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Sunshine or not???

Rica6

By Rica6,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Rica6

Rica6

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I just booked the Sunshine for Aug. 23rd out of port canaveral and am now really regretting this decision. Mainly chose this ship because of the itinerary Aruba, Curacao , and Grand Turk. Also travelling with kids and this ship with all the new upgrades really seemed like the best combo of both ports and sea days with tons to do.

Did I make the right decision, or is the Sunshine really as bad as all the reviews I'm reading??

Spent alot of money for a balcony and an interior room, and don't want to regret not changing ships while i had the chance.

 

ADVICE PLEASE!!!

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cozumelrocks

cozumelrocks

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I was just on the Sunshine last month. I liked it so much I booked 2 more cruises on the same ship. But then again I don't let little things ruin my vacation. The ship itself is beautiful. I did not have my daughter with me on this trip but she is coming on the next trip. She will love the waterworks! Any kid who likes water will love it. I did go on the waterslides and they are fun! They only had two open when I was on the ship so we couldn't race but that is not something I will let ruin my vacation. I didn't go to the Hasbro show on the ship but the other shows were good. I liked having the 2.0 upgrades. The alchemy bar was awesome. The drinks were fantastic. I really liked the ocean plaza area and the Red Frog Pub. The staff and crew were amazing. We had excellent service in the dining room. Our steward was great. One night we asked for 2 copies of the fun times and he brought us 2 every night following which was nice for us. I was very happy with the ship, the staff and crew. I had a fantastic vacation. The only negative was on deck 5 in a little area between the casino bar and the shake spot there was a sewer smell. You couldn't smell it in the casino or in the shake spot but just this little section between. They usually had backdrops set up for pics in this area. To me it wasn't a big deal. The smell was not overwhelming but you could smell it. But again, not something I am going to let ruin my vacation.

 

I hope you enjoy the sunshine as much as I did!

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gregg204

gregg204

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You absolutely made the right decision. We sailed on the Sunshine in Nov and loved every minute of it. Don't let the negative reviews sway you. I think these people go out of there way to find the famous buckets that we never saw once. We had wonderful service and as for being over crowded, seas days were crowded but not any more than my other cruises. Enjoy!!

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Phlybice

Phlybice

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I just booked the Sunshine for Aug. 23rd out of port canaveral and am now really regretting this decision. Mainly chose this ship because of the itinerary Aruba, Curacao , and Grand Turk. Also travelling with kids and this ship with all the new upgrades really seemed like the best combo of both ports and sea days with tons to do.

Did I make the right decision, or is the Sunshine really as bad as all the reviews I'm reading??

Spent alot of money for a balcony and an interior room, and don't want to regret not changing ships while i had the chance.

 

ADVICE PLEASE!!!

 

I would avoid even a ship that seems to a have a 50/50 split in the like/hate reviews. Especially when there are other ships out there.

 

The split is even broader than that, so this is a ship we will be avoiding. Just this morning, I read a review where the smells, the leaks, and other things still on a ship that was "launched" last May.

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mzruby

mzruby

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I don't know which reviews you read - but, I have been on this ship 3 times - 2 times as Destiny and just last summer on a 12 nt Mediterranean cruise after all the renovations and upgrades were done. What a ship!! you will love it - your kids will love it - and I like your itin as well. it's definitely a good choice. stop reading and start packing...................:):):)

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gregg204

gregg204

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The split is even broader than that, so this is a ship we will be avoiding. Just this morning, I read a review where the smells, the leaks, and other things still on a ship that was "launched" last May.

 

We had a group of over 30 on the ship and not one of us experienced any of these things. Makes you wonder. Can't wait to sail on her again.

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Rica6

Rica6

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Thanks so much for your replies, I'm not one to let little things ruin my vacation. I've always smelled sewage on the ships i've been on and had some issues with cabin washrooms, service hasn't always been great and my friends daughter (who we are travelling with us again this cruise) has severe allergies and the food (which was esp prepared for her) still caused her to have reactions. Those things didnt stop us from booking with Carnival and those ships at the time had NO 2.0 upgrades. We still had a great time and enjoyed speding time with our families and eachother.

 

I've been on the Triumph 2x and the Carnival Pride. Really look forward to all the upgrades that the Sunshine has to offer. I think the kids will have way more to do on this ship than the previous ships we've been on too.

