carnival cruise ship sunshine rooms

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Carnival Sunshine deck plans

Deck layouts, review of facilities, activities, amenities.

Carnival Sunshine deck plan review at CruiseMapper provides newest cruise deck plans (2024-2025-2026 valid floor layouts of the vessel) extracted from the officially issued by Carnival Cruise Line deckplan pdf (printable version).

Each of the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and detailed review of all the deck's venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides an extensive information on Carnival Sunshine staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category.

Carnival Sunshine (1996-built as “Carnival Destiny”, renamed “Sunshine” after a major refit and refurbishment in 2013, last refurbished in 2021 November) is the first of two converted Carnival ships  in the Sunshine-class - with sistership  Carnival Sunrise (former Triumph) . As cruise vessel class, the Destiny-Sunshine ship is the first of all three Destiny-class liners - together with Triumph-Sunrise and  Victory-Radiance , and also  Costa Cruises boats Fortuna  and  Magica .

Carnival Sunshine cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 1501 staterooms for 3002 passengers (max capacity is 3753) served by 1040 crew-staff. The boat has 13 passenger decks (11 with cabins), 22 lounges and bars, 3 swimming pools (one with retractable glass roof), 7 outdoor Jacuzzis (large whirlpool hot tubs), 10 elevators. Cabin decks have a total of 55 Suites, 508 Balconies, 342 Oceanviews, 586 Inside cabins, Self Service Laundromats (passenger use launderettes).

Laundry facilities are at extra-charge – $3,25 (per washer or dryer load) and $1,5 per box (detergent/water softener, dispensed from the vending machine in the room). Launderettes (open between 6:30 am - 12 midnight) are located on all cabin decks. Each laundry room is equipped with 2-3 washers, 2-3 dryers, 1 ironing board/iron. All laundry machines are coinless (can be operated using S&S cards only). While the ship is in port, washing machines are closed (only dryers and irons can be used). Valet laundry service is handled through the cabin steward. Prices are per item – wash-and-press ($2 - $7,50) and dry-cleaning ($3 - $10,50).

Carnival Destiny-Sunshine deck plan changes 2013 refurbishment review

The list of Carnival Destiny deck plan changes after the 2013 drydock refurbishment (Destiny-Sunshine ship transformation) in Italy (Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard) includes:

• “Ji Ji”/Asian, “Fat Jimmy’s”/barbecue, “Cucina del Capitano”, “Fahrenheit 555/steakhouse”, “JavaBlue Cafe”, “Shake Spot”, “Guy’s Burger”, “BlueIguana Cantina”/Mexican, “Seaday Brunch”, “The Comfort Kitchen”/Lido, “Havana Bar”/Lido, “Sunshine Bar”, “Alchemy Bar”, “RedFrog Pub”, “Cherry On Top”, “Punchliner”, “Hasbro”
• 3-deck “Serenity Retreat”
• “Carnival Cloud 9 Spa”
• renovated “SportSquare”
• “Waterworks”/AquaPark, “Camp Carnival” (new design)
• newly added passenger rooms – 182, of which 96 spa staterooms
• USD 155 million was the total cost of the 49-day drydock refit that made the old Carnival Destiny ship perfectly reborn into the new Sunshine.

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).

Deck layouts

Deck 01 - riviera-cabins, deck 02 - main-cabins, deck 03 - lobby-dining-cabins, deck 04 - mezzanine, deck 05 - promenade-lounge-casino-shops-cabins, deck 06 - upper-cabins, deck 07 - empress-cabins, deck 08 - verandah-cabins-bridge, deck 09 - lido-pools-cabins, deck 10 - spa-cabins-kids-waterworks, deck 11 - serenity1-cabins-sports-skycourse, deck 12 - serenity2-golf, deck 14 - serenity2-sundeck.

Carnival Sunshine deck plans are property of Carnival Cruise Line . All deck layouts are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

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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

• Cruise Advice

41 Carnival Sunshine Tips and Secrets

Doug Parker

• July 16, 2018
• 3.7K shares

One of my many favorite things about compiling this collection of Carnival Sunshine tips is that it proved to be a true labor of love.

Over the span of years, I’ve spent over 60 days so far on this ship. I have had the pleasure of introducing her to others, who came to appreciate her as much as I have.

That’s because, despite being one of the aged ships in Carnival’s current fleet, the Sunshine has its very unique features amongst other Carnival ships.

Hard as it is to believe when it was first introduced back in 1996, Sunshine (formerly known as the Carnival Destiny at that time) was the largest cruise ship in the world.

For the sake of comparison, she weighed in at approximately 100,000 gross registered tons… Currently, the Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship, with a stunning 250,800 gross registered tons.

In 2012, the Destiny underwent a massive $155 million transformation , emerging as the Carnival Sunshine .

Although born as the first of the Destiny class, the ship would, after the name change, be considered the first and only member of the Sunshine class. And when Carnival rolled out the Fun Ship 2.0 features, Sunshine was the very first to receive them.

If you’re getting the impression that this ship holds a special place in my heart, you would most definitely be right. So obviously, I want you to enjoy your time on the Sunshine as much as I have.

With that in mind, here are some tips, tricks, and pointers that may serve as your cruise guide on this distinctive Carnival ship. However, this ship has a few unique features that you may find quite the same with other Carnival vessels.

