLORCPA]

This was our first Carnival cruise, but our 5th overall - one on Princess and three on NCL. I chose this cruise because I was looking for a quick getaway for DH and I without the kids and we could drive to the port. This cruise happened to fall on a long weekend where the kids were out of school one day, so their grandma only had to get them to school one day.

 

Let's just start out by saying that the cruise did not get off on the right foot. First, we supposed to depart Charleston at 10:00 pm and I had a check in time of 3:30. There were questions of when the port authority was going to open and allow parking at the cruise terminal. Then, about two weeks before the cruise, we received notification that the ship would be leaving at 8:00 pm and to arrive two hours to our scheduled time. Fine with me, as we were driving to port. Then, the day before, we were notified there was a medical emergency on the prior cruise, and not to arrive to the port before 5:00. They were still planning on leaving at 8:00. We got differing information about when parking would open, etc. It was very confusing!!! We arrived at about 3:30 and wound around the parking lot, paid for our parking and had our documents checked. People who had arrived earlier had been told to come back to park at 5:00. We waited and waited but they let us in to park about 4:00. YAY!

 

Check-in was OK. We had two carryons so we just walked to the terminal (others had to check their bags in the parking lot and they could choose to ride the shuttle to the terminal). No issues, it took us about an hour to get from our vehicle to our cabin.

 

We had an aft balcony - 5347, which we loved, with the exception of our neighbors. After unpacking we went out to enjoy our view and were greeted with cigarette smoke. The lady in the cabin next door casually said, "I smoke" when she saw us. I immediately called guest services and they sent someone up to our cabin. The floor director arrived about 30 minutes later and explained the process - first they would give the cabin verbal warning and then they would begin fining them if it continued. After that, guest services followed up daily with me, but the smoking did not stop. Guest services said they could not find any evidence they were smoking. I'm not sure if they were fined or anything, but it really gripes me that almost every time I went to sit on my balcony, they started smoking. We could not leave the door open because the smoke would come in our cabin. Sometimes it would even come in our cabin with the door closed. It was very annoying!!! In addition, in the afternoon of the first sea day, the male in the cabin started yelling obscenities to people in other aft cabins. And then about 2:00 am he started yelling again on the balcony. I did not report that to guest services but evidently someone else did because they asked about it when they followed up everyday. I'm all for someone having a good time, but not when it infringes on me. There is a special smoking section and I am sure you could all the yelling you want on the Lido deck.

 

We did not go to any shows or participate in any activities, although I did have a seaweed wrap massage and it was awesome! We sat on our balcony and read when we could and slept a lot. We just enjoyed our time together.

 

This ship seems to have an issue with cigarette smoke because I smelled it everywhere it seemed! We avoided walking thru the casino area because of the smoke. One night we walked thru the sixth floor (above the casino) and the cigarette smell was terrible. There did not seem to be a deck where you could easily walk around outside and see the ocean. I really missed the open outside dining areas that we had on NCL.

 

With the exception of having breakfast at the Taste Bar the day we were in Nassau, we ate in the dining room. The food was OK, nothing special. It would have been much better if the food was served hot or even warm. I know it's hard to serve 3000 guests, but other than the soups, everything was cold.

 

We went to Atlantis on our day in Nassau and enjoyed ourselves despite the rain. I had booked a room using Marriott points and since our room was ready, we dropped our stuff off there. After walking around the entire resort and riding a few water rides, we went back to the room for a shower in a large bath and DH was able to catch up on the college football games.

 

Our last sea day we ran into TS Phillipe with winds of 55 mph and 8-12 foot seas. DH is prone to sea sickness, and despite wearing the patch, he was out of commission most of the day. We originally had reservations for the Italian restaurant, but I cancelled them. I went to the buffet and had a HOT pizza.

 

Debarkation was a disaster. Evidently there were issues with customs and we did not get off the ship until about 10:00.

[ebateman]

I was also on the cruise and honestly wish we had just skipped this one. First let me say the crew was great and Darwin, our room steward, was friendly and remembered our names every time we saw him. The bar staff was smiling and generous and the dining room (your time dining) was fast and efficient. The Steakhouse crew fell over themselves to help and it was a fantastic (though expensive) experience. Like our previous time on the Sunshine we had zero complaints about any of the crew or the ship in general.

