Which ship and why - Sun vs. Star

After many RCI, Carnival and Princess cruises (40+) I have decided to try NCL to see what they are like. My choices are the Sun or Star in December with the same western ittinerary. I am leaning towards the Sun because it was just refirbished but like leaving out of Tampa with the Sunshine bridge.

We will be booking a balcony if that matters.

Any advice would bee greatly appreciated.

Thanks

In general I like the Sun better.

On the Sun I like the pool deck layout. I like the openness of the deck area since there is no waterslide like the Star. I also like the Great Outdoors Cafe area, my favorite place for lunch and some shade time. Dazzles location and size is very good on the Sun. Seemed like the evening activities were mostly in Dazzles in the evening and the room was big enough for everyone but small enough to be cozy. I had an inside stateroom on the Sun which was comfortable and the bathroom was a nice size. I did prefer the Sun's bathroom layout even tho the Star's was probably more square footage. I preferred the shower area on the Star tho.

On the Star I liked the stadium seating pool area with tables and loungers. Nice place to sit and people watch or read in the sun. The Star has 2 water slides which people enjoyed. I had a balcony room which was very nice and I enjoyed the extra space. The spa on the Star was very nice with a nice aft view. I cannot comment on Spinnakers since that has all changed since I sailed on the Star.

Since we all have different requirements it's hard to say what is important to your cruise experience so I hope this helps in your decision making. Both ships are very nice so you won't have a bad time on either one.

OP.. I know this is not what you wanted to read, but for us it would be a toss up. We love both the Star and the Sun. The Sun, IMHO, gives you a little bit of a more unique experience than the Star because the layout of the Sun is different from any other NCL ship. For us, if we were having to make the choice and all other things were equal, it would come down to which left from the port that would be cheaper for us to fly to or something like that. As far as the ships themselves, it would be a coin toss because we just enjoyed our time on each of them so equally.

There was another thread about 1-2 months ago that had a similar question if you do a search which might help you find more responses.

The Star also has the back pool area for the kids if that matters - go to the NCL site and look for the Star and it will show you those pictures of that area.

We ended up booking the Star because of a slightly better ittinerary and I like leaving out of Tampa with the bridge. The two ships seemed very similar and since I have never cruised NCL before I figured either ship would be fine.

Thanks for the input.

Hope you enjoy your cruise. We just got off the Sun and were very disappointed. It was no where as nice as the Pearl or Pride of America. If this was my first NCL cruise, it would also have been my last.

Star. Gotta have the spa pass.

We ended up booking the Star because of a slightly better ittinerary and I like leaving out of Tampa with the bridge. The two ships seemed very similar and since I have never cruised NCL before I figured either ship would be fine.

 

Thanks for the input.

I don't think you made a wrong choice. As I posted they are both great ships. With the Star you will get more of the same experience that you get on other NCL ships as far as the design of the ship, the same restaurants, etc. I am one of the few that seem to like the updates they did to the Star in her recent dry dock. For sure it made it more like the other NCL ships.

After many RCI, Carnival and Princess cruises (40+) I have decided to try NCL to see what they are like. My choices are the Sun or Star in December with the same western ittinerary. I am leaning towards the Sun because it was just refirbished but like leaving out of Tampa with the Sunshine bridge.

 

We will be booking a balcony if that matters.

 

Any advice would bee greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

So what date in Dec did you book the Star? We are also booked on the Star for Dec 25, Christmas/New Year cruise. We live in Tampa, and I couldn't agree more about the Skyway bridge. Sailing under it is almost an excursion in itself!! Great photo op, and it always looks like you will hit, LOL....but never do! Tampa is the easiest port we've ever cruised out of too...This will also be our first NCL cruise too. We LOVE Carnival, but thought we would give the NCL Star a try since we've been on the Carnival Ships out of Tampa several times. Hope you enjoy your Star vacation, I'm looking forwar to it and know we will love it!

After many RCI, Carnival and Princess cruises (40+) I have decided to try NCL to see what they are like. My choices are the Sun or Star in December with the same western ittinerary. I am leaning towards the Sun because it was just refirbished but like leaving out of Tampa with the Sunshine bridge.

 

We will be booking a balcony if that matters.

 

Any advice would bee greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Of course this is a subjective subject and I am only giving my opinion: there will be many others. I have been on both ships and prefer the Sun. Here is why, I love the size of the cabins and the balconies compared to most NCL ships including the Star and I love Las Rambles for tapas. No other ship I have been on does this quite as well. The casino on the Sun is also better if this is something that appeals to you and I have found the crew on the Sun to be almost as good as they get, not quite as good as the Spirit though. To me, the one advantage the Star might have: the buffet is a little better laid out. The Sun has one of the worst, yet, this would never be a consideration for us. We use the buffet when we are in a hurry, maybe for breakfast a few times each cruise and occassionally for lunch.

