Carnival Sunshine 2014 Day 12, 13, 14,15, and 16

This is the last post about the rest of our cruise on the Carnival Sunshine.

Day 12 (Curacao): Here is the link to the pictures!
We got off the ship in the morning and wandered around the town. First we crossed the floating bridge and walked around the historic buildings and the floating market. It was pretty hot outside already but there was a little breeze. It was a lot of fun crossing the floating bridge and staying on it while it opened to let the boats through. Then we went to Rif Fort Village and found a bar to have a couple of Coronitas (7 oz. Coronas) that were 2 for $6. After that we headed towards Starbucks to meet Karin and Joseph. They took us to this Steak, Ribs, and Seafood place on the upper level of the fort where we enjoyed lunch. We had seafood soup and crab salad. After lunch we went to Starbucks to enjoy coffee and visit until we had to return to the ship. It started raining a little while we were there but we were under a giant umbrella and enjoyed our visit.

We got back on the ship by 3 and went to the VIFP reception for gold, platinum, and diamond members. We were very disappointed in the reception and could tell it wasn’t very important for the Captain. One of the perks for diamond members is to take their picture with the Captain but the Captain didn’t show up because he had to be on the bridge to take us out of the port. Then why plan this reception at this time and day when the next day is a sea day and could be done then?

Day 13 (At Sea): Here is the link to some pictures!
We had a quiet day at sea and didn’t get to walk because the winds were blowing 45 mph. Instead we sat at breakfast with a wonderful couple from Crystal City, FL (Walt and Maggie). Walt is a computer geek like I am and we had a wonderful talk about Apple computers and has me convinced that my next laptop will be an Apple. We had such a great time talking with them that we sat there until the dining room closed at 10am and moved to the Lido deck to talk some more. We stayed and talked until noon when we decided to meet for lunch. Then we all had lunch in the dining room and stayed there until they closed the dining room at 1:30. Then we ended up sitting in the Ocean Plaza on deck 5 and talking some more. In the afternoon we took a little nap. At 5pm the Captain stopped the ship and turned it around to look for a small boat that needed to be rescued. After an hour long search, the coast guard had found the boat and we were back on our way. Before dinner we went to the show featuring Will Cotton who walked on glass, hammered a huge nail up his nose and then swallowed 2 swords. Fascinating is all that I can say! Dinner was pleasant and after dinner we went to the comedy show to see Mark Simmons who was quite funny.

Day 14 (Grand Turk): Here is the link to some pictures!
We went to the beach on Grand Turk and I was able to try out my new underwater camera that I bought in June. I like how the pictures came out underwater! It was hot out so we did some snorkeling at the beach right near the ship. The lounge chairs were on the beach and didn’t cost anything. After the beach we came back to the ship for lunch, a shower, and a nap. In the evening we went to the show, dinner, and then the comedy show. It was a nice day!

Day 15 (At Sea):
We headed back to Florida and spent the day at sea. We went to brunch in the dining room and then walked on the track. In the afternoon we packed our clothes. Dinner was nice but I am ready to get off the ship and eat some normal (non-rich) food. Walt and Maggie came by our dinner table and invited us to meet them after dinner. We enjoyed visiting in the Ocean Plaza lounge.

Day 16 (Debarkation):
We were up by 6 and had breakfast in the dining room at 6:30. Then we went to the Limelight Lounge around 7:30 to get priority debarkation. Around 8am, they started calling self assist passengers and then Zones 1-3 to begin getting off the ship. When we left the terminal we were told to go to the transportation desk where I gave the guy our voucher and he put us on a shuttle immediately. By 9:30, we were in our car at the Hampton Inn.'

Overall: 
This was our least favorite ship and will probably not sail on it again. I thought the food and the service just wasn't up to par with past cruises. We also didn't like the layout of the ship and the way it was redesigned. Not all change is a good thing and I hope that the company doesn't do this to more of their ships because that will really impact our decision making when booking cruises.

On the Lido deck, the ice machines, drink machines, and even the food bar ran out of items frequently. Seating was a premium and hard to get in all public areas especially the Lido deck and the theater.

