RCCL Fan Solo on Carnival Sunshine

[jbhcw]

Great review!! Thanks so much for posting...and the acts of kindness is a wonderful thing...we need more of that in our world today:)

[laedw]

Maureen, I'm a RCCL loyalist but after reading your Carnival review, I may cancel my RCCL cruise and book a cruise on Carnival! The thought of not paying a single supplement is an incentive I can't pass up!:D I can't wait to read more about your cruise.

[Mrsfabo]

You have a beautiful soul ok so I'm a huge carnival cruiser 8 so far now I'm going on an RCCL cruise what would be the biggest thing I should remember to pack?

 

 

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[laedw]

You have me hooked on your review! Is there more? :)

[keeponcruising]

I'm patiently waiting for more to come also.

[Yorkvillain]

I'm patiently waiting for more to come also.

 

I think Maureen secretly went on another cruise and didn't tell us!

[maureencruiser]

Alright, all caught up. Hilarious as always.

 

Do you want to tie Boston and cruising together for your license plate? How about 617CRZR or CRZR617?

 

Or...CRUIZUH ?

 

My favorite villain! And, I see everyone is a comedian, windjamming! :D I think I will see if wrk2crz is still available in January when I need to register again.

 

Thanks to all of you who liked the 26 acts, that means a lot to me to spread the word. As you can see, it doesn't have to be much, it's truly the thought that counts. If anyone is interested, you can get the printable cards at milkandcookiesblog.com. Thanks to the lady there that made them. Sorry to everybody for not coming back sooner. I'll try to get more done now and hopefully :rolleyes: finish this week.

[maureencruiser]

I think Maureen secretly went on another cruise and didn't tell us!

 

I wish! I almost got to go over July 4th weekend, but, airfare would cost over $500. The pharmacy that dares not speak its name said Rhonda and I could both be off long enough to jump on the Sensation for 3 nights. Anybody driving from VA to Canaveral looking to help 2 broke girls? LOL! :D

[maureencruiser]

So, after my nap, I wandered around a little looking for some excitement. Somehow, for me, excitement always seems to mean food.

 

 

Strawberries wearing tuxedos!

 

The cookies looked good, too.

 

 

 

I ended up by the Red Frog Pub.

 

 

 

One pitfall of cruising solo, there is no one to take your picture in the stocks.

 

 

Live thirsty, my friends.

 

 

I liked the look of this place, it seemed comfy to me.

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

They had checkers in there.

 

 

 

Or foosball, for those craving a bit more excitement.

 

 

 

 

I'm always in search of a bargain.

 

 

 

I smelled food, so, I went to see what the Taste Bar was offering.

 

 

 

 

 

Such treats, it would be rude to not take any.

 

 

 

Never let it be said that I was a rude guest.

[maureencruiser]

After my nibble, I saw more strawberries, made to look like mice this time.

 

 

That made me think of chocolate, so, I headed to the pool deck for another ice cream cone! My word, this was rapidly becoming a theme. That made me thirsty, so, I stopped by the Blue Iguana Tequila Bar for another frosty drink. I don't remember what it was, but, it sure looked good.

 

 

 

While there, I watch the Red vs Blue Tequila challenge and the hairy chest competition.

 

 

 

No lime shortage on Carnival, Royal Caribbean! :p

 

They were having the Love and Marriage show at 2:30 in the afternoon, which was a little different, but, when in Rome.......... On the way there, I saw this shirt.

 

 

 

 

So cute!

 

 

At the show, I saw a girl dressed like a flamingo and she let me take her picture.

 

[maureencruiser]

I now interrupt this review for a rant about everyone's favorite topic- the toilet!

 

 

 

For some bizarre reason, the toilet is at an ungodly angle in the bathroom, so, that even someone like me with short legs, has to put their left foot IN the shower to sit on the toilet. Here is the absurdity from inside the shower.

 

 

 

This photo also reveals the toilet brush, which I never noticed, so, obviously unlike another poster, I did not feel like the steward left it in my room for me to clean the toilet. ;)

 

The toilet paper was on the wall behind the toilet over my left shoulder, which required an audition with Cirque du Soleil every time I went to the bathroom! :mad:

 

Being a resourceful New Englander, I quickly came up with my own, much more convenient toilet paper holder.

 

 

 

 

So, that was my number one complaint about the bathroom. And, my number two complaint. :D

[maureencruiser]

I hit the buffet again for dinner, again it was uncrowded and quite peaceful.

 

 

 

I don't remember what this was, some kind of steak and some kind of pork? Obviously, potatoes and pasta. I AM Irish, after all, I have to carb load at every meal.

 

The Camp Carnival children had their own spot in the buffet and even their own buffet.

 

 

 

 

Hmmm, the peas and carrots seemed to be going over like, well......peas and carrots .:p That's right, kids, don't eat them, they're poison!

