JK Cruises Vacation Reviews

Carnival Magic Review

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 19:29:28 GMT

Another member of Carnival's second largest class of ships, we boarded the Carnival Magic Dream for a 7 day Western Caribbean in December of 2019. The Carnival Magic measures at 130,000 gross tonnage, and 1004 feet in length, with plenty of space to accommodate its ample amount of activities and accommodations. The Magic has the capacity to hold 3690 guests, with 1367 onboard crew members.

We boarded the Magic in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Embarkation was fairly smooth, though getting to the terminal was a bit of an issue due to multiple ships in port at the time. Once onboard, there was the usual crowded delay getting on an elevator. As long as you expect this to happen, it's not the worst thing that could happen, so as we've said before, please prepare for the wait times for elevators to be long on the first day of the cruise.

Once we made it to the room and unpacked a little, it was time to get some BBQ! Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que is open on embarkation day, and the lines are usually not long at all. In fact, there may have been only 3 or 4 others in line.

Afterwards, we did the usual walk throughout the ship, to familiarize ourselves with where different places were located. Just as the Breeze and Dream, there were multiple bars and dining areas. The common areas seemed to be fairly spacious for the number of guests the ship accommodates. Every area we visited was clean and very well kept, as usual with Carnival.

Being that the Magic is not too much different than the Breeze and the Dream, there wasn't much we hadn't already become familiar with on the ship. Unlike the Dream, the Magic did have the Sports Square, with the Ropes Course.

Once again, some free food choices included Cucina del Capitano, Guys Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, the main dining room, and room service. We tried everything and really didn't have any complaints at all. This cruise, we did not try any of the specialty restaurants, although we had planned to try the Seafood Shack, but ended up forgetting about it due to not spending a lot of time in that area of the ship.

The crew aboard the Magic were outstanding as usual! Our wait staff was not as fun as usual, and definitely less attentive as we've had on other cruises. Nothing bad enough to complain about, but just enough to notice a difference. We loved our room steward. He always made sure our cabins were perfectly taken care of, and went out of his way to accommodate us. He was real cool to chat with too. We made sure to leave him an extra tip.

The Playlist Productions shows were decent. We may have been more excited about them if we hadn't seen pretty much the same shows multiple times before. No complaints though, as the performers did an awesome job. There was always something to do throughout the day on the Magic. We spent a good bit of time just relaxing, playing bingo, trivia, and of course the casino.

Pros: Spacious, Excellent Crew, Multiple food options, Multiple activities

Cons: No real cons

Would we recommend others to cruise on this ship: Yes

Favorite part about the Carnival Magic: Spacious ship with plenty to do for adults and children

Carnival Dream Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 23:43:41 GMT

Another member of Carnival's second largest class of ships, the Carnival Dream is the latest cruise ship we’ve cruised on. Measuring in at 130,000 gross tonnage, and 1004 feet in length, the Dream also has plenty of space to accommodate its ample amount of activities and accommodations. The Dream has the capacity to hold 3646 guests, with 1367 onboard crew members.

We boarded the Dream in New Orleans, Louisiana. The embarkation did not seem very smooth, although this had to do with multiple medical issues that occurred at the port. Once onboard, the plan was to head straight to the stateroom, but first we waited for close to 30 minutes for the elevator. This should have been expected, so please prepare for the wait times for elevators to be long on the first day of the cruise.

Once we made it to the room and unpacked a little, we headed straight to Tandoor for lunch. Just like on the Breeze, we loved Tandoor’s food. Serving authentic Indian cuisine, this is a spot we visited several times during our cruise.

Afterwards, we walked throughout the ship, to familiarize ourselves with where different places were located. Just as the Breeze, there were multiple bars and dining areas. The common areas seemed to be fairly spacious for the number of guests the ship accommodates. Every area we visited was clean and very well kept, as usual with Carnival.

Before boarding the Dream, we had read many reviews of the ship, as well as watched tons of YouTube videos about the Dream. By the time we boarded, we already knew that we wouldn’t be seeing anything that we hadn’t seen on the Breeze, and that was fine with us. One thing that the Dream is missing is the Sports Square, with the Ropes Course. If there was any real negative, or disappointment with this ship, that was it!