1. There are “secret” staterooms on board.

Booking a cruise involves making several big decisions, one of which is choosing the type of stateroom. Carnival Sunshine has a variety of staterooms that are highly sought after by experienced cruisers.

The staterooms classified as 4J/4K are technically considered interiors, but they come equipped with a picture window, albeit with partially obstructed views.

The 6J/6K categories are forward-facing oceanview staterooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that sell out months in advance.

2. Deck three has some of the best “quiet spots” on board.

There are times when we want to socialize with the crowd by the pool and when we want to read a book or admire the ocean.

Personally, when I want some peace and quiet, I head to deck three. On both the port and starboard sides of the deck, there are comfortable chairs that allow you to get closer to the ocean.

However, keep in mind that smoking is allowed only on the port side (that’s the left side), so if you’re a non-smoker, it’s best to stick to the starboard (right) side.

3. The atrium is wonderfully old-school.

Newer Carnival ships, such as the Vista and Horizon, come equipped with modern amenities, including amazing LED dreamscape funnels. However, I have a personal preference for the atrium on the Sunshine, which has a vintage feel with glass elevators and decor that is slightly quirky.

Additionally, I’ve observed that some of the most cordial bartenders work in this area, possibly due to the high volume of passengers that pass through here eventually.

Read More: 10 Tips for Carnival Cruise Line

4. Havana Bar is a perfect lunch spot.

This space has something of a split personality… in the best way possible. It comes alive at night with people dancing, drinking, and having a good time. But it’s a fantastic spot to enjoy your lunch during the day.

“Havana Bar is the best-kept secret on the Sunshine,” one reader told me. “It’s usually day four before most people realize that’s where the omelet station is. Oh, and you can get Cafe Con Leche!”

Located just outside the Lido marketplace, the Havana Bar has tons of extra seating, which comes in handy when both JiJi Asian Kitchen and Cucina del Capitano are closed.

5. Take your time getting to the sea day brunch.

Don’t get me wrong: You definitely should not miss the seaday brunch, no matter which Carnival ship you’re sailing on.

But go ahead, dawdle. People who get there early will wind up standing in line waiting for the doors to open, and it takes a while for all those folks to be seated.

Meanwhile, maybe it’s my bias toward this ship showing, but there’s something special about brunch on the Sunshine . Maybe it’s because I’m not usually in the main dining room during the daytime, so having daylight streaming through the windows makes it feel like an entirely different venue.

Oh, here’s another tip… think of it as a bonus: If you want to sit alone, just let the hostess know when you’re checking in.

Their default setting seems to be seating people in groups, but unless it’s ridiculously crowded, they’ll usually be able to accommodate your request.

6. You can get a free bottle of wine in the steakhouse.

Traditionally, fewer decide to have dinner in the steakhouse on the first night than any other night of a trip. For some people, it’s because they worry their luggage might not arrive in time.

Others figure they’ll be exhausted and want something simple that first night. And for many, they save the steakhouse for that special, final night’s dinner.

So, as an incentive to get people into the restaurant on embarkation day, Carnival offers a free bottle of wine. The steakhouse is already a great deal at $35 per person, but when you throw in a bottle of wine… It is an offer too good to pass up.

READ MORE: 7 Reasons To Dine In Carnival’s Steakhouse 

7. JiJi Asian Kitchen and Cucina Del Capitano are definitely worth the price.

I understand that many people avoid specialty restaurants, assuming that there are plenty of free options available. However, skipping these two places would be a real mistake.

Each costs only $18 per person, and while they offer wildly different experiences, they have one thing in common: really good food. JiJi Asian Kitchen has a limited but perfectly curated menu.

At the same time, Cucina features exactly what you’d expect to find in an Italian restaurant (although I’m still puzzled as to why they took the tiramisu and cannoli off the dessert menu).

I have dined at Cucina multiple times, and each time, I left feeling incredibly full. It ruined my plan of enjoying the nightlife on the ship because all I wanted to do was head back to my stateroom and fall into a food coma.

8. JiJi and Cucina also offer killer lunches… which are free.

If you don’t want to splurge to eat dinner at these restaurants, you can grab a complimentary lunch at both.

JiJi has a Mongolian Wok station set up, where you pick the ingredients and the chef cooks it up, while Cucina offers lasagna, pasta, salad, and bread.

Be warned: Both venues get packed at lunchtime, so plan accordingly. Also, be warned that once you try these places for lunch, you’ll definitely want to come back for dinner.

9. Hit the water park on a port day.

Carnival carries more families than any other cruise line in the world. And that means they also carry more kids.

So if you want to hit the waterpark in general — and the racing slides in particular — without waiting in lines, your best options will be to go early in the morning, closer to the time when the features will be closing, or while the ship is in port.

10. The Serenity pool is unlike any other in the Carnival fleet.

The Serenity deck on the Sunshine ship is truly remarkable. The deck features a stunning waterfall that stretches across its entire length. One of the best parts of this deck is that the entire area, including the pool, is free from children.

The pool, though not massive, is still enjoyable, and it has one unique feature – it is the only freshwater pool on any of the Carnival cruise ships.

11. Serenity can be whatever you want it to be.

The Serenity deck is unique in the sense that it has a split personality, which is a good thing. Its vastness spanning three decks allows you to tailor your Serenity experience to your liking. Part of the Serenity area offers a view of the Lido deck, where you can hear all the music and fun around the pool.

