My Picture Review of the Carnival Sunshine 12/6/14

[JennN]

So obsessed, my MIL wanted a picture of it:

 

 

My poor wife went into the room for a nap (please, we argue all the time because I can't figure out why she just wouldn't nap on deck) and for a second time she missed something (she missed the water spout too from napping) - the bridge opening and that ship coming out!

 

LOL

 

Anyway, once in the fort we sat down for a drink as we were bogged down with liquor and sweating. I had Presidente beer (2 for $6? Sign me up!) and my MIL and wife had pina coladas.

 

 

As we were trying to cool off (the umbrellas were even equipped with misters) my MIL pulls out this gem, "I am so hot, it's raining in my crotch."

 

I've never laughed so hard!!!!

 

I think my wife is scarred for life. Or at least, was until her pina came out!

 

 

 

See how sweaty?

 

It was a very cute plaza area and we enjoyed downing out drinks, cooling off and walking back. I may or may not have run through the fountain area with a bunch of 5 year olds on the way back.

 

 

Another reason why my wife loved Curacao, besides the alcohol (Rom Berde - looks like NyQuil and IMHO tastes like it but it's locally made and is a mystery as there is no research on it!) is the cobblestone self walking Historical Tour:

 

 

She had to pay me to even take pictures of these signs as I was bored to tears!

[JennN]

In case you haven't been able to tell that I've spent 3 posts on Curacao, we really loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

Post cruise, MIL was home to Maine for 2 weeks before driving back down to Florida (stopping at our place for a few nights in the DC area) for 3 months or so - work lets her work remotely! So she bought a few Caribbean themed beach cover ups. We did that on our cruise in St. Lucia (I expressed concern, being larger, about one size fitting all and the lady said, "When I say one size fits all, I mean one size fits all" in a heavy Caribbean accent so that's a running joke too) so we know when you see one you like, you have to get it!

 

We got back on board and had a yummy lunch - my wife, for the 5th straight day in a row got pasta. I think I ate a salad and a few Havana Bar empenadas. And then we headed to Serenity, complete with a yard of mango daquiri for DW

 

 

DW went up for her nap and missed the bridge...we went and got her around 4pm to go to the spa. But weirdly enough, the two of them got in a trance from the water and well, sat and stared for a while...

 

[jolyroger]

In case you haven't been able to tell that I've spent 3 posts on Curacao, we really loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

Post cruise, MIL was home to Maine for 2 weeks before driving back down to Florida (stopping at our place for a few nights in the DC area) for 3 months or so - work lets her work remotely! So she bought a few Caribbean themed beach cover ups. We did that on our cruise in St. Lucia (I expressed concern, being larger, about one size fitting all and the lady said, "When I say one size fits all, I mean one size fits all" in a heavy Caribbean accent so that's a running joke too) so we know when you see one you like, you have to get it!

 

We got back on board and had a yummy lunch - my wife, for the 5th straight day in a row got pasta. I think I ate a salad and a few Havana Bar empenadas. And then we headed to Serenity, complete with a yard of mango daquiri for DW

 

 

DW went up for her nap and missed the bridge...we went and got her around 4pm to go to the spa. But weirdly enough, the two of them got in a trance from the water and well, sat and stared for a while...

 

Loving this review!!! And the pic of your MIL and wife, zoning out looking at the water, I almost spit out my coffee!!

[JennN]

Loving this review!!! And the pic of your MIL and wife, zoning out looking at the water, I almost spit out my coffee!!

 

it was the weirdest thing. I came out of the bathroom and they didn't even flinch! Must have been tired from the walking, lol!

 

Thanks for reading!

[J and J]

Great review, thanks for sharing... We are going on this itinerary in Aug 2015.

[mattjs]

I'm loving this review. Thank You! We were on the same sailing and it brings back nice memories. Curaçao was a highlight of our trip (well, and the water spout too!)

 

 

I've attached my picture of the spout. We had an aft balcony and were amazed at how long it lasted.

 

I was able to get a map location, we were off the tip of Haiti.

 

 

 

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[JennN]

Great review, thanks for sharing... We are going on this itinerary in Aug 2015.

 

You will have a blast!

[JennN]

I'm loving this review. Thank You! We were on the same sailing and it brings back nice memories. Curaçao was a highlight of our trip (well, and the water spout too!)