Other free food choices included Cucina del Capitano, Guys Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, the main dining room, and room service. We tried everything and had no complaints at all. We seemed to visit Tandoor and Blue Iguana Cantina more than any others though. This cruise, we did not try any of the specialty restaurants.

The crew aboard the Dream were outstanding as usual! Our wait staff was fun and pretty attentive. Our room steward was awesome! We made sure to leave them extra tips, as we felt they went above and beyond the minimum required.

We watched every Playlist Productions show once again. They were good, but nothing that we hadn’t already seen. There was always something to do throughout the day on the Dream. Just like every other cruise, we spent a lot of time playing bingo and trivia, relaxing, and just a little bit of time in the casino. Just like our cruise on the Breeze, we cruised during the month of October, while school was in session, so there was a good mix of adults and children onboard.

Pros: Spacious, Excellent Crew, Multiple food options, Multiple activities

Cons: We missed the Sports Square

Would we recommend others to cruise on this ship: Yes

Favorite part about the Carnival Dream: Spacious ship with plenty to do for adults and children

Paradise Beach (Cozumel, Mexico) Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 22:26:48 GMT

We visited Paradise Beach on our 2016 Carnival Breeze cruise. Paradise Beach is located on the Northeast side of the island of Cozumel. An easy 6 miles, 15 minutes from the cruise line terminal. There they offer shopping, a beach, a pool, and restaurants. Their Fun pass offers snorkeling, kayak, and more for a small fee.

As far as their beach, you can feel free to f eel the sparkling sand massaging your feet as you stroll out onto the wide pristine beach and find your personal spot in the sun. While at the pool, you can select your favorite chair by our crystal clear pool, in or outside the water, which we heat in the winter to 82 degrees. The restaurant offers food and refreshing drinks.

The Funn Pass price was only $18, and included access to all the inflatable water toys: water trampolines, 14ft. climbing iceberg, water slides, a floating multitier Jungle Joe climbing structure, water mats, coconut tree climb, bungee-trampoline, and more.

We paid only $3 per person to enter Paradis Beach. Our first stop, was to the booth on the beach to get signed up for parasailing. We paid $50 per person to go parasailing, and it lasted about 10 minutes or so. We had so much fun, we forgot to get a lot of pictures while we were in the air.

After parasailing, we decided to order food and take a swim in the pool. As far as the food, if you're into authentic Mexican food, you may like this spot. There were plenty of options, with generous sized portions.

Would we recommend Paradise Beach: Yes
Pros: Price and activities
Cons: None

Nassau (Bahamas) Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 22:25:07 GMT

We visited Nassau as the first stop on our July 2014 cruise on the Carnival Fascination. We went with no plans or expectations, as we intended to go with the flow as much as possible.

We loved that any shopping we wanted to do could be done just a few yards away from the ship. It also just seemed like a really ease port to navigate off and on the ship. As we walked off the ship, we noticed several local individuals offering tours of the island. Eventually we found one that we were willing to go with, especially since there were other individuals there just getting off other ships that had chose to use the same individual. For $20 per person, we loaded into the tour van and hit the road.

Our tour lasted well over 2 hours, as we made many stops to local venues. We were able to make explore a bat cave, which is something a few of us never thought we'd be brave enough to do. One very nice part of the tour is that the driver not only answered several questions, but he also asked if there were any places that we would like to see. Upon requests, he took us to see the local schools, the upper and lower class neighborhoods, and the local establishments that those who lived on the island visited, as opposed to the tourist spots. We recommend that if you're comfortable going off the traditional path, you may want to visit the local spots for better prices, with more to choose from. The driver even took us to Atlantis, where we were able to walk around for a while and spent at least half an hour touring.

When the tour was over, we decided to look for a few souvenirs. There was plenty to choose from, but as we've seen in many other areas, the majority of the stores have just about the same thing. Once we shopped a few of them, we decided to head back to the ship.

Would we recommend Nassau to others: Yes
Favorite part: The local food.
Pros: Most things are close to the port, and the locals are very engaging.
Cons: We saw none.

Little Stirrup Cay (Bahamas)

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 22:23:23 GMT

Coming Soon!

St. Kitts Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 22:21:40 GMT

Coming Soon!

