Sunshine comprehensive trip report 7/7/18 Eastern Caribbean

[luckybecky]

Really enjoying the review! Thanks for taking the time to post specific details!

 

Two questions:

 

How long did the taxi ride from the cruise port area to Pillory Beach take?

 

Were the bathrooms reasonably clean (and stocked with toilet paper)?

 

Thanks!

 

 

(Have only read thus far--please forgive me if these questions have already been asked and answered later)

 

I think it was about a 20 minute drive to Pillory Beach, tops. Not too far. Our taxi driver was great and gave us a nice narrative as we drove -- telling us interesting facts about the island.

 

The bathrooms were clean and were stocked with toilet paper.

 

We enjoyed our stop here. It was MUCH less crowded than the massively crowded beach at the cruise ship terminal.

 

In our opinion, it was well worth the cost of the taxi ride -- which was $8 per person. I think you could probably negotiate a better price, but at this point, after our golf cart fiasco, we were just willing to accept a nice air conditioned ride to the beach and we did not try to bargain the price down.

 

I have also heard that Governor's Beach is nice. We did not go there so I can't say. But I really do NOT like the crowded beach scene at the cruise ship terminal. That's just personal preference. It was literally wall to wall beach umbrellas and people there. This is not my idea of an idyllic beach. To each his own.

[luckybecky]

Great review! Bravo, you covered all of the bases. I learned some really good pointers. We are going on the Sunshine for a back to back Sept.8-21, out of Port Canaveral and turning Platinum. I want to thank you and am so glad that you and your family had a great time. I love to see about renting golf carts. This is my biggest fear being stranded and missing the ship. Thank you for taking us on this journey.

 

I agree with you about the fear of missing the ship! However, we almost always book our excursions on our own -- not using the cruise line excursions. I think we get much better value. Lower cost, smaller groups, and often very personalized experiences.

 

The key, I think, is to very carefully research your tour provider. I rely heavily on trip advisor and also check the recommendations here on Cruise Critic. Only go with providers who have top notch ratings.

 

When it came to Wet Money, I went against my own advice. They had a few negative reviews which did concern me a little. But I figured, if things don't work out we could just go the beach right there at the Grand Turk pier.

 

As it turned out, I should have listened to those little nagging thoughts regarding the reviews of Wet Money. They weren't a good, reliable company. But we had a backup plan and everything worked out in the long run.

 

So again I would just say make sure you read reviews and choose a reliable tour provider. Their business absolutely depends on you! If they are in the habit of getting people back to the ship late, they will be out of business very quickly. It will just take one online review from someone who missed the ship to put a company out of business. They depend on tourists.

[luckybecky]

The cooking demo is wonderful and the samples, divine ! It took me a long time to make it to one, I missed the one I tried to attend because I got there right at noon and it was full. The next cruise, I went at 1130 and waited. The samples are the same ones every time but very filling. I have to remember to skip brunch that day because the demo is only once during the cruise but brunch is every sea day. They serve a salad with fresh dressing, cream of mushroom soup, Mac and cheese and chicken breast and for dessert, a yummy tiramisu. You can count on me being there each time.

 

 

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I'm sorry we missed the demo! It sounds marvelous. We arrived 20 minutes early and we were too late - it was already full. So heads up to anyone who wants to attend this event. Allow lots of time and show up very early.

[CruizCuz]

I would like to say your photos were great. as someone who has cruised a lot which means different to many people, I think I am in the 40plus club, your tone seemed to me as negative towards carnival. Maybe your expectations are too high. To me a cruise is how you make it. Trust me I have been on several all inclusive cruises and I can find things wrong with them,. not sure if you had great time, but please pay four times what carnival charges and then write a review with your current mindset of perfection.

 

And this is why I often don't write a review. I would personally like to thank the original poster who started this thread. Too often, you either read a totally negative, or a totally positive review. I felt this review, accompanied by awesome pictures, was honest and the opinion and thoughts of the poster. I am going on the Sunshine in a few weeks. I, like the poster, will have a wonderful time regardless. However, that said, I will also stay away from the things that didn't work and veer towards the things that were recommended. My expectations are completely realistic. That doesn't mean everything will be great or even good. It doesn't mean that I will have a great time no matter what!

