Ladydarcy1

I just did a Premier on the Valor on 8/27/2016. Premier guests who are not also Diamond/Platinum were not able to board before Diamond/Platinum nor did they wait in the Diamond/Platinum waiting room. Carnival boarded guests in the following order: Weddings, Diamond, Platinum, non Diamond/Platinum Premiers, FTTF, then general boarding by zone. Also non Diamond/ Platinum Premiers were given zone tag 4 for debark and waited in a separate area onboard from both Diamond/Platinum guests and general zone debarking guests. You do get the early luggage delivery, but make sure they orange tag your bags at the port. This was my first platinum cruise so later on the last day after getting the zone 4 tags, are steward delivered the zone 1 tags and we used those instead. (I asked the casino host and the reason for the zone 4 was the large number of Diamond and Platinum cruisers on my sailing, so the debark may be a little different for you if there isn't the huge number of Diamonds and Platinums.)

Never had my name drawn in a drawing but my sister, who was my plus 1, did. I generally enjoyed the casino aspect of the cruise, especially the free gifts almost everyday. We got cookies, a bottle of sparkling wine, travel coffee mugs, and a nice game set in a wooden boxes with 2 decks of cards and 5 dice. However, the slots were TIGHT. Carnival cruise ship slots are always tighter than land based casinos, but even for Carnival they were BAD! I don't know if it was just the Valor (this was my first sailing on her) or they were set tighter for the casino cruise.

If it is the August 27 sailing, Cruise It has had it wrong since I booked in February. I think initially it was supposed to be a southern Caribbean cruise, but it was changed over a year ago to Eastern Caribbean.

When I was on the Sunshine in September it was $25 for the 8 days. You got a discount for buying all 8 days up front. Like Cheers though, I think you had to buy that package by end of day 2 though.

I believe all suites on Carnival come with priority boarding and debarkation, hence the "platinum" on your boarding pass and luggage tags. This is the only "platinum" perk however suites get you. They do not get you priority tender, priority dining times assignment, priority guest services line, etc.

It's available by the glass in the main dining room. On Lido, it is in cartons on the salad bar.

LadyDarcy1, how early would you suggest getting to serenity on sea day? bTW, love the name,

Thanks. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice hence the screen name lol. As far as when to get a chair. If you want a great seat, right at the main pool or around the serenity pool or to score a coveted hammock or clam chair, I'd say get there no later than 8:00 am. Sometimes much later in the day, around 3ish, you can also score one of the great spots on serenity after the early birds have had their fill.

One of my favorite things to do is actually not get off the ship at one of the ports and spend the day instead on Serenity. It is always really quiet with few people who do this on a port day and you don't have to be up early to get a great spot.

Another lesser known "secret" about the Sunshine is that there are areas on the open deck 3 with loungers on sea days. You don't get the full sun all day there though, so a lot of the sun worshippers don't hang out on that deck.

I can't answer about the high chair because I do not know. Best tips I can give you are these:

When eating on Lido (guys, Blue Iguana, etc.) After getting your food head aft to the Havana Bar area. There are always plenty of seats and tables to be had there. In the mornings, there are omlette stations there too which most folks never find because they don't walk all the way back. Havana Bar is almost never crowded either and is a great place to go for a drink when other bars are busier.

Arrive at comedy shows at least 45 minutes early or you will not get a seat where you can see the stage. The comedy club on the Sunshine has a terrible layout and is my one HUGE complaint about a ship I otherwise love.

Same goes for early arrival for stage shows in the main lounge. While it doesn't have the blocked view problem, it is small and fills up quick.

The first few days of the cruise, the Alchemy Bar on Deck 5 mid ship is always a lot less crowded. It becomes more and more popular as the cruise goes on.

On sea days, be prepared to go to Lido and/or Serenity early if you want to lay claim to chairs. (But please make use of them when you claim them and don't just leave your stuff and come back later.) These areas fill up fast and Carnival does a lousy job policing the 45 minute rule.

If you need to put cash on your Sail and Sign account, the Kioskis on decks 5 (by the shops) and deck 3 (by guests services) are a lot quicker to use on embarkation day than waiting in line at guest services. If you need to use guest services, I recommend waiting until the next morning to do so as the line is always INSANE on embarkation day

I had cell great cell service in San Juan, but I have ATT. It all depends on your plan whether Puerto Rico is covered and I'd call your carrier today to find out.

