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Carnival Sunshine cruise ship review: What it’s like to cruise on Carnival’s oldest ship

TPG's Kristy Tolley accepted a free trip from Carnival Cruise Line to cruise on Carnival Sunshine. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren't subject to review by the line.

Sometimes it's hard to beat an oldie but a goodie, and that's certainly the case with Carnival Sunshine.

Carnival's oldest ship and part of the line's Sunshine Class of reimagined vessels, Carnival Sunshine has the "Fun Ship 2.0" upgrades that bring it in line with newer Carnival ships. Modern amenities and an unpretentious environment dovetail nicely aboard Sunshine, and the updated restaurants, bars and public spaces make you feel like you're on a modern cruise ship.

Sure, you'll spot signs of wear and tear befitting an older ship, but the dings in my cabin furnishings were easy to overlook.

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I'm not the only one who appreciates this made-over ship. On my second sailing on Sunshine, a four-night Bahamas cruise out of Charleston, I found myself surrounded by a diverse group, though most passengers hailed from South Carolina. My shipmates included lots of families, couples traveling together and multigenerational reunion groups.

The common denominator among passengers was that everyone was ready to celebrate something. On embarkation day, I saw an almost endless sea of matching shirts announcing milestone birthdays, bachelorette parties and other special events. The overall vibe — which continued throughout the cruise — was energetic and festive, and most people didn't take themselves too seriously. It was clear from the moment we stepped on the ship that if you didn't have a fun time, it was entirely your fault.

Carnival Sunshine is a great home base for a celebratory vacation (or any kind of getaway, really) that doesn't break the bank, especially if you live within driving distance of one of its departure ports. Some four-night sailings start as low as $374 per person (based on double occupancy) for a four-night getaway. 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.

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.

Overview of Carnival Sunshine

The 102,853-ton Carnival Sunshine is 12 decks high and carries 3,002 passengers at double occupancy in 1,501 cabins.

Launched in 1996 as Carnival Destiny, the ship received an overhaul and a new name in 2013. The glow-up brought added attractions and venues found on newer Carnival vessels. These upgrades included a complete renovation of Sunshine's pool area and the addition of a full-blown water park, a SportSquare area on the top deck, and an adults-only Serenity outdoor lounge area complete with daybeds, padded loungers, a hot tub and a full bar.

Carnival Sunshine also acquired new food and beverage venues like the line's signature steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555; its signature Italian eatery, Cucina Del Capitano; and an express Bonsai Sushi. The line also added 182 cabins, bumping its capacity at double occupancy from 2,642 to 3,002 passengers, a 14% increase.

At nearly 103,000 tons, Sunshine Class ships are more than 40% smaller than Carnival's newest ships, such as Carnival Celebration. That said, Carnival Sunshine still offers a solid list of onboard diversions, from a multi-slide water park to a theater showing original musical productions.

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. It didn't detract from our cruise, but those seeking a new shiny ship should look elsewhere.

Carnival Sunshine has been based in Charleston, South Carolina, since 2019, but 2024 will be the last year the ship will depart from the Holy City. It's moving a bit farther up the East Coast to Norfolk, Virginia, beginning in February 2025.

What I loved about Carnival Sunshine

The festive atmosphere

Carnival wears its "fun ship" moniker well. The line's focus on having a great time is infused in every aspect of your cruise experience, and guests are an extension of that ethos. Every passenger I encountered was friendly and ready to participate in all the activities the Fun Squad had planned.

Karaoke was hugely popular during our cruise. There was always a line of people ready to perform, and the Ocean Plaza area where it took place was teeming with crowds cheering them on. Audience members would often get up and dance to the music or sing along.

Loads of people consistently came out for music trivia at the Sunshine Bar in the Atrium, too. 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.

From Noel, our amenable room steward, to Nicole and Tatiana, our capable Alchemy Bar mixologists, every staff member we interacted with was genuine, friendly and cheerful. We weren't their only fans. One passenger even had a T-shirt made featuring a photo of Nicole and Tatiana.

Although Carnival reduced cabin cleaning service to just once a day from twice a day in 2022, our room steward was always close by and checking in on us. Our cabin was well-kept and clean, and we had fresh towels when we needed them.

The crew's flexibility and impressive level of service really stood out on this sailing. For example, we went through a storm during our cruise, and rough seas altered the Welcome Aboard production on the first night. Instead of a musical and dance show, the two onboard comedians performed a short bit of their routine. At least 200 people came out for the show, and the audience was enthusiastic and supportive.

Similarly, since rough seas canceled the tech rehearsal, the "Epic Rock" production on the second night became an "unplugged" version with performers singing from stools on stage. While not ideal, it was another example of the flexibility and upbeat attitude of Carnival staff. Even without a full-on performance, the quality of vocal talent was undeniable.

Perhaps the most moving example of staff personalizing an experience for guests was during the military appreciation event, which is held every Carnival sailing and hosted by the cruise director. Traditionally, a recording of "Taps" is played during a moment of silence. Our cruise director, James, is also a trumpet player, so he plays "Taps" live for the ceremony.

I've sailed with Carnival on several occasions, and the food has always been great. Carnival Sunshine was no exception. I was able to sample most included and added-fee restaurants — including Asian favorites at JiJi's and Bonsai Sushi, and the poolside Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina (more below on each of these).

Carnival Sunshine offers a nice variety of cuisine, so all palates will be satisfied. You could enjoy a spicy chickpea curry dish or jambalaya, freshly prepared artisan deli sandwiches and wraps, or load up on salad fixings and fresh fruit.

The main dining room menu featured fresh seafood, varied pasta dishes (spaghetti carbonara, linguini with Italian sausage), steak and tempting desserts (the creme brulee and Carnival melting chocolate cake are a must).

The only downside is it can be challenging to hit every dining venue you want during a four-night cruise!

What I didn't love about Carnival Sunshine

Smoke in the casino.

Smoking can be a divisive issue on cruise ships, and it's banned nearly everywhere on board. However, it's permitted in the casino, which would be fine if I didn't have to pass through the casino to get to certain parts of the ship. But there was no way to avoid the smoky areas if I needed to get to the Liquid Lounge theater from the Ocean Plaza. I can only imagine how problematic that could be for those who are allergic to smoke.

That said, the casino was always buzzing and consistently teemed with passengers who either weren't bothered by the smoke or were willing to put up with it for a good game of blackjack.

Limited electrical outlets in cabins

If you've sailed on a newer Carnival ship with ample outlets and USB ports in your cabin, you might be surprised by the lack of them on Sunshine. Updating the number of electrical outlets and adding USB ports to the cabins was not part of the 2013 renovation.

The desk area had only two U.S.-style 110V plugs and a European-style 220V plug. The nightstands flanking the bed did not include outlets. If you need more outlets, plan to pack a power strip (just not one with a surge protector, as they're banned on ships ).

Carnival Sunshine cabins and suites

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.

Another perk of an aft cabin was the size of the balcony — a bit larger than regular balconies in other Carnival cabins I've stayed in. Traditional balconies have room for two chairs and a small table. Our aft balcony fit an additional lounger. As mentioned earlier, the ship shows signs of wear and tear, which was evident on our balcony. It desperately needed a good scrub to get rid of the dark spots and paint drippings.

I had heard that noise could be an issue for those staying in aft cabins. We were above the main dining room, and we could sometimes hear the music from the dinner entertainment. However, we never heard it after hours. Honestly, I didn't notice any more ship noise than on previous sailings in other cabins.

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.

Overall, I was pleased with the cabin. It was basic, with neutral walls and blue patterned carpeting. No cutting-edge designs here, but I wouldn't expect that from an older ship. The bed was cozy, the pillows were soft, the room temperature remained comfortable, and I had ample storage for a long weekend's worth of clothing.

The wear and tear was also noticeable inside the room, including a few wall dings and a couple of nicks in the wood furnishings. Also, one of the hangers seemed to have been repaired with duct tape.

My room had two twin beds pushed together into a queen-size bed that was flanked by bedside lamps and two one-drawer, one-shelf nightstands. The living area had a long sofa that could transform into a bed or the bottom half of bunk beds. In place of a traditional shorter coffee table, there was a taller wooden table that could double as a makeshift working desk.

A large desk/vanity with a lighted mirror and flat-screen TV was on the opposite wall. It housed four drawers (one containing a small hair dryer for in-cabin use), a minifridge, and a cabinet with a small safe. Three side-by-side closets were positioned to the right of the desk.