Grand Turk Island Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 22:08:52 GMT

Our only trip to Grand Turk turned out to be a good one! We stopped there while on our Exotic Western Caribbean cruise in December of 2017. In the middle of December, the weather was perfect. The beaches were packed with visitors having the time of their lives.

As soon as we stepped off the pier, the beach was there waiting. The water was nice and clear, and we noticed there was plenty of beach activities. We then proceeded to the shopping area, and loved the layout. Everything seemed spread out just right, to avoid congestion. The prices at the shops were all very reasonable, and there was plenty to buy. We really appreciated how welcoming the locals were. They were all very friendly, and the vendors were not pushy at all.

We didn't get to try any of the food places there, but had heard a lot about a spot called "Jack's Shack" where they serve great food, on the beach. We were able to spot it from our balcony on the ship, and did notice that there were many people there who looked to be enjoying themselves.

We didn't get to spend as much time as we would have liked to in Grand Turk, but from what we saw, we would definitely visit the island again.

Our favorite part about our stop in Grand Turk: The easy access to the beach.

Carnival Fascination Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 22:02:22 GMT

We embarked on our only cruise on the Carnival Fascination in July of 2014. This was our first Carnival cruise, so other than what we had read about, and viewed on YouTube, we had no expecations other than having fun!

A member of Carnival's smallest sized ships, the Carnival Fascination is still large in size and excitement! At 70,367 gross tons, the Facination can accomodate 2056 passenges and 920 onboard crew members. We found the size almost perfect for the number of guests onboard. Never felt too crowded or cramped, yet never felt like there was too much space .

Once onboard, we headed straight to our room, which was ready when we arrived. After settling in and doing a little bit of unpacking, we decided to head to the buffet. As we have come accustomed to seeing on other ships, the buffet area was packed the first few hours of the cruise. After eating, we decided to tour the ship and try to get used to the layout. The Fascination had many of the same options that the larger ships have, so it's not like anyone would miss out on everything by booking one in this ship class. At the time, the main things they were missing that we notice now were Guy's Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina. We do still talk about how the Fascination's deli, as we feel this was one of the best we've had on any of our cruises.

The shows were good, just as with many other Carnival ships. The playlist production on the Fascination was another area we favored over any other Carnival cruise still. This could be due to that one being the first one we had seen, and every other one since then have been pretty much the same songs and routines....still good though!

Plenty to do during the day on the Fascination. Always seemed to be live music playing throughout the ship, which kept us in party/vacation mode. The onboard crew were very good. Our steward and wait staff were very nice and engaging.

Overall, we really enjoyed our first Carnival cruise on the Carnival Fascination. So much so, that we quickly booked a cruise on the Carnival Triumph!

Would we recommend the Carnival Fascination: Yes, especially for a first time cruiser.
Our favorite part: Easy to find your way around the entire ship
Pros: Size and crew
Cons: Older ship, still looks great but showing it's age in some areas

San Juan, Puerto Rico Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 21:58:58 GMT

A beautiful place to visit, with so much to do! San Juan, Puerto Rico did not disappoint us on our December 2017 cruise. From the moment we got off the ship, we could feel the excitement and festive energy flowing throughout the island.

We decided to take a local bus tour of Puerto Rico, as there were many to choose from. On the tour, we were able to see some of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. We were also able to see how the island has been rebuilding. It was a pleasure to see the people who call San Juan home were so positive and welcoming. We also had a couple stops along the beach.

We then decided to get off and do some sight-seeing and shopping. There were many shops to visit, and all had really good prices for their merchandise. Each vendor was pleasant, and didn't get pushy at all.

There was music playing everywhere we went, adding to the festive vibe we felt while at the port. Compared to most of the ports we had ever visited, San Juan seemed to be one of the easiest to find our way around.

We would definitely recommend anyone to visit San Juan. It's one of the few ports that we've visited where we would actually look into booking a vacation there.

Our favorite part of our stop in San Juan: The look and feel. Wish we stayed there much longer.

Montego Bay (Jamaica) Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 21:52:07 GMT

Montego Bay is another port where many cruise ships make a stop. Just like other ports in the Caribbean, Montego Bay offers plenty to do, from hanging out on the beach, to sight-seeing, or shopping, and much more!

