Mr & Mrs Happy

That's not a review for the Sun. We've got some confused folks on this forum. Or perhaps a lack of reading comprehension.

 

Here's my review for the SUN. Fair and balanced, and detailed, which seems to be rare on this forum:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2644432

 

Here is another, from a sailing around the same time as mine:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2642775

 

Questions? Feel free to ask.

The sail-a- way rate always seems to be sold out. Im the type that says something if I see someone being disrespectful to those working on the ship. I had to go that route on our last cruise. After reading and reading and reading, I'm going with Carnival. As stated before, I have no complaints in cruising with Carnival, yet. I just wanted to try something different.

I'm a planner, so that's why Im planning so early. Plus I like to pay for as much as I can prior to the cruise, so all I have to do is get on-board and have fun. This cruise will be interesting as it'll be a first with us doing the CHEERS program. Hopefully I wont be one of those drunks dancing on tables and stuff...LOL! j/k. I tend to know my limits

I wasn't trying to steer you away from Sun. It is what it is, and it serves it's purpose as a drinking vessel. You'll have fun.

 

BUT, if the rate on Carnival with cheers package included is in the same ballpark as Sun, you're definitely going to get a better value for your money by sticking with Carnival. If you are accustomed to cheers, you'll be very disappointed by what you find on Sun.

 

Although, if you're able to snag a last minute deal and get your cabin for less than $800 (taxes and port fees included) and are willing to drink cheaper booze, no bottled water and no specialty coffee, then I would go with Sun.

I did a mock booking of a 3 day cruise on Carnival with a balcony + cheers and it came out to $1303.76 total. If I wanted to pre-pay grats (which I always do); add $77.70 to the total. Ive had a balcony before and we just didnt utilize it like I thought. I'd go with just an interior, but DH likes natural light, so even with an ocean view + Cheers, the total came out to $1183.76.

We've never done cheers but I know it covers drinks up to $15, soda, and specialty coffees which DH loves, and water

• 500ml bottled water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages served in bars and lounges
  
• Large format (1 liter and 1.5-liter) bottles of water in the main dining rooms and specialty restaurants
  

I know with Cheers, we'd break even...LOL! I always say Im not going to go overboard with drinking but then I get on board and *sigh*. Thats not even including what I order to have in the cabin through the funshop. Gosh, I sound like a lush...Ha!

I’m born and raised in the south too... I love a good party but Carnival is so cheap comparatively when you look at Nola and Mobile... you get the redneck assery of a bunch of drunks having a good ole time.

 

I’ve had so many friends do a carnival cruise from mobile or Nola and come back saying never, NEVER again.

 

I think carnival is likely better outside those ports because people will travel to go out of Miami or Port Canaveral... mobile and Nola get people too cheap to fly that will drive in.

 

 

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I've cruised out of Nola, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. We always drive down the day before; except with Nola which is about a 5 hr drive, so we drove the day of cruise.

Where there some "drunks", yes but it wasnt nearly as bad compared to when I've gone to some of the clubs here. I've seen a few fights break out on my cruises but security handled things with the quickness. I guess Im trying to understand what the atmosphere is like on a Norwegian, if your friends wont do Carnival again. If it's lame or not very lively on Norwegian (maybe it differs from ship to ship??), then I know for certain that Norwegian isnt for us. We arent drunks but we love to drink, have fun, and interact with folks.

I just wanted to try something different, not because I'm disappointed about Carnival. Im not at that point, yet.

Still high I got $419/pp Oceanview.

3 Night Bahamas

Norwegian Sun

Departing from: Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida

Ports of Call:

• Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), Bahamas •
  
• Nassau, Bahamas
  

Sailing Dates:

• May 3, 10, 17, 31, 2019
  

Just with this bit of information that has been posted, I think I'll stick with Carnival; at least for now.

I’ve never sailed Sky but have done 7 cruises with NCL. To me, hands down better than Carnival.