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. The TV wasn't interactive like most are on newer ships. It had about 10 channels of news, movies and children's programming, and several Carnival-sponsored channels.

The bathroom was small but adequate. There were two shelves on both sides of the mirror for toiletry storage and a decent amount of counter space for such a small area. The shower included pump dispensers for shampoo and body wash, as well as a retractable clothesline for drying swimwear.

There were ample towel racks and three hooks on the back of the door. The bathroom was stocked with bath and hand towels, washcloths and a bar of soap.

Most of the accommodations on Carnival Sunshine fall into one of three categories: windowless inside cabins, ocean-view cabins with a window that doesn't open and balcony cabins. Carnival Sunshine offers more than 200 connecting rooms, ideal for large families or groups traveling together who like to stay close.

Spa lovers can stay in one of the 92 Cloud 9 Spa cabins and three spa suites with direct access to the spa. They also score exclusive spa packages and discounts, unlimited use of the Thermal Suite, a free body composition analysis and upgraded Elemis toiletries in their cabin.

If you want to splurge and book a suite on Carnival Sunshine, you have 58 options across four categories — Ocean Suites (45), Grand Suites (8), Captain's Suites (2) and the aforementioned Cloud 9 Spa Suites (3). Ocean Suites are akin to junior suites, expanded versions of balcony cabins.

The suites come with varied perks, which can include priority check-in and boarding, as well as priority disembarkation on the final morning of your trip.

Carnival Sunshine restaurants and bars

Carnival Sunshine offers a bevy of restaurant and bar choices. It offers a good mix of included-in-your-fare and extra-fee options, and overall, I enjoyed all my meals on board. If you want to try one of the ship's specialty restaurants, make reservations as soon as possible, as they tend to book up quickly.

Restaurants

Carnival Sunshine has two main dining rooms — Sunrise Dining Room (decks 3 and 4) and Sunset Dining Room (Deck 3). You can choose fixed-time, assigned table seating at 5:30 p.m. (early dining) or 7:45 p.m. (late dining). If you know you want to eat at either of those designated times, you should reserve when you book, as they fill up fast.

We opted for Your Time Dining, so we could dine any time between 5:15 and 9 p.m. When we were ready for dinner, we checked in through Carnival's mobile app and received an alert when our table was ready. From check-in to being seated, we only had about a 10-minute wait on both evenings. All Your Time Dining folks dine in the Sunrise Dining Room.

We enjoyed both main dining room meals, which included prime rib, lobster tail, New York strip and pan-seared barramundi. I especially enjoyed the beet and petite greens salad with a citrus dressing. Of course, when on a Carnival ship, you must try the line's signature melting chocolate cake, which I did, and it was perfection.

Don't miss the Seaday Brunch, with top-notch eggs Benedict, French toast, made-to-order omelets, brunch burgers and bloody marys. I splurged on a fresh pressed juice ($5) with pineapple, ginger, lime, dates and turmeric. It was fantastic. The main dining room is also open for breakfast on port days.

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. Judging from the lines, the majority of Sunshine cruisers had the same idea. Lines moved pretty quickly, though. Even my special-order veggie burger took under five minutes to make (though it was my least favorite dish on the ship).

My husband ordered the "Straight Up" burger with all the fixings, and it was almost on par with others he's eaten on previous cruises.

His take: "This was the 'least good' Guy's burger I've had, and it was still delicious." His second Guy's burger on our third day of the cruise was even tastier.

Also on the Lido Deck, BlueIguana Cantina serves freshly made burritos, tacos and bowls. It's one of my favorite casual dining spots, and I would put the veggie burrito up against Chipotle any day of the week.

The Lido Marketplace is the ship's popular buffet restaurant, offering a variety of culinary options from early morning through late night. Breakfast offerings included scrambled or boiled eggs, beans, potatoes, varied pastries, fresh fruit, and hot or cold cereal. There were also two omelet stations in the Havana Bar area, located just off the Lido Marketplace. (The Havana Bar serves craft Cuban-style daiquiris, mojitos and Cuban coffee drinks.)

Lunch consisted of made-to-order deli sandwiches and pizza, as well as international dishes, hot sides and a salad station.

Carnival Sunshine features five added-fee restaurants — JiJi Asian Kitchen, Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Cucina del Capitano and the Chef's Table — for cruisers looking for a special meal. Hot tip: If you pre-book your specialty dinner for the first night of your cruise, you'll score a free bottle of wine. You can choose between a chardonnay and merlot, and can either drink it with your meal or enjoy it in your cabin later. It's a nice way to kick off the cruise.

We booked a table at Jiji's for our first evening on board. The pan-Asian menu features dishes from Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, China and Mongolia served family style. I ordered the shrimp dumplings, sweet and sour shrimp, and the Chinese broccoli. My husband had the chicken rolls and the peppered beef. We closed out our dinner with the rose creme brulee with ginger cream and caramelized crepes served with citrus ice cream.

Every dish was delicious. The pacing of our meal was perfect, and we didn't feel rushed through the courses. Service was attentive without being intrusive. The cost is $24 (per person) for adults and $6 (per person) for kids aged 11 and under — a great price for a fantastic meal.

Open for lunch and dinner, the Bonsai Sushi outpost on Sunshine is smaller than those on newer ships. With reasonably priced items like $5 and $7 rolls, and $2 for soup or salad, it's easy to curb your sushi craving on the cheap.

Other specialty dining options include the line's signature Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse (one of TPG's favorite cruise ship specialty restaurants ) and La Cucina del Capitano for an authentic family-style Italian meal. During lunch, La Cucina del Capitano offers a free pasta bar. Passengers can also book the Chef's Table experience, an intimate multicourse meal hosted by the executive chef.

A fun meal for families is the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast ($10 per adult and $8 per child aged 14 and under). Held in the main dining room, it kicks off with the lively Seuss-a-palooza Parade led by The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2. You get to nosh on "green eggs and ham," pancakes, French toast, "Moose Juice" and other whimsical dishes inspired by Seuss' books. The characters stick around for meet-and-greets and photo ops.

After boarding, we checked out the RedFrog Pub on Deck 5. It was far enough away from embarkation day chaos but busy enough for entertaining people-watching. The bar was out of fresh mint, so I couldn't sample the Ving Mojito, so I sipped a tasty margarita instead.

A fun component of this bar is the screens above the bar that carousel through photos the bartenders have taken of RedFrog Pub patrons. The Pub didn't seem to be the hub for activities as I've seen on other vessels, probably because karaoke, live music and trivia games were held just outside the door in the Ocean Plaza.

The Alchemy Bar is a cocktail bar designed to resemble an apothecary, offering "elixirs" and "remedies." It's one of the venues I look forward to the most when cruising with Carnival.

Full disclosure: I've been smitten with this watering hole since I tasted my first Cucumber Sunrise aboard Carnival Conquest in 2013. Maybe it's because it was my first foray into herbal-based craft cocktails or because the bartenders are consistently fun and engaging. Either way, few things can beat a refreshing, restorative basil drop served by some of the best bartenders in the cruising industry.

Want to try something off the menu? No problem. After determining my preferred spirits and flavors, the bartenders always come up with something fantastic. I'm a gin and lavender fan, and our bartender, Tatiana, created an amazing cocktail with gin, lavender, St. Germain, elderflower and lime juice.

The Alchemy Bar on Carnival Sunshine is situated just off the popular Ocean Plaza area, the place to be for trivia games, karaoke and live music.

The Havana Bar is the place to head for top-notch mojitos. The small buffet area by the bar often features Latin-inspired bites like empanadas and Cuban sandwiches. Since it's located just beyond the main pool on Deck 9 and beside the Lido Marketplace buffet area, I found it to be an ideal spot to retreat to when buffet area seating was limited.

Poolside RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar were both a hub of activity most days. And if you're lounging by the pool, you can expect servers to come by often and take drink orders. Other popular spots for some spirits include the Serenity Bar by the adults-only sun deck, SkyBox Sports Bar (where multiple TVs behind the bar broadcast various games), the Piano Bar (with nightly singalongs), the Atrium Bar and the Sunshine Casino.

We also visited the Piano Bar twice during our short cruise. The pianist/singer was top-notch and had a great rapport with the guests. The only thing that tainted our experience was that both times we visited, a family with younger kids monopolized the show with requests. The Carnival website lists the Piano Bar as a 21-plus venue, but no one challenged the family.

Carnival Sunshine activities

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.

