Sunday, March 31, 2024

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship: Review, Photos & Departure Ports on Cruise Critic

carnival cruise ship sunshine reviews

In Charleston, Carnival Sunshine will replace Carnival Ecstasy (to be relocated to Jacksonville Florida), while the Jacksonville-homeported Carnival Elation will be repositioned to Port Canaveral FL. The designated areas for each age group were spacious and offered plenty of seating. Though they had separate entrances, the spaces were close enough that pick-up and drop-off would be easy for families with kids checked into different areas. The ship's quieter adults-only Serenity Deck area was midship on decks 11 and 12 and overlooked the main pool area.

Interior with Picture Window (Walkway View)

I prefer interior room because I love how dark it gets and makes it easy to sleep. Our steward was awesome and constantly made sure we were good. More than enough room for the two of us and being on the 7th deck middle, we didn’t hear anything for other decks. You can also opt for extra-charge valet laundry and dry-cleaning service, which your cabin steward will handle for you. Expect to pay per piece, with prices running from $2 (for an undergarment or pair of socks) to $15 (for a two-piece suit).

Aging ship and bad food

carnival cruise ship sunshine reviews

Launched in 1996 as Carnival Destiny, the ship received an overhaul and a new name in 2013. The glow-up brought added attractions and venues found on newer Carnival vessels. The common denominator among passengers was that everyone was ready to celebrate something.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The shows are one of my favorite parts of cruising with Carnival. I've enjoyed Latin-themed performances ("Amor Cubano"), British music tributes ("The Brits") and an art-infused journey through music and dance ("Color My World"). Karaoke events were held in the Ocean Plaza area in between the Alchemy Bar and RedFrog Pub. The openness of the space provided optimum participation from passengers and performers, so a lively crowd was always on hand to sing along. The Alchemy Bar on Carnival Sunshine is situated just off the popular Ocean Plaza area, the place to be for trivia games, karaoke and live music.

Port Reviews

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Sure, you'll spot signs of wear and tear befitting an older ship, but the dings in my cabin furnishings were easy to overlook. What you come away with is the distinct feeling that there has been a quiet revolution going on, with a triumph of style over tack. In fact, there are certain areas of the ship, such as the Library Bar, Java Blue, Havana Bar, Fahrenheit 555 and Ji Ji, where you'd be hard pressed to tell this was even a Carnival ship. In rooms with a balcony, you'll find a pair metal-and-plastic mesh chairs and a small table on the veranda. Balconies are a decent depth, and we were able to read comfortably while outside.

Great Service with Mediocre Experience

And you’ll get more of them, too, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of looking-glass for gazing at the natural wonders of the sea… and let’s not forget sunrise and sunset. Find out which fun ingredients — staterooms, dining, activities — go into each deck. Carnival's South Carolina annual cruise shipping volume is approx 220,000 passengers.

A Captain’s Suite aboard Carnival Sunshine features tons of indoor space, and a huge balcony when you need a little more. Back inside you’ll find a king-size bed, two full bathrooms (one with whirlpool tub), plus a separate living room that sleeps another three. The 345-square-foot Grand Suites, which have 85-square-foot balconies, are each one big room with a larger L-shaped sofa and a large closet in a separate room adjoining the bathroom.

How much does it cost to go on Carnival Sunshine?

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Similarly, since rough seas canceled the tech rehearsal, the "Epic Rock" production on the second night became an "unplugged" version with performers singing from stools on stage. While not ideal, it was another example of the flexibility and upbeat attitude of Carnival staff. Even without a full-on performance, the quality of vocal talent was undeniable. Carnival Sunshine has been based in Charleston, South Carolina, since 2019, but 2024 will be the last year the ship will depart from the Holy City.

Cloud 9 Spa Suite

The line's focus on having a great time is infused in every aspect of your cruise experience, and guests are an extension of that ethos. Every passenger I encountered was friendly and ready to participate in all the activities the Fun Squad had planned. The 102,853-ton Carnival Sunshine is 12 decks high and carries 3,002 passengers at double occupancy in 1,501 cabins.

Carnival Sunshine itinerary program is based on Western and Eastern Caribbean roundtrip cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida. Feature port destinations include Bahamas (with Nassau and line’s private island Half Moon Cay), Puerto Rico, Saint Thomas USVI, Grand Turk, Roatan, Belize, Mexico (Costa Maya and Cozumel). In 2016, the ship started itineraries to Bermuda - 7-day from NYC New York and 5-day from Norfolk Virginia. The 1996-built/2013-reconstructed Carnival Sunshine cruise ship was initially named "Carnival Destiny". After a major refurbishment in 2013 (USD155 million drydock), the vessel was renamed Sunshine.

I fully believe they did the absolute best they could with the resources given to them. A child’s hand was caught in the elevator door because the safety sensors are not working correctly, half the elevators barely recognize an adult hand. The medical tent was going to charge $500 just to wake the doctor. We waited longer for a shuttle to half moon cay than we actually got to spend time there. Oh and you have to walk through the smoking section to get to the kids camp.

Carnival's oldest ship and part of the line's Sunshine Class of reimagined vessels, Carnival Sunshine has the "Fun Ship 2.0" upgrades that bring it in line with newer Carnival ships. Modern amenities and an unpretentious environment dovetail nicely aboard Sunshine, and the updated restaurants, bars and public spaces make you feel like you're on a modern cruise ship. The buffet for breakfast and lunch was your standard affair and there was little to no variation day to day on what was provided. The only problem I had with the buffet was that I felt I was constantly looking for food when it wasn't open.

Visit the biggest Serenity area ever, featuring three decks, plenty of recliners... Carnival WaterWorks™, our onboard waterpark, doesn't just deliver the favorites... Also, for cruisers traveling together, Carnival Sunshine offers more than 200 connecting rooms, which sometimes permits sound through the connecting doors.

The smoothest part was leaving the ship on the last day, but that was just the best luck we had the whole trip. The food was worse than hospital food-all of the food-(and I know this because I work in a hospital). It’s very obvious the ship is being retired and money is being restricted to keep the profit margins the same. If you order drinks (alcohol or nonalcoholic) it will be your entire meal before they are delivered to your table.

Just beware that since Carnival will no longer sail from Charleston, and this ship is retiring, the quality of this cruise overall will only decrease. With more space for stretching out indoors, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors, try an Ocean Suite to experience private, luxurious relaxation. Ocean Suites also include VIP check-in, walk-in closet and bathroom with whirlpool tub. Carnival Sunshine's Captain's Suites, side-by-side at the front of the ship, come in at a hefty 500 square feet with 200-square-foot balconies.

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