Last fall I took an 8-day Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Sunshine. The ship was fun and super family-friendly, the ports we stopped at were gorgeous, and the food was amazing! Most cruises are better known for their quantity of food rather than quality, which is why I was super surprised to have some of the best food I have ever eaten on the Carnival Sunshine — not just the best food I’ve ever had on a cruise, but the best food ever! I would totally do another Carnival Sunshine Caribbean cruise just for the food!
If you’re looking for a Caribbean cruise with the best food, take a look below at the fabulous food and restaurants we found aboard the Carnival Sunshine:
Guy’s Burger Joint
Carnival has teamed up with Food Network personality Guy Fieri to create an authentic roadside burger shack on board the Carnival Sunshine Caribbean cruise. Guy developed these burgers exclusively for Carnival. Guy’s Burger Joint is the poolside spot for fresh-off-the-grill burgers and hand-cut fries. Be sure to stop by the toppings bar to fully customize your burger with all the fixings, and try all the dipping sauces for the fries!
And you’ve got to try the “Piggy Burger” — topped with a bacon patty!! Best of all, Guys’s Burger Joint is included with the cost of your cruise, so you can eat all the burgers and fries you want! :)
Ji Ji Asian Kitchen
Ji Ji Asian Kitchen was one of my favorite restaurants on the Carnival Sunshine Caribbean cruise. Everything here was SO good. We got to try a little bit of everything. I am still dreaming about the pot stickers and the Kung Pao chicken!! The menu is huge and there’s a ton to choose from. Honestly you can’t go wrong here!
Pizzeria del Capitano
Get fresh, hot, made-to-order pizza 24 hours a day on the Carnival Sunshine! These hand-tossed pizzas are made with fresh mozzarella, homemade sauces, and a number of toppings to choose from. We ate here several times!
And who can resist the all-you-can-eat soft serve ice cream?? :) Loved this chocolate and strawberry swirl. I had way too many of these this week! :)
Cucina del Capitano
Cucina del Capitano was another one of my favorite restaurants on the Carnival Sunshine. The ship’s captains and officers are Italian, and Cucina del Capitano serves Italian-American dishes inspired by their favorite recipes from their childhood.
What to order:
For an appetizer, the arancini is a must. For an entree, the carbonara and the chicken parmesan are amazing!!! And for dessert, I LOVED the lemon sorbet and the tiramisu!
Wish I could go back here right now!
Shake Spot
Artisan, handcrafted milkshakes and indulgent floats galore! Loved this fun sweet shop!
Seaday Brunch
Brunch is my favorite meal of the day! And I like to sleep in, so I love that the Seaday Brunch on the Carnival Sunshine is served late! :) But it’s also open early for you early riser weirdos. I’m talking to you, Kevin. ;) xoxo
The Seaday Brunch has a fabulous menu with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options.
How seriously fun is this Froot Loop French Toast?? :)
And if lunch is your thing, how decadent is this mac and cheese?? :)
Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast
On the last day at sea, celebrate with a fun Dr. Seuss character breakfast on the Carnival Sunshine!! The dining room and tables are decorated in bright colors and patterns with fun and unique menus. All the food is fun and funky!! You can even order green eggs and ham!
Plus the stars of Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat are around for special photo opportunities and fun interactions. Definitely a meal to remember!
How fun are these Cat in the Hat pancakes?! :)
Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse is perfect for a special occasion. Enjoy premium cuts of beef cooked to your exact specifications, as well as a fantastic selection of seafood, entrées, gourmet appetizers and an extensive wine list.
I got the Lobster Ravioli with shrimp scampi, lobster bisque, a baked potato, and for dessert, this heavenly cheesecake. So good!
The Chef’s Table
Dining at The Chef’s Table was an amazing experience. If you are a foodie, you have to do this! You’ll be treated like a VIP with a multi-course dinner hosted by one of the ship’s master chefs. The full-service dinner includes unique appetizers, entrees and desserts not found on the regular dining menus. You even get to take a tour of the ships galleys and kitchens!
Alchemy Bar
The mixology specialists at Alchemy Bar will create a signature cocktail just for you! Choose from both nonalcoholic and alcoholic elixirs. You can even create your own custom concoction from a variety of unique ingredients! Definitely a fun experience!
Carnival Sunshine Caribbean Cruise Islands & Excursions
St. Martin
Now let’s talk about the beaches! We went to 4 different islands on our Carnival Sunshine Caribbean cruise. The first one was St. Martin.
