It's hard not to have a good time when your enthusiastic cruise director stands on top of the bar and encourages everyone to join in. The ship's age is starting to show, with a few nicks and marks here and there and visible rust spots on the exterior. The need for a fresh coat of paint was more prominent when we were docked beside two newer Royal Caribbean ships in Nassau — so much so that the comedian referenced it in his show that night.
Grand Vista Suite
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Our cabin's TV was installed on the wall to the left of the desk mirror. Unfortunately, the wall came out a bit to the left of the TV, which made it impossible to swivel the TV to the left and view it from the bed. It had about 10 channels of news, movies and children's programming, and several Carnival-sponsored channels. Also, other than the night of the storm, I didn't encounter any extensive rocking or shifting that was out of the ordinary for a cruise ship.
Suites
Even if you don't have a milestone event to celebrate, Carnival Sunshine provides such a perfect backdrop for your fun that your vacation will feel like a celebration. Sure, you'll spot signs of wear and tear befitting an older ship, but the dings in my cabin furnishings were easy to overlook. TPG's Kristy Tolley accepted a free trip from Carnival Cruise Line to cruise on Carnival Sunshine.
WHAT TO EXPECT
On most other cruise ships these would be classed as Ocean View, but Carnival classes any room with small portholes and Interior. Any time you’re in your room, you’re steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis… designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views. Located at the top of each ship on Deck 17, the complexes have separate living and sleeping areas and the most expansive balconies in the Carnival fleet — all unusual-for-Carnival features. Measuring more than 600 square feet, the balconies also offer a lounging area with a large sunbed and a private outdoor hot tub and shower.
I thought my cabin bathroom was a decent size for an interior room, and I never felt cramped.
One or two nights a cruise, there will be a more formal "cruise elegant" night where men are expected to turn out in dress slacks and a dress shirt, preferably with a sports coat, or even in a suit. During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. The drinking age on sailings on Carnival ships in Australia is 18. All vessels operate on a "cashless system," with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. Most Carnival ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. The launderettes also have vending machines that dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per box.
The soothing in-room whirlpool tub will help you stay relaxed after your relaxing spa treatment. And like all suites, a Cloud 9 Spa Suite features VIP check-in, which lets you easily get right up to your amazing stateroom. Our shower's door was made of a plastic-like material and maneuvered inward to save space; however, the extended balcony stateroom had a glass door and opened outward. Either way, the shower was thoughtfully designed and it did not go unnoticed. Even between the two of us, we used up nearly all of the plugs to charge all of our devices, including phones, laptops, watches and more.
The fitness center was well stocked with just about every piece of equipment you need to keep your workout routine while you cruise. It's free to use, but you can pay extra for instructor-led classes like Pilates, yoga or indoor cycling. If you like fresh air with your morning walk or run, head to the top deck and hit the jogging track. You can also buy Thermal Suite passes for a day or the entire length of your cruise. You'll have access to the heated tile loungers, rain showers, an aroma steam room and a sauna. Carnival's Cloud 9 Spa on Deck 10 is the place to go for vacation pampering.
I booked the cheapest stateroom available, which was an interior cabin on a low deck.
That said, Carnival has seen the success that some of its competitors have had with a bigger range of upscale accommodations, and it's eyeing more suites for future vessels. The new Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration each have 180 suites — more than twice the number of Carnival's other recent ships. Carnival vessels based on the East Coast and along the Gulf of Mexico mostly sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas. Some East Coast ships also head to Bermuda, New England and Canada. On the West Coast, sailings to Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska are the norm. Overall, the interior cabins on Carnival Horizon are clean and comfortable, albeit small.
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These days, not all inside cabins are the bottom-of-the-barrel inventory. Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you're looking to cruise aboard Carnival Paradise. Any time you're in your room, you're just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel. Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you're looking to cruise aboard Carnival Vista.
You'd be hard-pressed to spend less with a hotel stay of the same length — not to mention the extra cost of food you don't have to worry about with a cruise. The cabins feature plenty of storage space but only have one bathroom. Mom and Dad, consider leaving the bathroom squabbles to the young'uns, and shower at the spa. The Grand Vista Suite is the biggest, located on the uppermost deck… and all this altitude has a way of also elevating the view. As do floor-to-ceiling windows that make sure nothing gets in the way. Even more convenience and comfort come standard, like a huge balcony made for stretching out, a tub that’s great for doing the same, a convenient walk-in dressing area, plus VIP check-in.
Note that on some Carnival ships, specific categories of balcony cabins have larger balconies than most. Often these rooms are at the back of the ships overlooking the wake. You'll also want to book early if you're aiming for a suite — particularly if you want one of the best suites on a Carnival ship.
Either way, I find that I don't spend much time in my cabin when I am cruising, especially on a brand-new ship! Unless I am in a luxurious suite, most of my time is spent exploring the cruise ship or adventuring in the ports of call. Having a comfortable place to sleep and shower is most important, and every cabin onboard a cruise ship will provide that. We expected to see more differences between the inside cabin's bathroom and the extended balcony stateroom, but for the most part, they were the same. Both bathrooms featured shelving above and below the bathroom counter. Along with the mirror, the vanities in both the inside stateroom and extended balcony cabin also featured drawers under the counter and exposed shelving for additional storage.
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