 

At least with my friends, Carnival has the reputation of the redneck party cruise.

 

 

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Heeeey....I'm from the South *side eyes* you!!

The cruises Ive been on with Carnival, Redneck? No! Party cruise? Yes! Or if it was full of rednecks (which I hate that term), I was too busy living my best life to even notice *shrugs* We prefer a lively cruise and if NCL is not like that, then it's definitely not for us.

I know you have a lot of questions, but I will answer the most important one for you.

 

Go with Carnival. While the Sun was recently refurbished, it simply is not worth the prices you quoted. Gratuity on that ship is $19.99pp/pd, so add roughly $120 to your figures. There is free alcohol, but choices are very limited and certainly not comparable to Carnival's Cheers package. Plus the food is awful.

Ouch...I havent had any major complaints about Carnival. Just wanted to maybe try something different that didnt also cost and arm and a leg. Not sure if prices are a bit high because we'd be cruising in May.

Those prices on NCL look HIGH. I just got $279/PP balcony ($199/pp Oceanview) for the following. When are you planning to sail?

 

3 Night Bahamas

Norwegian Sun

Departing from: Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida

Ports of Call:

• Nassau, Bahamas •
  
• Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), Bahamas
  

Sailing Dates:

• August 17, 24, 31, 2018
  

May 2019. I forgot the dates...:')

All of my cruises have been with Carnival. We have an upcoming 4 day cruise ((but need to change to a 3 day cruise due to my classes) but I'm thinking about trying out Norwegian.

I came across 2 - 3 day cruises out of Port Canaveral on Norwegian Sun.

I've been to Nassau a few times already but Great Stirrup Cay would be a new port to visit.

Both ocean view; DH has to have natural light, includes unlimited drinks (are soda's, and specialty coffees included?) and 2 options if booking an ocean view; I would choose the picture package and $50 off a shore excursion at each port(s).

(1) Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau - Total: $1114.54

(2) Great Stirrup Cay and Sea day - Total: $1274.54

If I did a 3 day (ocean view) with Carnival; Princess Cay (never been) and Nassau. Total: $1257.26 which includes the Cheers package. No discount on shore excursion but there is a $50 on board credit.

We dont want to worry about anything other than relaxing, which is why we are going with CHEERS for the first time if we went with Carnival.

Ok here are my questions.

(1) Of the 3 choices, which seems the best option?

(2) Gratuity on Carnival comes to $77.70 total. Is gratuity included with the price for Norwegian? If not, what would be the price or estimation?

(3) Does Norwegian have a "party type vibe"? We're pretty laid back but love to have fun. Especially when it comes to dancing.

(4) What about internet? Pricing? Carnival offers the HUB app, does Norwegian offer something similar?

Any other information would be appreciated.

Updating with my results (YMMV).

I was able to connect but it did seem to take longer than I expected, even knowing that it would be slow. Also, when I switched from my phone (from using the Hub app) to my computer (to do school), it had several hiccups stating I was still connected. (Which I recall reading on here somewhere that it happened to someone else, too).

 

I was able to do the minimum I needed to do, but I did not look for library articles, which I'd usually do. I'm home now and happy to have my broadband back. But yes, for what is required for weekly discussions for Walden University is fine, even using the middle-level plan.

Oh heck, I thought I had responded to this. If I recall, internet was hit or miss when attempting to log into class. Like you, I was able to do the minimum to meet the requirement. We plan on cruising in May 2019 and I will need to decide to just take a week off or attempt to do just the minimum again until I have a good connection to log into class.

I would not like to see any of your reviews deleted, but understand if you need to do that to keep adding new ones.

 

as others have suggesed. Would love it if you could blog your cruise reviews and other vacations. Your and your family's adventures are so entertaining. So I would love to see a blog. That said, I have no idea how much time and effort goes into creating one and maintaining it.

