Sunshine Review 4-29-2016

[brooklynfc]

I normally will do a more involved report with pictures and such, but I think a quicker summary is probably good.

 

With that said, in my past reviews, I hope that it shows that I'm very easy going and not much gets to me and a fan of the Carnival product. Knowing that, I hope what I write is taken with a grain of salt.

 

First off I'm 32 years old (that gives you an idea of my mindset) and I took this cruise with several friends (our group was 6 total) all in the same age range. All of us with past experience cruising with Carnival. Some of us with experience with other cruiselines.

 

This was the most money I've spent on a cruise in the 7 I have sailed on with Carnival, including an aft wrap balcony, I paid a single rate for.

 

Boarding: Boarding was smooth for us because we got there at about 10am and literally walked through the door, security and into the F2F line and were seated all in a 15 min. time frame. Slowly, the room started filling........and filling and filling. The new cruisers next to me asked if this was normal and I said that typically we would have boarded no later than 12pm, but it was already very close to that time and no such luck. FINALLY they made an announcement that the coast guard was running a drill and delaying boarding. I'm fine with that, not Carnival's fault. Eventually, P & D was called, then a standstill as we heard the card machines were down. Finally moving again, then other priority boarding, including us. We were onboard and to our room by 1pm. On the other hand, our friends had been stuck outside in the heat in the line to even get in the building because the delay caused the building to hit capacity and no one was allowed in until they cleared guest inside.

 

F2F: We did get through check out quickly and in all technicality we did board before others, but we didn't have a tender port, I didn't need guest services and our luggage didn't get to our room til after 7pm when our friend's luggage was delivered shortly after they got to their room (no F2F). I didn't complain or ask for a refund, because it did do at least part of what it was supposed to.

 

Room: We had 7330 aft and it was a nice room, no age really showing on it. However, in my mind, it was a little smaller than I thought my previous balconies were. HOWEVER, I have mostly sailed newer and bigger ships, so this might be where things are different. Still a pretty room with a nice balcony and a great team of stewards. The showers are "longer" so that was nice, but when you use the bathroom, one foot is in the shower, no a huge thing, but once or twice my shoes got wet. Again, not a big deal, but there were times that a strong "fried food" smell could be smelled in the cabin. I can only assume from the Havana Cabana on deck 9? Overall, it wasn't a bad room.

 

Ship: I AM USED TO THE BIGGER CARNIVAL SHIPS *disclaimer*

The sunshine for the most part is a pretty ship. She has some areas that are great and very nice. But I'm used to the bigger ships and she was a little chopped up for me. People were constantly wondering around trying to find places and getting off on the wrong floor for dinner because you can't walk straight through the decks. My friend was late for dinner one night because she got lost. She kept going to the dining room at the front of the ship and couldn't figure out why she couldn't get to the aft dining room. On land, I'm TERRIBLE with directions, but on a ship, I tend to find my barrings very quickly. I was constantly correcting my friends on which direction to go to get places. And helping a lot of people who got off elevators confused.

 

There was some repairs that this ship needed and I guess you can say, "good thing she was going into dry dock." Yes, she needed some TLC. We went to the piano bar one night and went to open the door, the handle came off and just hung there. My friend leaned against a railing in the elevator and it came off the wall. My other friend stepped on a piece of floor in the hallway and almost fell because the floor gave in so much. The AC, midship was completely gone. We walked through there a few times to go to the gangway and it was stifling. Not to mention, we avoided the casino elevators because there was no air circulating in them.

 

Spaces: I think the lounge and dance club being once space is great. It was a different atmosphere and saved space. However, many nights, the "dance club" was closed due to a late show. There were a lot of spaces "hidden" on deck 4. But again, I'm so used to the ocean plaza, promenades on bigger ships having a "one stop shop" that my view is very skewed.

 

Outside wasn't much better. I have NEVER seen so much chair hogging in my 7 cruises. And I will openly admit that though I normally follow rules and ride on my high horse when it comes to it, on this occasion, I did not. After watching chairs for 45 min. and no one sitting down, we asked the stuff to be removed. The crew refused because the tag was gone, so someone must have removed it, which meant they sat down and another tag should be placed and another 45 min. wait. So, the next morning, my friends were up and out at 7am and found 6 chairs to save for us. I was there by 9am. This continued for lounges and everything. Sorry, pretty much NO ONE was following the rules, I felt no obligation to get on my high horse about it.

 

Crew: I feel sorry for the crew on this voyage. I'm going to throw this out there and its my opinion and assumption. Although, I must say when I talked about things with other cruising friends of mine, they jumped to the same conclusion before I said anything.