Nita

Hope you enjoy your cruise. We just got off the Sun and were very disappointed. It was no where as nice as the Pearl or Pride of America. If this was my first NCL cruise, it would also have been my last.

I guess this is why there are so many choices and why these subjects are so subjective. We love the Pearl because it is part of the Jewel glass and yes, they are very nice ships, but we actually like (or I do, Pat hasn't sailed the Sun yet) the Sun better overall. If you are thinking new is better, I do see why you would prefer the other two ships.

Nita

having been on the STAR 5 times --latest being last month and the SUN on a 2 week cruise and again in Dec --would have to pick the SUN for the Great Outdoors and Sports Bar but i think the MDRs are better on the STAR--really LOVE them both...

didnt mind some of the dry-dock changes from a year ago on the STAR but sure MISS the OLD BLUE LAGOON!!!

i think you will ENJOY either ship!!!

Just went through my prior posts for my SUN mini-review...would not sail on this ship if it were free...literally. You made the right choice IMO.

Star is my favorite...bar none...of any cruises I've taken...we had the Garden Villa and that had everything to do with it. I've found that NCL is either high end or low end...no real middle...either it feels very expensive or very cheap. Cruised on HAL in January...lovely experience and we only had a balcony cabin. Food was FANTASTIC on HAL. I would say for non-suite cruises, HAL is an amazing bargain.

Anyway, the STAR was great...loved it so much...the Sun mini-review (when I wrote the review, I planned on my next cruise to be NCL Courtyard Villa...next cruise ended up being Star in GV...I should have premonitions more often! :) ):

Background: 30 and 37 yrs old; travel 4-5 weeks per year; 14 cruises to date

2007 was a great travel year; a week at a villa in St. Barths, Caribbean Princess cruise with Mom, 10 days in Aruba, a few days in Barcelona along with the amazing Owner's suite on the Jewel for a week, ending with the NY's cruise on the Sun.

Let's just say that the year ended with a bang...or was that just loud dose of reality? While I wouldn't say we are cruise experts by any means, we do have some experience. We've been very fortunate to have occupied almost all categories-inside cabins to suites-and have sailed several lines. I had taken a Christmas cruise previously and recalled the amazing decorations throughout the ship so I was excited about this NY's cruise.

The positives: the category BB cabins were very adequate; the cost was affordable; the timing was great; an attractive itinerary;

The negatives: the entire cruise felt cheap; the decorations consisted of a few small fake trees; the 7 buffet food options offered; no alternative reservations for 48 hours...every day; the complete hawking of drinks during the NY's 'festivities'; barely acceptable service; the poor weather [NOT NCL's fault]; did I mention how everything felt amazingly cheap...the ship itself was OK, but the atmosphere felt so very Wal-Mart.

During our NCL experience in September, we were overwhelmingly happy with just about EVERYTHING that NCL did. One of the best cruises ever! Although we were in an Owner's Suite, EVERYTHING felt pretty first class...very Nordstrom. Two weeks after returning home from that cruise we booked the NY's cruise. Realizing that cruises can be hit or miss, this was, by far, my least favorite cruise to date. Yes, I can say that it was probably still better than being at home, but I certainly wish we had been somewhere else...hmmm...home might have been better.

The ziplining in Honduras was great fun! Cozumel and Great Stirrup Key were cancelled (BUT we received a $13 credit for that) and replaced with Nassau---which was actually pretty good because we got to dock, thus ending the days of sailing in 12-15 foot waves with half of the ship in lobbies and poolside wrapped in blankets and seasick. The sickness bags dispersed throughout the ship did make for a nice atmosphere though. Again...can't blame NCL for this...but NOTHING was done for those poor souls. It was SOOO boring...no pools open.

The NY's celebration consisted of a sheet being hung by the pool deck with the New York celebration being shown on it. No food...one 1/2 glass of cheap champagne...very, very tacky.

OK, this all sounds so negative, I know. This isn't I'll never sail NCL again review...I just won't sail on this class of ship again. I did buy an NCL cruise credit. We're planning a Courtyard Villa for next fall. Bizarre how different a line can 'feel' from one ship to another. I am sure that I will again grow fond of NCL after that cruise, but for now, I've bad taste in my mouth. I hope that others have far fonder memories and am confident that with better weather it would probably be a lot more fun.

After many RCI, Carnival and Princess cruises (40+) I have decided to try NCL to see what they are like. My choices are the Sun or Star in December with the same western ittinerary. I am leaning towards the Sun because it was just refirbished but like leaving out of Tampa with the Sunshine bridge.

 

We will be booking a balcony if that matters.

 

Any advice would bee greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Been on the Sun last Oct. it is OK but a somewhat generic ship. It does not compare to the newer RCL or Princess ships. We enjoyed the anytime dining which NCL does very well IMO. Entertainment was hit and miss I thought some acts were very good others really were terrible IMO. Buffet on the Sun is a chaotic mess avoid at all costs way too small. Balcony cabin was adequate for our needs.