We started our journey by purchasing tickets for the "Hop On, Hop Off" excursion. For no more than $20 per person, we rode in an air conditioned van, making multiple stops throughout Montego Bay. We were able to stay at each stop for as long as we wanted, as the excursion had vans coming and leaving approximately every 20 to 30 minutes. While riding to each stop, the drivers provided some interesting history of Jamaica. Our first stop was at a shopping center. The center was nice, but we didn't find anything to buy. Our next stop was at the beach, which was packed. If you wanted to actually go on the beach, there was a fee of $6 per person. Not dressed for the beach, we decided to go to the next stop, which was a local craft mart. Although we bought plenty of souvenirs and jewelry, we did find the vendors to be just a bit pushy. Actually, some were quite rude when we didn't purchase anything from them.

After shopping, we walked around taking in the scenes. One thing that you should be prepared for when walking in Montego Bay, is that there is a very good chance you will be asked if you want to buy some drugs. We were asked multiple times, but a stern "No thanks" was all it took and they would each leave us alone.

Other than the pushy vendors and drug sellers, the rest of the people were quite friendly. The overall vibe was laid back, and there was always lively music being played everywhere we went. Of course, there were plenty of places to get some good, local cuisine. We had heard and read multiple horror stories about how walking around in Jamaica wasn't too safe, but we never felt unsafe at all.

Our favorite parts about our stop in Montego Bay: The scenery and the overall vibe.

Grand Cayman Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:22:08 GMT

Whether visiting Grand Cayman on a cruise, or a vacation, this beautiful landing spot has plenty to offer. We visited this port on a cruise vacation in 2016, and still talk about our trip there. One thing we noticed was that the people there were all nice and laid back.

We had a reservation at one of the local restaurants scheduled shortly after we arrived at the port, so we decided to go eat first, then visit the shops. There were many places to shop along the way, so we were prepared for a little pushiness from the local vendors. To our surprise, each vendor we said no to simply said "thank you" and didn't continue to pressure us into buying anything. When we made our first stop for some shopping, we stopped at a craft market on the main street. As soon as we approached, the sales woman asked if there was anything we were looking for. We told her we were just browsing. She responds "Thank you, please just let one of us know if you have any questions", then sat and waited, without attempting to pressure us. We ended up spending over an hour at her stand, buying several items. We've visited and shopped at many vendor spots while on vacation over the years, but not feeling pressured to buy was new, and a welcomed surprise.

For lunch, we stopped at Paradise Seaside Grill. Within walking distance of the cruise terminal, this restaurant turned out to be the highlight of our stop. The Jerk Chicken Alfredo is one of the best meals we've had on any vacation. The alcoholic drinks were good as well. We ended up spending $98 on lunch for 3, but based on the quality of food, drinks, and service, we felt it was well worth it. Any future trips to Grand Cayman will definitely include a stop at Paradise Seaside Grill!

Grand Cayman offers many excursions. Some popular ones are 7 Mile Beach and Stingray City. The island itself was beautiful. The locals were very friendly. The overall vibe was quiet and peaceful. For those visiting by cruise, this is a tender port, so expect a small boat ride from the ship to the port.

Our favorite part of our visit to Cayman Island: A tie between the friendly people and lunch at Paradise Seaside Grill.

Cozumel, Mexico Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:19:34 GMT

After visiting Cozumel Mexico multiple times, we would have to say that this is a spot we would visit on any cruise itinerary or vacation. So far, we've always been able to find something new to do. One thing that's guaranteed is that there will be plenty of opportunities for shopping!

Whether traveling as a family, a couple, or single vacationer, you should never have a problem finding some sort of adventure in Cozumel. We've done the all-inclusive resort for a day in El-Cid, which is only a short walk from the cruise port, where we enjoyed an all you can eat buffet, and endless drinks....yes, even the ones with alcohol! A swimming pool, beach, and decent snorkeling helped keep us and the kids occupied. For a total of 4, we spent less than $200.

On another visit to Cozumel, we spent time at Paradise Beach. It was just a quick taxi ride from the cruise port. Though not all-inclusive like several other spots in Cozumel, the prices were very affordable. There, we enjoyed some authentic Mexican meals, a large swimming pool, and some parasailing! For the parasailing, we paid $150 for 3 people together. For our entire trip to Paradise Beach, for 3 people, we spent less than $200 total.