However, if you prefer a more peaceful experience, you can simply move up to the next deck and head towards the front of the ship.

There, you will find plenty of comfortable loungers and clamshells, completely isolated from the party atmosphere of the Lido deck.

The Serenity deck is unique in the sense that it has a split personality, which is a good thing. Its vastness spanning three decks allows you to tailor your Serenity experience to your liking. Part of the Serenity area offers a view of the Lido deck, where you can hear all the music and fun happening around the pool.

12. Arrive early for the adult comedy shows.

Many Carnival ships, including the ones with the Limelight Lounge theater setup, have poles that may obstruct your view during shows. To secure the best seats, you will need to arrive early and queue up outside the theater.

Generally, the doors open around 30 minutes before the show starts. I understand that waiting in line during your vacation is not ideal, but for the right performer, it can be well worth it.

13. You don’t have to sit in a bad seat.

If you happen to arrive late at the Limelight and find that the only seats available are not great, don’t worry. You can still sit at one of the tables located to the far left or right of the stage.

Although you won’t be able to see the stage itself, there are TV screens that broadcast the performance. While the screens are not perfect, they are a better alternative than sitting behind a pole and missing out on the show.

14. Alchemy Bar is the perfect spot for pre-dinner drinks.

When it comes to Carnival Sunshine , Ocean Plaza is like that four-way intersection in the middle of a small town. Sooner or later, everyone winds up passing through.

So what better place to meet for pre-dinner drinks and a little people-watching than the Alchemy Bar, which is perfectly situated at the heart of Ocean Plaza? The handmade cocktails here are delicious, and they’re covered by the CHEERS! package.

This is not, however, the place for beer drinkers. Never fear because the RedFrog Pub is also located right off Ocean Plaza.

Read More: Review Alchemy Bar on Carnival

15. Grab breakfast (and coffee) away from the madness of the buffet.

Speaking of Ocean Plaza, this is also the place to be if you want to grab a decent breakfast without sitting down in a restaurant or diving into the madness that can be breakfast at the Lido Deck Marketplace.

Here, they have a nice little buffet set up with eggs, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, cereal, and coffee.

And if you want espresso, the Java Cafe is only a few steps away. Rarely is this breakfast area crowded… mainly because a whole lot of people don’t know about it.

16. Ocean Plaza also features a limited lunch selection.

You can also avoid the buffet at lunchtime by coming to Ocean Plaza for a bite to eat. It’s not a huge selection, but it’s always tasty. For example, on embarkation day, they usually set up an Old Fashioned Barbeque station.

Is it as good as what you’ll find at the Pig & Anchor on Carnival Horizon? No, but it’ll definitely satisfy your hunger.

17. Catch a movie while hanging out in a hot tub.

Every night, there will be a Dive-In movie playing on the Lido deck’s ginormous screen. The selection is usually pretty decent and can feature some surprisingly recent hits.

My favorite movie-viewing spot? From one of the hot tubs, several of which are located in prime viewing spots.

18. The movies make a great date night!

While I enjoy watching the Dive-In Movies from a hot tub, most folks pull up a lounger. Crew members will come around offering blankets and free popcorn, which makes this evening beneath the stars a great opportunity to snuggle with the one you love.

Want to make a full-blown date night out of it? Time dinner — whether in one of the specialty restaurants or the main dining room — so that you can wander from your meal to a lounger and end the evening under a beautiful sky.

19. Time your buffet visits, especially lunch.

The buffet on the Carnival Sunshine is pretty well designed, but let’s face it: Any buffet on any ship can be a nightmare during peak hours. The best time to hit the Lido Deck Marketplace is after 1 p.m. Before that, especially on sea days, it’s a zoo.

Or avoid it altogether by hitting one of the places we mentioned earlier, including Ocean Plaza, Cucina, or JiJi.

20. Visit the casino early in the morning to (sort of) avoid the smoke.

Cruise ship casinos get smokey — that’s just a fact of life on the high seas. It’s going to be pretty much impossible to avoid the smell of smoke while in the casino, but there are ways to lessen its impact.

For one thing, pick machines or tables that are as far away as possible from the Casino Bar, which is where a lot of smokers congregate.

Look for the non-smoking section (or non-smoking tables), but keep in mind that as it’s an open-air casino and they aren’t in a separate area, this isn’t going to make a huge difference.

Another suggestion is to hit the casino as early as possible since there tend to be far fewer smokers around during the first few hours of the day.

21. Arrive at Liquid Lounge early.

The key to getting good seats? Arrive early. Guests who arrive late often find themselves with those dreaded obstructed-view seats. On the Carnival Sunshine , you enter the theater from either deck four or deck five.

Keep a close eye on your Fun Times guide so you can see what production show is playing and at what time. It’s worth noting that there’s a nice bar with plenty of seating on deck four of the Liquid Lounge.

22. BlueIguana Cantina serves a mean breakfast.

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who think the words “breakfast” and “burrito” don’t belong in the same sentence and those who jump-start their day by grabbing one at BlueIguana.

I’ll admit, they’re a little too heavy for me, but if you like a hearty breakfast (or need to store up some energy for that active shore excursion), this will definitely hit the spot.

23. Don’t count on the internet being as good as home.

While some of the newer ships have better internet, that’s definitely not the case on the Carnival Sunshine.