 

Security: Not sure if this was a pro or con but there were a LOT of security on the ship. Maybe they are always on there but they were very visible this cruise. Every outside area and the bar area on deck 3 had one or more security personnel watching or patrolling. Sometimes 2-3 together scanning crowds.

 

Cons: The port at Charleston continues to be one of the worst parts of the cruise. We also received the conflicting messages about arrival times and we arrived "early" at 4:30pm. We knew we were in trouble when we saw people already walking around on the ship on the top levels because we knew the terminal would be full. We didn't get on the ship until after 7. Many of the (non Carnival) staff working the lots were just standing around, others said it was their first day and almost everyone besides the baggage loaders were just plain bored or inefficient. One waving 10 cars in one lane through at a time while the other lane had one checking every line on every passport. People who arrived 30 minutes after us were parked before we made it to baggage drop-off. FYI - stick to the right of the double lanes leading to paperwork and baggage checks. It splits to 2 lanes about half way in and goes much, much faster.

 

We didn't have a balcony but I have to say that outside the casino area I didn't notice any cig smoke smell. It sucks that guest services couldn't help you with your unruly guest. We also had some wonderful next door neighbors with their hyper active 4 year old running the room and jumping on and off the bed for around an hour each morning starting around 7. Enough to not only wake us but actually shake the bed.

 

I overheard multiple complaints about the length of time dinner took for scheduled times. The most common complaint was around 2 hours just to get to the desert menu. As I mentioned above our "your time" dining was much faster and took around an hour and a half start to finish.

 

Room service I continue to believe is manned by one person to answer the phone, one to make it and one to deliver it. We gave up on it Sun night after being on hold for 30 minutes.

 

The storm is where it killed it though. Being in the front and towards the bottom we felt every wave. The water hitting the front basically sounded like a hammer hitting a drum and the constant up/down and left/right movement was taking out everyone. We barely left the room the entire day and saw lots of trash cans outside of doors and crew carrying steam cleaners. Wind was also bad enough they closed some of the sides and the sporting/waterworks decks.

 

We had the opposite experience leaving. We woke up at 7, out the door at 7:15 and we were in the car leaving Charleston at 8. Even customs was fast this time around (for us). We did not buy any alcohol though.

 

On the bright side the cruise that left yesterday is expected to have smooth sailing, no rain and be mostly sunny the whole time :)

[Ziggy7]

Thanks for the info!

 

Just and FYI for future cruises for your husband, ginger pills or candied ginger work great for motion sickness. My daughters (adults) take it and are able to go cruising because of it, they are very prone to seasickness even in calm waters!

[Keith1010]

Thank you both for sharing your experiences.

Keith

[Clarea]

Thanks for the report, sorry you could not enjoy your balcony all the time.

[RenoNanaOz]

That's such a shame that people can't be more considerate and follow the rules. I have never had a problem on the balcony but I did have a couple sit down next to me on the upper Lido and start to smoke. I (knowing the answer) asked if I was sitting in the smoking section. The girl responds "Well it's outside so I smoke anywhere". I said "Well I don't see any ashtrays so where are you going to put it out?" They looked at each other, got up and went to the other side which WAS the smoking side.

[stevefrisco]

I am sad that others had a similar experience with room service on the Sunshine. Just off the Pride and it was night and day. No clue why but disappointing and easily fixed on CCL's end.

[easyboy]

Thanks for the feedback. Cigarette smoke always spoil non-smokers’ time to enjoy cruising.

 

 

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[Keys2Heaven]

Don't ya just want to take a pic of them smoking and show it to guest services? I mean, your neighbor already opened the door when she told you she smoked. I find it odd that they (GS) can't find any evidence of it all week long.

[TAYLORCPA]

Don't ya just want to take a pic of them smoking and show it to guest services? I mean, your neighbor already opened the door when she told you she smoked. I find it odd that they (GS) can't find any evidence of it all week long.

 

After they were confronted the first time, they covered themselves with a towel and smoked under it (talk about a fire hazard!!). I wanted to tell GS just to come sit on our balcony for an hour and they would have proof.

[Keys2Heaven]

After they were confronted the first time, they covered themselves with a towel and smoked under it (talk about a fire hazard!!). I wanted to tell GS just to come sit on our balcony for an hour and they would have proof.

 

Heck I have a panoramic mode on my camera, I would have acted like I was take a panorama from our balcony and then conveniently included them. Seriously, if they are so brazen to ignore the rules, why would they be upset if you took their pic as proof to show GS.