The ship's quieter adults-only Serenity Deck area was midship on decks 11 and 12 and overlooked the main pool area. Passengers 21-plus could take advantage of a plunge pool with a waterfall, a hot tub, a bar, and loungers and cabanas.

Energetic cruisers who can't veg in the sun all day can find limitless activities indoors to occupy their sea days. Free events included trivia games, Bingo, spa pampering parties, karaoke, and ice carving or towel animal folding demonstrations. For-fee activities like Build-A-Bear Workshop and $5,000 Jackpot Bingo also drew a crowd.

Shopping opportunities were decent. You have the Fun Shops for Carnival-branded items, souvenirs, jewelry, liquor and fragrances. For a sugary splurge, Cherry On Top sells an extensive selection of sweet treats.

The Sunshine Casino on Deck 5 midship was popular with passengers on my sailing. Every time I walked through, it was buzzing with activity (although, as previously mentioned, I didn't spend a lot of time there). The venue is a maze of slot machines, with a collection of poker tables, a craps table, two roulette tables and several blackjack tables. Throughout our cruise, the casino hosted organized poker tournaments, raffles and other ways to test Lady Luck.

Karaoke events were held in the Ocean Plaza area in between the Alchemy Bar and RedFrog Pub. The openness of the space provided optimum participation from passengers and performers, so a lively crowd was always on hand to sing along.

Families can take advantage of included-in-your-fare childcare in Carnival's Camp Ocean facilities on 10. The youngest cruisers can participate in supervised activities, divided into age-based groups: Penguins (2 to 5 years), Stingrays (6 to 8 years) and Sharks (9 to 11 years).

The designated areas for each age group were spacious and offered plenty of seating. Though they had separate entrances, the spaces were close enough that pick-up and drop-off would be easy for families with kids checked into different areas.

Tweens and teens have their own hangouts and activity schedules. Circle C is for cruisers ages 12 to 14, with events like dance parties, outdoor movies and group games. The Circle C space had a futuristic vibe with metal walls and a minimalist design.

Club O2 is for the 15-to-17 set and offers a chance for older teens to hang out together, play sports and games, and interact during group activities. The modern atmosphere extended to Club 02 with a bold red and black pattern on the floor, sleek red chairs and metal accents.

During this sailing, many families seemed to hang out together during the day — spending time at the pool, watching karaoke and participating in other activities.

Carnival's Cloud 9 Spa on Deck 10 is the place to go for vacation pampering. Various treatments and therapies are available — from deep tissue and stone massages to acupuncture and other traditional Chinese techniques. Additionally, the spa offers hair and nail services, facials and medispa treatments.

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.

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.

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. Come for a walk or take in the sunset.

Carnival Sunshine shows

We sailed through a storm for a couple of days, and both the "Welcome Aboard Show" and the Playlist Productions "Epic Rock" show were altered because of it. Instead of a full-on production, we got two short sets from each comedian (for the welcome show) and performers singing from stools on stage ("Epic Rock").

It was a bummer to miss a "true" Carnival production. I've cruised with Carnival several times, and I'm always impressed with the caliber of talent. The shows are one of my favorite parts of cruising with Carnival. I've enjoyed Latin-themed performances ("Amor Cubano"), British music tributes ("The Brits") and an art-infused journey through music and dance ("Color My World").

We took in a comedy show at the Punchliner Comedy Club (in the Limelight Lounge on Deck 4) and enjoyed it. I'm a hard nut to crack, and the comedian got me laughing out loud more than once. My husband guffawed throughout the set. Each sailing typically includes a family-friendly "PG" show at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The 18-plus shows take place at 8:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Most cruises have one or two comedians on board.

Carnival Sunshine itineraries and pricing

Throughout 2024, Carnival Sunshine will sail year-round four-, five-, six- and eight-night Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean voyages from Charleston. Depending on the itinerary, stops might include Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan and the cruise line's private island, Half Moon Cay.

At the time of publication, prices started from $374 per person for a four-night Bahamas sailing in an inside cabin (excluding taxes and fees).

As previously mentioned, beginning in 2025, the vessel will move to its new home port of Norfolk, Virginia. From there, it will offer six-night Bahamas and Bermuda sailings, as well as eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

At press time, prices started at $519 per person for an inside cabin on a six-night Bahamas cruise (excluding taxes and fees).

What to know before you go

Required documents.

If you're a U.S. citizen on a cruise that begins and ends in a U.S. port, you must have a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification to sail. A passport card is also acceptable.

Your passport must be valid for at least six more months.

Important note: The name on your reservation must be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. We recommend you check Carnival's website before you sail for the most recent updates on requirements.

Carnival adds an automatic service gratuity of $14.50 to $16.50 per person, per day to final bills, depending on the cabin category. Children under the age of 2 are exempt.

You can adjust the amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking if you are not satisfied with the service you received. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and the cover charge of the Chef's Table.

Over the last couple of years, Carnival has rolled out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet, so you can now stream video on some ships. Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Carnival Sunshine was recently priced at $18.70 per person, per day.

Other packages available for a Sunshine sailing include the less expensive "social" plan that only allows access to key social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and messaging services such as WhatsApp for $12.75 a day. A slightly more expensive "value" plan, at $17 per day, adds access to email and most websites. If you pay for a plan prior to sailing, you'll receive a discount.

Carry-on drinks policy

You can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (per person) onto the ship at boarding, as well as up to a dozen standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas.

Nonalcoholic drinks in glass or plastic bottles are not allowed. If you want to bring the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink, you'll incur a $15 corkage fee. Drinks brought on board must be carried in your carry-on luggage.

Smoking policy

On Carnival Sunshine, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in the casino. Smoking is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies.

While cigarette smoking is allowed in the casino, according to Carnival's website, you must be seated and playing to smoke in the casino. Smoking is permitted in designated areas on Deck 3 (port side, forward) and Deck 10 (starboard side, midship).

Self-service launderettes are on decks 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (midship) on Carnival Sunshine. Each launderette has washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3.25-per-load charge to use a washer or dryer. The laundrettes also have vending machines stocked with small boxes of detergent and fabric softener at $1.50 per box.

You can also opt for extra-charge valet laundry and dry-cleaning service, which your cabin steward will handle for you. Expect to pay per piece, with prices running from $2 (for an undergarment or pair of socks) to $15 (for a two-piece suit).

Electrical outlets

As mentioned previously, Carnival Sunshine cabins have both standard North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets. Bring a power strip if you need more than that.

The currency used on Carnival Sunshine is the U.S. dollar. However, the ship operates on a "cashless system," so any onboard purchases you make will automatically post to your onboard account. You'll receive a Sail & Sign card that you can use to make charges. This same card also gets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

Passengers must be 21 to drink alcohol on Carnival Sunshine.

There is no specific dress code during the day on Sunshine, so people dress casually. Beach attire is the norm for sea days, and if you plan to spend your day on the top deck, plan to dress in T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside).

Although there's an official dress code for the evenings, it's pretty laid-back. 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.

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.

Bottom line

Whether you're looking for an affordable Caribbean cruise for the whole family or want to escape with your besties, Carnival Sunshine is a solid bet if having a fun time is a priority.

It's not a shiny, new vessel, so don't expect flawless cabins and the latest attractions. What you can expect, though, is to have nonstop fun thanks to a variety of diversions and an enthusiastic group of like-minded shipmates.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
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• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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Carnival Sunshine Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Sunshine

Activities & entertainment

• Art Auction *
• Cloud 9 Fitness Center
• Cloud 9 Salon *
• Cloud 9 Spa *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• Sunshine Casino *
• Lip Sync Battle
• Evening Kids Programs *
• Fitness Classes *
• Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast *
• Groove For St Jude *
• Whirlpools (3)
• Ice Carving Demonstrations
• Photo Portraits *
• Seuss_A_Palooza Parade and Storytime
• Retail Shops *
• Spa Parties *
• SportSquare
• The Warehouse Video Arcade *
• Thermal Suites *
• White Party
• Wine Tasting *
• Waterslides (2)
• Circle C _ Tweens Club
• Camp Ocean _ Kids Club
• Club O2 _ Teens Club
• Serenity _ Adults_Only
• Carnival Seaside Theater
• Comedy Shows
• Limelight Lounge
• Liquid Lounge
• Live Nightly Music
• Outdoor Movies
• Sunrise Dining Room - Main
• Sunset Dining Room - Main
• JiJi Asian Kitchen - Asian *
• Cherry On Top - Candies *
• Sunshine Casino Bar - Casino Bar *
• Lido Marketplace - Buffet
• JavaBlue Cafe - Coffee & Pastries *
• Havana Bar - Cuban-Themed Bar *
• Guys Burger Joint - Pool Grill
• Cucina del Capitano - Italian *
• Bonsai Sushi - Sushi *
• Taste Bar - Light Bites
• Alchemy Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• BlueIguana Cantina - Mexican
• Shake Spot - Milkshakes *
• Piano Bar 88 - Piano Bar *
• RedFrog Rum Bar - Pool Bar *
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Pub - Pub *
• The Library Bar - Quiet Bar *
• SkyBox Sports Bar - Sports Bar *
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Room Service *
• Excellent 50
• Very Good 41
• Terrible 17
• All languages ( 154 )
• English ( 153 )
• Slovak ( 1 )

Upcoming itineraries

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• How to Plan
• Shore Excursions
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• What to Expect

The Ultimate Guide to Carnival Sunshine

By Carnival Cruise Line

The sun will certainly be shining upon you when you board Carnival Sunshine™ . When you cruise from Charleston to the Caribbean or The Bahamas on board this amazing ship, you’re in for what could be one of the most memorable and enjoyable cruises you’ll ever take.