There are plenty of other beaches and all-inclusive resort spots in Cozumel. Each come with their own pros and cons, but the overall reviews we've read on them have all been positive. If beaches and/or resorts aren't what you're looking for, there are plenty of other excursions.

As for the shopping in Cozumel, it's everywhere! From the moment you step into the port, there are countless options. From jewelry, to alcohol, to toys and souvenirs, and much more. Our advice, if you have something in mind, or find something you really want, you should probably look around just a little more first as many of the shops sale some of the same things for different prices. For example, we found a travel bag at one spot for $40. Less than 5 minutes later, we found the same bag at another spot for $30. Minutes later, we found and purchased the same bag at another spot for $20 after a little bit of bargaining.

Our favorite thing about Cozumel at this point: The options. Each time we go, we find something new to do.

Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:15:56 GMT

Located in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Amber Cove is still a relatively new port, but offers just as much as the ones that have been around for many years.

On our stop at Amber Cove, we decided to stay close to the ship, as there was enough to do to keep us occupied for hours. Just within walking distance of the ship, we found a spot where we were able to enjoy the pool, eat some local food, and do some ziplining! With the entrance being free, we were able to go on the zipline as many times as we liked, eat a nice sized lunch, and enjoy a couple adult beverages for under $75 total for 3 people.

We then walked around the port, learning about the history of Puerto Plata. Afterwards we headed to the shopping area, located within walking distance. The shops at the port were all nice, clean, and reasonably priced. The vendors were pleasant, and did get too pushy trying to make a sell. Other passengers on our cruise tried the beach horseback riding, and Damajagua Falls excursions. Each got good reviews.

Our favorite part about our stop at Amber Cove: Unlimited Ziplining, for only $20 per adult, $10 per child.

Carnival Triumph Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:07:17 GMT

The Carnival Triumph was our second of many cruises with Carnival Cruises. We sailed during Spring Break of 2015, before the ship had its last refurbishments and renovations in 2016. The 2.0 upgrade equipped the Triumph with many favorites like Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, the Alchemy Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, and BlueIguana Tequila Bar.

At the time of our cruise, the Triumph left out of Galveston Texas. Embarkation was painless, as we waited until the line thinned out before checking in. We had also purchased Faster to the Fun, which moved us to the front of an already short line.

The ship's length is 893 feet, and we enjoyed every bit of it, as it didn't seem too large or too small. As normal, everything was clean and in good condition. We had heard horror stories about the Triumph and thankfully none really seemed true once we boarded. The crew did a very good job keeping us satisfied and taken care of. The entertainment crew ensured that we never had a dull moment, as there was always something fun going on around the ship.

The overall dining on the Triumph was very good. Our wait time in the Main Dining Room seemed to be just a bit faster than it has been on our other cruises. The taste and quality of the food was just below excellent, on par with the rest of Carnival's ships that we've now sailed on. Fortunately for us, we were more interested in quantity, and the Triumph did not disappoint. There were several options to choose from in terms of dining, to include burgers, pizzas, burritos, and buffets.

There was plenty of entertainment, but for this particular cruise we did not attend any of the shows in the main theater. The majority of our time was spent in the casino, playing bingo, and relaxing by the pool....oh, and eating! As with the other ships in Carnival's fleet, there was plenty of trivia games throughout the week.

While at port in Progreso Mexico, we decided to only get off the ship for a short time to buy some souvenirs, and do some sightseeing. We then got back on the Triumph extra early to take advantage of the pool, the waterslides, and the hot tub.

One thing that we agreed on is that we would prefer to not cruise during Spring Break again. Neither our fun or vacation were ruined, but we found the ship to have a lot more young adults looking to party, drink, and get just a tad bit out of hand too often. We've cruised during the summer, fall, and winter months and have not seen nearly as much rowdiness as we did during our Spring Break cruise. Again, we still had fun, but for an older crowd, or family with small children, it could be a bit of an issue.