I think Carnival ghosted the crew on this cruise. I think because she was going to dry dock and min. crew would be needed to house the construction crew and such, they took a lot of the crew off and moved them to other contracts or sent them home.

Several occasions, I saw frustrated crew members seemingly doing double the work. 2 waiters in the lounge at night for shows walking around. Even if I'm used to a bigger ship, there are usually 6 on bigger ships, why not 4 on this one? Bartenders at the bars were overwhelmed by the amount of people sitting around waiting to be served. Our friends had the cheers program and would often wait up to 30 mins. to get a drink. We waited 40 mins. in the dining room one night for a server who walked past us 4x. (Yes we did ask for her and yes we did let the M D know).

Seaday brunches were a mess. We waited an hour to get food, they brought us just one set of rolls then took the basket to another table. Our friends sat down after us, and never got to finish their meal.

I could give you 3 more examples of a skeleton crew, but I think you get the point. I DON'T blame the workers. I blame Carnival, as I REALLY think my assumption is correct.

 

However, my room stewards were great! MDR staff was great! Other random staff was great!

 

Shows: From what I saw and we say 3-4 between lounge shows and comedy, they were good shows. As a theatre major, I wish they'd bring back real staging and stop this digital stuff, but that's a preference from someone who is a little old school.

 

CD and entertainment staff: There was one DJ, a trainee I think, that kind was bad, but other than that...........I think they were all fun.

 

Journeys: I can't say much here. Honestly, they had what they said they would, but I really didn't take advantage of it. So, if you are taking a Journey's cruise, its not going to be in your face stuff, you have to make an effort to participate. Not that I didn't know that, but just FYI.

 

 

I realize, this is A LOT of negative, but I'm gonna be honest.........this is my first bad experience with Carnival. I really like the product and the company. 7 cruises says I do. And YES, I'm going on more cruises with them, in case you can't see my signature, I have two booked. 1 bad out of the 8 total..........its not that bad of odds. I will throw this up to a few things:

 

1. I obviously like the bigger ships, so I will stick to them from now on

2. She was going into dry dock which could attribute for a few things

3. Probably a total fluke

 

I met great people and YES I still had fun! But as a loyal consumer of Carnival I was disappointed that previous expectations were not met. And YES I did let them know after I got back. I wrote them an email that I thought was fair and understanding, but definitely let them know how I felt. And YES, they did respond and I was happy with how they responded to me. And YES, I booked my two cruises before they responded.

 

So, I'm sorry to you Sunshine lovers and I apologize for the negativity, but I can't openly give positive recommendations for something I didn't honestly enjoy. But PLEASE take what I'm saying with a grain of salt and remember this is one person's experience and probably a fluke.

 

STAY CALM AND CRUISE ON! :D

[Clarea]

Appreciate the feedback.

[csharp419]

When is she going to dry dock. We leave June 15

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[riclop]

Thanks for the review.

[tandemcruzr]

We were on this cruise as a second leg of our B2B. This was our 3rd B2B on the Sunshine.

 

We had no negatives to report. MDR staff was great; Cabin Steward team was great; Alchemy crew was great; Guest Services team always responded to all our questions/requests.

 

I agree with your complaint about saving chairs, but we look for shade at our age and found no problems on deck 3 outside of Guest Services.

[Keith1010]

Thanks for the review.

Keith

[Bookbug53]

When is she going to dry dock. We leave June 15

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

 

Should be finishing up. She went in May 8. A 2 week dry dock.

[brooklynfc]

Yea, like I said, its my personal experience with the ship. Others didn't have any problems or very little issues. I just wasn't impressed. Lesson learned, I'm going back to the class of ships with Carnival. :D

[tandemcruzr]

In addition to the Coast Guard inspection, there was a couple -- son and mother -- who were being continually paged to report to Guest Services.

 

Those of us who were doing the B2B were sitting in the Atrium waiting to be led off the ship, go through Customs and return. But since there were 2 passengers who had not left the ship, we were not cleared.

 

Finally the 2 -- son in mid 40s and elderly, handicapped mother -- reported to Guest Services and said they didn't know they had to be off this early (it was now around 11am or a little past.)

 

Once they dinged out, we were led out to go through Customs. They were still at the top of the gang way being advised they had to fill out their Customs Form and appeared to be very confused.

[crusinpsychRN]

I was on her early April and the Serenity filled up by 7am on 2 decks, mostly people were in the chairs.

 

Outdoor smoking area is next to a giant fan sucking thing, very noisy. Deck 5 was much nicer.

 

So many things I didn't get to do like Alchemy Bar. Lots of people played trivia.

[Ms. Fun Bunch]

Thanks for your review!

[classylady59]

Anyone been on Sunshine recently and have photos?