Sunshine Crowds

Are the crowds on Sunshine that bad?

Yes.

Are the crowds on Sunshine that bad?

It depends on where and when. My wife and I have a tough time with crowds and we enjoyed her. We do spend a lot of time in the casino and the Thirsty Frog. We spend little or no time on the Lido Deck. I have my own pool so hanging out on the deck in the sea of people is not my thing.

If you time YTD right you pretty much get right in. Otherwise a short wait at a lounge and then you eat.

As with all things I think you need to find out for yourself.

We will be sailing her again in 21 days.

The pool isn't really a worry, wouldn't be caught being an ingredient in that people soup. We don't have nice weather here for 8-9 months out of the year, so lounging in the sun is a must. Do you know how hard it is to get loungers nearby? Being by the pool is not a must.

I just got off of the Sunshine a month ago. There are a lot of people in the summer cruising but it was no different than any other ship. In fact, it was quieter in many areas than I had imagined with a sold out ship.

There are 3 decks of Serenity, so you will absolutely find somewhere to lounge. Some entitled people like things handed to them or they get annoyed quickly. But I'm more of a diligent and realistic type of person, so I will walk around and find what I need usually without too much effort. It helps to just be patient and someone will get up if you go at prime time. We went after 1 or 2 pm on sea days and found places to sit rather quickly and easily. It all depends on your attitude.

I've never understood people that cruise on mass market cruise lines that hate crowds. They are megaships, NOT private yachts.

Thanks for clearing that up.

The pool isn't really a worry, wouldn't be caught being an ingredient in that people soup. We don't have nice weather here for 8-9 months out of the year, so lounging in the sun is a must. Do you know how hard it is to get loungers nearby? Being by the pool is not a must.

We went to Serenity only one day and it was not too crowded. I wish I could be more help but being from Florida hanging out in the sun is not my thing. I pretty much ruined my skin from 58 years of sunning, fishing and gardening.

Been on the Sunshine twice, both times at max capacity and I can promise you it's not any more crowded than the other cruises I've been on. There's a couple of bottle necks by Guys and Blue Iguana Cantina and a not so great designed Comedy club but not a deal breaker by any means. Like others have mentioned the Serenity deck is 2nd to none and we never had a difficult time finding spots on sea days. Beautiful ship!

Been on the Sunshine twice' date=' both times at max capacity and I can promise you it's not any more crowded than the other cruises I've been on. There's a couple of bottle necks by Guys and Blue Iguana Cantina and a not so great designed Comedy club but not a deal breaker by any means. Like others have mentioned the Serenity deck is 2nd to none and we never had a difficult time finding spots on sea days. Beautiful ship![/quote']

 

Very well said and I will add my wife and I tend to do things at off times and never had a problem getting a burger or a burrito.

We have been on 10 Carnival ships. It is true, they are all crowded. The Sunshine is definitely more crowded than any of the others we have been on. Some areas more than others. The deck space is very limited. When they added the ropes coarse and water park area it took up a bunch of space. The kids love it, but it does not leave much room for lounging. We are not chair hogs, so we went up to find a place around 10am on our first sea day. I can promise you there was not one empty seat. The next sea day I went up right after breakfast at about 8am and every seat was taken. The last sea day we went up at 7 am and there were limited seats available. We got comfortable and watched, and I am not exaggerating, hundreds of people walking around with towels looking for seats. Yes people do get up and leave so so can get lucky to find a spot, but you really need to be lucky. We have never had a problem on any other ship at anytime finding somewhere to sit. As far as the rest of the ship, the places that are crowded are similar to other ships. The buffet area is really set up well to handle the crowd and like others say if you go to the back there are seats to find. The comedy club is a mess and the main show lounge is really small also. All that said, I would go on Sunshine again, but only as a last choice, there are really a lot of other nice things about the ship as well. To answer your question, YES, it is crowded!

Went on her for spring break and loved it! We had anytime dining and never had a wait. I avoided the lido human soup pool, but did go up to the serenity deck several times. Pool was nice to sit on the edge, and there were plenty of loungers. I did notice congestion going into the dining area on lido near the Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana, but avoided it by going around the normal path or entering the food area through the back stairs. We were on deck 8 and would just walked down the hall to the back stairs and avoided the pool area congestion.

Sailed on Sunshine twice. If you want a lounger and do not have to be next to pool you should not have a problem. Buffet will be crowded around noon, just go earlier or later. The one thing I did not like about the Sunshine is the comedy club, way to small.

She is not any busier than any other carnival ships. We never had to wait for YTD and was always able to find seats at the buffet, and if the buffet was busy you could always go to Havana bar and eat there since it was never busy. Also on the last 2 sea days I got up to the lido deck at around 12:30 and was able to get 2 deck chairs right by the hot tub (a third one was available one day but I didn't need it)!! Could've just been luck but it happened twice![emoji4] And did I mention this was in the middle of July?