Have a great cruise. I think the Sunshine gets an undeserved bad rep on here and she is personally my favorite ship. I am sailing on her for the 3rd time in August and cannot wait!

I had a fantastic time on this cruise. I am going to just go over the highlights of the casino perks and casino experience here to answer the question that was posed rather than do a big, full cruise review.

I flew into Orlando airport from Nashville on the the morning of the cruise. The day before I had an email from the executive casino host Lillian with the details of my car service pick up at the airport. (One of the perks of the cruise was either car pick up at the airport or nearby hotel or comp back for parking at the port.)

Arrived in Orlando and my driver was waiting for me at the end of the escalator at baggage claim. Once we had my bag, it was off in a Lincoln Town Car for the 45 minute ride to port. Arrived at Port Canaveral around 11:30. My mom, dad and sister were also on the cruise. My sister (who lives in Davenport Florida) was my guest and was waiting for me at the entrance to security. She drove my parents (mom is the "player" and dad her guest in that duo) to the port and they parked at the port. Mom had to pay for the parking there on arrival, but once on board, the casino cage took her parking receipt and gave her this money back in cash. Once I met sis, we headed through the Priority Security check point and then into the Priority lounge. After about a 5 minute wait, we were called for our pictures for our sail and sign cards and I got my first happy surprise. This Elite cruise included platinum benefits for anyone on it. This was just my 8th cruise overall so I am still gold. I had expected they'd just give me a gold card with a FTTF sticker so I'd have access to the priority VIFP service line, but no, I actually had a real platinum card with all the platinum benefits including laundry, the platinum gift (the toiletries bag) and buy one get one free slot tournament entry. After getting the card, we were given a priority boarding zone pass and sent upstairs to wait about another 5 minutes before we boarded.

Once on boarded we arrived at our ocean view suite to find our first of daily gifts from the casino. The casino had left me 2 6 packs of coca cola and 2 giant bottles of water. My mom and dad had waiting for them in their cabin the 2 bottles of water and a fifth of whiskey. They had asked us by email a few weeks before what our drink of choice was and that was what we had each told them. Through out the week, we would get a gift every day. I forgot to write them all down, but I know we got a plate of cookies one day, chocolate covered strawberries another, a bottle of Proseco, 2 more big bottles of water, and on the 7th day a beautiful set of bath towels with the Carnival Player's Club Elite Casino cruise logo on them.

At 5 o'clock on embarkation night, they had a cocktail party in the comedy club for the elite players with lots of free drinks and free appetizers. We met our Elite casino cruise hosts, Carlos and Lillian and were introduced to the main Sunshine Casino staff as well including Host Maria, Manager Christopher, and slot manager Alexander. Here we also got the big "Announcement." While the cruise included the "drinks on us" card for free drinks in the casino, they also let us know that at then end of the week, the casino was going to go back and comp all by the drink alcoholic and non alcoholic beverage purchases made anywhere on the ship by the elite casino player and his or her guest. While I don't drink a lot, this wound up being a huge thing for my sister who practically lived at the Alchemy Bar all week LOL. She walked off the ship with a 53.00 sail and sign bill which was only for a few small items she bought in the gift shop on board. Without this comp, I think her bill would have been over 900.00. They also told us at the cocktail party that the only times the casino would be closed all cruise was while we were docked in the ports of Aruba and Curacao. The casino stayed open in Grand Turk.

They also did the first of many drawings of the week at the cocktail party. At this one, they drew for a stay in the captain's suite for this 8 day cruise. Through out the week, there were at least 2 daily drawings and you had to be present to win. One every day was a snow ball raffle for cash. If the winner was not present, it increased in value to the next day by a large amount. If they were present, it still increased in value, but not by as much to the next day. At other drawings through out the week (usually the one they did at 11:30 PM each night) , if they picked your name, they were for games like "casino pong" where you tossed ping pong balls at bags with cash in them and a deal or no deal game that the cruise director Jamie Dee actually came down to the casino to host. The very last drawing of the cruise, the gave away a voucher for a free 8 day cruise in a grand suite with elite casino cruise perks on any ship that was valid for one year.

Every night of the cruise except the first night they took 24 people from the big group to dinner at the steak house. 6 players and their guest would eat with either Lillian or Carlos at 6:15 and then 6 more players and their guests went with the other host at 8:15. My parents were selected on night 3 while my sister and I got to go the last night. In addition to the meal, they served us lots of wine with dinner including starting the whole thing off with a Dom Perignon toast.