Pros: Perfect size, Crew, Food options
Cons: Non really for the ship, however cruising during Spring Break is something that we'll try to avoid in the future.
Would we recommend others to cruise on this ship: Yes
Favorite part about the Carnival Triumph: The size

Carnival Breeze Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:41:54 GMT

Part of Carnival's second largest class of ships, the Carnival Breeze has so far been our favorite ship we've cruised on. Measuring in at 130,000 gross tonnage, and 1004 feet in length, the Breeze has plenty of space to accommodate its ample amount of activities and accommodations. The Breeze completed its last dry dock in April of 2017, when the cosmetic enhancements included new carpeting, wall covers, lighting, the new Alchemy Bar, and Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que.

We boarded the Breeze in Galveston Texas, and had a pretty smooth embarkation. Once onboard, we were amazed at how much space it seemed to have, and how nice it looked onboard. After dropping off our luggage, we headed straight to Cucina del Capitano to enjoy their free lunch. Most people gathered at either Guy's Burger Joint, or the buffet immediately after boarding, which meant there was no wait at all at Cucina del Capitano.

Afterwards, we toured the ship, noticing the multiple bars and dining areas. One thing we liked was that most of the public areas were spacious enough to accommodate the over 3,500 guests. As with all of the Carnival ships we've been on, the Breeze seemed very well kept and clean.

We had read reviews stating that the food on the Breeze was better than other Carnival ships, so we made sure we tried every dining spot we could. Although we didn't notice much of a difference, we really enjoyed the Tandoor, which served authentic Indian cuisine, and Cucina del Capitano, which served authentic Italian dishes. Guy's Burger Joint , Blue Iguana Cantina, and the food in the main dining room tasted just as good as on other ships. We ordered room service every night, and really enjoyed the new menu which included some meals for a small fee. We thought the prices were worth it.

The crew aboard the Breeze were outstanding! They really seemed to enjoy what they do, and went the extra mile to ensure the passengers were enjoying themselves. We watched every Playlist Productions show, and thought the talent was really good. Throughout the day, there was always something to do. As normal, most of our days consisted of a lot of bingo, trivia, casino, and kicking back. We cruised during the month of October, while school was in session, so there was a good mix of adults and children onboard.

Pros: Spacious, Excellent Crew, Multiple food options, Multiple activities

Cons: None that we could notice

Would we recommend others to cruise on this ship: Yes

Favorite part about the Carnival Breeze: Spacious ship with plenty to do for adults and children

Carnival Sunshine Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:39:03 GMT

In December of 2017, we set sail on an 8 day, exotic Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Sunshine. After reading many reviews, we booked this cruise specifically for the many amenities the Sunshine offered.

Originally known as the Carnival Destiny, the Sunshine received a major transformation in 2013. This transformation included routine hotel maintenance, as well as some cosmetic enhancements. More noticeable was the addition of many of Carnival’s signature features, to include: Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, Guy’s Burger Joint, Cucina del Capitano, BlueIguana Cantina, JavaBlue Café, Pizzeria del Capitano, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, and other restaurants. The refurbishment also included the SportSquare, which has many active games, and the Ropes Course. Other features added were WaterWorks, Carnival Seaside Theater, Serenity adults-only retreat, and multiple bars.

We boarded the ship in Port Canaveral Florida. The port seemed pretty crowded, as there were multiple ships docked that day, from different cruise lines. The crew were very helpful getting passengers to the right spots. Being that we arrived after 12:00, the ship was already boarding, so we didn’t have to wait too long to board the Sunshine. Once we were on, we did have to wait for a little for the elevators to get us to the 8th floor where our cabin was located. Our room steward greeted us in the hallway, then we entered our balcony stateroom. The location was perfect, midship, not too far away from either elevator.

As many others headed to the buffet, Guy’s Burger Joint, and BlueIguana Cantina, we decided to have lunch at the Taste Bar, were they had a small sized BBQ buffet ready. There was barely a line, and the food was pretty good. Afterwards, we did a little tour of the ship, to get familiar with its layout.

Throughout the cruise, we really enjoyed how pleasant the crew members were, and the ample amount of entertainment and activities. Our normal day on the ship consisted of bingo, trivia, and a lot of relaxing. The Playlist Productions shows at night were really good. We didn’t spend any time in the casino on this cruise. The comedy shows were decent, but the room where they had the shows seemed very cramped. Many people had to sit behind the stage, out of view from the comedians. One word of advice, if you plan on attending a comedy show, arrive extra early, or you will have a bad seat, or may not even be able to get a seat at all.

