Hey, future cruisers! Welcome to Part 2 of my full Carnival Sunshine cruise ship review!
If you caught last week’s post, you already know all about the ship’s general layout, vibe, staterooms, dining, and service. If you haven’t read that yet, you can check it out here. But this week, I’m diving into all the fun stuff that the Carnival Sunshine has to offer, from entertainment and nightlife to the pools, sports square, shopping, spa, and more! Trust me when I say, there is never a dull moment.
Keep reading to find out what fun is waiting for you aboard the Carnival Sunshine!
Entertainment & Nightlife Onboard the Carnival Sunshine
One place the Carnival Sunshine really “shines” is with the entertainment and nightlife. They have all sorts of shows and live performances every day, from comedy specials and interactive game shows to professionally-performed song and dance routines and themed parties.
Liquid Lounge Shows
Every night (and some afternoons), something is going on in the Liquid Lounge. This is the ship’s largest show venue, and they make good use of it!
The biggest highlight here is the musical performances. The ship has a fantastic team of talented singers/dancers who put on themed shows, complete with awesome special effects and cool costumes. They had so many great shows, including Epic Rock, Latin Night, The World Works Here, and more. Each one was so unique and engaging, even if I didn’t know a lot of the songs.
On several occasions, the Liquid Lounge is also used for interactive game shows with the audience! The cruise director will get several volunteers to join in the fun, with everything from 60-second challenges to more involved games like Deal or No Deal or married-couples’ trivia.
Last but not least, there are some evening comedy specials here. They usually have several throughout the day. Earlier showings are family-friendly, while the later ones are much more racy.
Limelight Lounge Events
The Limelight Lounge is the secondary show venue, but it’s significantly smaller than the Liquid Lounge. While the Liquid Lounge is more of an amphitheater, the Limelight Lounge is much cozier, with just a few rows of tables and chairs arced in front of the bar.
They still have a decent variety of shows and events here, though, including comedy specials, magic shows, and late-night parties. Since the stage is so small, shows are typically limited to one or two performers (or a DJ) at a time.
The most prevalent shows here by far were comedy specials, followed by late-night music, like ’70s and ’80s Music, Nightclub Hits, Latin Nights, or Rock Hour. There’s just enough room in front of the stage for about 20 people to dance during those late-night parties.
Themed Parties on the Carnival Sunshine
Throughout the week, the Carnival Sunshine also has a number of themed parties. You can check the schedule in advance to see what they are if you want to dress up to join in the fun (although dressing up isn’t required).
On our week, the themed parties included ’80s Rock-n-Glow and White Hot Night Party. These happen at 10:30 p.m. on the Lido Deck, where there’s plenty of room to move around. There’s a DJ, and the cruise director will also be there to lead everybody in some group dances, like the Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, The Cha-Cha Slide, and more!
Ocean Plaza Entertainment
If you enjoy trivia, you’ll love spending time in the Ocean Plaza! This lounge area on Deck 5 between the Red Frog Pub and the Alchemy Bar hosts tons of trivia contests. They have everything from General Knowledge and Sports Trivia to film trivia for Friends, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.
They also mix things up occasionally with variety music, Guess That Song contests, and crafting experiences.
Sunshine Atrium Entertainment
Last but not least, you’ll find plenty going on in the Sunshine Atrium!
This hub is often filled with the sounds of musical performers or short after-show parties that act as a transition to the Limelight Lounge.
But there are other events here too, like the occasional trivia competition or, more frequently, mixers! They have mixers for all kinds of cruisers, from Gen X-ers and Millennials to independent travelers and 40+.
Last but not least, there are occasional small games, raffles, and information sessions here.
Activities & Amenities Onboard the Carnival Sunshine
Looking for more to do? There are plenty of spaces to chill out or get active for all ages and interests!
Soaking Up the Sunshine
Decks 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 are all great places to enjoy the beautiful weather while you’re at sea, with options for both families and adults. The mid- to forward sections of these decks are all centered around pools, hot tubs, and sunbathing.