[KatieKatie17]

Thanks so much for allowing us to share in your memories. I enjoyed your review. It was well written, the pictures were beautiful, your family seems delightful, and I appreciate that you were able to share your experiences and perspective in a fair and balanced manner. This was helpful to me and I am sure it will be for many others who consider the Sunshine in their vacation plans.

 

All the best!:champagne-toast:

[cruzin Phillis]

Love your review. Plenty of food porn, pics and you are honest. Its good to know the downsides so that future cruisers can be informed. Having long dinner times would be a complainant for me as well and has nothing to do with "high" expectations. You was great and i will go back and look at the rest of your adventures!!!

[luckybecky]

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I'm glad the review was helpful to you. I enjoy writing reviews and reliving my trip, and I'm glad if it helps someone else with their planning.

 

Happy cruising!

[Bostwick girl]

Thank you so much for your review. We are going on a family cruise on sunshine in November, so excited about it. Some of us have cruised many times (me 21 cruises) but never on Sunshine. A couple of the adult kids have never been on a cruise, so I'm going to have them read your review so they'll really know about the ship and activities, not just the canned ones they have on Carnival. Our cruise will have 4 sea days, so they will be happy to see all the activities they can do.

[alreadypacked]

Thanks so much for allowing us to share in your memories. I enjoyed your review. It was well written, the pictures were beautiful, your family seems delightful, and I appreciate that you were able to share your experiences and perspective in a fair and balanced manner. This was helpful to me and I am sure it will be for many others who consider the Sunshine in their vacation plans.

 

All the best!:champagne-toast:

 

Agreed!

 

OP thank you again for your balanced review highlighting the various aspects of your experiences.

[matt082600]

Thanks luckybecky for your detailed, honest review!! You did a fantastic job and it was a joy to read it!! Happy sailing!!

[heffy2]

Wonderful review, Thank you so much!

[Tierlifer]

Great review. Make that outstanding !!!

 

Just got off my first cruise last Thursday and loved it. (Liberty). We did not eat in any of the fancy or main dining areas once. We did the buffet every night and loved the food. We are t-shirt, blue collar jeans and t-shirt type people and did not feel like even dressing up remotely nice to attend so we said screw it and did the buffet every night. Loved it. I think next cruise we will try sit down dinner one of the nights however.

[aceoutwide120]

I really enjoyed your review. The DW and I will be sailing on the Sunsine in a few weeks.

 

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[ruthie0704]

I am loving your review ! We leave on The Sunshine on September 8th. We sailed her last voyage as the Destiny before they sent her to be transformed into The Sunshine. I am in shock that I read in your review that there isn't a dedicated nightclub. That is very disappointing. ! Thank you for the heads up on that ! Keep the great review coming !

 

DH and I are sailing her on September 8th too!

[ruthie0704]

Thanks for sharing your cruise with us. I thoroughly enjoyed your review and pictures. Sailing her on September 8th with DH and cannot wait!

[ProgRockCruiser]

Delurking, just because of this review...

 

Thanks for the review! I appreciate the level-headed pros and cons of the various aspects you experienced.

 

We've been on a couple of (much shorter) Carnival cruises, which we enjoyed completely, and we are looking forward to our first long cruise in December, an 8-day Eastern Carib.

 

We already have reservations at the Steakhouse (embarkation day, so we need to have "nice" clothes in our carry on "just in case"), and will probably explore JiJi's one of the evenings.

 

If we can ever tear ourselves away from the Alchemy bar, maybe we'll catch the comedy show one night...

[FabFlo]

Thank you for your thorough review. We'll be doing a family cruise on November 2nd, and we can't wait!!

[stacied68]

Wonderful review so far!!! The pictures are fabulous. Thank you so much.

 

We'll be on the Sunshine next April. The last time we were on the ship was in 2006 when she was the Destiny. Looking forward to reading about the ports. We've never been to St. Kitts.

 

 

We will be on the April 6th sailing.

[rascaldog]

Great review, I was on the Sunshine the week after you and had an overall good time. I do agree that JI JI's is the best, I went to the Steak House 2 nights, JI JI's 2 nights, and the Italian 1 night. I could have gone back to JI JI's again it was so good. thanks again for the great review.