We ate breakfast in the main dining room on Sea Days. Although the service was a little slow, the food was very good. On port days, we mainly pre-ordered room service. We did try the breakfast buffet on one port day, and found it to be a little crowded, though the food was still good. For lunch, most days we had burritos from BlueIguana Cantina, and believed these were the best we had tasted on any of our cruises. The burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint didn’t seem to taste as good as the others we had before, so we only at there once or twice. The Pasta Bar was very good. These made to order dishes were freshly made, and flavored how we liked them. We loved the Cuban snacks at the Havana Bar. Once, we even tried the Mongolian Wok. The wait time in line was over 30 minutes, but it was made with all the ingredients we chose.

For dinner, the first night we ate at the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse. This restaurant was an additional fee. The steak was just above average, but the crab cakes were delicious. Since it was the first night of the cruise when we ate there, we received a free bottle of wine. Another night we ate at Ji Ji Asian Kitchen. The atmosphere was very nice, and they served way more food than we could eat. This restaurant also had an additional fee, but we felt it well worth it for the amount of food they served. The rest of the cruise we ate dinner in the main dining room. Our wait staff was awesome! After several cruises, we expected the wait time to be long, but on this cruise, we really didn’t wait any longer than a normal restaurant before we got our food. The food itself was Carnival’s normal menu items, and all tasted pretty good.

We had heard the Serenity adults-only retreat on the Sunshine was bigger and better than most other cruise ships. The one time we visited it, it was packed, with no seats available. Needless to say, we didn’t stay there long. Just long enough to walk around, and see what it was like.

The ship itself is beautiful. It seemed as if it was maintained very well. The one thing that we did notice was that for a ship its size, there may have been too many restaurants, bars, etc. The space all throughout the ship seemed pretty cramped. It almost seems as if the transformation took away too much space. Even the main theater room seemed smaller than most. Walking through the common areas was often a challenge, having to navigate through the crowds of people. The layout also made it a bit of a challenge to walk from one area to another.

Overall, we had a nice, relaxing cruise. If you’re the type to avoid large crowds, you’ll experience them to some degree on any ship, but the Sunshine seemed to have more of them. Having a balcony cabin to escape the noise and crowds was definitely a plus! Again, the crew was awesome. We did run into one or two crew members that weren’t very pleasant, but the good ones almost made us forget about those.

Pros: Excellent crew, Multiple food options, Multiple activities

Cons: The overall spacing made the ship seem more crowded than others. The ship’s layout was a bit challenging.

Would we recommend others to cruise on this ship: Yes, but we’d recommend they study the layout, and be prepared for crowds.

Favorite part about the Carnival Sunshine: Plenty to do for adults and children, the ship’s cleanliness.

Carnival Food Review

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 13:55:25 GMT

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Good, quality food for no additional cost (other than the specialty restaurants) is available on Carnival ships. The Main Dining Rooms offer great options for breakfast/lunch and dinner. From creative french toast, to steak and eggs, to lobster tails and even Dr. Seuss themed breakfast....try the green eggs and ham.

Other free options include:
Guy's Burgers (brought to you by Guy Fieri)
Blue Iguana Cantina (great tacos and burritos)
24-hour pizza (made fresh)
Buffets
Tandor (great Indian cuisine)
24-hour ice cream
And many others...

Some of the specialty restaurants that charge a fee include:
A Steakhouse
Bonsai Sushi
JiJi Asian Kitchen
And others...

We don't recall any bad meals on any of our Carnival cruises. The only real drawback we've experienced is that the wait time in the Main Dining Rooms tend to be long at times. Your wait staff is very attentive, and even provide some evening entertainment by dancing to some well-known tunes.

So far, our favorite: Have to say it's a tie between Tandor and the lunch burritos at Blue Iguana Cantina.

What Cabin Should I Book?

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 23:47:36 GMT

Cabin Types & LocationCabin Types & Location

Some questions we get asked over and over, is "What type of cabin should I get?" or "Where is the best cabin on the ship?" These are very good questions to ask, because your cabin type and/or location can be a very important decision, and could make your cruise more enjoyable.