The sports deck on this ship is a great asset that was enjoyed by a lot of people of all ages. There was variety activities available for everyone.

We really are thankful for Anthony (our personal cruise consultant with Carnival) who was able to get us the same cabin for both weeks so we didn't have to pack and move after the first week. That made staying on the ship much easier and more enjoyable.

Things I Learned or Wish Others Learned:
1. There are more people in the county that I live in than there are residents in Curacao.
2. 80% of the people who live in Curacao are Dutch citizens.
3. There are more than 40 different nationalities that live in Curacao.
4. When eating with other people in the dining room, you should wait until everyone has been served their food before you start eating. If you are the last one waiting to be served and you know it may be a little while before you get your food, it would be nice if you encourage others to eat their food while it is still hot.
5. If people are in line, ask someone nicely what the line is for. Don't just barge up in front of the line and act like you are more important than all the people who showed up before you and are waiting patiently.
6. Not all cruises are the same and some ships are just better than others.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Carnival Sunshine 2014 Day 8, 9, 10 and 11

We stayed on the ship for another week (called a back to back). We stayed in the same cabin so we didn’t even have to pack up!

Day 8 (Debarkation and Embarkation): Here is the link to some pictures!
We arrived back at Port Canaveral and watched people get off the ship. At 10:30 we met in the lobby area and they escorted us off the ship to the first hallway where we met the customs agent. He looked at our passports and collected our customs slip and we immediately turned around and got back on the ship. We went up to the Havana Bar and waited for the lunch buffet to open. After lunch I met up with an online friend from Instagram that saw our pictures and let me know her and her family were coming aboard this week. After that we went up on the Serenity Deck and relaxed in one of the clamshells that gave us shade. When we got too hot we went back to the room to wait for the lifeboat drill which was much faster this week. After the drill we went to the meet and greet with the cruise critic/Facebook friends. Around 5, we got a hamburger so we wouldn’t be starving by the time we had dinner at 8:30. It was a lovely day.

Day 9 (At Sea):

We had brunch in the dining room and we ordered the steak and eggs and a dessert. We sat with an interesting group of people and had a lovely chat but they ended up leaving before we ever got dessert. Finally we gave up on them ever bringing dessert so we left. We walked on the track before going to the food demonstration. After the demonstration we watched TV until tea time. We had another great conversation with a couple who are full time RVers (Don and Susan) and stayed there until they kicked us out of the dining room. After that we walked on the track again and by then it was time to get ready for the show and dinner. I sat with Becky (my Instagram friend) and her family. She told me that she would be going to the same knitting retreat I am going to next June! After dinner we went to the late night comedy show.

Day 10 (At Sea):

We had another lovely lazy day at sea yesterday. After breakfast we went to the future cruise and travel talk which was better than I expected. She talked about the different Carnival ships and their classes. She also talked about the Mastercard and four months ago they stopped charging foreign interaction fees which was exciting to us since we will be able to use it in Canada in a few weeks. The rest of the day we didn’t do much and I was able to finish Don’s scarf and cast on for my scarf. We tried to walk outside but the winds were over 50 miles an hour and they closed the sky deck. We watched the movie Grown Ups with Adam Sandler which was cute too. Before dinner we went to the show Studio VIP which featured songs from the 70s and we enjoyed it. I think the new group of dancers this week is much better than last weeks. Service at dinner is much better than last week too and I’m glad we are sitting at a different table.

Day 11 (Aruba): Here is the link to some pictures!

We had a lovely day in Aruba yesterday even though we didn’t arrive until 1pm. We had breakfast and lunch on the ship. Then we walked around town for a few hours but it was so hot! We had planned on going to the beach but it was too windy and I didn’t want the sand blowing in my face all day. We stopped at Burger King at one end of town for a drink before we walked back towards the ship. I stopped at a department store and bought a sun dress for $10. When we got back to the ship I had a hamburger. Since we had seen the same show last week we didn’t go again and just went to dinner. I had a pork chop instead of my nightly steak and it was big and tough so I didn’t eat much of it. We had tiramisu for dessert. We weren’t supposed to leave until 10pm but we must have had everyone by 9:30 and the ship left then.