 

 

The fact is they should not be doing this on their balcony and it, obviously, negatively impacted your cruise.

[AWL3]

Y'all that said they smelled cigarette smoke- we had an inside cabin, starboard, just past the mid elevators. Our hallway almost always smelled of fresh cigarette smoke. It smelled like the vents from the casino were sucking up the smoke and dumping it in our hallway. (Except one night at 2 am it "reaked" of bacon! LOL YES- it smelled like someone was cooking bacon in our hallway HAHA!!!) I kept blaming the back cabin across the hall for the fresh smoke but I have no idea were it was really coming from. But with all this said- it really didn't bother me if I compare it to the smoke on the Carnival Liberty- now THAT is a smokey ship! It just stinks that someone paid $$ to enjoy a balcony and couldn't due to the smoke.

 

Our chief complaint was with the lack of bar service. We felt that they were understaffed, and it boggles my mind that a Sports Bar would NOT have bar service all day until 5 pm on college football Saturday and pro football Sunday! I made the most of it like others by heading to another bar when we wanted a drink, but the wait at every bar seemed long. Do you think they only had 1 or 2 bartenders on purpose? My husband's theory is: Someone at Carnival Corp figured out that when they sell X amount of drink packages, they've made their money. So, if they cut back on bar service they will be decreasing the amount of drinks as well as not paying another staff member- thus keeping more of the money they made.... Thoughts?

[JerseyGirlJen]

That'sa shame about the cigarette smoke. I'd be upset too I couldn't go out onto my balcony either. Carnival makes ever passenger aware that rooms and balconies are non-smoking. These people are so inconsiderate.

 

And the previous poster that had the wonderful 4 year old neighbor that caused chaos at 7 am....oh hell no. Why are people so "oblivious " to the noise that they make? [emoji849]

 

 

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[Keys2Heaven]

Y'all that said they smelled cigarette smoke- we had an inside cabin, starboard, just past the mid elevators. Our hallway almost always smelled of fresh cigarette smoke. It smelled like the vents from the casino were sucking up the smoke and dumping it in our hallway. (Except one night at 2 am it "reaked" of bacon! LOL YES- it smelled like someone was cooking bacon in our hallway HAHA!!!) I kept blaming the back cabin across the hall for the fresh smoke but I have no idea were it was really coming from. But with all this said- it really didn't bother me if I compare it to the smoke on the Carnival Liberty- now THAT is a smokey ship! It just stinks that someone paid $$ to enjoy a balcony and couldn't due to the smoke.

 

Our chief complaint was with the lack of bar service. We felt that they were understaffed, and it boggles my mind that a Sports Bar would NOT have bar service all day until 5 pm on college football Saturday and pro football Sunday! I made the most of it like others by heading to another bar when we wanted a drink, but the wait at every bar seemed long. Do you think they only had 1 or 2 bartenders on purpose? My husband's theory is: Someone at Carnival Corp figured out that when they sell X amount of drink packages, they've made their money. So, if they cut back on bar service they will be decreasing the amount of drinks as well as not paying another staff member- thus keeping more of the money they made.... Thoughts?

 

Sounds like this should be it's own thread.

[Micahs Grandad]

Sad that people can be so inconsiderate of others

[Keys2Heaven]

I'm home and thinking about this a bit more. No offense to the OP, but these types of things make me frustrated. You have blatant, in-your-face, abusers of the no-smoking policy and GS won't do anything? I know folks don't want confrontation, but I wonder if GS is unwilling to do anything, should the other cruisers put out by this take it upon themselves to catch the perps in the act so that there is evidence to present?

 

If folks aren't willing to step up and help ensure that this VERY IMPORTANT rule is followed, then people like these imbeciles next door will keep flaunting the fact that they can break the rules without penalty.

[cltnccruisers]

We've never sailed with Carnival but since Charleston is one of our favorite towns and we're only a few hours away we consider it every now and then. After reading this thread it'll be much longer before we consider it again.

[ABoatNerd]

Answer yes to the chief complaint.

 

Y'all that said they smelled cigarette smoke- we had an inside cabin, starboard, just past the mid elevators. Our hallway almost always smelled of fresh cigarette smoke. It smelled like the vents from the casino were sucking up the smoke and dumping it in our hallway. (Except one night at 2 am it "reaked" of bacon! LOL YES- it smelled like someone was cooking bacon in our hallway HAHA!!!) I kept blaming the back cabin across the hall for the fresh smoke but I have no idea were it was really coming from. But with all this said- it really didn't bother me if I compare it to the smoke on the Carnival Liberty- now THAT is a smokey ship! It just stinks that someone paid $$ to enjoy a balcony and couldn't due to the smoke.

