The next night it was off to Italy (well, technically we were on our way to Mexico, although dinner made us feel otherwise). For anything you want (so might I suggest ordering one of everything and sharing?) A steal. While JiJi’s is considered a premium dining option, the cost is only $15 per person. And delicious.Įach night we were able to experience one of the ship’s specialty dining options, including JiJi’s Asian Kitchen, where they started the night off right with these gorgeous sake sangria cocktails (and how’s that for dinner with a view?) Other highlights of this meal were the Hakka-style noodles and the wonton dessert (over a coconut-tapioca pudding that is high on my “to-recreate” list). Yes, there are four entire restaurants on the thing.

You are no longer limited to just the buffet or main dining room, but can now choose your own dining experience in one of their 4 specialty restaurants on board the ship. With the Carnival Sunshine’s “Funship 2.0” updates (a $155 million dollar-retrofit completed in 2013), they have taken their dining to an entirely new level. Not that I ever went on a cruise in the 80s, or ever for that matter, but still, you probably have the same picture in your head: big, generic buffets and fancy dining rooms with forced seating and mediocre American fare. At one point, around the 5th course of the Chef’s Table dinner, I had to remind myself that I was ON A FREAKING BOAT.Īll my presumptions about cruise dining must have come from the 80s. And most of all, with the food.Įvery night the food seemed to get better and better.

Seasickness-less aside, however, I was beyond impressed. Maybe I was assuming I’d be incapacitated by seasickness and confined to my cabin the entire 7 day trip, and so the fact that I wasn’t was pretty much a win in my book (thank you, Bonine). I’d never been on a cruise before, afterall. I’ll admit, when I got invited on a 7-day cruise aboard the Carnival Sunshine, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

Carnival sunrise dining room