If you’re looking to post photos to Facebook or tell everyone on Twitter about your awesome trip (#JealousMuch?), you’ll be fine.

But if you’re hoping to binge-watch the latest Netflix series, good luck. As you might expect, the internet will be faster early in the morning or late at night when fewer people are trying to access it.

24. The RedFrog Pub has a snack you will become addicted to.

While there are a few ships in the Carnival fleet that serve food in their versions of the RedFrog Pub, Carnival Sunshine isn’t one of them.

But if you’re looking for something to nosh on, ask the bartender for some wasabi peas. Then prepare to eat a lot of them because those suckers are addictive as heck. Better still, they’re free.

25. Deck three is a great location, stateroom-wise.

If you want an affordable and centrally-located cabin, see what’s available on deck three.

Here, you’ll be right off the main atrium, just a quick flight up to the theater, and two flights up to the main promenade on the ship. Deck three also has outside access with plenty of loungers and chairs.

26. Your business card will come in handy.

Sure, it’s always good to have a business card on you in case you have the opportunity to do a little networking. But more importantly, you’ll want one for your stateroom.

See, the cabins onboard Carnival Sunshine are energy-efficient rooms, meaning that in order for your lights and electrical outlets to work, you have to have your keycard in the door.

On some newer cruise ships, only your keycard will work. But on Carnival Sunshine, a business card will do the trick. (And as someone who has, on more than one occasion, walked out of the room only to realize — just as the door clicks shut — that my keycard is still in that activate-the-lights slot, this is very good news.)

27. Yes, the ship has laundry facilities… and you should avoid them.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t do laundry during your cruise. On the contrary, it’s great that the Carnival Sunshine still has self-serve laundry facilities, given that fewer and fewer ships these days do.

I’m suggesting you avoid booking a stateroom near them. Between the slamming doors, as people enter and leave and people talking loudly (to be heard over the dryers) in the room itself, this area can be pretty noisy.

They aren’t listed on most deck plans, so you might have to call Carnival or ask a travel professional to help you steer clear of cabins around the laundry rooms.

28. Serenity towels are nice… but do you really want to “buy” one?

The towels on the Serenity deck are big and fluffy and great to wrap yourself in… which is probably why they make you sign them out. If you fail to return the towel, you’ll find a $22 charge on your Sail & Sign card.

29. If there are restaurants on your “must-do” list, plan for them.

You know the old saying: Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. If you’ve got a restaurant that you absolutely, positively must eat at while on board the Carnival Sunshine, make a reservation.

A reader recently told me about how they’d been looking forward to dining at the steakhouse all week… only to find out on the last day that the place was booked solid.

30. Not every elevator goes where you want it to.

Nearly everyone learns this lesson the hard way: There are only two elevators that actually go to decks 11, 12, and 14 in the Serenity area. On the plus side, if you wind up having to take a lot of stairs, you’ll burn off some of those extra buffet calories.

31. Scout out the accessible bathrooms in advance.

The good news: There are plenty of accessible bathrooms on the Carnival Sunshine. The bad news? That’s only useful if you know where they are. If you have mobility issues, make sure to check out the deck plans of the ship in advance.

The stalls in the general-use bathrooms are definitely too narrow to navigate if you have a scooter or a wheelchair.

Rather than go back to your room every time you need to use the restroom, take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the layout so you can save yourself some time and trouble.

32. You can bring your own wine.

You wouldn’t believe how many people assume they can’t bring their favorite bottle of wine on board… and later get very upset after finding out they could have.

Here’s the deal: You are allowed to bring two bottles of wine per stateroom. Yes, there is a $15 “corkage” fee per bottle, but we’ve found that it’s pretty loosely enforced (plus, you can avoid the fee by just drinking the wine in your cabin).

Want to bring four bottles of wine? You didn’t hear it from us, but we’ve been told the best way to do so is by putting two bottles in your bag, two in your travel partner’s… and then going through separate security lines.

33. The only way to beat the chair hogs is by staking your claim early.

The good news: There are a lot of deck chairs on the Carnival Sunshine , and they’re spread out in numerous locations.

The bad news: chair hogs continue to be a real thing that we can’t seem to get rid of. (Maybe someone should start a GoFundMe page dedicated to the eradication of this pesky species.)

Even the Serenity deck is not immune to their presence. And while I’ve heard reports of (and even occasionally seen) attendants removing abandoned belongings, the best way to beat chair hogs at their own game is by getting up early, heading to the pool, and enjoying your day.

34. The RedFrog Pub’s Happy Hour is (forgive the pun) hoppin’. 

Just about every day, this popular watering hole has some kind of Happy Hour special. It’s not like they’re giving drinks away, but if you can save a little on drinks you were going to consume anyway, why not, right? Keep an eye on the Fun Times for drink specials that might pop up here and elsewhere on the ship.

35. There are some fun games waiting to be played in the pub.

Since you’re going to be hitting the Pub for Happy Hour, why not play a few games, such as tabletop shuffleboard?

And sometimes, the Pub plays host to Beer Pong tournaments, which are a total blast. And who doesn’t want to have bragging rights to having won the Beer Pong tournament on their cruise?

36. The Behind the Fun Tour is a must for cruise ship fans.

Want to go through some of those doors marked “Crew Members Only”? Then this is definitely the tour for you. It offers a glimpse behind the scenes into what makes a cruise ship tick.