Decks 9 and 10 feature the family-friendly pool and two small hot tubs, along with lots of lounge chairs for guests. These are conveniently located by most of the ship’s dining options, too, so you won’t have to go far if you want a snack or a drink.
Decks 11, 12, and 14 are reserved for adults, with their own pool (complete with a waterfall), an infinity hot tub, and tons of sunbathing spaces. These decks have much nicer loungers, including big half-moon sun loungers with cushions and room for at least two people. There’s even a glass wall all the way around the top level, so you can always have a great view.
Chilling Out in the Cloud 9 Spa
If you’re looking for a little extra relaxation, be sure to check out the Cloud 9 Spa on Deck 10.
The on-ship spa has all sorts of pampering packages, from massages and facials to skin rejuvenation and weight loss treatments! They even have a hair and beauty salon and a thermal suite. Pretty much any type of special treatment you can think of, they have it with a dedicated specialist who will make sure you get the best results!
Now, when I originally looked at the spa packages online, I wasn’t really interested. We like to get massages at home, but the packages seemed pretty pricey, and we didn’t know that we’d want to spend our time here doing something we could do at home.
However, the spa hosts a number of little parties and “taster” events throughout the week, and we ended up going to a massage taster that sold us on getting a massage! If you’re at all interested in the spa, I highly recommend you go to one of these and book there because you are going to get a MUCH better deal than what they have listed on the Carnival site–even with the pre-boarding discounts.
We booked a couple’s Swedish massage after the “taster,” and got an extra 25 minutes and $50 off the listed price. It was such a nice experience, and they even had us fill out a form beforehand that let the masseuses know about any existing aches, pains, injuries, etc., so they could customize the massage to each of us.
I also attended a Ladies Pamper Party on the last day, and I really wish I’d gone to the one earlier in the week. This was such a fun little event! The spa staff gave each attendee free ELEMIS samples for a facial, and showed us exactly how to apply each product for the best results. In between facial steps, they told us about a bunch of the spa’s services, and gave crazy discounts on them! Unfortunately, since it was the last day, a lot of sessions had limited availability, and the one thing I really wanted to do got booked up during the presentation because there’s only one on-board specialist.
So, definitely check out the spa early in the week and get those deals!
Carnival Sunshine SportSquare & More
If you’re searching for some active excitement, you have to check out the aft end of Decks 10-12. Here, you’ll find plenty of fun and games, from basketball to a mini golf course, ropes course, and water park!
SportSquare
The SportSquare was definitely where the kids and teens wanted to hang out because it had lots of cool games and seating. It included
- Shuffleboar
- Ping Pong
- Fooseball
- Sky Track (walking/jogging path)
- Billiards
- Corn Hole
- Basketball Court
- Giant Chess
This area was often pretty crowded, but you could find some calmer times, especially on days with cooler weather.
Mini Golf & Ropes Course
On Deck 12, you’ll find the mini golf course, which was such a fun addition! Of course, it has the added challenge of trying to play on a rocking ship, but we had a good time nonetheless. (Although the second time we tried to play, it was too windy.) The course is pretty short, but the setup was cute, and I liked the variety of setups! You can find all the balls and clubs right at the entrance, too, so you can walk right up and play whenever you want.
A big highlight of this deck is the Ropes Course, which is an absolute blast! Each section has two obstacles, so you and a friend can go together. The staff will securely harness you in, and you’ll be attached to a continuous track along the course. However, it’s also set up so you can switch sides on each obstacle, letting you do whichever one you want.
Water Park
Last but not least: the water park! That’s right, the Carnival Sunshine has a waterpark on Deck 10! It’s small, but a great place to hang out and beat the heat. It has a Splash Zone for little kids, complete with a small slide and one of those buckets that fills up and dumps water on you. But it also has 3 large, enclosed slides that start from several stories higher and have plenty of twists and turns! Two of the slides are identical and have windows, so you can race a friend and get glimpses of the ocean as you go down. How fun!
Casino & Arcade
And for those who like gaming with a risk factor, there’s a casino and an arcade!