Overall if you are used to the Voyager/Vision Rcl ships or any Princess ship I would be disappointed but you may not be. I would rate the Sun as about equal overall to any Carnival Fantasy class ship in size, activities etc.

Been on the Sun last Oct. it is OK but a somewhat generic ship. It does not compare to the newer RCL or Princess ships. We enjoyed the anytime dining which NCL does very well IMO. Entertainment was hit and miss I thought some acts were very good others really were terrible IMO. Buffet on the Sun is a chaotic mess avoid at all costs way too small. Balcony cabin was adequate for our needs.

 

Overall if you are used to the Voyager/Vision Rcl ships or any Princess ship I would be disappointed but you may not be. I would rate the Sun as about equal overall to any Carnival Fantasy class ship in size, activities etc.

again, why do people not mention their views are opinions only. You make it sound like it is a fact, people would like RCI or Princess better. My opinion, I have cruised all 3 lines and my least favorite is RCI so it is strictly opinion. As for comparing Princess and NCL, again, it is what you prefer. We have enjoyed Princess but it is not at the top of our list by anymeans. We find the ships a little stuffy though they are pretty.

Nita

again, why do people not mention their views are opinions only. You make it sound like it is a fact, people would like RCI or Princess better. My opinion, I have cruised all 3 lines and my least favorite is RCI so it is strictly opinion. As for comparing Princess and NCL, again, it is what you prefer. We have enjoyed Princess but it is not at the top of our list by anymeans. We find the ships a little stuffy though they are pretty.

 

Nita

Everyones posts on this thread concerning ship comparisons are their own opinions and I don't know how these types of comparison posts could be taken any other way or as a fact.

For heavens sake I said I would be disappointed after sailing Princess or newer RCL ships "BUT YOU MIGHT NOT BE". It is an opinion from my perspective but that is my opinion only, as is any other post on this thread. The Sun IMO is a bit generic and dated compared to other ships but others may disagree, hence the varied opinions on this thread.

No need to be so defensive everyones opinions vary

Everyones posts on this thread concerning ship comparisons are their own opinions and I don't know how these types of comparison posts could be taken any other way or as a fact.

For heavens sake I said I would be disappointed after sailing Princess or newer RCL ships "BUT YOU MIGHT NOT BE". It is an opinion from my perspective but that is my opinion only, as is any other post on this thread. The Sun IMO is a bit generic and dated compared to other ships but others may disagree, hence the varied opinions on this thread.

 

No need to be so defensive everyones opinions vary

and I apologize, I misread your response, you did say you would be disappointed but other may not be. I missed that part. As for comparing the Fantasy class ships to the Sun, now, I would have to say, to me, that is almost funny. Again, my opinion only, but you would have had to have a horrible experience on the Sun to catagorize her anywhere near the Fantasy class ships. I just think, for some reason you had a really bad experience. I know, what line one likes does not always suit someone else, that is why I try hard to make sure when someone wants advise on a cruise or cruise line to ask questions, but there is no comparison between the Fantasy class and the Sun. They are similar is size, I agree, but the age alone makes them very different.

Nita

and I apologize, I misread your response, you did say you would be disappointed but other may not be. I missed that part. As for comparing the Fantasy class ships to the Sun, now, I would have to say, to me, that is almost funny. Again, my opinion only, but you would have had to have a horrible experience on the Sun to catagorize her anywhere near the Fantasy class ships. I just think, for some reason you had a really bad experience. I know, what line one likes does not always suit someone else, that is why I try hard to make sure when someone wants advise on a cruise or cruise line to ask questions, but there is no comparison between the Fantasy class and the Sun. They are similar is size, I agree, but the age alone makes them very different.

 

Nita

Don't sweat it ,no big deal. As for a bad experience on the Sun that is not the case at all in fact I am sailing on her again in April on a TA 15 night cruise. The itinerary and the price was fantastic. I still maintain the ship is somewhat generic with no bells and whistles the newer RCL ships provide and the terrible buffet setup is what it is. I did state in my first post that I do like the anytime dining and also some of the entertainment was very good so we will be just fine with the Sun. As far as comparing Fantasy class with the Sun I am afraid we disagree a bit. Sun does not have a waterpark, mini golf, network TV, much smaller cabins and some other things CCL has. But the Sun does have specialty dining options, better suite perks and an outdoor covered jogging track which CCL does not have on the Fantasy class so to me it is about a wash overall.

Recently I am experimenting with various cruiseline to get out of the rut so to speak. We are milestone on CCL (25+ cruises), Silver on RCL, and this will be our 2nd NCL cruise. Personally I rate RCL superior overall for the mass market lines but have never had a bad cruise on any of the 35 cruises we have taken.