Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review by TammyRN1389 (2024)

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review by TammyRN1389 (1)

TammyRN1389

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 18

Overall rating:

3.3 out of 5

Verified Review
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review by TammyRN1389 (2)

6 Night Bahamas (Charleston Roundtrip)

Sail date: February 25, 2024

Ship: Carnival Sunshine

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8181

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 5 months ago

Review summary

We booked this cruise in the fall to enjoy time with my husband's siblings. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and appreciate how the staff made it so enjoyable and comfortable! We had great weather, tasty food options, good entertainment, and fantastic and beautiful ports of call! We are already planning the next cruise!

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Fairly well organized, polite staff, took longer than expected due to volume of people and small size of accommodations

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Nightly dinners were fantastic and our attendants made the experience so very enjoyable!! We had a group of 10 (sibling Cruise). Karnita, Rashid, and Mashudi were so polite, anticipated our needs, and were entertaining. We have missed our nightly family meals and our wonderful attendants since being back home.

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

We enjoyed the Serenity area! Attended my first art auction and actually won a prize! Next time, I want to spend more time on the boat (versus excursions at the ports) to really enjoy and appreciate all that is offered.

Entertainment

1 out of 5

I laughed until I cried seeing Billy Washington and he was kind enough for a selfie after his show! Love the DJs on the lido deck!

Children's Programs

No children

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Komang was our steward on 8th deck and we absolutely loved his sweet personality and daily engagement with us and our whole group! He made me sweet little towels animals and a heart on our last day. So friendly! We wish we could have him ever time we cruise in the future!! We also loved our dining room staff - Karnita, Rashid, and Mashudi!

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Ship is beautiful from the exterior however a bit dated inside. Need USB ports in rooms. Took most of the week to get to the right dining area. Really disliked having to walk through the casino to get to other venues for shows. Highly reactive to cigarette smoke. Entire ship should be smoke free on the inside and only allow smoking in outside designated areas. Also, we had a medical emergency outside of the limelight lounge. My sister in law passed out. Myself (a nurse) and another guest, Ron who was an EMT, administered the care for her until the medical staff got there. I asked for some lifesaving equipment, an AED and CPR shield, to which I was told they were not available. Luckily, she did not have a need for these pieces of equipment and once the nurse got there, it was discovered that her blood sugar was very dangerously low. She then did receive treatment and was taken to medical until fully recovered. It would be safer for your guest and staff that Carnival ensure all staff are educated and common areas are equipped with the necessary items to intervene in a medical emergency.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Bed was very comfortable, loved the balcony (will not cruise without a balcony again if I can help it). Komang, our steward, was amazing! Need some updates to the room, like USB ports. More hangers for a longer cruise. Hot water in the shower was amazing!!

Ship tip

Bring decorations for your stateroom door (included magnetic hooks,magnets, etc).

Thumbs up 0

Ports of call

Charleston, South Carolina Did not visit port

Live in Charleston and get to enjoy it daily!

Thumbs Up 0

Freeport, Grand Bahama Island

5 out of 5

Friendly locals. Really enjoyed the Garden of the Groves tour.

Thumbs Up 0

Nassau, Bahamas

1 out of 5

Would have loved two days in Nassau. Port is absolutely gorgeous (visited in 2017 and the new renovations are magnificent). Locals are so nice! We met so many fantastic people. Would recommend an overnight porting with two days for guest to enjoy all the various excursions.

Thumbs Up 0

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)

4 out of 5

Disembarkation

3 out of 5

Challenging getting off ship due to limited elevators.

Traveler Photos

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review by TammyRN1389 (3) Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review by TammyRN1389 (4)

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Other reviews of this sailing

Had the best time! I recommend the Sunshine, she is my favorite, I am very sad to see her leaving Charleston the end of the year! Norfolk, you are super lucky to get her!