Things I wish others would learn:
1. If assigned seating at dinner is 8:15, you need to be on time. The waiters wait on their group at the same time. It really disrupts everyone’s meal if you show up at 9:00. This is not any-time dining so if you want that, you should switch to any-time dining.
2. Wearing hats in the dining room is inappropriate. There is a dress code for the evening dinner. Please follow it. Some of us like this part because it gives us a chance to dress up and have a nice sit down dinner. If you don’t want it, have dinner at the Lido deck buffet where you can wear what you want.
3. Don’t stand in the middle of the walk way and have a lengthy conversation with your family. It causes a bottleneck and everyone has to stand there and wait until you finish your conversation!
4. If there is a line waiting to get into an event (dinner, show, etc.) Don’t walk to the front of the line and try the door. Ask someone if this is the line for the event. It is not like we are standing in line just because we think it is a cool thing to do!
5. When getting on an elevator, wait for people to get off an elevator before trying to shove your way on to the elevator.

Carnival Sunshine 2014 Day 5, 6, and 7

(Last week we took a cruise on the Carnival Sunshine so for the next few days I will be sharing about our cruise and some things that I learned each day.)

Day 5 (Roatan): (Here is the link for the pictures!)
We had a really nice day at the beach on Isla Roatan (Honduras). We got off the ship early and walked to Mahogany Beach so we could find 2 lounge chairs in the shade. We did some snorkeling before too many people were in the water and saw some fish. In an hour or two it became so crowded we wouldn’t have been able to do any snorkeling. Don enjoyed people watching while I knit. About 1pm we went back to the ship for lunch and sat out on deck for a while. In the evening we tried to go to the show but we were too early and ended up sitting in the Ocean Lounge listening to music until dinner time.

Day 6 (Costa Maya): (Here is the link for the pictures!)
We took a shuttle to Mahahual which cost us $3 each. We walked up the boardwalk and checked out the prices for beer and I looked for a diet pepsi. One place wanted $2 for diet coke which was more than the $1 beer everyone was selling so I didn’t buy it. Then a lady told me that she had diet pepsi for $1 at her store so I followed her and bought one from her. Along the way we watched men sweep up all the seaweed that washed up on the beach. We walked back to one bar that was selling 5 beers for $5 but when we sat down, the guy wanted to argue with us and we told him that was what the guy on the board walk said. Instead of arguing any more we left and went down to the Tapas bar where we had a nice seat, table, and umbrella for free. We bought two Coronas for $1 each. Then we decided we would buy the bucket of beer – 5 for $5. When the rain storm came, they moved us inside the bar until the storm passed and then he moved us back to the beach. While we were inside, all of the people working there began talking to us and we got to know them. Once we moved back to the beach the sun came out and it was a lovely day! In fact, I got so hot that I had to cool off in the water which was really nice. We stayed there and had 2 more buckets of beer before leaving at 12:30. The cab ride back to the ship was $2 each. When we got back on the ship it was time for lunch and I was hungry! After a nap we went to the comedy show with Tim You and he was pretty funny. For dinner I had chateaubriand and Don had escargot for appetizers.

Day 7 (at sea):

We had a lovely day at sea and was just lazy. Breakfast/brunch was filet mignon and macaroni and cheese. I tried the double chocolate brownie but the base was so hard that I couldn’t cut it with a knife. After breakfast we went to arts and crafts where I decorated flip flops with balloons. I also got a beaded bracelet kit. Then we walked on the track until lunch time. After lunch we walked some more until it was the wrist watch sale and line dancing lessons. I learned to line dance to “All the Single Ladies.” Before dinner we went to the comedy show which was pretty good. Dinner was so slow because the waiter dropped all of the food on his way to bringing it to the station so they had to start all over again. We were just getting our dinner when others were finished with dessert. Since we were so late eating we didn’t get to go to the late night comedy show.