Carnival Sunshine is one of the most active Carnival Cruise ships , featuring plenty of bars and restaurants, entertainment areas, and a stellar design throughout the ship. If you’re looking for things to do on Carnival Sunshine, just keep reading and see what we’ve got waiting for you.

For Those Who Love Indoor Fun

There’s plenty for everyone to do throughout the ship. Carnival Sunshine is like a shining oasis boasting a wide variety of activities and entertainment for all ages to enjoy, including:

• The Punchliner Comedy Club : The laughs don’t stop at our cruise ship comedy club. Featuring shows for all ages and adults-only, the onboard comedians know how to tickle everybody’s funny bone.
• Playlist Productions : Amazing Broadway-style musical productions featuring top hits and brilliant dancers.
• The Warehouse Arcade: The whole family will enjoy playing classic and new arcade games. It’s open 24 hours giving you plenty of time to beat the high score.
• Cloud 9 Spa : Treat yourself to some relaxation therapy with a massage, body wrap or facial. Or better yet, take a dip in the Hydrotherapy whirlpool.
• Casino : Whether you enjoy table games or slots, you’ll find all your favorites at the onboard casino. Will tonight be the night you win big? Pull the handle and see how well you do at the slots, or try your hand at blackjack. If poker is your game, we’ve got you covered. Fancy a try at the roulette wheel? There’s plenty of your favorite table games and some new variations.
• Seuss At Sea : Classic Dr. Seuss characters come to life in onboard activities and parades for the kids, plus a Dr. Seuss-themed breakfast.

For Those Who Love Outdoor Fun

Carnival Sunshine offers so much to do while you relax under the sun on your way to your next port of call. Try some (or all!) of these fun outdoor family activities on while cruising to The Bahamas or the Caribbean:

• WaterWorks and Twister Waterslide : What’s better than a waterpark? A waterpark on a cruise ship! Splash and race your way through plenty of water-soaked attractions, including Twister Waterslide, one of the tallest and fastest waterslides at sea!
• SportSquare : Enjoy some friendly competition at SportSquare, where you can team up to play volleyball, foosball, soccer and more.
• Mini Golf : Play a round or two of mini-golf with friends and family at this whimsical set of links.
• Serenity Adult Only Retreat : Need some alone time away from the kids? You’ll find it here as you relax on hammocks, enjoy some cocktails and make some new friends in a serene setting.
• Ropes Course: Are you ready for the challenge of a thrilling ropes course? On Carnival Sunshine you’ll find challenges featuring levels for kids and adults; it’s the ultimate in daring recreation.
• Dive-in Movies : Carnival Seaside Theater™ has a lineup of blockbuster movies and sporting events for you to enjoy while relaxing in your own deck chair beneath the stars. There’s special themed nights too, comedy, date night, and more. Your seat even comes with popcorn and blankets!

For Those Seeking the Best in Refreshment

Treat yourself to some delicious Bahamian-themed or craft cocktails , or a signature beer. These bars on Carnival Sunshine serve up entertainment along with your drinks.

• RedFrog Pub : Enjoy a rum drink poolside at this lively cruise ship hotspot.
• Havana Bar : This Cuban-themed bar transports you back to classic Cuba. Enjoy handcrafted Cuban cocktails and Cuban coffee drinks while dancing the night away.
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar : This Mexican-themed bar serves up spectacular tequila drinks, plus refreshing cervezas and margaritas.
• Alchemy Bar : Tantalizing, invigorating, delicious and stimulating. Those are just some of the words used to describe the handcrafted drinks at this vintage cocktail pharmacy.

Delicious Dining

Awaken your taste buds with an amazingly delicious array of cruise dining options, some of which include:

• BlueIguana Cantina : Build your own mouth-watering tacos or tasty burritos from a menu of Mexican ingredients. Add some tortilla chips and lip-smacking-good salsa for an authentic cantinatreat.
• Guy’s Burger Joint : Never has a burger been so full of flavor than when it’s served at this classic burger joint on Carnival Sunshine. Add your favorite toppings and a side of hand-cut fries for a new flavor experience.

Even if you’ve been on a cruise to The Bahamas, the Caribbean or Bermuda before, you’ll want to experience the uniqueness of Carnival Sunshine. It’s a whole new cruise experience, with plenty of new memories to make and share with friends, family and loved ones.

Related articles

What to expect.

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships.aspx

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Carnival Sunshine

Former name: carnival destiny.

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

• Charleston SC (South Carolina)
• Norfolk VA (Virginia)

Carnival Sunshine current position

Carnival Sunshine current location is at US East Coast (coordinates 32.78081 N / -79.92336 W) cruising en route to USCHS>DOPOP. The AIS position was reported 7 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Sunshine

Carnival Sunshine current cruise is 5 days, round-trip The Bahamas . Prices start from USD 539 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 08 Apr, 2024 and ends on 13 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Sunshine

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Carnival Sunshine Itineraries

Carnival sunshine review, review of carnival sunshine.

The 1996-built/2013-reconstructed Carnival Sunshine cruise ship was initially named "Carnival Destiny". After a major refurbishment in 2013 (USD155 million drydock), the vessel was renamed Sunshine. As class, Carnival Sunshine was the first of three Destiny-class Carnival ships - together with Victory-Radiance and Triumph-Sunrise . Today, the liner belongs to the unique Sunshine-class.

The vessel (IMO number 9070058) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 308017000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian ). 

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

The 3000-passenger ship Carnival Sunshine is not a Dream-class ship but contains almost all the elements found on Breeze and Magic: high-energy, low-commitment activities, including 20-min standup comedies, 30-min production shows; sushi, burgers, burritos. For the first time, the Fun Ship 2.0 blueprint was laid down on Carnival Magic (in 2011), followed by Carnival Breeze (in June 2012). Next photo shows the old Carnival Destiny ship.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Sunshine staterooms (1501 total) include 53 Suites, 518 Balcony, 320 Oceanview and 624 Inside cabins, in all 34 grades. Most staterooms are sized 185 ft2 / 17 m2, cabin balconies are sized 35-85 ft2 / 4-8 m2. "Family" staterooms (connecting cabins) are with max capacity 5 passengers. The largest are the Captain's Suites (500 ft2 / 46 m2 plus 150 ft2 / 14 m2 terrace) with max occupancy 5 passengers. Sunshine also has 89 Cloud 9 Spa cabins and 32 wheelchair-accessible cabins.

The boat has 13 decks , of which 11 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Sunshine offers many of the Fun Ship 2.0 additions in terms of dining - Guy's Burger Joint, Cucina del Capitano, BlueIguana Cantina. The line made a few adjustments to the existing venues and also added the Asian restaurant Ji Ji. There are two Main Dining Rooms onboard the Sunshine: Sunset, at the midship, and double-deck Sunrise located aft. The complimentary Punchliner Comedy Brunch, which is a sea day exclusive, features 5-minute teasers every hour on the hour from 9 am to 1:30 pm.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Sunshine restaurants and food bars.