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Review by TammyRN1389 (2024)

FAQs

What is Carnival Sunshine ranked? ›

A ship's traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 2787 guests have reviewed Carnival Sunshine, giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Is Carnival Sunshine an old ship? ›

Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny) is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She debuted in 1996 as the first passenger ship ever built to exceed 100,000 gross tons, and was the world's largest passenger vessel, holding it until 1998.

What is the best section of a Carnival cruise ship? ›

Aft: Consider staying in the aft part of the ship where you'll be nearest to casual dining. Lower deck: The lower deck is the best deck on a cruise ship if you want to be one of the first off the ship, exploring all the fun at each port of call.

What is the best side of the Carnival cruise ship? ›

In the Northern Hemisphere, book the starboard side of an eastbound cruise and the port side of a westbound cruise. On the other hand, if you are sensitive to the sun, or want to ensure that your cabin remains cool, consider booking on the side of the ship that is likely to face the nearest pole.

Is there a formal night on Carnival Sunshine? ›

On most of the evenings, the dress code will be casual (Cruise Casual). But there will be one or two evenings during your Carnival cruise, where you´ll have the opportunity to present your elegant apparel (Cruise Elegant).

When was the Carnival Sunshine last refurbished? ›

Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Sunshine Ship Information
Carnival Sunshine
Year Built1996
Year Last Refurbished2019
Capacity3,006 passengers
Decks12
2 more rows

What class is the Carnival Sunshine? ›

The Sunshine class is a class of cruise ships owned by Carnival Cruise Line. The class was formerly known as the Destiny class until 2013 when Carnival Destiny was renamed Carnival Sunshine.

How many pools are on Carnival Sunshine? ›

About Carnival Sunshine

Family-friendly amenities include four pools (one with a retractable roof), seven hot tubs that are the perfect stress-buster and a 214-foot, three-deck-high twister waterslide, complete with a fun drenching bucket.

Are Carnival Sunshine walls metal? ›

The walls, ceilings, doors, etc... on the ship are "not" magnetic. They are made of metal, and a magnet will stick to metal.

What is the best floor to stay on a cruise ship? ›

The most stable part of the ship is its lowest point of gravity, so on a lower deck, at the center. You'd feel a lot less motion here than, say, in a stateroom on the upper decks a long way forward or aft (towards the back of the ship).

Is it worth getting a balcony on a cruise ship? ›

Even on smaller, more luxurious ships that don't feel crowded, a balcony is desirable; if the weather is such that you can spend a lot of time on your balcony, it's like having an additional room.

What is the best time to board Carnival Cruise? ›

Ships usually start boarding shortly after the final passenger has disembarked from the previous sailing, usually between 10 and 11 a.m. Adhering to your assigned embarkation time will help to keep the boarding process running smoothly.

Is it better to be on the left or right side of a cruise ship? ›

If you'd rather see the sunrise while sailing south or east, staying on the port side is your ideal choice as well. Choose the starboard side for the opposite situation: sunsets are visible on southbound and eastbound sailings while sunrises are visible on northbound and westbound cruises.

Where does Carnival Cruise Line rank? ›

Royal Caribbean International comes in at No. 2, thanks to its onboard amenities and wide array of dining options that cater to guests of all ages, while Carnival Cruise Line ranks No. 3, offering family-friendly features such as water parks, basketball courts and a wide range of activities.

Where is the smoothest room on a cruise ship? ›

The lower and more central you are in a ship, the less roll and sway you will feel. Even if you choose a balcony room, choose a low level and a room closest to the ship's center. The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most.

What class is the Carnival Sunshine in? ›

The Sunshine class is a class of cruise ships owned by Carnival Cruise Line. The class was formerly known as the Destiny class until 2013 when Carnival Destiny was renamed Carnival Sunshine.

What is the best carnival in America? ›

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Mardi Gras is the ultimate street party in New Orleans, but the carnival festivities happen long before the day itself.

Is Carnival Sunshine a large ship? ›

Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Sunshine

The hull and much of the technical equipment are left over from the Destiny, the world's largest cruise ship when it was delivered in 1996, but its public spaces have been brought into the 21st century.

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