They also hosted a special slot tournament for the casino players on the last sea day. If you acquired 2000 points at the slots or tables through out the week, you qualified to play in this. If you made the finals, all 9 players got something. 9, 8 and 7th places got 50.00. 6th and 5th got 100. 4th got 175.00. 3rd 250. 2nd 400.00. And if you won, you got an a free 8 day cruise in a balcony cabin.

One other perks of the cruise were that if you used your credit card directly at the casino cage to get cash or used your sail and sign card to charge at the tables, they refunded the 3.5% transaction fee for that. Some body also said, if you used the ATM machines on board, if you took your slip to the cage, they gave you back that 6.00 transaction fee, but as I never used the ATM, I don't know about that for absolute certain.

The cruise also included a free shore excursion for you and your guest, up to 100 per person. My sis and I chose to do the North Coast jeep safari in Aruba. A lot of people in the elite cruise picked this one and as a result, the entire casino staff actually went with us on this excursion!. This was a lot of fun hanging out with them off the ship and I got a great picture of Lillian feeding the ostrich at the ostrich farm which was part of the tour. I can't say enough about what wonderful ladies Lillian and Maria are btw. I left the ship feeling like I left 2 good friends behind and I really hope I get to sail with them both again soon.

Carols is also an awesome guy. My sister and I ate with him at the steak house the last night and I really enjoyed talking to him. Then only bad thing that happened all week unfortunately took place at this dinner. A few hours before dinner, they made a ship wide "bright star" announcement for a medical emergency. While we were at dinner, Carlos got a call on his cell. So sadly, the emergency had been one of the elite players who tragically passed away. Carlos had to excuse himself, understandably, but what really touched me is that he was truly hurting that we had lost one of our group. He was crying when he had to come back and tell us why he had to leave early and I realized that he as well as Lillian and the others really care on a personal level about their players. They made such an effort all week not just to spoil us so we would gamble more, but also to get to know us.

I know I am probably forgetting some other small details about perks, etc. but I guess the most important thing I want to end with is that this was my best cruise ever. I wasn't a big winner gambling wise and, in fact, left the ship with a lot less money than I got on board with, but I had such an amazing time. At the end of the 8 days, I came close to having lost what I would have spent for 2 people in an ocean view suite for 8 days plus alcohol--so I guess that means I came out even right LOL. Lillian and Carlos along with Maria and Christopher of the Sunshine Casino are such wonderful, fun people. They gave us an amazing week!

Very last thing, if the family of the person who passed ever wanders across my post here, please know you are still in my thoughts and prayers. I am so very sorry for your loss and if there is anything I can ever do for you, please let me know.

I was on the September 13th 8 day. My cabin on deck 10 forward only seemed to be anywhere near cool at night. I also found it to be hot in the casino several times, especially early in the day. Other areas of the ship varied and I never really thought it was overly cool anywhere. I usually take a sweater on a cruise as I am usually cold when inside, but on my Liberty cruise I never used it once.

I'll be there too and can't wait! Due to my work schedule I have to fly in the morning of the cruise. A little stressed over the timing but I do have a direct flight from Nashville arriving at MCO at 9:50. The car service they are providing from the airport to the ship was a really welcomed benefit of this cruise. See everybody soon.

They had this last week on the Liberty. It was a nice option for some in our group who just didn't like anything on the new menus certain night. The only draw back is it did take a little longer for those entrees to arrive at the table than those from the main galley.

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I don't know about an overall exclusion, but I do know you can set it up with the casino where you cannot put money directly into a slot machine off the credit card you used for your sail and sign account. We have to do this with my dad. He has mild Alzheimer's disease and 2 cruises ago he got confused between taking money out of his player's bank and charging money out right from his sail and sign account. My mother didn't discover the mistake he was making until he'd charged over 2 grand! Needless to say, she now goes to the casino as soon as it opens first night and has his charging privileges in the casino completely cut off except for drinks.

I was able to print my boarding passes despite the "amount being due" still showing on the cruise manager page. I couldn't until I completed online check in, but once I did that, I could. Also the only place it is still showing balance due for me is on the cruise manager page. Once I open the boarding pass and general documents, it shows the payment of the cruise is satisfied.

My Oct 4th Elite cruise is still showing a balance, but not as much as before. I sure wish they would get this straightened out.