• Sunset Restaurant (forward Main Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings, or “Your Time Dining”)
• Sunrise Restaurant (aft Main Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings; offers themed breakfasts - “Seuss At Sea”, for $5 cover charge; hosts Punchliner Comedy Brunch).
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (alternative, reservations only restaurant, serving prime steaks and seafood at a surcharge; also hosts “Chef’s Table” VIP dining, $75 PP surcharge)
• Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ (offers pork sandwiches, complimentary lunch barbecue)
• Guy’s Burger Joint (fast food bar)
• BlueIguana Cantina (Mexican complimentary restaurant; offers house-made tortillas, burritos, tacos)
• Lido Marketplace buffet restaurant (complimentary self-service restaurant with various food stations; operates as a bistro in the evenings).
• Cucina del Capitano (Italian reservations-only restaurant; offers a la carte dinner at a surcharge and complimentary lunch)
• SeaDogs (complimentary beef hotdogs stand)
• Ji Ji Asian Kitchen (serves Chinese food, Mongolian Wok)
• Bonsai Sushi Bar (complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Carnival made a heavy investment in lights and sound for its shows on Carnival Breeze and has taken a step further on Sunshine. An ultra-HD graphics package is beamed onto a vast screen and the performers use it as a backdrop of their show. A number of themed shows take place in ship's Liquid Lounge, which doubles as the 800-seat main Theater. Because the room was initially designed as a theater with two stories, it's impossible to feature an intimate atmosphere.

The Sunshine ship offers a complete list of activities and entertainment for each age group and taste - from ballroom scene dancing, classical music concerts, tea time and art auctions to a hairy chest and knobby knees contests, bingo, and karaoke.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Sunshine lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Sunshine Atrium (9-deck high midship open area served by Lobby Bar)
• FunHub (24-hour Internet computers room)
• Liquid Lounge and Theater (800-seat, 2-level main show lounge)
• Ocean Plaza (entertainment area; features live music and trivia)
• The Library Bar; Piano 88 Bar; EA Sports Bar; ShakeSpot; Java Blue Cafe; The Taste Bar; Alchemy Bar; Havana Bar
• RedFrog Pub (English pub with live music; offers international beers selection and the private label Thirstyfrog/RedFrog beer)
• RedFrog Rum Bar (serves Caribbean rums selection and ThirstyFrog Red drought beer)
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar (offers Mexican beer, margaritas, drink specialties)
• Limelight Lounge (hosts Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch)
• Pixels Photo Gallery and Shop; Dreams Photo Studio; Cherry On Top (candy shop, offers the Fun Shops catalog, “Bon Voyage” store menu, souvenirs, watches, jewelry, logo merchandise, duty-free liquor, fashion boutiques)
• Circle C (kids' complimentary club lounge with movies, video games, parties, planned activities)
• 24-hour Warehouse Video Games Arcade; Club O2 teens' lounge for movies, karaoke, parties
• Sunshine Casino (served by Sunshine Casino Bar)
• Seaside Theatre (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Serenity (adults only relaxation area with Serenity Pool, Serenity Bar, Spa Whirlpool, cascading waterfall, loungers, and hammocks)
• Beach Pool area (with two Whirlpools); Carnival WaterWorks Aqua Park (with 5 slides; 1 Whirlpool, SplashZone for kids)
• Camp Carnival (kids' club lounge with a complimentary programme and play area)
• Cloud 9 Spa and Fitness complex (with Gym, Fitness Studio, Sauna, Steam Room, Thermal Suites, Beauty Salon, 15 Treatment Rooms; offers ZSpa teenagers program)
• SportSquare (Basketball/Volleyball Court, Jogging Track, Tennis Tables, 9-hole Mini Golf Course, Shuffleboard).

Itineraries

Carnival Sunshine itinerary program is based on Western and Eastern Caribbean roundtrip cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida. Feature port destinations include Bahamas (with Nassau and line’s private island Half Moon Cay ), Puerto Rico, Saint Thomas USVI , Grand Turk , Roatan , Belize , Mexico ( Costa Maya and Cozumel ). In 2016, the ship started itineraries to Bermuda - 7-day from NYC New York and 5-day from Norfolk Virginia .

Starting May 2019, the ship's new itinerary program offers 4- (to Nassau) and 5-day (Nassau and Half Moon Cay) short Bahamas cruises leaving roundtrip from a new homeport ( Charleston SC ) on a year-round schedule. The maiden voyage was scheduled for May 18 (2019). Carnival's South Carolina annual cruise shipping volume is approx 220,000 passengers. In Charleston, Carnival Sunshine will replace Carnival Ecstasy (to be relocated to Jacksonville Florida ), while the Jacksonville-homeported Carnival Elation will be repositioned to Port Canaveral FL .

In Dec 2022 CCL announced that between February 2025 and April 2025 Sunshine will be homeported in Norfolk VA. Bookings were opened for the following 4 roundtrip/ex-Norfolk itineraries:

• (6-day Bahamas) to North Bimini-Nassau-Freeport, and to Nassau-Half Moon Cay-Freeport
• (8-day Eastern Caribbean) to Amber Cove Dominicana-Grand Turk-Princess Cays Bahamas, and to Half Moon Cay-Grand Turk-Amber Cove

Carnival Sunshine - user reviews and comments

Photos of carnival sunshine.

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Other Carnival Cruise Line cruise ships

• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Conquest
• Carnival Dream
• Carnival Elation
• Carnival Firenze
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Liberty
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Paradise
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Radiance
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Venezia
• Carnival Vista

Carnival Sunshine Wiki

Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade was done in 2013. Sunshine is one of Carnival's "old new" liners, representing a truly grandiose ship transformation project. The old Carnival Destiny ship (1996-buit by Fincantieri Monfalcone ) was extensively (and expensively) drydock refitted and refurbished in Europe ( Trieste Italy ) at the astonishing cost of USD 155 million. The vessel was transformed into a brand new Carnival "Fun Ship 2.0" in 2013 under the sunny and shiny name "Carnival Sunshine". Carnival Destiny had as sisters the CCL ships Triumph (Sunrise since 2019) and Victory (Radiance since 2020) , and also Costa Fortuna and Costa Magica .

Carnival Sunshine (Monfalcone shipyard/hull number 5941) is powered by Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 8ZAV40S and 8ZAL40) generating total power output 63,36 MW.

The Sunshine ship's interior design was done by Partner Design ( Hamburg -based company). Destiny ship's interior design was by Joe Francus. The new ship now features modern amenities, new venues, more dining options, new onboard entertainment program (3 new grand show productions).

As a Destiny-class liner, Carnival Destiny was the world's first cruise ship with GT/weight over 100,000 tons. Carnival Destiny's Inaugural Cruise started on November 24, 1996. Sunshine's Inaugural Cruise started on April 12, 2013 (14-day Mediterranean Venice - Barcelona ).

Carnival Destiny's list of chartered/ themed voyages includes the first-ever "311 Caribbean Cruise" (March 2011), the first-ever "Kiss Kruise" (October 2011) and the first-ever "Weezer Cruise" (January 2012).

Carnival Destiny-Sunshine refurbishment 2013 conversion review

The most extensively-expensive of all (ever) was the Carnival Destiny's drydock refit/transformation. At the staggering cost of USD 155 million, this really extreme makeover produced a brand new Carnival ship in 2013! After its last dry-dock ever (a 49-day refurbishment), the Destiny ship emerged as Carnival Sunshine. This amazing cruise ship transformation was made in the Fincantieri shipyard (Monfalcone, Italy) adding a new partial deck and 2 other decks (in the front section). As a result of the Carnival Destiny renovation, 182 new cabins were added (including 96 spa cabins), all of the ship's other cabins were also refurbished (with a new tropical decor). The list of all major changes includes:

• (new) Ji Ji Asian Kitchen (casual restaurant), also were added “Fat Jimmy’s BBQ”, “Cucina del Capitano”, “Fahrenheit 555 SSteakhouse”, “JavaBlue Cafe”, “Shake Spot”, “Guy’s Burger Joint”, “BlueIguana Cantina”/Mexican, “Seaday Brunch”, “The Comfort Kitchen”/Lido, “Havana Bar”/Lido, “Sunshine Bar”, “Alchemy Bar”, “RedFrog Pub”, “Cherry On Top”, “Punchliner”, “Hasbro”
• "The Comfort Kitchen" (in the Lido Marketplace)
• "Havana Bar" (Lido Marketplace) with floor-ceiling windows
• "Sunshine Bar" (Atrium)
• a new cigar club (Casino Bar)
• CCL fleet's first 3-deck-high Serenity Retreat (adults-only deck) with the Carnival Cloud 9 Spa package .
• "SportSquare" (an open-air complex with Ropes Course, Mini-Golf Course, half-size Sports Court/basketball-volleyball-tennis.

