Just off the Sunshine

[mz-s]

2 hours ago, mondello said:

Yes, with the Mongolian Wok type fare. It's normally really good but, wife's serving on 12/26 cruise, they were heavy handed with the sauce and she couldn't finish it. The wok fare at JiJis and the pasta bar at Cucina are beside the other, aft of the Lido buffet. Convenient location to mix and match.

 

Especially on the first few days of the cruise before word gets out they're back there, and included!

[mondello]

5 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Especially on the first few days of the cruise before word gets out they're back there, and included!

Yeah, we went on the tail-end of a 5 dayer 12/26 and the lines weren't bad, although it was reduced capacity. Nice that you make your selections and it is made to order. Bummer the pasta bar gave me a beeper to pick-up son's order; didn't work and had to go searching and found his bowl sitting on the counter in a ready line of waiting bowls. Maybe it wasn't a beeper and I missed a message on the screen?

Edited February 28, 2022 by mondello
Correction

[KmomChicago]

Good thing there are plenty of other cruise lines and ships available for those who have a different preference, different minimum expectations, different logistics limitations and different budgets.

[freewilly]

On 2/26/2022 at 5:13 PM, mz-s said:

 

Is Jijis still open for lunch at no charge?

Yes, still included at no charge for lunch.😁

[Bollycats]

I am getting the Cheers package for the first time-never paid attention to how to get soft drinks or beer, other than the bar. Are there drink stations set up on the Sunshine? How does it work? Do you swipe your card and it sees you have the drink package? 

[Bollycats]

Also, does the coffee bar have almond milk or soymilk for coffees?

[NYHartChapp]

15 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Especially on the first few days of the cruise before word gets out they're back there, and included!

SSHHH…😉

[mtns2sea]

We are heading out on the 4/2 sailing. We are local to the area. Any tips on getting to the port for parking? We are a little far out for uber. And, keep the Sunshine tips coming.

[ninjacat123]

Here is my mini review with info on the parking at port for us.

 

[TrinaLC]

On 3/1/2022 at 11:08 AM, mtns2sea said:

We are heading out on the 4/2 sailing. We are local to the area. Any tips on getting to the port for parking? We are a little far out for uber. And, keep the Sunshine tips coming.

There is “almost” a full open promenade great for walking or sitting quietly in full shade. I think it is deck 7. (Below the lifeboats.)

 

Havana bar puts put Cuban treats on the (I believe) starboard/JiJi side of the bar. Easy to miss. 
 

 

[mz-s]

On 3/1/2022 at 11:08 AM, mtns2sea said:

We are heading out on the 4/2 sailing. We are local to the area. Any tips on getting to the port for parking? We are a little far out for uber. And, keep the Sunshine tips coming.

 

You just follow the signs they put out around the street. There's only one way in to the terminal for parking, corner of laurens and concord st.

[ninjacat123]

1 hour ago, mz-s said:

 

You just follow the signs they put out around the street. There's only one way in to the terminal for parking, corner of laurens and concord st.

If they put up signs both my DH and I missed them as we drove around the port area asking police, etc where the parking entrance was.  

[mz-s]

Just now, ninjacat123 said:

If they put up signs both my DH and I missed them as we drove around the port area asking police, etc where the parking entrance was.  

 

They're there on cruise days, I saw them last Monday when I drove in to park for my cruise last week.

[bguppies]

Yeah they put little stand up signs, manually, every time the ship is in port. No permanent signage.

[TrinaLC]

The signs are there. We got dropped off with no problem. The issue is sometimes that Waze directs to the actual ship entry area, not the check in /drop off area. 

[freewilly]

On 2/26/2022 at 5:13 PM, mz-s said:

 

Is Jijis still open for lunch at no charge?

Yes

[ninjacat123]

14 hours ago, freewilly said:

Yes

Is it the JiJi menu or the Mongolian Wok menu?  Thx!

[casinostreer]

It's the Mongolian Wok menu. (At least it was in January.) You pick your veggies, protein and sauce as you go through the line and they stir fry it with rice or noodles for you. Its pretty delicious for a buffet style lunch option. 

 

The Jiji's menu is only at night and usually requires reservations. It's an extra cost, which just went up in May. However . . . it's DELICIOUS - and beyond worth the price. 

 

As for the other concerns, we had a wonderful cruise in January. Great service, no smell, food ranged from "meh" at the buffet to OUTSTANDING at Jijis. We're back on the Sunshine in June. 

 

For the person asking about sodas and beers, there is a machine in the lido buffet near the coffee station where you can swipe your card and get a soda or beer.  But - you can get one at any of the bars nearby.

 

 

[mz-s]

8 hours ago, casinostreer said:

It's the Mongolian Wok menu. (At least it was in January.) You pick your veggies, protein and sauce as you go through the line and they stir fry it with rice or noodles for you. Its pretty delicious for a buffet style lunch option. 

 

The Jiji's menu is only at night and usually requires reservations. It's an extra cost, which just went up in May. However . . . it's DELICIOUS - and beyond worth the price. 

 

As for the other concerns, we had a wonderful cruise in January. Great service, no smell, food ranged from "meh" at the buffet to OUTSTANDING at Jijis. We're back on the Sunshine in June. 

 

For the person asking about sodas and beers, there is a machine in the lido buffet near the coffee station where you can swipe your card and get a soda or beer.  But - you can get one at any of the bars nearby.

 

 

 

The machine in the Lido buffet is the pour your own beer station. It only serves a few kinds of beer. The beers are paid by the ounce and you can't use Cheers at the station. No soda is served here. You have to go to a bar to get soda.

[casinostreer]

Sorry - you're right. I was thinking of the Mardi Gras. 

[VoorheesFamilyCruise]

We just got off the Sunshine on April 30th from a 5 day and absolutely loved it. We commented that every turn you make there is someone there cleaning something! The MDR leaves some definite room for improvement, but we certainly found something to eat no matter where we were.

 

We are a 3 1/2 hour drive from that port and 2 1/2 from Jax, and I would sail the Sunshine again in a heartbeat!