Things I Learned:
1. It is fun to people watch!
2. Get to the beach early to get a chair in the shade.
3. Get to the beach early to snorkel before it gets too crowded.
4. Some people can be so rude and only think about themselves. They will drag chairs and block the walkways or crowd other people if you let them.
5. If vendors change the prices when you decide to stay, you don’t have to stay there and can leave. That will teach them not to do that anymore.
6. It is fun to get to talk to the local people and learn more about their way of life.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Carnival Sunshine 2014 Day 3 and 4

(Last week we took a cruise on the Carnival Sunshine so for the next few days I will be sharing about our cruise and some things that I learned each day. )

Day 3 (Cozumel):Here is the link for the pictures!)

We ate breakfast in the dining room and then went out on the deck to watch us pull in to the port. We arrived in Cozumel around 10am but they didn’t let us off the ship until after 11am. Since it was so late, we decided to take a taxi to downtown and it was $8 for 1-4 people. I went up to a nice couple (Jeff and Cherry from TN) and asked them if they were going downtown and would they be willing to share a taxi so it ended up only costing us $2 per person.

We walked around downtown and was disappointed to find out that our regular bar was closed down and we didn’t see the old man that we usually see so we think he probably died and they closed his family’s bar down. After walking around town we decided to walk back to the ship and it was SO hot! There was a tequila store offering $1 Coronas so we stopped to have a drink before moving on. Then we stopped at the grocery store to buy a couple of bottles of diet pepsi ($2 and I got back some Mexican change). We met Jeff and Cherry on the way back and enjoyed talking with them along the way. They ended up going back to the ship but we stopped at the Chinese place to have another beer ($3 for 1 Dos Equis). Then we found another place that had a bucket of Coronas – 4 for $10 and had some more to drink. By then I was starving so we went back to the ship and ate lunch.

We watched the Carnival Glory pull out 30 minutes late and we think they ended up leaving someone behind because they kept blowing their horn and then eventually left. We left at 6pm. We had to rush and get ready to go to the show which was Epic Rock. I didn’t like the show much because it was too loud and the singers just sounded like they were screaming. Luckily it was only a 40 minute show. Dinner was okay but I was pretty tired by then so we went to bed early. I had over 19,000 steps (8.5 miles) for the day!

Day 4 (Belize): Here is the link for the pictures!) 

We had a lovely day on the ship when we arrived in Belize. To get into Belize you have to take a tender since we can’t dock at the port. So, since we have been here several times, we decided to stay on the ship. After breakfast we walked on the track for an hour. Then we played miniature golf and shuffleboard. Then we sat out on the 3^rd floor deck in the shade and read our books. By then it was time for lunch. After lunch we did the water slides which was a lot of fun! I was surprised how fast you go down those things! I did all 3 waterslides but Don only did 2 of them because after stories of people getting stuck in the yellow one, he decided to do the green one twice.  Before dinner we went to the show which was the ventriloquist and he was pretty good. We’ve seen him before and enjoy his show.

1. 

Things I Learned:
1. The exchange rate was 13 to 1 USD.
2. It is easier to find people to share a taxi on the way downtown but not on the way back to the ship.
3. It is really hot in the afternoon so it is easier to walk downtown when it is cooler in the morning.
4. The grocery store is a fun place to walk around AND it is air conditioned!
5. I was surprised how many shops and bars were closed down.
6. Cozumel is much prettier around Christmas time.

7. Ask the children which water slide is the slowest, the fastest, and the best. They give great advice!

8. Sometimes it is good to take a day just to relax.

9.   It is okay to not go into a port if you have been there before.

10. You don’t have to eat food just because it is all around you!

Original photo by Pat Hensley

CCarnival Sunshine 2014 Day 2

(Last week we took a cruise on the Carnival Sunshine so for the next few days I will be sharing about our cruise and some things that I learned each day. Here is the link for the pictures!)

We had a lovely day at sea yesterday and did a lot of walking and eating. After breakfast we walked on the track. Then we had to leave to meet up with my Facebook friends who have been talking about this cruise for months. After that we went to the cooking demonstration which is always fun. My favorite food there is the mushroom cappuchino (soup) and the tiramisu (dessert)! Then for lunch I had a salad before we walked on the track again. In the afternoon we sat out on the Lobby deck in the shade where I read and knit. Then hubby wanted another snack so he got a hamburger before we took a real nap before dinner. First we went to the show which was Motor City and it was cute. I liked the music and the dancing. I asked for our dining room table to be switched to a large table in the Sunrise dining room. Instead they moved us to another table for 2 in the Sunrise dining room where it was hot and the view obstructed. My hubby was not happy. I had lobster, shrimp, and prime rib for dinner.