During drydock 2018 (October 14-21, in Freeport Bahamas ) were made regularly planned maintenance works.

Drydock 2016 was in the period March 8-20.

In 2021 (October-November) Carnival Sunshine was drydocked at Navantia Shipyard ( Cadiz Spain ), mainly for general maintenance (technical and routine) works and also repainting (received CCL's new livery).

All-inclusive resort or cruise – which is best?

“Club Tropicana, drinks are free… Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone,” so sang George Michael in Wham!’s famous 1980s paean to the nascent all-inclusive. In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, ‘free’ booze and no bill sounded and looked – if you were anywhere near a pool in Ibiza with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley – like holiday utopia. 

Drinks weren’t really free, but the idea that you could pay up-front to eat and imbibe, and be assured that you wouldn’t be presented with a terrifying bill at the end, was a novel concept, particularly for budget-conscious families and sun-seeking partygoers. 

It still offers considerable appeal in our cash-strapped times, which may explain why all-inclusives have had something of a renaissance. Cruising offers similar peace of mind and plenty to do with kids clubs, waterslides and Disney princesses on board – though alcohol isn’t always free. During both types of holiday, the entertainment comes to you and you’ll never have to flinch at the prices on the menu. 

But which type of holiday is best? Our writer put them both to the test.

Destination

Children’s clubs, food and drink.

• Hidden costs 

All-inclusive

Club Med founders Gilbert Trigano and Gérard Blitz, who dreamt up the all-inclusive concept in the 1950s, had beaches and sunshine in mind. But skiers also favoured the all-in pricing model. Europe’s slopes were a win-win for the brand, which opened its first Alpine village at Leysin in Switzerland in 1956 ( clubmed.co.uk ).

Traditional sunshine strongholds Mexico and the Caribbean – where Butch Stewart picked up the mantel with his Sandals brand – still account for a big slice of the all-inclusive pie, but the net has spread further to include Cuba, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Montenegro, Cape Verde and the Azores. Further afield there are all-inclusive resorts in Kenya, Thailand (mostly Phuket) and the Maldives and Mauritius. Turkish-owned Rixos ( rixos.com ) has recently opened resorts in Qatar and Doha, while Tui ( tui.co.uk ) and First Choice ( firstchoice.co.uk ) offer several resorts in Costa Rica. 

Cruise 

An average week or 10-day ocean cruise can tick-off several different destinations in one country, or across several countries in one trip. If you have a bit longer, it can take you round the world. Three-month world cruise itineraries cross continents, sail several seas and oceans, visit scores of capital cities and offer hundreds of excursion opportunities. 

And let’s not forget off-grid but accessible by water destinations such as the Galapagos, the Pitcairn Islands and Antarctica. River cruises follow the course of most navigable rivers, from the Amazon to the Zambezi. The Mekong, the Mississippi and the Ganges are among their more adventurous destinations. 

Whether beach or mountain-based, most all-inclusive resorts feature an activities element. Sandals comes up trumps, with free scuba at its Caribbean dive resorts and multiple rounds of golf and green fees at top courses in Jamaica, St Lucia and the Bahamas. 

Meanwhile, guests at Rixos resorts in Turkey have free daily access to The Land of the Legends Theme Park in Antalya – which means big savings in peak periods. This Easter, there are also egg hunts as well as giant egg-painting: a week at Premium Tekirova costs from £2,390 for four adults and two children, departing on March 30.

Watersports not your bag? Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki can provide a Tesla Model 3 at no extra cost for one day’s exploration as well as a culture pass to local museums. At Ikos resorts ( ikosresorts.com ), spa access is free between 8am to 8pm. 

If you’re after more than a typical beach holiday, check the activities part of a hotel website to find out what’s included. The adults-only Sanctuary Cap Cana ( sanctuarycapcana.com ) in the Dominican Republic offers Spanish classes and, at the House of Aia on Mexico’s Riviera Maya ( thehouseofaia.com ), a ‘personal growth’ programme includes 20 classes, ceremonies and rituals from visiting guides.

If you have adventurous teens in tow, the US offers some interesting options. At the historic Castle Hot Springs in Arizona ( castlehotsprings.com ) there’s axe-throwing, cruiser bikes, geothermal hot springs and creekside hammocks for lazing in, while, further north in scenic Wyoming, Scott Dunn has stays at Brush Creek Ranch, set in 30,000 acres of sage-bush prairie where you can ride, fish or take to the landscape by ATV ( scottdunn.com ).

With distractions ranging from rock-climbing walls and ropes courses to simulated surfing, via encounters with Star Wars, Marvel and Disney Pixar characters, cruising sets a high bar for activities. And on land, there are excursions – sometimes included – for every type of passenger. 

It’s not just families who benefit. Swan Hellenic ( swanhellenic.com ) has teamed up with Deepak Chopra to offer wellbeing voyages, while adult-only ships offer films under the stars or in theatres, lectures from wildlife experts and historians, opportunities for citizen science, celebrity speakers, casinos and activities ranging from dance lessons to art and photography classes. Virgin ( virginvoyages.com ) also puts on DJ sets and pool and dance parties. And let’s not forget the main event – a new place to explore every day.

Newer resorts have really lifted the bar. At its properties along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, Rixos rolls out the red carpet for families with a Rixy Kids Club that has cooking and pottery lessons as well as football and dance academies. At Rixos Sungate, where the kids’ club is set around a splash park in a forest, children can learn to code using Lego robotics.

At Ikos Resorts’ collection of luxury properties in Spain and Greece, kids’ clubs are run in line with UK Ofsted standards. Meanwhile, Tui’s family-friendly resorts come with kids’ clubs and a seven-day line-up of activities including creative sessions. Mini Club Med offers trapeze lessons, introductory water-skiing, horse-riding, cooking classes, games and nature discovery activities. For older kids (11-17), there’s film design, DJ sessions and dedicated areas in which to hang out. 

If you’re travelling with very small children or have ambitious activities in mind, check the small print: like lots of childcare for babies and toddlers, Petit Club Med and Baby Club Med both cost extra. Motorised water sports often incur a fee at all-inclusives while some resorts impose limits on the number of windsurfing or other tutored lessons.

Cruise ships do a stellar job when it comes to children’s clubs, with all ages well catered for. Most resort ships divide clubs into four age groups and some, including P&O Cruises ( pocruises.com ), offer free babysitting. Royal Caribbean ( royalcaribbean.com ) has an adventure science lab for budding junior scientists as well as baby and tots programmes for those aged six to 36 months. Celebrity Cruises has a STEM at Sea partnership with The Frost Science Museum (Equinox and Edge-class ships; celebritycruises.com ).

P&O Cruises is particularly well set up for those with kids in tow, with round-the-clock children’s clubs on its family-friendly ships and family-oriented shore excursions. MSC Cruises ( msccruises.co.uk ) has baby, mini, junior, young and teen clubs. The latter offers Xbox and PS4 tournaments, a Drone Academy, flash mobs and dance offs. Disney Dream ( disneycruise.disney.go.com ) has some imaginative offerings too, including the Jedi Training Academy and the opportunity to hang out with characters from the Toy Story trilogy.

You get what you pay for. If that’s sun and sea and a good four-star family resort, expect two or three bars and a standard buffet: a week at the Iberostar Bellevue in Montenegro costs £1,562 in mid-May ( iberostar.com ). Pay a bit more and you’ll be rewarded with more imaginative menus. At Ikos Porto Petro in Majorca, five à la carte restaurants serve meals inspired by Michelin-starred chefs (from £2,470pp with Sovereign; sovereign.com ).

Ikos also has curated “dine out” programmes that encourage guests to eat at local restaurants – including a rustic tapas joint in Estepona, an agriturismo in Ibiza and a buzzy beachfront spot in Marbella. Sandals ( sandals.co.uk ) has similar in Curaçao and Nassau. Caribbean all-inclusives generally offer three or four restaurants – and maybe a pop-up beach venue or barbecue night.

Think cruise, think buffet, right? Wrong. Standards are high, with new ships offering a plethora of cuisines, dining styles and venues along with healthy options and dietary alternatives. You’re as likely to find vegan muffins and bee-pollen at the breakfast buffet as a Full English. 