 

[ATTACH]339230[/ATTACH]

 

I've attached my picture of the spout. We had an aft balcony and were amazed at how long it lasted.

 

I was able to get a map location, we were off the tip of Haiti.

 

[ATTACH]339231[/ATTACH]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

So cool! You had a better pic than I. I hope you had as much fun as we did :)

[Khloella]

Following! We just booked a trip on the Sunshine for October.

[rocking-m-cruiser]

Enjoyed the pictures. We are thinking about the Sunshine.

[driftingaway2017]

Great Review! My daughter & I sail on the Sunshine soon and can't wait:)

[lifeisgoodPat]

Following! We just booked a trip on the Sunshine for October.

 

We are sailing to Bermuda on the Sunshine on October 2nd. It will be a first for me on the Sunshine and a first for going to Bermuda. Am doubly excited. :)

[ktinnc]

Love your reviews...mil crotch comment had me rolling lol. Cant wait for more!

 

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[JennN]

Following! We just booked a trip on the Sunshine for October.

 

We loved it!!! Hope you do too!

[JennN]

Enjoyed the pictures. We are thinking about the Sunshine.

 

If I can help you decide in any way, let me know. Especially if the pictures don't do something justice!

[JennN]

Great Review! My daughter & I sail on the Sunshine soon and can't wait:)

 

You will have a blast!!! We certainly did and hope you can tell!

[Casco Bay Kid]

Nice review. Going on Sunshine March 7

 

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[JennN]

Nice review. Going on Sunshine March 7

 

Sent from my HTC One mini using Forums mobile app

 

Thank you! I hope to have this finished this weekend but glad so many of you are reading it and getting out of it as much as I've put in!!!

[TreeLuvr87]

You know, we noticed the carpet was a bit dark in a spot, lol. Must have been you!!! That's really neat to have been in the same room. How did you like it?

 

It was my favorite room so far (though only my third cruise)! Loved the spa perks (we were able to upgrade through Early Saver to end up way up there after originally booking a balcony on deck 8) and loved being that high up for the water views. Walking down the hallway directly out to the serenity pool was my favorite part! I also liked how quiet it was with only two elevators up there. If it took too long to snag one, we'd just bounce down the stairs and catch the elevator in the big bank below.

 

Haha I can't wait to tell my husband I think someone else saw evidence of my chocolate cake hissy fit.

[JennN]

If it took too long to snag one, we'd just bounce down the stairs and catch the elevator in the big bank below.

 

Haha I can't wait to tell my husband I think someone else saw evidence of my chocolate cake hissy fit.

 

Haha! That's what we did! One of the two elevators was always out so we just walked down one flight. We LOVED being right off the Serenity deck. We spent soooo much time there!

 

Ok, gearing up to do more reviewing soon! I gotta get back on track!

[JennN]

Despite being pooped from all the walking in Curacao, we hit the Alchemy bar after dinner that night until...wait for it

 

A WHOPPING 10PM!!!

 

LOL

 

What? We are old and were thirsty. Hehe. Our favorite bartenders, Maja the master mixologist and Miro, her not-so-humble apprentice were feeling punchy (and bored since the only "rush" that happened was right before late seating) and while the Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini was my favorite, they started mixing things for us and having a competition between the two of them who was better. Some of the samplings:

 

 

 

 

No clue what they were but I drank every one! Haha.

 

Next day was a sea day. And I sat my butt down at 9am (a bit late and it showed on a sea day as our usual seats were taken) and sat on Serenity ALL DARN DAY LONG!

 

 

The only issue this day was some woman vaping right in front of us under the No Smoking sign. Look, I had no clue which one she was smoking (nicotine or not) nor do I care. I hate when people think they are above the rules and she was trying to be all sneaky but her vape thing was soooooo extravagant, it reminded me of what the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland was smoking. Luckily, she was only up there for an hour and my day of being unbothered continued.

 

I may or may not have made friends with some of the older guys who hung out in the pool with me and had a few beers. I err on the side of may have.

 

 

 

Ahhhh whale tale!

 

After sunset, MIL and I hit the spa, for a very brief 15 minutes because, wouldn't you know it, annoying people were there! Grrrr

 

 

I also danced a lot and sang a ton out loud - DJ was hot that day! Plus, I am not shy. We went to dinner, had a drink at Alchemy and ended the day on Serenity like we always do, chatting, until about 9pm.