 

Either way, will look forward to reading of your next vacation.:)

I agree with this. Maybe start a blog if you dont have one. I'd definitely follow you/subscribe.

Also, maybe delete the older reviews on here.

It's been a rough few months, so this vacation is so needed. My sis-n-law and her hubby are flying in from New Jersey to Ft Lauderdale the day before the cruise. This will be their first cruise. We're leaving next Friday just to not feel rushed by driving down the day before the cruise; it's a 9 hour drive (one way) for us.

So far:

• Cruise paid for
  
• Gratuities paid for
  
• Social plan paid for
  
• I bought $150 in cruise cash and we have a $50 on-board credit. Not sure about receiving refund of port taxes (?) since Grand Turk was cancelled.
  
• I bought ginger ale and diet coke (delivered to cabin)
  
• 2 - 4 pk of beer (delivered to cabin)
  
• 12 pack of water (delivered to cabin)
  
• Bringing on 2 bottles of wine
  

Is a deposit or funds required to be added when you check in, the day of cruise, at the terminal?

Am I forgetting anything else? :)

I bought this banner for our door...It's not too inappropriate is it?

We're on the Oct. 22nd cruise on the Conquest. I just read the email that we wont be visiting Grand Turk. I'd never been and was so looking forward to it. It is what it is. I've been through enough hurricanes to not be upset about it. I'll just take what I was going to spend in Grand Turk and apply it to drinks on board. Hopefully the ports affected by Irma and Maria can get back up and running. My husbands family is from Puerto Rico and has an aunt there as of now. I'm going on vacation whereas people are struggling to survive and depending on cruise ships to dock to help support the economy. Can I really be upset over an itinerary change? Nope!

Congratulations. Beautiful. I swear I didnt cry watching the video. Okay. Okay. I did :)

We're due to set sail in 47 days. Leaving Fort Lauderdale on the Conquest. Ports: Nassau, Grand Turk, Amber Cove and Half Moon Cay.

I live here in Florida (panhandle) and of course preparing for Irma. Now another tropical depression has formed; Jose. This is my first time (first time for everything right?) in dealing with a hurricane since I've started cruising. I know that's a chance you take when cruising during hurricane season.

I've never been to GT, AC and HMC but of course would understand if we aren't able to visit due to storm damage. At this point, do you just wait to see what happens the closer you get to your cruise? I'd take a $500 hit cancelling now. Does Carnival make it sea days in the event they're unable to dock at a port? Plus my sis'n'law and her hubby are flying in from New York to cruise with us, which would be their very first cruise.

Thank you! Hope you get some good info from it.

Loving your review. I've never been to Grand Turk or HMC, so Im always excited when I see pictures of both ports. Just hoping nothing happens that we miss either port when we cruise in Oct.

It's likely I will even keep cruising after I'm dead. My father loved to cruise and i bring his ashes on every cruise I go on. My children have promised to do the same for me. Not even death will keep me from cruising.

 

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I actually have my late husbands ashes in a locket that I used to wear but after awhile, the top seal somehow started to come lose and I stopped wearing it. My current husband understands or maybe not but doesnt say anything.

I will stop cruising when I die. And even then, I'll be cruising in the heavenly skies, surrounded by beautiful water, drinking a fruity drink. :-)

66 long days. But we're heading out a day early unless I can convince hubby to leave 2 days early just to get the vacation ball rolling...:D

My sis n law and her hubby will be cruising with us in Oct. Her hubby has never been on a jet ski and wanted to try one out. The only way I would get off the ship in Nassau (I've been there twice already) is if we did an excursion. We paid the deposit to do a pass at Breezes. I sent an email to the resort to ask about the jet skis, and received the response below. .

Dear Sylvia, thank you for your interest in Breezes Bahamas

We do not include jet skis and while it is offered on the Cable Beach, we do not recommend it because of safety issues. We look forward to your spending the day with us in October

Warmest

Zein

Are they saying Cable beach is a concern due to safety issues because of the water/surf or it's a dangerous area? Or are they saying it so you just stay on the grounds of the resort? This will be my first time going to Breezes.