During the 2.5-hour tour, you’ll see areas like the navigation bridge, engine control room, and other spots that are generally off-limits to passengers.

The tour is usually offered on sea days and is only available to a limited number of guests. Check the Fun Times or ask Guest Services for details.

37. Give yourself time to get where you need to go.

You’d be surprised how many first-time cruisers wind up being late to everything from dinner reservations to shows because they don’t give themselves enough time to get from their stateroom to the venue.

Remember to factor in things like crowded elevators, shopping spouses (“Oh, I just want to stop in here for a quick sec.”) and getting turned around on occasion.

38. Consider signing up for the Chef’s Table.

If you’re a foodie (or are traveling with one), this is a must. From the galley tour (during which you’re offered several delicious appetizers and taught how to make a signature dessert) to the incredible meal (I lost track of how many courses we were served) and wine pairings, this is an evening you won’t forget.

Read More: 5 Reasons to Experience the Chef’s Table

39. Buyer, beware.

At least once during your cruise, there will be a very big sale. The way it is promoted, you will think it’s a combination of Macy’s on Black Friday and a Going Out Of Business sale at Filene’s Basement. What it really is a great chance to get some cheap souvenirs for the folks back home.

Need a Carnival-branded T-shirt for Uncle Billy? This is the time and place to pick it up. But exercise caution when it comes to stuff like jewelry and watches.

Mama was right when she said, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” I once bought a watch that seemed pretty great… until it stopped working a month later.

40. Guy’s Burger Joint is really as good as they say.

Listen, I hear you. I once was  one of you, muttering, “It’s just a dang burger. What’s all the excitement about?” And then I tried one.

Technically, I should say I tried two, because the moment the first one was gone, I ordered another.

I don’t know what’s in them and probably don’t want to know. What I  do  know that just sitting here writing about them makes me realize I need one ASAP.

41. Bring singles for tipping… and spread them around generously.

When I arrive at the pier and hand my luggage over to a porter, that man or woman gets a tip. (Take care of the porters, and they will take care of you. Stiff the porters, and your bag may be put on Carnival Libert y instead of Carnival Sunshine .)

And from that point forward, the entire time I’m on board, I hand out dollar bills like a drunk guy at a strip bar.

I know that one of the reasons I’ve had so many amazing experiences on the Carnival Sunshine is thanks to the hard-working crew who make the magic happen.

That’s why you will never, ever see me lining up at Guest Services to ask that they remove the automatic gratuities from my bill. And I’m going to believe, true or not, that you wouldn’t be caught dead doing that either.

Read More: 7 Confessions of a Cruise Baggage Handler

These are some of the Carnival Sunshine tips that I’ve gathered over the last five years of sailing Sunshine . Do you have any to share? Feel free to leave them below to be included in the article.

Carnival Sunshine Stateroom Video

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Wrap up a full day of Carnival fun… and you're gonna need a good night's sleep. Our staterooms are here to help.

ROOM TYPES FOR ALL TYPES

When it comes to staterooms, one size only fits some. That's why we've got enough variety to satisfy any type of fun seeker.

Interior Staterooms

The most affordable way to experience all the Carnival excitement, without cutting corners on comfort. Here’s the perfect spot to curl up after a long day’s fun.

Available On : All ships

Available Features

Ocean View Staterooms

These comfy rooms with a view let you sail along to beautiful destinations while gazing at the sort of vistas you simply won't find anywhere on land.

Balcony Staterooms

Any time you’re in your room, you’re steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis… designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views.

Get all the comforts of home and then some, with absolutely none of the hassles. Get comfy… stretch out, put your feet up. Or just spend time on your balcony — you’ve got one of our most spacious rooms.

Exclusive Amenities:

• VIP check-in, plus priority embarkation and debarkation
• Priority dinner reservations and main dining room time assignment
• One complimentary load of laundry service
• Two complimentary large bottles of water

Exclusive Amenities

• Priority check-in, embarkation & debarkation
• Priority dinner reservations & main dining room time assignment
• Pillow-top mattresses

Family Harbor Staterooms & Suites

The term “family room” brings to mind that comfy place where kids and parents can do the all-important work of having fun simply being together. That’s precisely why there’s Family Harbor. You’ll notice that Family Harbor staterooms sport a classically American nautical décor... but benefits don’t stop at your door. Family Harbor staterooms are located near the Family Harbor Lounge, an exclusive spot featuring breakfast in the morning, snacks throughout the day, plus activities like board games, family movies, video games and more. As you explore the rest of the ship, the Family Harbor benefits come along, with your kids eating free in most onboard specialty restaurants... plus one free evening of Night Owls babysitting service, so you can enjoy some much-deserved alone time.

Available On : Carnival Celebration ® , Carnival Horizon ® , Carnival Jubilee ™ , Mardi Gras ® , Carnival Panorama ® and Carnival Vista ®

Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms & Suites

Cloud 9 Spa ™ staterooms do things a little different than ordinary staterooms. For starters, we dare you to cross the threshold without feeling a little more relaxed. Once you're inside, you'll find pleasing decor and in-room amenities like ELEMIS bath products and spa-branded bathrobes and slippers to enhance your stay.