[JennN]

I am back and DETERMINED to finish this review! Stay tuned!!!!

[JennN]

We woke up the next morning, sad that we were at the last port but super excited as we've never been to Grand Turk. I am unsure why but we really didn't do our research about Grand Turk and rented a poolside cabana. More on that later.

 

We hit Lido for breakfast before bringing it to the Havana Bar and we were met with towel animals galore!

 

 

We ate (my MIL getting her fresh squeezed OJ and me, a Cuban Coffee from the Havana Bar) and were docked and ready to rock and roll!

 

 

Again, I am not sure why we didn't do research here first about Grand Turk but my MIL booked a cabana and we went with it. One word of advice?

 

 

DO NOT DO IT!

 

The beach is free. The pool is free. And the cabana SUCKED! We didn't even know how to get there and people at Margaritaville were NOT helpful at all.

 

Service Sucked. There was one waiter for 10 cabanas and he was also taking orders from people in the chairs in front of the cabana. The inside was kind of musty. We did order food but boy did it stink.

 

I swam in the pool while and watched the wave riders while MIL eventually made her way to the beach. And when she was not back in 2 hours, we went looking for her and that's where we stayed until we were forced to board back on the Sunshine once again.

 

I got to hang out in the sun for a while to dry off before we had to go anywhere and look! Double whale tale!

 

 

The beach area was free and so nice. We didn't make it down to Jack's Shack but we didn't care! We loved the water. And while it generally freaks me out to be that close to the ship (feels like we're in dirty water?), I wasn't so freaked! The sun was shining and it was vacation!

 

 

[JennN]

We didn't have our snorkel gear with us (again, lack of research) but I randomly got some underwater shots and this was kind of neat!

 

 

We were seriously bummed to have wasted so much time at the pool because after 2 more hours in the water at the beach, we had to get back on board. The weather started to get cloudy and a storm was rolling in so we didn't feel quite as bad! The Conquest was in port too and I got some cool shots of it as we left (even got the crew on the bridge to wave to us)!

 

 

 

Yay balcony!

 

DW stayed in the room to nap and my MIL and I went to the VIFP Party - we sat really high up and I suckered myself into climbing all the way down to get up on stage to dance. Sadly, no pictures of that because I am the photographer but I did help teach a few to stage dance!

 

 

I can't say enough how great the cruise director, Jamie Dee, was. Outgoing, friendly, always a smile! I didn't even mind announcements!

 

We got dressed for dinner and I know you will be shocked to hear it but we went to Alchemy to cap off the night!

 

 

That was the only pic I got of the three of them together!

 

Afterwards (read: a whopping 9pm), DW and I got our Nooks and attempted to stay awake for a bit on the Serenity Deck but the sun? It does something to you and I think we were out there for 30 minutes before looking at one another and calling it a night.

 

 

I really wish that pool was warmer or I'd have swam. But, we were slowly heading back up north now and from the weather? You could feel it.

[JennN]

You know when you book your cruise a year or more out and that time comes when, in the pit of your stomach, you feel like it all flew by and you don't want it to end?

 

Yeah, cue our last sea day!

 

It was cold. We sat on the balcony for about 5 minutes before deciding it was too cold and we needed to go (inside) to eat.

 

 

 

Yeah, I had a little nose peel going on despite SPF 30. Luckily, I tan off!

 

So, each day we had to wake up early to go and get chairs at the pool. Just to show how cold it was (60* maybe), look at the pool area on Serenity:

 

 

EMPTY! We found a little alcove on Serenity, partially covered, to read for a few hours. it rained briefly...but then the sun came out!

 

 

But, despite the sun, people stayed indoors!

 

 

We decided to hit the spa one last time - and my pet peeve with doing so is that by the end of the trip, it doesn't even look or feel like they clean the area at all during the cruise. The floors look muddy and there is a stench. And of course, annoying people (AKA the stalkers) came in after us so we lasted 15 minutes and left.

 

We got changed and went to an early dinner, in our same spot, table 305!

 

 

I really need to take more pictures of the food and less eating because the food was pretty great on this trip and I've got nothing to show for it!