Are you preparing for your first Carnival Cruise as a couple? Congratulations! Cruising as a couple is a romantic way to bond and experience tons of fantastic experiences together. When cruising, many people think about all the fun they will have at the ports, but what about on the ship itself? That is where the real fun is to be had, especially on Carnival, known as “the fun ship.” We put together a list of cruise tips for couples so you can maximize your time spent aboard the Carnival Sunshine!
5 Cruise Tips For Couples Onboard The Carnival Sunshine
#1: Book a balcony room for private romantic views
We admit it, we are a sucker for balcony rooms when cruising. They aren’t the deciding factor on whether we cruise or not, but they sure are nice! For couples, balcony rooms offer the perfect retreat to enjoy each other’s company away from your fellow cruisers. They are ideal for watching the sunrise together, stargazing at night [yes, you can see tons of stars], and are a great place to watch the cruise ship enter and leave ports of call. Bonus points if you eat a continental breakfast or share a Pina Colada while watching the waves roll by!
#2: Act like a kid again at the Carnival Sunshine Sportsquare and Waterworks
Carnival Cruise Line knows the perfect ways to indulge our inner kids at heart! Sportsquare is located on Carnival Sunshine’s deck 11 and is full of games such as foosball, ping pong, pool, checkers, chess, shuffleboard, mini golf, and more. There is even an outdoor basketball court! We took advantage of this way to get active as a couple and played mini golf multiple times a day, visited the basketball court, and challenged each other to a ping pong match every evening. If you are looking to cool down, Waterworks is located on deck 10 and is a waterslide extravaganza at sea. The waterslides are not for the faint of heart and were actually fast and thrilling! There are also many pool options for both kids and adults!
#3: Read your “Carnival Fun Times” guide together every night
Each night, your room steward will leave a pamphlet called “Carnival Fun Times” in your stateroom. One of our favorite cruise tips for couples is to take some time out each night before bed to read over what it contains. The booklet will highlight everything that is going on the next day. There will be highlights as well as a very specific breakdown of what is going on every day. By reading over the Fun Times as a couple, you can each see what activities you would like to participate in the next day and circle them so you won’t miss out on the fun. Make sure to pick some things you both love to do as well as something for each of you.
#4: Make reservations for a date night out at a specialty dining restaurant
Specialty dining restaurants cost a little bit extra per person [between $10-$30 depending on where you go], but are totally worth it. The Lido Deck and main dining room serve fantastic food, but there is something extra romantic about going above and beyond for each other and making a reservation at a “restaurant” onboard your cruise ship. The Carnival Sunshine has three specialty dining restaurants. Our favorite is the steakhouse, Farenheight 555. It is set far away from the hustle and bustle of the ship, is very fancy inside, and provides mouthwatering food for both meat lovers and vegetarians alike. Make sure to bring an extra special outfit for your date night out on the cruise and don’t forget to have a wonderful evening together!
#5: Enjoy the nightlife and don’t go to bed too early
Even if you aren’t clubbers or heavy drinkers like us, there is plenty to do on the Carnival Sunshine after hours! From late night comedy clubs to broadway style shows, outdoor movies, hot tubs under the stars, and of course, the casino, there is truly something for everyone. By exploring the ports during the day and retiring to your room after dinner, you are missing out on all the fun cruises have to offer. Out of all the cruise tips for couples, getting out and about and enjoying your vacation is on the top of the list! Our favorite things to do after hours were to watch the shows, watch outdoor movies, and play games with the wind in our hair and by the light of the moon. Does it really get any more romantic than that?
Please note: We were hosted as guests of the Carnival Sunshine for the purpose of this review. All opinions are honest and are our own. We really do love cruising as a couple!
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This sounds like so much fun! We’ve never been on a cruise and I would love to go on one, but Bertaut thinks he wouldn’t like it. I need to show him this post! You two are so cute!
What isn’t to love?! You can bring the kids too and send them to the fun camps and then you have time for you guys as well!
Oh my gosh, I haven’t cruised in, like, 17 years, but this has me thinking it might be a good trip for us to plan ! Especially sweet for couples. 🙂 plus that food…..drool !!
You guys HAVE to go!
These are great tips! Now I’m craving a cruise!
Although cruises are typically beyond my price range as a travellers, I totally agree that they are one of the most romantic forms of getaway. Certainly, as one half of a couple who likes to not only eat well but indulge in the more than occasional drink, Carnival Sunshine looks right up out street. Of course, one of the downsides to a cruise is the inability o get away from your other half for any real period of time but hey, what doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger!
Wonderful post guys! Never heard of ‘The Carnival Sunshine’, but it looks damn nice 🙂
I like your last tip the most – don’t go to bed early! There is often so much happening on cruises till late in the night that it’s almost a shame to sleep early. If nothing I would just enjoy the breeze on the deck…
I agree that it is a lot of fun to take advantage of all the different opportunities on a cruise, from the good restaurants to the excursions to the evening activities. And you’re right that a deck makes all the difference – we liked waking up early to enjoy coffee on the deck, with an ever changing view.
Nice tips, like that cabin with a view. I can only imagine what it is like on such a big ship! 🙂 But it sure sounds like it can get very romantic. Cruises usually are, in my opinion. 🙂
Such great advice. I love cruises and feel like sometimes people forget to take advantage of the onboard restaurants and activities. I would love to check out the water park. And who doesn’t want a balcony view?? So lovely!!
Great tips! We haven’t cruised much as a couple, but #5 really was our favorite, simply because it was so easy to “get home” (aka walk a few feet to our cabin) after a long night, in comparison to going out at home, which involves cabs, trains, and buses!
Exactly!! That is one of the best parts about cruise travel!
My wife and I have never been on a cruise (we aren’t big on organized travel), but we’re definitely cruise curious. We keep hearing about repositioning cruises, that might be our first foray aka gateway drug. We’ll check this company out, thanks for the pointer.
YESS!!!! We would love to do a repositioning cruise! It would be fantastic!
My husband, Logan, LOVE cruising. I still have yet to go on one. Might have to hit this up while we live in FL for the summer. The food looks DIVINE.
It would be impossible to get bored on a ship like this. That water slide is epic! A room with a private balcony would be a must for us.
These are all informative. Another great tip before going on a cruise is to work with a knowledgeable travel agent. Most offer their booking services and tips at no additional cost to you, and some will even help you plan your entire trip!