My favorite part of St. Martin was sitting on the beach and watching the planes come in at Maho Beach.
I loved the beaches in St. Martin. Such beautiful, warm, clear water!
This is Maho Beach, where the planes were landing.
I could’ve sat out here all day and listened to the waves crashing against the rocks.
Coming in for landing!
We sailed away at sunset, just as the sun dipped below the ocean.
St. Kitts
Next up was St. Kitts!
We booked a snorkeling excursion in St. Kitts. We got to take a catamaran ride out to a secluded bay and explore an abandoned ship wreck!
Watching the sunset from the ship every night was one of the highlights of the day.
San Juan
Our next stop was Puerto Rico. We spent the day exploring Old Town San Juan.
When I saw this gourmet popsicle shop I knew we had to stop!
Grand Turk
Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos) was one of my favorite beaches.
We took a cab out to Pillory Beach and spent the day lounging in the sun. It honestly looked straight out of a postcard.
The water was amazing!
Such a fun day in the Caribbean!
The sunsets on the ship were incredible.
Always my favorite part of a cruise.
If you’ve been considering a Caribbean cruise, and want to go on one with fabulous food, I highly recommend the Carnival Sunshine Caribbean cruise! The food is amazing and the beaches are gorgeous. You can’t go wrong with that combo!
Wow, this is the best review of the Carnival Sunshine I’ve ever seen! ;)
Going on cruise in 8 days Feb 3 2019 can’t wait first time on sunshine 2nd time with carnival hope it will be awesome I will let you know when I return can’t wait!!!
Have so much fun!! :)
We just returned a few days ago from an 8 day cruise on the Sunshine and to be very honest we weren’t at all impressed. We found the ship to be very dirty and the staff not very friendly. We’ve cruised with Carnival many of times on their different ships and this was the worst one. We weren’t impressed!!
So sorry to hear that! :(
Oh my!!! ?We are leaving in October with sunshine for our first ever cruise ??
My daughter ,son in law and I are going in April 2018. It is our first cruise so I am reviewing a lot of comments. You made that food look amazing and making me want April to get here sooner!! LOL! Thx!
thank you for the review. My wife and I are planning a cruise for my 50th birthday next years.
My Husband and I are going on the Sunshine in May. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the heads up. We have been on other Carnival Cruises and the food seems to all be the same. Looking forward.
Are all these eateries included in the cost of your cruise?
What beautiful photos! You should try the Norwegian Getaway next. They have amazing specialty restaurants and all the food is amazing too
i would TOTALLY enjoy this, too!
x
dahi
Oh wow! I have never cruised with Carnival before but we might have to book one to try out those food! They look absolutely delicious.
I went on a carnival cruise once, but I don’t recall the food being THAT good. Looks like the sunshine is the way to go!
Went on the Sunshine, it’s the best ship ever,best food and the best entertainment, going again on the Sunshine next year in October . I have been on 7 different Ships, hands down the Sunshine is the best ship i’ve been on
Oh my word, look at that Shake Spot milkshake!!! Oh my and that mac and cheese!! looks so good!
WOW! This is the best food I have ever seen on a cruise. We have 26 under our belts (literally). We are going on Celebrity Summit out of San Juan soon. As usual, can’t wait!
Amanda, Great photos you took! It’s looks beautiful there. You certainly have me interested in booking that cruise in the future. One thing I’d love to know….with all of the fabulous photos of food you post, how in the world do you stay slender??? Do you eat the whole item or just a couple nibbles? Love seeing all of your adventures~
Wow! The pictures look so delicious! I am going to book with them soon, just for the food! Although I can’t explain how much I loved those pristine beaches.
I LOVE to sleep in too, but my husband is also one of those early-riser weirdos!!
We enjoy a good cruise too, but being foodies tend to travel on ships that are known for their cuisine – I’m looking at you Disney – so it’s good to know there are new foodie cruise options out there now. We have loved cruising with Disney though. Makes you feel like a big kid again! :)
So excited to see this. We are booked on the Sunshine for February 2017.
You will have a blast. Mikey, the cruise director, is so much fun!! Also, our dinner host/waiter, Rotel, was awesome! Best cruise ever!
How fun! My parents will be on the Carnival Sunshine from New York to Canada this September. I need to share this with them. :-)