What’s more, your excellent stateroom choice gets you priority spa reservations, free fitness classes, unlimited access to the thermal suites, exclusive discounts on treatments during port days... and more. (And on ships with a Hydrotherapy Pool, you’re welcome to use it as much as you want!)

And the best part? We've got a full range of rooms with that Cloud 9 mojo, from cozy Interiors to stretch-out Suites, ensuring you'll never have to sacrifice comfort for value.

Available On : Carnival Breeze ® , Carnival Celebration ® , Carnival Dream ® , Carnival Horizon ® , Carnival Jubilee ™ , Carnival Luminosa ® ,Carnival Magic ® , Mardi Gras. ® , Carnival Panorama ® , Carnival Radiance ® , Carnival Splendor ® , Carnival Sunrise ® , Carnival Sunshine ® and Carnival Vista ®

Havana Staterooms & Suites

At Carnival we love to cruise as much as anyone, but when you book a Havana stateroom, it's like you're no longer on a ship... you're at an exclusive island resort. But unlike most spots on land, you're never far from the ocean... or from the Havana Bar & Pool. (You'll enjoy exclusive access to the pool area!) Inside, all Havana staterooms feature a unique décor, but step up to a Havana Cabana for an extra-large outdoor chill space featuring a lounge-ready hammock chair. Step into a Havana Cabana suite for even more space, plus a luxurious rain shower. (All Havana stateroom guests must be 12 or older.)

Terrazza Staterooms

Have you ever thought “maybe I could live like an Italian”? Well there’s a place you can kind of try out the lifestyle, at least for one vacation: Terrazza Staterooms aboard a Carnival cruise! You’ll find these aboard any of our Fun Italian Style ships, and the resort layout gives you everything you need for comfort and style in one place. For starters, all the staterooms feature a fresh style inside… and some add premium open-air benefits like a patio lounging area or balcony. And on a select few, the balcony is — how shall we put it? — grandissimo! But guess what’s included with every Terrazza stateroom? Exclusive access to a private deck featuring amenities like all-day lounging with great drinks, entertainment, whirlpools and more. (All Terrazza stateroom guests must be 12 or older.)

Available On : Carnival Firenze ™ and Carnival Venezia ™

ALL THE PERKS, IN EVERY ROOM

With all this comfort and all these standard features, you've gotta try real hard to get homesick on a Carnival cruise.

• Dedicated stateroom attendant
• Soft, cozy linens
• Stateroom climate control
• Plenty of closet and drawer space
• Bathrobes upon request
• In-room safe for valuables

YEP, WE THOUGHT OF THAT TOO

Beyond the basics, you’ll find rooms that take your vacation to the next level — we’re talking stuff that matters most to groups, families, folks with special needs and more!

Adding friends equals multiplying the fun. That’s why many Carnival staterooms can be configured in different ways — some sleep up to five!

Keep the group together. Some cabins have connecting rooms with a common door between them.

When it comes to bathrooms, an extra might be a good idea. Deluxe Ocean View staterooms sleep up to five and come with an extra half-bath.

Specially modified rooms are available for guests with special needs .

TOP-TO-BOTTOM, FRONT-TO-BACK FUN

Wherever on the ship you make your home base, good times aren't far.

• Lower decks
• Upper decks

For arts and entertainment, health and relaxation, stay up front. The fitness center and spa are nearby, not to mention great performances in the show lounge.

Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Picking a cabin on a Carnival Cruise Line ship isn't nearly as complicated as picking a cabin on, say, a Royal Caribbean or a Celebrity Cruises ship.

Unlike some of its biggest competitors, Carnival isn't known for a huge range of cabin categories on its vessels.

That means that when you're trying to find the best Carnival cruise ship cabin for you, you'll have an easier time than you will when booking with some other lines.

The vast majority of the accommodations on Carnival ships fall into one of three broad buckets: Windowless "inside" cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

You'll find relatively few suites on Carnival ships. Each of the vessels in Carnival's recent Vista-class series, for instance, offer fewer than 75 suites. Each of the line's earlier Conquest-class ships have around 50 suites. The oldest Fantasy-class vessels have 28 suites and 26 junior suites.

This is in part due to Carnival's focus on offering an affordable product. The typical Carnival customer isn't in the market for a super fancy, high-priced suite.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line

That said, Carnival has seen the success that some of its competitors have had with a bigger range of upscale accommodations, and it's eyeing more suites for future vessels. The line's two newest ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration , each have 180 suites — more than twice the number found on the vessels Carnival was unveiling a few years ago.

Note that Carnival's two oldest ships — those that are part of the 1990s-built Fantasy Class — have relatively few balcony cabins by today's standards. (After retrofitting, they have around 150 balcony cabins, out of a total of more than 1,000 cabins in all.) In part because of this, Carnival has been phasing Fantasy-class ships out of its fleet in recent years.

A Carnival Cruise Line cabin primer

As is typical for many cruise ships, Carnival vessels offer cabins in four broad categories: Windowless "inside" cabins, oceanview cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

On newer Carnival ships, a significant portion of cabins are balcony cabins — the rooms everyone wants these days. But the ratio of balcony cabins to non-balcony cabins on Carnival's newer ships isn't nearly as high as on the newer ships of some rival lines such as Royal Caribbean.

About 44% of the 2,004 cabins on Carnival's Carnival Panorama (launched in 2019) are balcony cabins, for instance. Compare that to the 65% of cabins on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas (launched in 2018) that are balcony cabins.

