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I Tried Carnival's Oldest Ship... Here's the Unexpected Truth | Carnival Sunshine Review

Family at Sea
Family at Sea
🥈Expert
👁️ 5K views📅 2 weeks ago⏱️ 21:26
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsFull Ship Review🥈Expert CreatorSponsored
👶 Best for Family (Young Kids)Other · 7 nightsFrom Norfolk

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

The Sunshine is small by modern standards at 103,000 gross tons and a max capacity of just under 3,800.

It was dated visually, but it was still functional. Storage was sufficient with three large closets.

The food itself was decent, but when I tried to grab a Coke Zero, I learned Carnival won't let you even order a soda until after checking in at your muster station.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Go complete your muster drill immediately after boarding to enable drink orders.
Try to get an aft-facing cabin on deck 5 for a good balance of convenience and noise control.
If dining in the main dining room, try to get a table on deck 3 to see the nightly shows.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Muster drill restrictionsComplete it immediately after boarding so you can order drinks/sodas.
Ship age and amenitiesManage expectations regarding technology and flashy features compared to newer ships.

Questions This Creator Answers

QIs Carnival's oldest ship worth it?
QWhat is the cabin quality like on an older Carnival ship?
QHow crowded is the Carnival Sunshine?
QIs the food on the Sunshine good?

Topics Covered

Dining Main1 Happy BaconDining Bars Drinks2½ Happy BaconEntertainment Shows3 Happy BaconService Crew3½ Happy BaconSafety Medical2 Sad BaconShip Condition1½ Sad BaconDining Buffet3 Sad BaconPool Deck2½ Sad Bacon

Port Highlights

Norfolk1 Sad Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

Prime Day (June 23–26) $40 OFF on Sleep A30 Special! Buy on Amazon: https://soundcore.tech/D1301_US_PDMKT_Family_at_Sea_5_554404 Buy on soundcore Official: https://soundcore.tech/D1301_US_PDMKT_Family_at_Sea_5_016250 I spent a week on the oldest ship in Carnival’s fleet… and it was nothing like I expected. From massive crowds and confusing layouts to packed deck parties, surprisingly good entertainment, and plenty of surprises along the way, this Carnival Sunshine review covers everything you need to know before booking. Is Carnival’s oldest cruise ship still worth sailing in 2026, or has time finally caught up with it? Watch to find out. ----- ⚓ Our Trusted Travel Partners: 🤝 🛳️ Ready to Book Your Next Cruise? Cruises It makes planning easy! Get expert advice and the best deals here: 👉 https://bit.ly/dream-cruise-fas 🌍 Save Big on Excursions! Skip the overpriced ship tours and book directly to save money: 👉 https://bit.ly/fas-excursions ----- 🎉 Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for weekly tips & hacks + immersive vlog experiences: https://bit.ly/subscribe-cruise-hacks ----- 🛒✨ Cruise Products We Recommend ✨🛒 - Sea Bands (to prevent seasickness): https://amzn.to/3YOTGjX - Sea Bands for Kids: https://amzn.to/4cvG1RS - Sea Bands w/ Built-In Aromatherapy: https://amzn.to/3SQ0zO8 - Seasickness Patches: https://amzn.to/3AmF94L - Portable Charger: https://amzn.to/4dNGmAx - Towel Bands (for pool loungers): https://amzn.to/3SXARHx - Water Shoes: https://amzn.to/4dIWxPA - Magnetic Hooks: https://amzn.to/4dqHr1j - Power Strip (w/ no surge protector): https://amzn.to/3yJzuoX ----- 👀 Watch Next 🍿 https://youtu.be/qMiHVOql4_g https://youtu.be/bM4ZI8FS3xo https://youtu.be/cggiftmgowA https://youtu.be/69N7oMQ5DcI https://youtu.be/fLUgYfN5qAA ----- Join our NEW Facebook Group for all sorts of cruising tips, tricks, and deals! Cruise Tips, Tricks, and Deals: https://facebook.com/groups/familyatsea ----- Disclosure: Hey there! Just a heads-up – some links in my video descriptions are affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase through them, I may earn a little commission, but don’t worry, it won’t cost you anything extra! I only recommend stuff that I genuinely love from companies I trust. Thank you for your support! ----- Business & Media Opportunities: Please contact Evan at partners@familyatsesa.travel ----- 🌍🙋‍♂️ Who We Are 🙋‍♀️🌍 Family at Sea chronicles the cruising adventures of our family of four as we set sail across the globe aboard different cruise ships and cruise lines, including MSC, Disney Cruise Lines (DCL), Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), P&O, Explora Journeys, Costa, Margaritaville at Sea, and more! ----- 📧💬 Contact Us & Follow Us on Social Media! 📱📲 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyAtSea - Facebook: https://facebook.com/FamilyAtSea.travel - Facebook Group: Family Cruise Tips, Tricks, and Deals: https://facebook.com/groups/familyatsea - Instagram: https://instagram.com/FamilyAtSea.travel ----- #CarnivalSunshine #CarnivalCruise #CruiseReview #FamilyAtSea ----- 00:00 Intro 00:43 First Impressions 04:18 Cabin Experience 07:53 Around the Ship 10:23 Food & Drink 13:59 Entertainment 16:16 Service & Atmosphere 18:38 Next Time, I'll Know