Mine is too so I emailed the executive casino host about it last week. He said the balance due is an internal error. The October cruises have already been paid for under the group booking number by the casino. He told me not to worry about the balance due showing. He also said they would be contacting all the players who are sailing under the offer closer to the cruise date to arrange the car service for those who need it and the parking information for those that need that.

I am so excited about this cruise! Can't wait for it to hurry up and get here.

Every category of suite is sold out for my oct. 4 sunshine cruise.

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When I went on this excursion it moored off Honeymoon beach. The water is about 15 to 20 feet at the mooring point. But as was already said, they do take those who want to go the beach over in the Zodiac. I absolutely LOVED this excursion and have already booked it for my Sept. 13 Liberty sailing. There were sea turtles in the water over a grass area along with a few sting rays. There is also a small reef a few yards from the mooring point with a lot of colorful fish.

I got it too. It was sent via email directly from the Carnival Player's club. I called the main Carnival number to verify it was legitimate before I booked it. Once it was booked, it show up under manage my cruise. I also will be aboard the 10/4 Sunshine and I can hardly wait!

I got my first ever free cruise offer today. It was from the casino. I got an email from the player's club offering me a free suite for one of 3 cruises. The email called the cruise an "Elite player's club cruise." I have seen and been offered "Premier casino cruises" before--never free, but at a really reduced rate. Went on one of those once and had a blast. Any way, this offer had a whole bunch of perks listed the premier cruise didn't normally have. The offer also said it was limited to 30 guests and the cabins would be awarded on a first response basis. Both my mom and I got the email, but the offer did not show up under the "My offers" section of carnival's web site. After calling carnival to verify it was legitimate, we called the number listed in the email and we both lucked out and were each one of the 30 for the 10/4/2014 sailing on the Sunshine. I am so excited!!!! My office however, is going to kill me. I am going on the Liberty on 9/13/14 and after that sailing, I am going to turn around and fly back to Florida 11 days later for another cruise.

Believe me this is a once in a lifetime event! We normally do balcony, but for this cruise we went all out! My mother in law and daughter are a couple doors down in one of the grand ocean view staterooms. This is my mother in laws 60th birthday celebration. She will turn 60 during the cruise.

 

 

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I laughed so hard when I read this because it mirrors so closely my stay in that suite! I was lucky enough to be in the Captain's suite on the Sunshine in May. It was my 40th birthday present from my parents. The 3 of us shared the cabin and it was AWESOME. My sister, her hubby and their daughter also went and they were in a scenic ocean view just down the hall. We had an amazing time. Definitely check out the U tune video of the suite. I watched it nearly fifty times before I went. I also posted some pics of the suite on the cruise line rooms dot com web site.

I was also on board May 2-10 travelling with family in 2 cabins. Platinum's in both. One cabin got the new tumblers and one got the beach bags.

Last week on the Sunshine I did one of those things I thought "never happens". I hit the progressive jackpot on a penny machine. I won $3241.84. The funny thing is I play slots all the time (on cruises and at a casino back home) and I did't realize I'd hit the jackpot until the guy playing the machine behind me told me I had LOL.

Just off the sunshine myself. Also had a cabin on lido starboard side. Saw one bucket only--on Friday. It was located starboard side half way between the bow and the atrium elevators. There was a small drip (one drop every few seconds) from a sprinkler head. Smelled the "smell" 2 times. Once on lido at the atrium elevators; once on deck 5 outside the red frog. The smell both times wasn't really that terrible IMO and certainly not as bad as the one I smelled several times on the Dream. I had a fabulous time on board personally and LOVED the ship. Our dinning room service was excellent. We had early seating and the latest we ever got out of dinner was 7:30. Food in the main dinning room was just ok IMO. Everything we had was prepared correctly and arrived temperature appropriate. It was just I felt there was nothing "oh my this is awesome" about it. But steakhouse, Cucina, Guys, Blue Iguana, and Bonsi were all fantastic.

My biggest complaint was the crazy loud air conditioner in my cabin. Some nights it sounded like a jet engine going off. I'm not whining too much though because I got to stay In a captain's suite and for that, I'll live with a loud air conditioner all night long!

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It is heated. The temp if the water is supposed to be the same as average body temperature so about 98 degrees. When I was on board in September, one day however, it seemed warmer than that. I really enjoyed the Dream spa and hope you do too.

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I am so enjoying this review! Thanks for the time you are taking to post all the amazing pictures. I am going to be on the Dream in September doing my first ever B2B cruise! I cannot wait for those 2 weeks and your review is just making me want the time in between to go by even faster.