Conquest vs. Sunshine

[Jenhem31]

I currently have a 6 day on Conquest booked but for $51 more we could go on an 8 day southern on the Sunshine. I've heard so many negatives on the Sunshine and wondered what everyone's opinions are.

 

I know Conquest doesn't have Serenity and that's ok. The Sunshine serenity area looks amazing.

 

We've been on Paradise once and Breeze twice.

 

Don't care about steakhouse but looking forward to Alchemy!

 

We are doing our first ocean view room. We've always had a balcony. On the Conquest we are on deck 2 but all that's left on Sunshine is deck 1. We are concerned about noise. We prefer aft.

 

Thanks!

[RoscoeJames]

I love both ships and prefer the Sunshine and the 8 day itinerary makes it a no brainier. Been on the Conquest twice based on the ports and length but had balconies so I can't comment on the location. The serenity deck on the Sunshine is the best I have ever seen as are the restaurants.

[realjd]

We've been on both, and both are excellent ships. We liked the Sunshine slightly better, and the 8 day trip makes it an easy decision in my mind.

 

We didn't find the Sunshine crowded at all, which is what the bad reviews tend to say. We were actually surprised to see it was one of the few cruises we've been on where we had no problem finding lounge chairs near the pool, even mid-day.

 

We've done bottom deck rooms on the Ecstacy and Sensation and had no issues with noise if that makes you feel better. Actually the noisiest room we had was on the Sunshine because we were directly under the gym.

Edited December 30, 2015 by realjd

[Jenhem31]

Honestly the only things that are holding me back are deck 1 and the crowded ship. I'm glad to hear deck 1 isn't so bad. I don't care about vibration but I'm imagining it sounding like the engine is inside our room. I think we will book the 8 day. Plus, it's a southern itinerary which I'm super excited about!

[kingoftheicedragons]

I've been on both ships, and Sunshine is by far the better of the two. I don't book cruises based on the ship, unless multiple ships do the same itinerary from similar home ports at about the same time of year.

 

I think that you are making the right decision to switch to Sunshine. After sailing on Sunshine, the Conquest just seems old and not as exciting to me, especially when it comes to food choices. Having sailed on Sunshine, I don't understand any of the negative reviews.

 

We normally sail on decks one and two as well, and have never had any major issues with the cabin...plus, it's so much easier when coming back from shore.

[castephens]

I have an oceanview on deck 1 of the sunshine booked for March 5th. We have a family of 5 and always have a balcony but all they had for 5 people was the oceanview. Oh well it will still be a great trip. We have never sailed on the sunshine!

[fam2cruise]

Been on both and the Sunshine was my favorite of the two. We were on deck 5, one of the new aft rooms they added there, so I can't comment about noise on deck 1. 8 days sounds great though!!!

 

Edited to add: make sure you try JiJi!!!

Edited December 30, 2015 by fam2cruise

[A&Jfamily]

Take the Sunshine - hands down. She is our favorite ship! And no - it doesn't feel "crowded." Nor does it have that awful smoke smell from the Conquest casino that you are forced to endure on deck 5, and down into the lobby and up the middle stairs, when you need to get from one end of the ship to the other.

 

One of things that you will notice is because the comedy venue is smaller, lines form for the shows. The club also has some obstructed views. It was one of the tradeoffs they had to make to get it there. But there are so many pluses from the sports square to JiJi's to Cuchina to sushi to the water park.

 

We never found lines except at comedy, and only one night did we chose not to wait and went to the piano bar instead. Just go 15-25 minutes before show starts. And to avoid other lines, avoid the popular places at popular times. Lido deck buffet at 12, and sea day brunch at 1030 is gonna have a line no matter what ship you are on....

[familycruzr]

We had a outside room on deck 1 aft of the Sunshine, when it was the Destiny. There were no noise problems.

[Jenhem31]

Been on both and the Sunshine was my favorite of the two. We were on deck 5, one of the new aft rooms they added there, so I can't comment about noise on deck 1. 8 days sounds great though!!!

 

Edited to add: make sure you try JiJi!!!

 

 

What's JiJi?!?!

[A&Jfamily]

JiJi's is a nominal fee ($10-$12) Asian fusion restaurant at dinner; at lunch they serve different Asian food - like mongolian wok. Dinner is served family style where you get X number of appetizers, Y entrees and Z desserts depending on the number in your party. Check out their menu on line - some of the best Asian food I have ever had and it provides a nice sampling from different regions. It is well worth the fee for dinner, and I believe that Sunshine is the only ship that currently has this.

 

Also, Sunshine has the Havana bar at the back of the ship. Very few people seem to discover this area, at least for a while. In the morning and at lunch they offer different cuban "snack" foods appropriate to the meal. At lunch for example they will have empanandas and cubans. Usually 4 different things to try. Breakfast has different pastries. Really, really good.

[Jenhem31]

Well, we've officially ditched the Conquest and booked Sunny. I feel much more confident now and appreciate all the responses. I think we will love it and if being on deck 1 is my biggest problem then I think I'm doing ok.

[PCHENG]

It is nice to hear all the positive comments about the Sunshine from people who had sailed on the Conquest. I just got off the Conquest 12/20/15 and had a good time (not great but good). I am now booked on the Sunshine for the Thanksgiving week of 2017 but was initially nervous from all the horror stories about overcrowding, leaky ceiling, sewage smell and what not. Your comments really put my mind at ease.

[7upp]

I was on Sunshine in Jan 2015... It's a great ship. Never had problem with crowding.