As noted above, Carnival ships also have fewer suites than you'll find on the ships of some of its rival lines. By contrast, the line's newer ships have a higher percentage of inside cabins than you'll find on the newer ships of some rival lines.

Here's a breakdown of the broad cabin categories on Carnival Panorama, which is typical of the line's newer ships:

Inside cabins: 789 (39%) Oceanview cabins: 254 (13%) Balcony cabins: 891 (44%) Suites: 70 (3%)

On older Carnival ships (and, in general, all older cruise ships), there are far fewer balcony cabins. Fewer than 10% of cabins on the line's two oldest vessels, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, are balcony cabins. The two ships date to 1998.

On both Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, inside cabins and ocean-view cabins make up the majority (nearly 90%) of accommodations, and suites account for fewer than 10% of rooms. Here is the breakdown for Carnival Paradise:

Inside cabins: 420 (40%) Oceanview cabins: 466 (44%) Balcony cabins: 98 (9%) Suites: 78 (7%)

The takeaway here is that you'll have a tougher time locking down a balcony cabin on an older Carnival ship than on a newer vessel. If you're planning a cruise on one of the line's older vessels and a balcony cabin is a must, you'll want to book early to make sure you get one.

You'll also want to book early if you're aiming for a suite — particularly if you want one of the best suites on a Carnival ship. An old saw in the cruise industry is that "ships sell from the top and the bottom." That is, the first cabins on any vessel to sell out are the most expensive cabins, which are the suites, and the least expensive cabins, which typically are the inside cabins. The "middle" sells last.

Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish. Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels mostly have a soothing palette of creams and blues. Cabinetry in these rooms is a crisp and clean faux wood. Cabin bathrooms are neutral.

One exception is the new Carnival Venezia , which has a darker (faux) wood finish to furniture in cabins that ties into the ship's Italy theme.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival ship

Inside cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Inside cabins are the cabins you stay in when you're on a tight budget. On any Carnival ship, they almost always are the least-expensive option when you're booking a cabin, and you often can save considerable money by booking an inside cabin versus an ocean-view or higher-level cabin.

What you'll give up, of course, is that ocean view. Your room will have four walls and no windows offering a glimpse of the outside world.

On many cruise ships, inside cabins are smaller than oceanview and balcony cabins. But on Carnival ships, that's not always the case. On Carnival Panorama, for instance, most inside cabins measure 185 square feet. That's the same size as the interior area of some oceanview and most balcony cabins on the ship (not including the extra square footage from the balcony).

Related: Why inside cabins aren't as bad as you think

Inside cabins on Royal Caribbean's new Wonder of the Seas , by contrast, measure just 149 square feet — quite a bit less than the inside cabins on Carnival Panorama.

Note that, in a quirk of the cabin categorization system at Carnival, there are a few inside cabins on some Carnival ships that do, indeed, have a view to the outside world. These cabins either have an obstructed view (often due to lifeboats) or a porthole, such that the view isn't all that great. For that reason, the line classifies them as inside cabins.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

With an oceanview cabin, you get a window looking out to the sea but not an attached balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Carnival's newer ships have relatively few such cabins, as generally cabins that face outwards now are built with balconies. But older Carnival ships are loaded with oceanview cabins.

Oceanview cabins on Carnival ships can sometimes be bigger than inside cabins and even bigger than balcony cabins (when comparing their interior space). On Carnival Panorama, some oceanview cabins measure 185 square feet — the same as inside cabins. But there also are bigger "standard" oceanview cabins that measure 220 square feet and "deluxe" oceanview cabins that measure 230 square feet.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

Balcony cabins on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Balcony cabins are what everyone wants these days, and Carnival is building its newest ships with far more of them than in the past. As noted above, about 44% of the cabins Carnival Panorama are balcony cabins. But that percentage jumped to 56% on the newer Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. It will be the same on Carnival Jubilee, a sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration coming out in December 2023.

The typical Carnival balcony cabin has a contemporary look, with clean lines and relatively minimalist furniture. It typically features twin beds that can be converted into a king bed, a built-in desk area and a sofa that often pulls out into an additional bed. Some rooms have pull-down bunks to create more sleeping spaces. Balcony cabins typically measure around 185 square feet, not including the veranda area, which often measures 35 square feet.

Note that on some Carnival ships, specific categories of balcony cabins have larger balconies than most. These are wonderful for sitting out and watching the waves. Often these rooms are at the back of the ships overlooking the wake.

Related: 6 reasons to book a balcony cabin on your next cruise

For instance, Carnival Panorama has "Family Harbor" and "Havana" balcony cabins with 60-square-foot balconies overlooking the wake. That's 71% more balcony space than the typical balcony cabin on the ship.

Carnival Panorama also has "Havana Cabana" balcony cabins with even bigger, 100-square-foot balconies.

Suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships

As noted above, Carnival ships generally don't offer a lot of suites. For the most part, the suites they have are relatively modest in size and amenities compared to the suites at some of the line's rivals.

The biggest suites on Carnival Panorama, the ship's eight Grand Suites, have 345 square feet of interior space, plus an 85-square-foot balcony. Contrast that to the biggest suites on Royal Caribbean ships, which can measure more than 1,500 square feet.