Cabin Types: Interior, Oceanview, Balcony, Suite. (There are also cabins with portholes, and different types of suites)

We have cruised in all except the suites (currently scheduled for a suite on the Carnival Magic in December 2019). The first thing we point out is to look and see what your budget will allow. With each category, there is usually a price difference. Interior cabins are typically the least expensive, while suites are typically the most expensive. For the most part, interior, oceanview, and balcony cabins have close to the same amount of cabin space. The suites tend to have more square footage than the rest.

Interior Cabins:

These cabins have no window or balcony. Of course, they still have televisions, closets, a bathroom, desks, and nightstands. The main reason that we would book an interior cabin is to save money. Another thing to think about is how long the cruise is scheduled for. For a short 3 day cruise, being in a room with no view doesn’t seem as bad as it would on a weeklong cruise. Also, keep in mind that often times people spend very little time in their cabin, so the money saved may be worth it.

Other than not having a view, another drawback to booking an interior cabin is that once the lights and television is off, the room is pitch black. Good for sleep, but not good for moving around. We’ve solved this issue by either leaving the bathroom light on and cracking the door, or placing the television on the channel that shows a live feed of the lido deck. That way while the sun is down, there’s not a lot of light coming from the television. Then when the sun rises, the light in the room gradually increases.

Oceanview Cabins:

The only real difference between an oceanview cabin and an interior cabin is the window. For a weeklong cruise, these cabins run a couple hundred dollars more than an interior. Other than the extra light in the room during the day, the only thing we noticed that was better was that we were able to look outside to judge the weather outside, and be able to have a closer view of the ocean. Many cruisers have stated that they felt less closed-in in an oceanview cabin than they did in an interior cabin.

Balcony Cabins:

These cabins come with not only a large window, but also your own balcony equipped with chairs and a small table. The privacy of having your own balcony is that no other cruisers can see you, but they can hear you if they’re on their balcony next, above, or below you. Still, it felt very cozy and private. Each morning of our cruise, we would sit on the balcony and have coffee as we took in the relaxing views of the ocean or port we had stopped in. At night, we enjoyed having drinks on the balcony. During the day, we were able to step away from the crowds, while still be able to enjoy the ocean breeze on the balcony. As for the room itself, the size was about the same as the others, but felt less cramp. This was due to having extra room to yourself on the balcony. The price difference can be a lot at times. We’ve seen the price difference between oceanviews and balconies range anywhere from $150 to over $500. This all depends on the ship, number of days, etc.

Given a choice between the three, we would base our selection on the number of days we’re cruising. For a short cruise, if the price difference is high, we would consider an interior cabin. Anything 5 days or longer, we would go with a balcony. The only time we would consider an oceanview is if the price was the same as an interior (which happens from time to time) or if there were not interiors or balconies available.

What’s The Best Location On The Ship To Book Our Cabin?

This is all a matter of preference. We strongly recommend that you review the ship’s deckplan prior to making your selection.

Keep in mind that you’re going to need to use an elevator or stairs while on your cruise. Whichever your preferred method of getting up and down the floors, it may be a good idea to select a cabin nearby. We don’t recommend staying in the first few cabins near an elevator or stairs though. Keep in mind, there could be a rowdy crowd waiting at the elevator, or just getting off. This could be an issue late at night as you’re trying to relax.

Every cruise, we try to book as close to the center of the ship as possible. That way the walk to the areas at the front of the ship are no longer than the walk to the areas in the back of the ship. We have also read many reviews and advice that staying in the middle of the ship lessens the chances of feeling the ships movement (preferable if you’re prone to sea sickness).

As for which floor we recommend, we take a look at the deckplan and book on a floor where the room above and below us are guest rooms. Staying below or above the galley will almost guarantee you that you’ll be hearing noises throughout the night as they move things around. We tend to book most of our rooms on either the 7th or 8th floor.

When we book a balcony room, we like to book on the portside of the ship. While we’re in port, we tend to get back on the ship with plenty of time to spare before the ship departs. We enjoy being able to sit out and take in the views of the port from our balcony. And we must say, watching out for ‘pier runners’ is another hobby of ours!