Sunshine...opinions please:) Too crowded? Good or bad?

[CHOPPERTESTER]

Sunshine was our first cruise (Destiny 1 Jan 2000) and our 25th cruise (6 Dec 2014).

 

Like JiJis at night, Mongolian Wok, Casino, Guys burgers.

 

Shows were good especially the rock guitar soloist pre-show one night.

 

Comedy club is a mess. If you have a wheelchair over 31 " wide you cannot make through the lounge. Bad, bad design.

 

Not into twerking or hip hop, nary a suitable song to found with the DJ. What no Jimmy Buffett, no Third World, Marley come on.

 

Smelled sewer odour one afternoon in our cabin washroom but then again it might have been the Blue Cantina.

 

Bonshi Sushi is another design gone wrong. No seating available for wheelchairs (all high tables). Their answer was you can always take it to go.

 

Late night pizza was good but the comfort food late night snacks were identical 8 nights in a row.

 

With the pax-to-ton ratio I wouldn't pick Sunshine again.

[SweetCheeks Cruiser]

Just returned from the Sunshine on Saturday. Like a lot of other posters/reviewers this was our least favorite ship. The cabin lacked bedside tables/fridge and stayed warm even with air cranked up high. Especially noticed it at night. If you have kids they would love the water works area but I really missed having the quieter aft pool and view. The main pool was crowed with kids playing (understandable) and the serenity pool was ice cold water. The decor was pretty but not enough comfortable relaxing spots to sit like other ships offer. The your time dining is a fiasco on this ship with people standing in long lines to check in and then scoot off to another floor to wait for their table to open up. Long wait times, we avoided it by just eating at the buffet area in the evening. As we got to know some of the workers and met up with other ones we knew from past ships it became apparent this ship is also one of their least favorites due to the low staff to passenger ratio. We love cruising and have been on many other ships and are glad we went on the Sunshine but just would not pick her again. The Breeze would be much more enjoyed in my own opinion. Enjoy your planning no matter what you end up choosing!

[primadonut]

Just returned from the Sunshine on Saturday. Like a lot of other posters/reviewers this was our least favorite ship. The cabin lacked bedside tables/fridge and stayed warm even with air cranked up high. Especially noticed it at night. If you have kids they would love the water works area but I really missed having the quieter aft pool and view. The main pool was crowed with kids playing (understandable) and the serenity pool was ice cold water. The decor was pretty but not enough comfortable relaxing spots to sit like other ships offer. The your time dining is a fiasco on this ship with people standing in long lines to check in and then scoot off to another floor to wait for their table to open up. Long wait times, we avoided it by just eating at the buffet area in the evening. As we got to know some of the workers and met up with other ones we knew from past ships it became apparent this ship is also one of their least favorites due to the low staff to passenger ratio. We love cruising and have been on many other ships and are glad we went on the Sunshine but just would not pick her again. The Breeze would be much more enjoyed in my own opinion. Enjoy your planning no matter what you end up choosing!

 

We met a lot of passengers who felt like you do on our trip. It really is too bad, so much potential with that beautiful serenity area :-)

[CnKinChatt]

Thanks all! I believe I've decided on the Breeze...hope to book tomorrow! Yay! 😊

 

 

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[sjcruiser]

We sailed on the Sunshine last summer, after having previously sailed on the Breeze the year before. We enjoyed both ships, but like the Breeze better between the two. The ships layout is alright, and we didn't have any problems getting around the ship, or finding seats out on deck (Lido or Serenity), or when eating on the Lido. The Havana Bar area is a great spot to get away from the crowds, and you can easily find seating there, especially during breakfast (2 omelet stations located back there also). It was the same for finding seats for lunch. The lack of a fridge in the room is no big deal for us, we manage with a bucket of ice. The sewage smell was stronger in some areas, than others. We did miss the exterior deck/Promenade area of Ocean Plaza that the Breeze has, but again, not a deal breaker. We made due with the exterior promenade/seating on deck three. The Red Frog Pub on the Sunshine does not serve food like on the Breeze. I didn't go to any of the shows, but spent a lot of time with family in the Liquid Lounge. I like the separate theater/club layouts on the other ships better, but again, not a deal breaker. The spa is better on the Breeze, and the Sunshine doesn't have a T-spa pool as noted in earlier post. After our cruise on the Sunshine we were trying to determine whether to go on the Breeze or Sunshine this summer. The Sunshine won due to one port of call being St. Kitts, which is new to us, and is the birthplace of a new cruiser going to with us. The ship is also going to San Juan, which will be a new port of call for some of the others that are going. The Sunshine is a great ship, especially having the 2.0 upgrades, and is easy to get around. Our decision on which ship to sail is partly decided by ship, date, price, and also by itinerary. The Breeze and Sunshine both have itineraries going to the same place this year, with 2 weeks separating the sailings, but the Sunshine cruise worked out better schedule wise for everyone who initially showed interested in going.

Edited January 28, 2015 by sjcruiser

[sjcruiser]

Thanks all! I believe I've decided on the Breeze...hope to book tomorrow! Yay! 😊

 

 

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Great decision, I think you'll love the Breeze!!!! Enjoy!!!

[RogueMonk]

Sailed the sunshine the first week of January. Loved it. Our favourite ship so far. It was clean, looked and felt new, lots of options for dining and entertainment. Also, the weather was awesome--which helps.

 

Seldom did we feel crowded.

 

Only thing we didn't like was having to walk through the casino to get front to back. Hate having to inhale the smoke.

 

Bottom line - you know yourself best. If you are not easily pleased, used to luxury, or not easily adaptable to changing situations (e.g.. weather, etc) than a cruise vacation is likely not for you. If you have enjoyed other carnival cruises, I highly recommend the sunshine.

[CnKinChatt]

Thanks to everyone for all of the input and advice! 😊 there are features of the Sunshine that attract me, however, all things & advice considered, I decided the Breeze would be a better fit for us:) We sailed the Breeze 2 years ago and loved it...soooo - we are booked June 20th on the Breeze!

 

 

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[CnKinChatt]

Thanks to everyone for all of the input and advice! 😊 there are features of the Sunshine that attract me, however, all things & advice considered, I decided the Breeze would be a better fit for us:) We sailed the Breeze 2 years ago and loved it...soooo - we are booked June 20th on the Breeze!

 

 

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[CnKinChatt]

Thanks to everyone for all of the input and advice! There are features of the Sunshine that attract me, however, all things & advice considered, I decided the Breeze would be a better fit for us:) We sailed the Breeze 2 years ago and loved it...soooo - we are booked June 20th on the Breeze! 😊

 

 

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[wdazew]

Sunshine is one of those you love it or hate it ships. If you have been on the Dream on Breeze, you are going to "feel" crowded. Venues are pushed together. For example on lido the bars and Guys/Taco bar area are very close so the lines can overlap. The theatre is SRO because so many seats were taken out. The comedy club is SRO and unless you are front and center, you end up "watching" the performer on the TV thru-out the room.

 

Pluses, Jamie Dee is awesome, serenity is 3 decks, yes 12 fills up fast but personally I prefer 14 soo much quieter and truly "serene." You do have all the 2.0 upgrades but still one of the middle of the road size ships. Hallways can get crowded faster during peak times.

 

Personally I would not go on Sunshine in the summer knowing it will be "maxed" out. Off season, if the price and ports are right then sure. But I wouldn't check out Sunshine just by itself for a cruise.