Just a few things that stuck out, the one night we went to the dining room to eat dinner we noticed that the walls had splashed food or sauce on them. Normally this isn't a major issue but this was baked in and upon further look it was kind of all over and had been there awhile. It was something that could've been addressed long ago and would've not be baked in.

 

Another thing we noticed in our Ocean Suite the rim around the shower and tub area was complete rusted as if no one cared to simply touch this up with caulking at any point. General areas were never up kept and there was dishes lining hallways and tables around the ship even sometimes stuff was remaining over night. There was a plate of eaten pizza on one of the elevators for at least two days that never moved.

 

On the Lido deck at the buffet it was not hard finding tables that were technically available, but so many were dirty and still had old dishes that it made it difficult to actually be comfortable.

 

It just felt like the staff had given up.

I used to work cleaning hotel rooms and some folks seem to think that just because theyre on vacation, that it means they can just be nasty; unless theyre like that at home too. Why would someone eat a plate of pizza and just leave it in the elevator?

I try to clean up as much as possible, whether Im on a cruise ship, hotel or eating at a restaurant etc. That's just how I was raised. Do I have to do it when I'm out and about? No. But I know those that have to clean, appreciate the help, especially during busy times. Again as someone who has worked in the industry, I know how some folks can be because they have the mindset of "oh, it's the maids job" "it's the waiter or waitress job" or whomever to clean.

But if you have Facebook installed on your phone you could use the messenger feature that way correct? Or do you need the value wifi pack for that?

Yeah you can use the feature that way but it has to be enabled. At least thats how it works on my phone. I can sign out of messenger but still be on Facebook. On our last cruise, I used the social plan but I didnt realize that I was signed out of messenger (which I do intentionally at times) until we were out to sea. I could never get it to install or connect; I forget. I was able to use Facebook but not messenger. My husband had no problem using it on his phone while out to sea because he never signs out of messenger. Hope that wasnt too confusing :)

I've already purchased it and for our upcoming 6 day cruise, the total was $48.00 for me and the hubster phones. I got the social plan. On our last cruise, we used it mainly for Facebook. Just make sure you install messenger BEFORE you cruise. I didnt and I could not get it to install on my phone once I realized it wasnt installed.

I prepay for everything that I can before we cruise. I just bought $100 worth of cruise cash, we have an on board credit of $50 and I'll be adding another $100 in cruise cash on the 1st. We have yet to spend more than $250 on board cruise. I will also be buying cruise cash to go towards photos only. I need all other funds to be devoted to our liquor! I have a jar with loose change, 1's and 5's that I'll cash in to go towards our liquor fund as well. On our upcoming cruise, we will be cruising with my sis n law and her hubby, we may drink more than usual but not enough to warrant getting the cheers package, so I may need to up the budget a bit...LOL!! Geeze, I sound like all we'll be doing is drinking...LOL!

85 loooong days!

Hi CalifGirl67,

 

While I highly, highly doubt you had bed bugs. Stop defending yourself and your opinions, you are entitled to them, and can make your future cruise decisions based on them.

 

Since you like RCI, might I suggest Celebrity; many will say they tried it and it is "boring". LOL! Since you did try Carnival, perhaps try Princess, or be bold and, budget permitting, try Cunard. Do not get stuck with one cruise line, as many have. Some have ONLY cruised with Carnival, and have no basis for comparison.

 

There are more than two cruise lines in the world!

 

Best wishes on your future cruises. :)

I agree. I guess we'll try another cruise line after we've had a really bad experience , which we haven't yet since cruising with Carnival. We have an upcoming cruise in Oct and 2 booked for next year. The one thing I am doing is trying out different ships. My husband would definitely stop cruising if he was on a "boring" ship.