Suites on Carnival ships also haven't traditionally come with butlers and access to private concierge lounges like the suites on many other vessels.

Related: This amazing new cruise ship suite measures more than 4,000 square feet

Still, some of that has begun to change with the debut of Carnival's new Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. Carnival went big with the suites on the groundbreaking, 5,282-passenger vessels — the biggest Carnival ships ever.

Unveiled in 2021 and 2022, respectively, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration each feature two sprawling Presidential Suites that measure 1,120 square feet — bigger than any other accommodations in the line's fleet.

Located at the top of each ship on Deck 17, the complexes have separate living and sleeping areas and the most expansive balconies in the Carnival fleet — all unusual-for-Carnival features. Measuring more than 600 square feet, the balconies also offer a lounging area with a large sunbed and a private outdoor hot tub and shower.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise ship

The Presidential Suites are among 180 suites you will find on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, the most ever for a Carnival ship.

The two ships have 11 different categories of suites in all, four of which are part of a new premium "Excel" category of suites with extra amenities and access to a new-for-the-line, resort-style enclave at the top of the ships called Loft 19.

In addition to the two Presidential Suites, the Excel suites include a dozen 861-square-foot Excel Aft Suites that overlook the back of each ship and boast separate living rooms and bedrooms and large wraparound balconies with hot tubs.

Slightly smaller are a dozen 710-square-foot Excel Corner Suites offering separate sleeping and lounging areas and wraparound balconies. A step down are six smaller Excel Suites that measure 614 square feet.

Every one of the suites in those categories is bigger than any suite found on Carnival Panorama.

Passengers staying in all four categories of Excel suites on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration have access to a dedicated concierge phone line and guaranteed dining times at the extra-charge specialty restaurants found on the ships (except for Japanese eatery Bonsai Teppanyaki and the Chef's Table). Other upgraded amenities for Excel suite passengers include complimentary Bottomless Bubbles soda packages, room service and laundry service, sparkling wine upon arrival and upgraded bathroom toiletries.

The new Loft 19 enclave found on both Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration offers full bar service, a private pool surrounded by sun loungers and cabanas available for rent.

Related: A guide to Carnival's VIFP loyalty program

Bottom Line

Fun-focused Carnival offers a solid mix of cabins on its vessels for a range of price points. If you're looking for an inexpensive vacation option, the inside cabins on Carnival ships are more spacious than the inside cabins you'll find on the ships of some rival lines. Oceanview cabins on Carnival ships also can be larger than normal for the category. Balcony cabins on Carnival ships hold their own in size against most competitors. Just don't expect a huge number of suites when sailing with Carnival.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• 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
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

Carnival Sunshine Stateroom Cabin 5340

• Click here for ALL
• Small Interior
• Interior with Picture Window
• Scenic Oceanview
• Premium Balcony
• Ocean Suite
• Grand Suite
• Captains Suite
• Ship info and tracking
• Cabin Check

Carnival Sunshine Ocean Suite cabin number 5340 ACTUAL videos and/or pictures, floor plans, diagrams and detailed features including a deck image of the actual location on the Carnival Sunshine ship for cabin 5340. Cruisedeckplans.com has 58,739 different (staterooms) cabins that have actual cabin pictures and/or cabin videos taken by real cruisers. That is plenty of coverage to provide you with a good sampling of all the different cabins on cruise ships. Take a minute and notice the breadcrumb menu above. This is a quick easy way to navigate our website. You can also use the menu above for menu items specific to the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship.

• Twin beds that convert to king
• Large balcony
• Sitting area with armchair and coffee table
• Dressing area with vanity
• Two large closets
• Refrigerator
• Private bath with whirlpool tub and shower
• Hair dryer.

Floor plans may not represent actual stateroom. Click to zoom.

Deck location

Carnival Sunshine Ocean Suite cabin 5340 pictures

These are some actual stateroom pictures of cabin 5340 on the Carnival Sunshine. Click on images below for larger image and slide show. The slide show will show the date the picture was uploaded to out website. This date is useful because Carnival Sunshine typically will update its cabins every three to five years with new carpeting and decor. We will keep older pictures for you to compare the more recent photos to. The pictures are sorted by the newest ones first. Most of our cabin pictures are contributed by actual cruisers. We pay 50 cents for any that we use. You can upload your cabin photos HERE . Afer you are done looking at these photos and/or the videos below you can click here to select another cabin .

Carnival Sunshine Ocean Suite 5340 cabin videos

Scroll over cabin (stateroom) tiles below to click and watch actual stateroom videos of Carnival Sunshine cabin 5340. You can choose to watch the videos right on this page, or click to watch them on YouTube (will open in new window). When you are done viewing these videos and/or the cabin pictures above, you can click here to select another cabin. The date shown below is the date video was published. Use this to see decor changes. Keep in mind that stateroom cabins are typically updated once every three to five years. To save you time, Cruisedeckplans.com will spend hours every week finding more actual stateroom videos on YouTube.

Looking for other Ocean Suite cabins with pics/videos?

Looking for other cabins with pics/videos on deck 5 (deck), other stateroom cabin categories on carnival sunshine.

These are all the stateroom cabin categories Carnival Sunshine. You can click on a stateroom category below to go to that page. Categories are simply the way that Carnival groups the different types of staterooms (cabins). You can see details and floor plans for all of the categories on Carnival Sunshine on this page.

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