We just got off the Sunshine a week ago and I honestly didn't think it was any worse than any other ship. It was at max capacity and there were almost 1500 kids:eek:on board!

If you don't need a chair right next to the pool....no problem!

Don't mind lining up for the comedy club 20-30 minutes early....no problem!

Don't usually eat breakfast right at 9am or lunch at 12noon...no problem!

We were always able to get seats wherever we went. Sometimes you had to look a bit but it really wasn't bad.

We just got off the Sunshine a week ago and I honestly didn't think it was any worse than any other ship. It was at max capacity and there were almost 1500 kids:eek:on board!

 

 

 

If you don't need a chair right next to the pool....no problem!

 

 

 

Don't mind lining up for the comedy club 20-30 minutes early....no problem!

 

 

 

Don't usually eat breakfast right at 9am or lunch at 12noon...no problem!

 

 

 

We were always able to get seats wherever we went. Sometimes you had to look a bit but it really wasn't bad.

Well said. I honestly think that people that call this ship crowded (more than normal) have never been on another cruise.

Wasn't too crowded on my cruise.

The number of respondents who Re Booked the Sunshine should be an excellent answer to your question.

We were on the sunshine June 27-July 5. 2015. Southern Pacific. I have a long review I did and I addressed the question of being crowded. I too had been troubled by the too crowded remarks.

We sailed with a full ship. Over the fourth of July

Crowds. Only on the Lido Deck. In the pool. Around the pool. We live in Florida and also avoid the sun. melanoma an ever present danger to us lucky dogs who live in the Sunshine almost daily.

Cabin. Lobby deck. loved it. close to Shore Desk and Ship desk. Never crowded

Buffet.....ONE time crowded. the Curacao Day. Like ants up there. Only time. Used the Havanna Bar usually.

had set seating in MDR. not a big line but we eat early.

No crowds in shops EXCEPT for when they have the sidewalk sales and that happens on every ship

We are booked to spend Christmas on the sunshine, God willing, and I am trying to get my daughter and her family to go with us.

So no. Not crowded. GREAT SHIP. GOOD dining options. Affordable in most cases. Nice staff. Liked the shows. Got into see them all. Seats in the front. Did line up 30 minutes before when we were promptly let into the theater.....fusion Lounge and music was played..people put on pre shows..........Did see lines to Comedy Club but did not go

Well said. I honestly think that people that call this ship crowded (more than normal) have never been on another cruise.

could be right.

Then too......some of the reviews read like the passengers had spent a week in hades.

That ........such a bunch of you know what

Sunshine is no more crowded than other ships and I did not find the elevators slow either.

A very nice ship and I bet you have a wonderful cruise

Well said. I honestly think that people that call this ship crowded (more than normal) have never been on another cruise.

I've been on over 200 cruises and have cruised every ship class on every major cruise line. Carnival Sunshine was the most crowded ship I have ever sailed on, seconded by Dream Class. Crowding is a Carnival trait.

I have found the conquest class ships the most crowded. The dream and fantasy class ships the least crowded.

I suggest on the Sunshine going to the main dining room for breakfast. You always get a seat and your food is brought to you.

Its like Times Square on New Years Eve but with double that amount of people. It's super crowded.

Yes....expect to trip all over chairs and chair hogs on the Lido deck. People crawling around like ants. Serenity not much better. Carnival does nothing to enforce the 40 minute rule. The comedy club is a nightmare as well. Most crowded cruise I have ever experienced and I have been on many with carnival.

Yes....expect to trip all over chairs and chair hogs on the Lido deck. People crawling around like ants. Serenity not much better. Carnival does nothing to enforce the 40 minute rule. The comedy club is a nightmare as well. Most crowded cruise I have ever experienced and I have been on many with carnival.

We were on the sunshine last Thanksgiving week. Full ship. There were the bottlenecks, as mentioned above, and crowds on liddo on sea days, but I have to say, that week Carnival staff was enforcing the 40 min rule. They would tag empty chairs with stuff on them with a sticker that had a time, come back in 40 min and if the sticker was still there, they would take the stuff. I am not sure if they are still doing this or not..............

Yes....expect to trip all over chairs and chair hogs on the Lido deck. People crawling around like ants. Serenity not much better. Carnival does nothing to enforce the 40 minute rule. The comedy club is a nightmare as well. Most crowded cruise I have ever experienced and I have been on many with carnival.

If you think the serenity deck was not much better you were not on the Sunshine. It's one one the biggest and nicest in the fleet. Expands 3 decks. 2 cruises on the Sunshine and never had crowding issues especially on the Serenity deck.

We cruised this past April on the Sunshine. If we're cruising with our girls,due to their school schedule its usually April Spring break for us..We read all the bad reviews on this ship..We were prepared, although have to say, we always go in with an open mind . We loved this ship! The lido deck, have to say, i'm a sun worshiper, never had an issue finding a chair. Whether on the lido or Serenity always found chairs...we really did enjoy this ship. I would not hesitate to book again .