Sunshine Secrets

Sailing the Sunshine for the first time and wondered if anyone has any "inside tips" they would like to share. Any secret getaways onboard? Thanks.

Visit Havana Bar, Cuciana del Capitano, and JiJi's Asian Kitchen during breakfast and lunch. There is no extra charge at these times, and you will find food offerings different from those on your previous Carnival cruises. The only other ship to have these same three venues is the brand new Vista.

Definitely the Alchemy Bar

If you eat at the buffet, go all the way back to the Havanna bar section for seats, will never have a problem finding a table, often by a window!

If you eat at the buffet, go all the way back to the Havanna bar section for seats, will never have a problem finding a table, often by a window!

Good to know, thanks!

I loved the sunshine, and happy to say I will be sailing on her again.

I was on the July 28 sailing and found the following:

Tastings bar (deck 5) in addition to tastes at the dinner hour on sea days also had:

many breakfast items around 9am (didn't see it but was told about it)

at lunch time 4 or 5 hot entrees, one or 2 soups and making for a great chop salad

Wish I was hungry when I saw it but had just come from brunch. I ordered the steak and eggs without the eggs, so they gave me 2 Filet mignons(heaven)

Before noon at the sea day brunch they give you a basket of pastries and muffins. From noon on they give a basket of popovers, both great but nothing like a good popover.

Patrick Duffy is the current piano player, he is great, it can be standing room only at times.

My sister went to the bar for a corkscrew and they wanted a $15 corkage fee. Our cabin steward was happy to open the bottle for her.

If you want a quiet spot out of the sun, try deck 3 outside under the life boats. Good view of the water and a nice breeze.

There are two decks (I believe 6 and 7, but someone please correct if I am wrong) that you can go all the way forward on. Great views off the front of the ship and was never crowded.

There are two decks (I believe 6 and 7, but someone please correct if I am wrong) that you can go all the way forward on. Great views off the front of the ship and was never crowded.

I try to give this tip to people as well. The very front is always empty. The wind is something to experience as well.

 

My sister went to the bar for a corkscrew and they wanted a $15 corkage fee. Our cabin steward was happy to open the bottle for her.

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Here's how to open the bottle without a corkscrew

Get a Cuba Libre at the Havana Bar. It's a double that's charged as a single.

Other than that, I'd NEVER sail the Sunshine again. Overcrowded and horribly designed.

It's really too late for this tip but the cabins on Deck 5 are awesome.

The are in a great location because they are all aft and are right near the Alchemy Bar and the casino. They are also the newer cabins and have the mini fridge.

Great tip about the Havana bar for seating during breakfast and lunch on the Lido deck too. It's nice back there and never crowded.

Have fun - we've sailed her twice and wouldn't hesitate too again.

Just remember that a cruise is what you make it - good or bad.

The differences of opinion on the Sunshine are remarkable. We are scheduled for January and are concerned about the crowds; design is not important to us

I was on this ship for the July 4th weekend -- too crowded, food not great, they seat you at separate individual tables instead of having you sit with other people who become your family for the week when you have assigned seating. The other thing I didn't like was that Serenity is not serene at all - the pool is too small and it is right next to the middle of the ship with very very loud music playing from the deck below. We had already booked for September 10 to head up north, hopefully things may have changed by then. My only tip is to bring a winter coat and gloves. July 4th weekend it was freezing up there, so I'm sure it will be colder when I go in September. The good parts: seaday brunch is awesome and the crew is extremely friendly and helpful.

If you like comedy go to the show early for a good seat (30-45min). Not many seats and several are behind the stage so you watch the comedian on a small tv screen. Not sure if this was reconstructed during it's last dry dock.

Cheers and happy cruising.

Thanks for all of the tips, I sail on her for the first time 9/3. Can't wait!! :D

they seat you at separate individual tables instead of having you sit with other people who become your family for the week when you have assigned seating

If that happened, you could have been asked to be moved to a table with others. What you described is not standard procedure on Sunshine. We sailed in June and were sat with others at a large table for late seating.

Visit Havana Bar, Cuciana del Capitano, and JiJi's Asian Kitchen during breakfast and lunch. There is no extra charge at these times, and you will find food offerings different from those on your previous Carnival cruises. The only other ship to have these same three venues is the brand new Vista.

You can have lunch at any of these restaurants at no additional cost? Is the lunch menu different than the dinner menu?

You can have lunch at any of these restaurants at no additional cost? Is the lunch menu different than the dinner menu?

Yes. The JiJi is actually the Mongolian grill during lunch as seen on the Lido in other ships. I think cucina at lunch is like a pasta bar.

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That's good to know...I thought it was extra anytime, thanks for the heads up!

We had the Cheers package. A few times during the cruise we popped into the Steakhouse Bar for a glass of wine when it wasn't busy. It's to the left. I believe the wine list there has more to offer.

We did sushi as a snack one afternoon, and sprung for a 750ml bottle of hot sake. I was surprised at the reasonable price.

We caught most of the early shows before late dinner. We got in line early to score the chairs up front to the left or right that have the small cocktail tables to go with it.

We had Spa cabins on both our trips. We would find the steam rooms and the hot chair room mostly empty in the afternoons. There is a door in the hot chair room that leads to another room with the vats of chilled water and the "green" water.

There are only two elevators that go to decks 11, 12, and 14 in the Serenity sections. We were on deck 12 our first SunShine cruise. We got our share of climbing up/down those two flights vs. waiting. Our next cruise we were on 10, near the elevators.

We had great crew and cruise director and we'd go back.

If they have the Studio VIP show, try to go to the pre-show and volunteer. You'll be a part of the show. I did this two years ago and it was so much fun. Then before the cruise ends you'll be invited to a private meet and greet party with the show cast.

Can a 10 & A 15 year old attend the shows? If not what can they do?

Can a 10 & A 15 year old attend the shows? If not what can they do?

Yes, they can attend the shows. But both have programs designed for them; one will be in the 9-11 age group and have programs almost all day long, free until 10 pm and then minimal pay for after hours. The other will be in the Club O2 groups; it is very important to go to the first night meeting for this group because it is when they find the people they identify with and hang with throughout the cruise.

And yes, the food is different at Cucinia and JiJi's; I have not eaten at the former, but the latter, at night, is well worth the minimal upcharge. Some of the best food I have ever had. During the day it is just Mongolian wok and nothing special, just like the Italian is just a pasta bar at lunch but a true special dinner menu at night.

If you like sushi, it is hidden down by the comedy club and piano bar and also worth the fee.

Be sure to go up and explore the Sports Square; what they have done is awesome.

And yes, the comedy club is small and awkward, but unlike many on here, I am still thrilled to have it. Yes it was an add-on when she transitioned from the Destiny to the Sunshine. So some comedy club is better than none.

And when you grab your morning cup of coffee in the Havana bar, hit the little buffet on the side of the actual bar for tasty Cuban breakfast treats.

I know a lot of people have complained about this ship but it is our favorite so far. We avoid things like buffet at peak times, and spend much time on our balcony anyway, so it never felt more crowded to us than any other ship. I really think it is all about timing.

We sailed Sunshine from Norfolk in June. It was great. Favorite place was Serenity area. There were three decks! Getting around the ship took some thinking, but it is our favorite after the Maasdam. We are going on her again in October to Bermuda. Wonderful time!