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Mysticks1

Mysticks1

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Thanks so much for your replies, I'm not one to let little things ruin my vacation. I've always smelled sewage on the ships i've been on and had some issues with cabin washrooms, service hasn't always been great and my friends daughter (who we are travelling with us again this cruise) has severe allergies and the food (which was esp prepared for her) still caused her to have reactions. Those things didnt stop us from booking with Carnival and those ships at the time had NO 2.0 upgrades. We still had a great time and enjoyed speding time with our families and eachother.

 

I've been on the Triumph 2x and the Carnival Pride. Really look forward to all the upgrades that the Sunshine has to offer. I think the kids will have way more to do on this ship than the previous ships we've been on too.

 

One thing to remember as well is that people will go out of their way to put together and post a bad review so that they have somewhere else to complain about something. A lot of the "one hit wonders" join CC just to post a thread or review with bad information. If things go great then they aren't thinking "let me post this information so others will know". If you look you will find negative reviews on all ships. Some people just aren't happy no matter what. It is a ship with lots of mechanical equipment that isn't always going to function as you want it to (just like my PC at work:)).

 

I wouldn't have a problem booking the Sunshine. I was really excited to see her come to New Orleans then decided to book a cruise and realized that the Sunshine was being replaced by the Dream. Not that I am disappointed so much in the Dream, I booked it anyways and am looking forward to it but I wanted to see that waterfall and have all the newer amenities that were put on the Sunshine. I am sure you and your family will have a wonderful time.

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cruizinisthebest

cruizinisthebest

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I booked the Sunshine way back in September. I wanted to cruise on a bigger ship than the fantasy class, out of Port Canaveral, for 7 days in the Summer. The Sunshine was a perfect fit! Having read tons of opinions both good and bad, it has not diminished my excitement one bit. And we're supposed to be going at the dreaded worst time of the year for this ship. If I listened to some posters, we'll be packed like sardines. :p

 

There are some very minor things that concern me, but there's been nothing offered up in a review that makes me question the safety of the ship. Nor does anything I've read suggest that the Sunshine won't be able to deliver a fantastic cruise vacation. You booked it. Don't go back and forth second guessing yourself. I changed sailing dates a couple of times while dealing with work schedules, but I'm so happy that we were able to settle on the Sunshine afterall. I would suggest you read some positive and objective reviews. There's plenty out there. Those that bash just for the sake of doing it must have some weird cruise ship grudge that I don't understand. Not worth me trying to anyway. You've picked (I think) Sunshine's best itinerary for the Summer. So enjoy your trip and don't look back!!

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Cruzinbabe06

Cruzinbabe06

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I was also second guessing my booking of the Sunshine. Could go on the Breeze for a cheaper price.

 

I'm going to stick with the Sunshine.

 

The itinerary is awesome. The ship is beautiful.

 

I read all the reviews, good and bad, from those who have sailed on the ship.

 

Also looked at YouTube. Your family will have a ball.

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gregg204

gregg204

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And yet people are still reporting leaks, buckets, and smells.

 

 

Maybe we were lucky but this thread represents the trend I've been seeing. 16 of the 17 posters here (you being the 1), including some of us that have actually sailed the Sunshine give the ship a favorable review or they're looking forward to their upcoming trip regardless of what they read.

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rabx5

rabx5

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I was just on the Sunshine last month. I liked it so much I booked 2 more cruises on the same ship. But then again I don't let little things ruin my vacation. The ship itself is beautiful. I did not have my daughter with me on this trip but she is coming on the next trip. She will love the waterworks! Any kid who likes water will love it. I did go on the waterslides and they are fun! They only had two open when I was on the ship so we couldn't race but that is not something I will let ruin my vacation. I didn't go to the Hasbro show on the ship but the other shows were good. I liked having the 2.0 upgrades. The alchemy bar was awesome. The drinks were fantastic. I really liked the ocean plaza area and the Red Frog Pub. The staff and crew were amazing. We had excellent service in the dining room. Our steward was great. One night we asked for 2 copies of the fun times and he brought us 2 every night following which was nice for us. I was very happy with the ship, the staff and crew. I had a fantastic vacation. The only negative was on deck 5 in a little area between the casino bar and the shake spot there was a sewer smell. You couldn't smell it in the casino or in the shake spot but just this little section between. They usually had backdrops set up for pics in this area. To me it wasn't a big deal. The smell was not overwhelming but you could smell it. But again, not something I am going to let ruin my vacation.

 

I hope you enjoy the sunshine as much as I did!

 

We just returned Sunday off of the Sunshine and that was my negative as well. We loved the layout and color scheme of the ship and would recommend it to others. The staff and crew was great.

Don't second guess yourself.

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