 

I would say there were about 40 kids in there eating. They were separated, girls at certain tables and boys at other ones. I don't know if this was planned or just where they chose to sit. They all seemed to be well behaved and getting along until one boy just reared back and threw his chocolate milk at another boy. Neither one of them seemed too upset about it, but, I started having flashbacks to my table mate sending the deluge in my direction at brunch and got the hell out of there.

 

I sat out by the pool and enjoyed my chocolate peanut butter pie.

 

 

 

Readers of my previous reviews will notice it took me 24 hours to find milk on Carnival. Now, if I only knew where they kept the cartons.......

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Everybody must have been eating, the pool deck was deserted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nobody at the bar? On a cruise? Maybe Carnival cruisers are all Mormons? ;)

 

 

The show that night was a Motown tribute and it was great fun. It turned out my good looking lifeboat captain was one of the singers. It was a lot of fun and the crowd really enjoyed it. After the show, the party spilled out into the lobby area. This couple had just gotten married. I couldn't get a picture of the two of them at the same time, but, here is the bride.

 

 

 

And the groom. I couldn't figure out what country that uniform was from.

 

 

 

 

While enjoying the party, a woman came up to me and asked me to be in their family picture because I was wearing the same color they were. She said, It will be so funny! Well, it did come out kind of funny, so, of course, I had to buy it.

 

 

 

 

That's the troublemaker behind me. The funny thing was, I didn't know it at the time, but, the second woman from the left was someone I had been talking to on Facebook and had actually friended. After the cruise, I sent her this picture and she loved it.

[maureencruiser]

I had also taken a picture with Michele from Texas.

 

 

 

Now, you can't tell from this picture, but, she is a good foot taller than I am. We both joke about how precious we look in this photo. :p

 

After the party, I went down to my cabin for a glass of wine then I went back and saw the show again. This man was a fixture at every show and event. He danced the whole time waiting for the show to start and even got to participate in a few of the shows.

 

 

 

After that show, I went to the comedy show, twice, at 10:15 and 11:15. It was Tony both times, but, a different show each time and it was also very funny.

 

I had a new friend waiting for me in my cabin.

 

 

 

 

Look who thinks he's Hannibal, all of a sudden.

[Tee & Chilli]

Hi Maureen,

 

I'm loving this review. I've read your reviews on the RCCL board. I'm headed on the Sunshine in Sept and your review is perfect timing.

 

Sorry to hear you had to cancel Alaska. I'm going solo on the Radiance May 2015. Check out the rates...

Edited June 15, 2014 by TeeChi

[Tebsaunt]

Loving this review!

 

 

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[matondo]

And the groom. I couldn't figure out what country that uniform was from.

 

I believe he is a captain in the United States Air Force. If he is in the USAF, he really should not be wearing a flower on his uniform, just saying'.

 

I think it would be so much fun to get married on a cruise.

[matondo]

Whoops hit submit reply before I was ready.

 

I love, love, love your review. I am going to read your other reviews, thank you for including the link in your signature!:)

[maureencruiser]

The next morning arrived quickly and it was Key West Day! I decided on breakfast in the Dining Room, without my friend this time.

 

 

 

A little Eggs Benny and I was ready to face the day,

 

 

 

I had big plans for key West. I was going to the Key West Winery and the Key West Pretzel company. Unfortunately, my feet were not cooperating, they were on fire. So, I settled for meandering along Duval St. instead.

 

We had company, the Ecstasy was here.

 

 

 

 

I saw the World's Smallest Bar.

 

 

 

 

I followed this man so I could take this picture.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

 

No comment.

 

 

 

It'd be nice living in Key West, though. :D

 

When I was here in December, I had gotten a shell with my name on it and I wanted to get some as gifts for some folks. Two of the names were common enough, but, three were fairly unusual, so, I knew they would have to be custom ordered. I had tried to find the cart online, so, I could pre-order them, but, no luck.

 

Well, I found the cart easily enough and the girl said they could make the three in an hour and a half, so, what should I do to kill some time?

 

I decided to get a drink. The Hard Rock Cafe looked cute.

 

 

 

 

But, I saw the Fat Tuesday and remembered you get a discount if you bring their glass for a refill, and both Nassau and Freeport have a Fat Tuesday, so, economics won out.

 

 

 

 

So many choices.

 

 

 

 

So little time.

 

 

 

I had a Dirty Monkey, chocolate and banana, it was yummy.

[PathfinderEss]

Enjoying your review and wonderful photo's. Thanks.

[windsbud]

Great review. I find myself laughing out loud often! Especially the family photo. That was EPIC!!!

[jsfromsc]

Thoroughly enjoying your review. Thanks! :D

[mick9589]

Maureen, I'm sailing this exact itinerary in October...I'd love to hear more about the name shells in Key West! Really enjoying your review...thanks for writing!