 

Our chief complaint was with the lack of bar service. We felt that they were understaffed, and it boggles my mind that a Sports Bar would NOT have bar service all day until 5 pm on college football Saturday and pro football Sunday! I made the most of it like others by heading to another bar when we wanted a drink, but the wait at every bar seemed long. Do you think they only had 1 or 2 bartenders on purpose? My husband's theory is: Someone at Carnival Corp figured out that when they sell X amount of drink packages, they've made their money. So, if they cut back on bar service they will be decreasing the amount of drinks as well as not paying another staff member- thus keeping more of the money they made.... Thoughts?

____________________________________

 

Well of course bar service is cut after the "free" beverage packages are sold - this comment is seen on Celebrity, RCL and other mass cruise lines threads.

 

Do Obedient Consumers not get it - they are not "free" and you are getting hosed with their implementation.

 

Beverage packages are a modern marketers dream scam - amazing so many consumers fall for it.

 

Cruise lines are laughing at you.

[riclop]

Thanks for the review and that is why we don't book balconies anymore.

[Micahs Grandad]

Answer yes to the chief complaint.

 

 

____________________________________

 

Well of course bar service is cut after the "free" beverage packages are sold - this comment is seen on Celebrity, RCL and other mass cruise lines threads.

 

Do Obedient Consumers not get it - they are not "free" and you are getting hosed with their implementation.

 

Beverage packages are a modern marketers dream scam - amazing so many consumers fall for it.

 

Cruise lines are laughing at you.

 

Interesting. Never understood doubling the cost of the cruise by adding cheers.

[ukbecky]

Thanks for the review and that is why we don't book balconies anymore.

 

Our last balcony on the Breeze was our last balcony on Carnival, for the same reason.

 

We were also told that they could find no evidence of our neighbors' smoking. I don't think they ever bothered to look for evidence.

 

We wasted money on a balcony we couldn't use.

[2wheelin]

We splurged on a balcony for our upcoming cruise and there is no way a neighbor "illegally" smoking on their balcony will prevent me from using mine. Guest services would have one chance to correct it before I escalated it higher up.

[cltnccruisers]

We've had balconies on all our cruises on different lines and never had any problems. Our neighbors have always been friendly and polite. Maybe it's an issue with the clientele Carnival attracts.

[Drazil65]

And then about 2:00 am he started yelling again on the balcony. I did not report that to guest services but evidently someone else did because they asked about it when they followed up everyday. I'm all for someone having a good time, but not when it infringes on me. There is a special smoking section and I am sure you could all the yelling you want on the Lido deck.

 

NO....no way I am not calling GS at 2:00 AM if some moron next door is yelling and disturbing everyone around them....period.....as far as the smoking goes, I am calling GS services (and asking for someone immediately) and finding my cabin steward to come out onto the balcony when I catch them and I am also taking pictures in their face for GS...if this is happening from day one when you first get on then I am also letting them know that I am using the vacation guarantee before we are even leaving port cuz I am not dealing with the idiots next door and the smoke as it impedes my enjoyment of the balcony I paid for....:mad:

[Keys2Heaven]

And then about 2:00 am he started yelling again on the balcony. I did not report that to guest services but evidently someone else did because they asked about it when they followed up everyday. I'm all for someone having a good time, but not when it infringes on me. There is a special smoking section and I am sure you could all the yelling you want on the Lido deck.

 

NO....no way I am not calling GS at 2:00 AM if some moron next door is yelling and disturbing everyone around them....period.....as far as the smoking goes, I am calling GS services (and asking for someone immediately) and finding my cabin steward to come out onto the balcony when I catch them and I am also taking pictures in their face for GS...if this is happening from day one when you first get on then I am also letting them know that I am using the vacation guarantee before we are even leaving port cuz I am not dealing with the idiots next door and the smoke as it impedes my enjoyment of the balcony I paid for....:mad:

 

I think NS cruisers need to be more diligent about getting evidence that this illegal practice is still happening and presenting this to GS. The person next door has a few choices, but only one that will satisfy everyone.