Silversea and Virgin have ditched the buffet altogether. Partnerships with chefs including Marco Pierre White and Eric Lanlard (P&O Cruises), Relais & Chateau (Silversea; silversea.com ), Jacques Pepin (Holland America Line; hollandamerica.com ) and Thomas Keller (Seabourn; seabourn.com ) have also made a difference. Crystal ( crystalcruises.com ) has a Japanese restaurant masterminded by Nobu while wine presenter Olly Smith helms the Glasshouse on some P&O ships. 

Silversea, Holland America Line and Oceania ( oceaniacruises.com ) are highly regarded among foodies and Regent Seven Seas ( rssc.com ) offers some stylish settings while Celebrity’s newer ships have roof-top gardens and over-the-sea dining. Fine dining can cost extra, depending on the ship, but expect to pay around £15 on top for three courses, which might just include one of the finest steaks you’ll ever eat. 

All-inclusive 

It’s a broad-brush summation but for something established, refined and ‘old-school’ romantic – think castaway beaches, palm fronds gently buffeted by warm trade winds, knock-out views and honeymoon havens – the Caribbean is a safe bet. The likes of Jumby Bay ( oetkercollection.com ), Spice Island Resort ( spiceislandbeachresort.com ), Necker ( virginlimitededition.com ) and Curtain Bluff ( curtainbluff.com ) are famous for a reason. 

The Maldives attracts a discerning international clientele while, in Europe, there are affordable package resorts where screaming kids are well tolerated. At the stylish new kids on the block (think Ikos and Grecotel Luxme; grecotel.com ), Poppy and Miles only scream in the privacy of the rooms however. 

Skiers are too busy skiing, too knackered or too busy partying to care about trifles like the vibe. If in doubt opt for Club Med, where most people speak French. 

It varies enormously across ships. River ships are tranquil, geared to sightseeing and generally follow an up-early and early-to-bed routine. Large resort ships can feel like theme parks, with entertainment into the wee hours; smaller ships go out of their way to leave passengers alone and provide impressive libraries and spaces for quiet contemplation. Viking ( vikingcruises.co.uk ), Silversea and Seabourn excel at this. Then there are the tall ships such as Sea Cloud ( seacloud.com ) and those in the Star Clipper fleet ( starclippercruises.co.uk ), where you’ll spend most of your time on deck watching the wind make the sails dance. 

Some liners take a ship-within-a-ship approach, with exclusive areas, pools and services – at a cost. MSC has the Yacht Club while Norwegian Cruise Line ( ncl.com ), Royal Caribbean and P&O have premium areas with pools and separate menus. Cunard ( cunard.com ) has the Grills Suites. 

If you’re after a more intimate, house-party atmosphere (complete with Surrey types, ex-boat owners and ‘non-cruisers’), opt for a yacht-style cruise ship from Ponant ( uk.ponant.com ), SeaDream ( seadream.com ), Scenic Eclipse ( scenic.co.uk ) or one of a handful of Windstar ships ( windstarcruises.com ).

Hidden costs All-inclusive

Do question the headline price, especially if booking via a third party. In January 2024, a Which? survey of 2,000 holidaymakers revealed key omissions from some operators, including soft drinks. Those who booked with the cheapest provider, lastminute.com , were forking out an extra £367 per week on average for extras. 

Operators take different approaches to inclusions. BA Holidays says: “Expect your holiday to include flights and accommodation, all three meals and snacks in between. Drinks are included too but expect house wine and local spirits unless otherwise stated.” EasyJet’s small print states: “What’s included in the all-inclusive package varies vastly between hotels. When booking your holiday be sure to look at the board description.”

Premium restaurants often cost more, but at the Oaks IBN Battuta in Dubai for example (where a week costs from £989pp through loveholidays.com ) the price includes à la carte restaurants and in-room breakfast. In all cases the two-clicks-away small print was clear. Read it. If in doubt, use the chat function, talk to a travel agent or pick up the phone.

All cruises include accommodation, dining, entertainment and access to pools and the other fun facilities, but Wi-Fi, drinks – alcohol and soda – and tips and room service might not be included. Tips are automatically added to cruise bills on a per passenger, per day basis. Expect to pay for service on spa and beauty treatments and bar drinks.

If you plan on drinking every day, pay for a drinks package (there are alcohol-free packages, too). Celebrity Cruises alcoholic drinks packages start at around £55 per day and Cunard’s soft drinks package starts from around £8.50 per day. Princess Cruises’ Wi-Fi, tips and drinks bundle costs £50pp per day ( princess.com ). 

Though you’ll still pay extra to tip for beauty services, some truly all-inclusive lines also include Wi-Fi, limitless premium drinks, a free mini-bar, most service fees and some excursions. Some also include airfares and a pre- or post-cruise hotel night. Take a look at Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Viking, Crystal and Seabourn. 

Which wins?

The all-inclusive concept has evolved – there’s no room for holiday snobbery in 2024. If all you want is a hassle-free place to relax by a pool or on the beach and forget about daily expenses, this is as good as it gets. But if you intend to stay longer than a week or haven’t been to the destination before, do some research. You may tire of the same sand, sun loungers and restaurants while venturing out to drink and dine makes little financial sense.

If you’ve a thirst for new places, a cruise offers all of the above plus the bonus of a new port of call most days – without the need to unpack. You’ll never get bored of the changing views and, as for feeling claustrophobic, you can disembark every day (though you don’t have to). Plenty of ships overnight in port, so you can dine ashore too. 

Cruises score bonus points for once-in-a-lifetime experiences too. Unless you own a boat, how else do you experience the romance of a dawn arrival in Manhattan, a sunset sail out of Sydney or your first glimpse of porpoising penguins in the Galapagos?

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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25 Places to Visit in Moscow you Can’t Miss

25 Places to Visit in Moscow

Do you know what the most populous city in Europe is? Most people wouldn’t guess that it is actually Moscow. There are approximately 13 million people in the Moscow metro area, which amounts to approximately 1/10th of all Russians.

This former capitol of the Soviet Union is still the political and financial center of Russia. Just because it is a current business and government city, in no way means that it is boring and not worth a visit. Assuming the political tensions get solved, Moscow is a fascinating city you need to visit.

While lots of people can’t explain the nuances of Russian architecture, most can spot and appreciate it immediately. One of the best ways to see the historic sites is by taking a boat tour down the Moskva River that meanders through the city.

Overall, navigating the city isn’t difficult as there is phenomenal and cheap public transportation (roughly 30 rubles/35 cents per ride). You can also use a cheap Uber on the three ring roads that circle the city at various distances from the center.

Still wondering why you should visit this historic masterpiece of a city? Read on to see the top 25 things you need to see in Moscow.

The House with Animals

This former church is famous for the terracotta reliefs of animals that adorn the front of the building. It is a favorite of locals, and famous around the world. It was built in approximately 1900.

Resurrection Gate or Iberian Gate and Chapel

The Resurrection Gate is now one of the most common ways to enter Red Square. This gate is also the only standing part of the wall that was the entrance to to Kitai-Gorod, or Moscow’s historic central business district.

Book your tour: Moscow Kremlin Armory Chamber Entrance Ticket

St. Basils Cathedral

Probably the most famous of the Red Square attractions is St. Basil’s Cathedral. I don’t know if the legend is true or not, but supposedly Tsar Ivan IV poked the eyes of the architect out after completing it so nothing as pretty could be made again. What an awful boss!

Book your tour: Moscow: Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square Private Tour

Book your tour: St.Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square: Private Tour and Ticket

The State Historical Museum

If you are like me then you can’t help but find all the twists and turns of Russian history fascinating. The State Historical Museum at Red Square is a fantastic place to learn and study the Russian Relics.

Book your tour: Kremlin, Red Square, and Metro Tour with Pick-Up

Moscow River Cruise

The Moskva River cuts directly through the heart of Moscow. Want to see it all but rest your feet? One of the best things to do in Moscow at night is float along on a dinner cruise . The lights of the city are so beautiful. Of course, dinner in included.

Book your tour: Night lights Moscow Cruise (with Dinner option)

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

This is one of the most unique things to do in Moscow. If you know that many American video games paint the Russians as the bad guys, then it’s probably not surprising to learn that you can find an entirely different variety of video games in Russia. This isn’t a recent phenomenon; even historically the video games were different. If you are a video game buff then this stop is for you!

Main Church of the Armed Forces in Park Patriot near Kubinka

This church attempts to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as Russian military leader. Yes, it’s an awkward amalgamation. It caused quite a controversy when there were plans to create murals of Vladimir Putin and Joseph Stalin to go along with the ones of Jesus Christ (those plans were scrapped).

