Sept. 24 Carnival Sunshine Sailing

[Maraprince]

 

 

 

Just returned yesterday from our 9/24 Carnival Sunshine sailing!

 

Loved the cruise. Everyone went over and above to make the sailing memorable.

 

Carnival came through with our M & G , took a group photo and gave us a free copy of it.:)

 

Loved, loved the sailing except for the cooler than expected indoor temps on the ship. Learned after the first night on board to wear layers. Our cabin on deck 5 was just after Ocean Plaza around the corner from the elevators where the cold temps just smacked you in the face. Had the engineer check our cabin temps and he turned off all the air from the overhead vent. Also I asked our cabin steward for extra blankets. Slept in layers after the first night when the indoor temps seemed to drop around 3 or 4 AM. My cousin awoke shivering and could not get back to sleep. I had trouble sleeping because I was also shivering from the cold. Once we learned the "secret" of wearing socks, adding a polar fleece jackets under the extra blankets we slept very well for the rest of the sailing. You would see some passengers wearing outside jackets around the ship!

 

Of course, we were assigned to the mid ship dining room and for the first 2 nights we kept arriving at the back dining room! Once we "discovered" the hidden elevators on the other side of the casino by the restroom it was easy to arrive at our dining room table. All of our dining companions had the same problem. The hostess of the other dining room told us, "You don't belong here" twice. Luckily the third night we arrived at the correct dining room. One of dining companions latched onto a waiter in the wrong dining room and had him take her to the correct dining room! Gave us a good laugh! To add to the confusion, the dining rooms were named Sunrise and Sunset! Couldn't they just call them East and West to make more of a distinction?

 

Had great table mates as was everyone we met on board. Great service staff. Had to watch our waiter since he would give you extras on appetizers, ice cream, desserts and even main courses while you were busy talking to the others at the table. Near the kitchen so our food arrived quickly and was always hot. One night we were eating a little slower and were not ready for the main course. Our waiter took back to the kitchen to reheat it. That was so considerate! Seemed everyone went that extra step to make the cruise good.

 

So much entertainment on board everywhere that you could not see it all. Our CD seemed to have non stop energy and knew how to get passengers involved. Glad we did not have to worry about the new hurricane. Our only complaint was the cooler than expected indoor temps. Great, Great cruise!!!!!!

 

MARAPRINCE

[woodman]

Thanks for sharing with us. We have been on the Sunshine 3 times and have always had a great cruise. I feel like the food on the Sunshine is some of the best we have had on Carnival. We remember being kind of cool in teh public areas as well. Better cool then hot IMHO. Harry Cruising

[Maraprince]

Carnival really has a true children's program while at least on the N. Gem only the first 20 children registered can participate. Plus, they have to register every day. Children who don't make it, are unhappy as are their parents. As a result, all the activities are family oriented and not much for adults without children. You see the main production show and all that is available is the casino, various bars, or the piano bar which is positioned in an open area with people passing by and sometimes drowning out the performer with their loud talking. The Sunshine has lots more entertainment in various areas of the ship. While the Sunshine's atrium is smaller, they make better use of it with dancing on all 3 levels and the CD dancing on top of the bar. You also have performers in the Red Frog Bar, Red Frog Pub and the Havana Bar, Piano bar.

 

Even though we have a credit for a future NCL cruise, we would rather lose the money and go with another Carnival cruise. No comparison between the 2 lines. Plus, there is a world a difference between type of passengers on both lines. Carnival's passengers talk to you and are willing to share table space. NCL's passengers seem to have an "attitude" regarding sitting and or dining with "strangers". During the first 2 days we met, chatted and shared tables at breakfast and lunch with more people than then entire NCL cruise!:eek: I was even hugged by a stranger who shared table space in the buffet on our first sea day!!! We met such a nice family from New Mexico and kept running into them during the voyage. We even shared table space in the buffet upon boarding with a nice Asian couple who didn't speak much English but tried to communicate as best they could.

 

Our table mates were from Texas, Hawaii and PA. There was a fairly large group from French Polynesia who sang songs at the end of dinner every night and the women worn mumus and wore flower crowns on their heads.

 

MARAPRINCE

Edited October 2, 2016 by Maraprince

[Shirleybird]

Thanks for the review. And glad to know that packing a sweater is not a dumb idea.

[riclop]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[easyboy]

Thanks for the feedback.

[rjrpar]

Carnival really has a true children's program while at least on the N. Gem only the first 20 children registered can participate. Plus, they have to register every day. Children who don't make it, are unhappy as are their parents. As a result, all the activities are family oriented and not much for adults without children. You see the main production show and all that is available is the casino, various bars, or the piano bar which is positioned in an open area with people passing by and sometimes drowning out the performer with their loud talking. The Sunshine has lots more entertainment in various areas of the ship. While the Sunshine's atrium is smaller, they make better use of it with dancing on all 3 levels and the CD dancing on top of the bar. You also have performers in the Red Frog Bar, Red Frog Pub and the Havana Bar, Piano bar.

 

Even though we have a credit for a future NCL cruise, we would rather lose the money and go with another Carnival cruise. No comparison between the 2 lines. Plus, there is a world a difference between type of passengers on both lines. Carnival's passengers talk to you and are willing to share table space. NCL's passengers seem to have an "attitude" regarding sitting and or dining with "strangers". During the first 2 days we met, chatted and shared tables at breakfast and lunch with more people than then entire NCL cruise!:eek: I was even hugged by a stranger who shared table space in the buffet on our first sea day!!! We met such a nice family from New Mexico and kept running into them during the voyage. We even shared table space in the buffet upon boarding with a nice Asian couple who didn't speak much English but tried to communicate as best they could.

 

Our table mates were from Texas, Hawaii and PA. There was a fairly large group from French Polynesia who sang songs at the end of dinner every night and the women worn mumus and wore flower crowns on their heads.

 

MARAPRINCE

 

 

If you really believe there is a vast difference between Carnival and NCL cruisers, you are very naive. Most cruisers on mass market cruise lines are very similar, with age being a possible exception on lines like HAL. Don't be so quick to judge and categorize people .

Glad you enjoyed your cruise

 

 

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