Things I Learned:

· Drink plenty of liquids in the Caribbean. You dehydrate faster than you think.

· All chefs cook differently. Even though the cooking demonstration shows the same food on each ship, they may tast differently.

· It is good to take some down time and just relax and do nothing!

· Be careful about making changes to dinner reservations because you may have been better where you started.

Carnival Sunshine 2014 Day 1

(Last week we took a cruise on the Carnival Sunshine so for the next few days I will be sharing about our cruise and some things that I learned each day. Here is the link for the pictures!)

We spent the night at the Hampton Inn in Cocoa Beach where we will leave our car and a shuttle took us to the port. We met in the lobby at 9:30 and the shuttle was scheduled to pick us up at 10am. Getting on the ship was fast and easy and everyone was so friendly!

Our captain is Roberto Leotta and the hotel director is Mark Damme. The Cruise Director is George Roberts and he is quite a flamboyant man. Don thinks he has a great voice and speaks nice and clearly.

As for the ship itself, which is a refurbished Carnival Destiny, I’m not sure I like the layout. I was very disappointed that there wasn’t an Aft bar on the lido deck. Where the Aft bar and pool are at on other ships, there is now the Havana Bar which consists of the JiJi Asian restaurant and the Italian restaurant. Both are free for lunch but cost $15 per person for dinner. There didn’t seem to be a nice place to sit outside and watch the ship leave the port from the back so we just walked around all day instead of getting our bucket of beer. There were two dining rooms. The Sunset dining room is only on floor 3 midship. The Sunrise dining room is two floors in the front of the ship. I did go to the maitre’d to see if we could change to a larger table instead of just a table for 2 and move to the Sunrise dining room. They say they would let me know the next day.

Our cabin was pretty big for an inside cabin on the first floor. The hallway and the cabin doors are decorated so nice and different compared to other ships! Our cabin steward’s name is Adi. We did notice that one of the closet racks was on the floor of the closet and didn’t fit so it could be installed so we had to ask Adi to get someone to fix it. He said he knew something was wrong because he saw it on the floor of the closet before we arrived (so why didn’t he get it fixed?). The top drawer also is broke so either he isn’t cleaning it and doesn’t know or he knows and isn’t getting it fixed. The bathroom is also a little weird. The shower is bigger lengthwise but the toilet sits catty cornered and you almost have to put one foot in the shower to use the toilet.

We went up to the spa to look inside and found the sauna which is a very small and dark space. I thought the spa people were very snotty and almost rude. I guess I won’t be going up there any time soon.

We ate lunch on the Lido deck. I tried the food on the Mongolian grill which was pretty good. I also tried the pasta from the Italian restaurant which was okay but nothing to brag about. Later we tried a piece of Prociutto pizza from the pizza place and I thought it was horrible.

Before dinner we went to the opening bingo game and watched to see who won the $500. I don’t usually play because I’m never lucky with this but it is fun to knit and watch. Then we watched the Welcome aboard show which was fun.

For dinner I had a shrimp cocktail, beef and barley soup, and the flat iron steak which were all good. I had the black forest gateau cake for dessert which is my favorite dessert. Don had the same starters and the tilapia for dinner which he enjoyed. Of course he had the crème brulee which he loves, for dessert.

I wanted to go to the comedy show but was too exhausted after dinner so we went to bed.

Things I learned:
1. We did notice that there was only one bedside table on one side of the bed and when we asked Adi, he said that our room doesn’t come with bedside tables but he got us one. There was also a lot of empty space for a chair but when we asked, he said this cabin doesn’t come with a chair or bedside tables.
2. There is a steam room but it costs $139 for a couple to use it for the entire cruise. On previous ships it was free but not coed.
3. Walking up and down the stairs instead of taking the elevator makes you very tired by the end of the day!