The casino takes up a pretty big chunk of the 5th floor with everything from slots and coin pushers to claw machines stacked with cash. This a designated smoking area, so be aware of that if you’re sensitive to the smell or air quality.
Just around the corner from the casino (in the Sunshine Atrium), you’ll find the arcade. While much smaller than the casino, it has plenty of fun games to check out, and a vending machine where you can redeem your tickets for prizes. It’s got lots of games, like Down the Clown, a Willy Wonka coin pusher, ski ball, VR headsets, claw machines, and more!
Carnival Sunshine Shopping & Onboard Deals
You’ll also have plenty of other chances to spend money aboard the Carnival Sunshine–but sometimes less than you might think!
The Promenade on Deck 5 has several great shops that are worth popping into! One side of the Promenade has more “luxury” goods, like perfumes, jewelry, and designer handbags. The other side is more casual and has clothing, souvenirs, toys, and a little convenience store. There’s also a candy store on this level.
Freebies, Discounts, & Raffles
The stores have rotating deals every day, and the Effy jewelry store often has little parties that include a raffle! Every time you attend a party, you’ll receive one of their “Barrels of Fun,” which is a little charm you can put on a necklace or bracelet. Plus, they give out prizes like free jewelry to raffel winners.
There’s also a time period every day at Island Travelers when you can claim a free charm bracelet chain. When you get the bracelet, you’ll also be able to get 5 charms for $10. They also offer a different $5 charm of the day, so you can load up your charm bracelet!
Last but not least, there’s little sales throughout the week on Front Street, where you can get gold starting at $1 an inch, 2 for $30 t-shirts, or beach accessories for under $10.
Onboard Art Gallery & Auction
Something I did not expect was the Park West art gallery! Our first night, we popped down to Deck 2 to participate in an Artwork Scavenger Hunt, where we matched clues to specific paintings. We received a small art print just for participating, along with several raffle tickets to the next day’s art auction!
We ended up attending the art auction just for fun, and they had so many beautiful paintings and prints for sale! We didn’t end up buying anything at the auction, but we won a free full-sized piece of artwork from the raffle, and we ended up purchasing a piece we saw during the auction when we went to claim our free one!
A lot of the art was very expensive, but it was a cool experience nonetheless.
Who Would Enjoy a Carnival Sunshine Cruise?
So now for the big question: who would enjoy a Carnival Sunshine Cruise?
I think that the cruise has enough variety to appeal to a very wide range of travelers, especially family or friend groups. There so many places to relax and activities to enjoy, especially with a group. However, we also enjoyed it as a couple, and there are plenty of mixers and opportunities for solo travelers to meet other people as well. If you like the all-inclusive lifestyle, having lots of entertainment at your finger tips, and chilling by the pool, this is a great option for you.
However, as someone who typically tries to avoid crowds and enjoys nature experiences, this isn’t the type of experience I’m likely to do again soon.
Our cruise was 7 days, with 3 spend in the Bahamas. And while I did enjoy my time on the ship, my favorite part was the port days, and they just weren’t long enough! I would have loved a lot more time in each port to really explore the towns, try the food, and do more than one activity.
However, I’m glad I tried cruising at least once, and I’m interested in going again–but we might try a more exprience or nature-oriented cruise instead.
See More Carnival Sunshine Fun on YouTube
Closing Thoughts on the Carnival Sunshine
All in all, we had a great time on the Carnival Sunshine, and we made a lot of great memories! I loved the shows and the energy every day, and I had such a blast trying out the on-deck amenities–especially the ropes course and spa.
Thanks for stopping by to check out Part 2 of my Carnival Sunshine review! I hope it answered all your questions, but if you have more, feel free to drop them down below, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
If you didn’t catch Part 1 of my review, you can read that here, and be sure to subscribe to Carried Away Travels to get the newest travel tips, itinereraries, gear recommendations, and more sent straight to your inbox! You can also follow me on social media for more fun and inspiration!
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One last thing: if you’re planning to take a Carnival Sunshine cruise to the Bahmas, be sure to check my other posts to learn about fun shore excursions you can try while you’re there!
Until next time, happy travels!
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