Bunker 42 (Cold War Museum)

Tunnel at Bunker-42, anti-nuclear underground facility built in 1956 as command post of strategic nuclear forces of Soviet Union.

Americans weren’t the only ones afraid during the Cold War! You can now discover the most secret and secure Bunker of the USSR, Bunker 42. Also known as the Cold War Museum . This former military communication center is now a museum. I recommend this tour that will take you on a private two hour visit of Bunker 42.

If you aren’t interested in a guided tour you can book your tickets in advance here.

Get your tickets: Bunker 42 Admission Ticket and Cold War Tour

Tank Excursion and Bazooka Shooting in Moscow

For real – you can book this tour and actually ride in a tank and shoot off military grade weapons. While that’s not my cup of tea, I know tons of guys would absolutely love to shoot a bazooka!

Book your tour here .

Dormition Cathedral

This is another Russian Orthodox cathedral that is located inside the Moscow Kremlin. It is another famous landmark of Moscow. The inside is decorated with ancient frescoes.

The Cathedral of the icon of the Mother of God “Sign”

This cathedral is located in Zaryadye Park (adjacent to Red Square). It is also on the Moskva River. The Cathedral of the icon of the Mother of God “Sign” previously was a monastery.

Komsomolskaya Metro station 

So many of the metro stations are breathtaking works of art. The idea was to create something beautiful that all the regular people could enjoy, or if you are more cynical you could say it was to attempt to show off how well they were doing.

Book your tour: Moscow: Small Group Metro Tour

The Round houses at Dovzhenko Stree t

The Round houses at Dovzhenko Street look super cool and futuristic, except like many communist projects didn’t actually work that well. They were supposed to be something new and different from the standard “Soviet Blocks.”

There are a number of problems with this design. Supposedly the acoustics are awful making the apartments perpetually noisy. The inner circle becomes a wind chamber even when it’s not that windy. My favorite weakness is that the trapezoid shape of apartments is hard to decorate and even harder to do maintenance on.

Izmailovo District and Izmailovo Kremlin

This area has to be one of the coolest places to visit in Moscow. It features a park in the middle of Moscow that is over 3x the size of New York City’s Central Park. The Kremlin in Izmailovo is a complex located in the Eastern Administrative District of Moscow that is known as the center of culture and entertainment. The wooden buildings are in Russian architecture of the XVI-XVII centuries (not original).

Izmailovo Kremlin on Google Maps .

Tretyakov Gallery

For those that appreciate fine art this is where you have to go. The State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow Russia is the best collection of Russian fine art in the world. The museum previously hosted worldwide chess tournaments (I can’t help be think of the Queen’s Gambit).

Book your tickets in advance here. Tickets cost about $13 per person.

Kolomenskoe Estate

This reconstruction of a former royal estate is just a few miles southeast of the Moscow city center. Supposedly really detailed historical plans survived, so the reconstruction and current museum is incredibly authentic. It was completed in 2010.

Old buildings of Arbat

Arbat is an old street, and was previously the “nicest place to live in Moscow. Even though it fell into disrepair, it’s location, it’s historical buildings, and the fact that it is a pedestrian street are quickly making it a top place to live again.

The Melnikov House

Located on Arbat street, the Famous house of architect Melnikov designed this house (and Lenin’s sarcophagus). Melnikov designed it at a time when private ownership was outlawed, but got around this restriction by saying it was an experimental design to maximize space. Even though others weren’t built, he was able to keep it.

The New Maiden Convent

The New Maiden Convent, built was built to resemble a mini-Kremlin. It stands out to me because this “convent” was the place where women who were no longer welcome in the royal court were banished to.

Monument to the Conquerors of Space at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in the Cosmopark

The Americans may have made it to the moon first, but the Russian cosmonauts were first in a number of other achievements. This gigantic obelisk pays homage to their accomplishments.

Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve

This royal estate was founded by Catherine the Great. She was Russia’s longest serving female leader. It is now a gorgeous museum!

Stalinist Skyscraper tour

This group of seven skyscrapers are called the Seven Sisters. They were all made in the Stalinist style, and one was previously the tallest building in Europe. If you want to tour them all while learning about their history book here .

Cathedral of Christ the Savior

It’s ironic that a country that was so anti-religion for so long has so many great churches. The Cathedral for Christ the Savior was made to thank Jesus for saving Russia. If you are interested in visiting this and so many other cathedrals in Moscow I recommend this tour that will take you to The Cathedral of Christ the Savior many other popular churches in Moscow.

Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

This church on Red Square is reconstruction of what was previously there but ordered to be destroy by Joseph Stalin. It is a travesty thinking of all the beautiful things that Stalin destroyed to attempt to implement his vision.

Zaryade Park

Zaryadye Park is one of the main tourist attractions in Moscow. It is located directly next to the Kremlin, and offers truly amazing views. It is also famous for its “floating bridge” and the fact that there are so many unique features underneath it.

Church of Sign of Blessed Virgin in Dubrovitsy Znamenskaya

The Church of the Theotokos of the Sign (Dubrovitsy), or The Church of the Holy Sign of the Mother of God is located in a village amed Dubrovitsy about 20 miles south of Moscow. It is another Russian Orthodox church, but what makes this one unique is that we aren’t 100% sure who made it, or why is has a style that is completely different than other churches of the time.

The Church of Nicholas The Wonderworker

I love the unique style of the Russian Orthodox churches in Moscow. The golden onion domes stand out across the globe. This church dates back to 1657, though it has been partially destroyed a few times since then.

Moscow University

Moscow University is one of the Seven Sisters that are the “Stalin Skyscrapers.” Previously it was the tallest building in Europe. Though it has lost that title, it is still the tallest “educational building” in the world.

So what do you think? Next trip to Moscow?

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Mom left kids home alone for several days while she went on a cruise, deputies say

HOUSTON (Gray News) - A 29-year-old mother allegedly left her kids home alone for several days while she went on a cruise to Puerto Rico, according to Texas authorities.

Harris County deputies said Lakesha Woods Williams left her high-rise apartment on April 4 to catch a flight to Miami. However, she didn’t return until days later, KTRK reported.

On Tuesday, deputies responded to a welfare check at her apartment, where they found her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter home alone.

Deputies said the apartment smelled of urine and had trash and leftover food thrown everywhere.

The children eventually told deputies that their mother left for a trip. While on vacation, the children said she would use a webcam and cell phone to check in on them.

KTRK reported that Williams returned home Wednesday night and initially lied about her identity.

Officials determined the children were healthy, and Child Protective Services released them to their aunt.

Williams was charged with abandoning a child with intent to return.

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A young man on holiday with his family reportedly leaped from their cruise ship into dark waters while his family watched helplessly.

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'Drunk' man jumps off cruise ship in front of shocked family Back to video

The 20-year-old, who has not been identified, was a passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas when the incident took place as the ship travelled between Cuba and the Bahamas’ Grand Inagua Island, the New York Post reported.

Witnesses told the outlet the man’s father and brother watched as he went overboard, while an onlooker described the jumper as “pretty drunk” in the hot tub until about 3:30 a.m.

“As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us,” passenger Bryan Sims told the Post.

“His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.”

Sims said the man replied to his dad, “I’ll fix this right now,” and then jumped.

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Passengers reported on social media that the vessel came to a stop after the man plummeted into the waters below.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, who has taken over the search,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement. “Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time.”

They added: “For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

The man remains missing and a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard said they were still considering it a rescue operation.

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Alexa Minton’s Forecast | Sunshine in store for the weekend

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - All that pesky rainfall has moved out of our region and it is leaving us with calmer conditions and some sunshine for our weekend. Sky conditions for our day clear out and we will see that our weekend remains mainly dry. Temperatures will warm up to the mid 60s by the afternoon after a chillier start.

Late Sunday promises some late night thunderstorms for our region, with the potential of some of those thunderstorms to spur a little activity for our northern counties. Most will be in the clear but it looks like it will be a louder overnight.

Monday temps will surge towards 80, but our atmosphere is setting up to welcome in some rainfall by Tuesday. Tuesday starts windy and warm, but by the evening some strong storm swill get here late Tuesday into Wednesday. Cold air will surge in behind the rainfall activity, knocking our temps down out of the close to 80 trend and keep us in the 60s in time for next weekend.

Have a great weekend! Enjoy the sunshine!

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