Expect thudding poolside music, raucous games and a healthy dose of irreverence in everything the line does. But Carnival’s new generation of ship, powered by cleaner-burning Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) technology, is also a ship of the future – and designers have thrown everything but the kitchen sink into its creation. As mentioned previously, Carnival Sunshine cabins have both standard North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets. You can also opt for extra-charge valet laundry and dry-cleaning service, which your cabin steward will handle for you.
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Once you start focusing on the activities, the food, the entertainment and interacting with the crew, the decor starts to fade into the background. Most importantly, it's spotlessly clean (except for the grubby seat, pod and hammock cushions in Serenity which could do with a daily scrub). Passengers link credit cards to their onboard accounts or put up a set amount of cash to charge against, using their keycards as a means of making purchases.
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Clubs for the older kids – Circle C and Club O2 – are in a completely different area of the ship. The design offers additional protections for the little ones, as it is away from any bars, lounges and nightlife spaces. When the weather cooperated, most passengers gravitated to the upper decks for fun in the sun and water. In addition to the one main pool and two hot tubs on Deck 9, Sunshine is home to Carnival's WaterWorks water park with waterslides and a kiddie splash zone. A bevy of diversions at the nearby SportSquare included a ropes course, minigolf, ping-pong and foosball.
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These spaces are certainly unique, but almost all are under-sized for a vessel carrying this many passengers. And while that attempt keeps things small – human, even – it creates problems as the ship’s most popular spaces fill up early and stay that way. On Carnival Sunshine, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in the casino.
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Speaking of the bed, it was exceptionally comfortable, and I was excited to find that the TV across from it had a sizable selection of free movies (as well as newer releases for a fee). The TV also allows you to watch select live channels and shipboard programming and to check your onboard bill. It was completely different — different color, different taste and different presentation — from what I received when I ordered the same drink on a sailing two months prior. However, the old ingredients were listed on the menu, meaning passengers weren't getting what they thought they ordered. The first couple had to do with differences between the Carnival HUB app and the daily Fun Times printed schedule. On one occasion, the app said Seafood Shack opened half an hour earlier than it did, while the paper version of the daily schedule had the correct information.
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Most staff we encountered were seemingly overworked, unduly burdened and unhappy, with Carnival Celebration’s food service staff appearing unusually affected. Room service, as on all Carnival ships, incurs a small additional charge. Carnival Celebration also boasts a much-expanded Bonsai Teppanyaki venue just next to Bonsai Sushi. This interactive hibachi “dinner-and-a-show” concept features talented chefs whipping up Japanese creations in front of patrons, with no small amount of flair or groan-inducing one-liners that are fun for the whole family. Don’t expect terribly cerebral diversions; Carnival is all about FUN, and it does a commendable job of shouting it from the rooftops.
Nearby, Bar 820 offers up South Florida-themed cocktails and coffees in a clever space that includes indoor and outdoor seating. Our cabin was an aft (back of the ship) balcony cabin on Deck 5. I'd never stayed in an aft cabin, so I looked forward to having uninterrupted ocean views over the ship's wake. I particularly enjoyed our view as we plied through rough waters during a storm. It was a fantastic reminder of the strength and endurance of cruise ships.
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I sailed on Royal Caribbean's worst rated cruise ship. Here's what it was really like. - Royal Caribbean Blog
I sailed on Royal Caribbean's worst rated cruise ship. Here's what it was really like..
Posted: Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Most nights are designated "cruise casual," which includes khakis or jeans, polo shirts and sundresses. Super casual clothing like cutoff jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts aren't permitted. Unlike newer Carnival ships with a full promenade that provides access to restaurants and bars, Sunshine has the more traditional promenade with shuffleboard and some outdoor seating. Guy's Burger Joint is a walk-up counter restaurant at the back of the pool area on the Lido Deck. My husband is a huge Guy's Burger fan, so that is always our first meal on embarkation day.
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By day, the dress code is tropical casual as the ship visits the gorgeous isles of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji (with the occasional foray to New Zealand and Tasmania, where it's a little bit cooler). You can join at any time, even if you’ve never been on a Carnival cruise. You don’t have to worry about going hungry on a Carnival cruise. You’ll find lots of complimentary choices as well as specialty restaurants that come with additional charges.
In August 2015 the ship underwent an AU$44 million refurbishment, the second such face-lift since it sailed into its new home of Sydney in October 2012. The big additions in 2012 were the much talked-about Green Thunder water slide, billed as the steepest and fastest at sea, along with the Serenity adults-only area and a water park of mini-slides and drenching buckets for the little ones. The Carnival Spirit team is five-star, even if the ship itself is not. From the beloved senior maitre d', Dessi, to the charming waiters, patient bartenders and unflappable cabin stewards, there's a real sense of community and comradeship. Crew members will remember your name and recognise you on your next cruise -- because, judging by the return rate of passengers, you will probably be back.
Qualified staff are in short supply, and it’s no secret that some of the crew on all ships throughout the industry are very green indeed. These formerly complimentary venues – a combination of Mexican and Asian and the Italian-themed Cucina – are now free for the first visit, and $8 per person for all repeat reservations. Starting with Mardi Gras, Carnival began partnering with Holland America Line head chef, culinary pop artist and wacky raconteur Rudi Sodamin, to create Rudi’s Seagrill, a fabulous specialty dining venue where seafood dishes center stage. The patience passengers will need aboard Carnival Celebration extends to the passenger elevators, which never seem to arrive in a timely manner, and are nearly always packed to the brim with people.
Instead, if you want a libation, be prepared to fight your way through the crowd to one of the bartenders behind the bar. Depending on the length of your cruise, one or two nights of the itinerary will include a "cruise elegant" night where the suggested attire for men is dress slacks and a dress shirt; sports coats and suits are optional. The suggested attire for women on such nights is cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses. If you don't want to dress up, you can choose a more casual dinner venue, but dress code enforcement in Carnival dining rooms tends to be lax.
The sizes of the performance venues are generally way too small for the number of passengers wishing to watch the shows. Of course, the highlight of this zone is the Bolt roller coaster. It's an added-fee experience during which passengers (one to two people per ride) zoom twice around the track on a motorcycle-style vehicle that allows you to throttle up or down to a speed that suits you. Other venues in the area include the Marina Bar for cocktails and coffee, complimentary Italian restaurant Cucina del Capitano and for-fee seafood eatery Rudi's Seagrill, created by food pop artist chef Rudi Sodamin.
