new ncl Sun what makes it better?

[dreamcruiser525]

I have had 8 carnival and 3 RCI cruises and I am considering trying the NCL Sun for an eastern carribean.

 

What do they offer that the others dont' or whats the same? Robes, free room service, deck party?

 

I know nothing about NCL cruising the ship sure pretty from the outside!

[lambs2]

First and foremost, the NCL Sun will offer FREESTYLE CRUISING!! They will offer ALL YOU MENTIONED above! That means you will have a wide assortment and variety of dining options, for one thing. The two main dining rooms, the buffet, pool grill and Pacific Heights dining rooms, plus room service (a gratuity for room service is customary) are all free of extra charges. There is a $10-$30 fee for special dining in a number of additional dining venues (these were the prices when we sailed in April/May 2010): Il Adagio (specialty Italian dining room and considered by many to be the top dining venue in the entire NCL fleet! It was only a $10. surcharge on our spring transatlantic cruise!); Ginza Sushi Bar ($15. surcharge); La Bistro (French cuisine and $20. surcharge); Steakhouse ($25. surcharge and one of my personal favorites); and Teppanaki ($25. and Oriental dishes prepared by chefs in front of you as the entertainment!)

Plus there is Los Ramblas for tacos and tapas in the afternoon and evening. Free Ice Cream on deck 11 aft started at noon to 9:30 pm each day, too! The entertainment on the NCL Sun for our 15 day transatlantic was extrememly varied and good. There were lots of Trivia games each day plus a wide variety of other activities offered too. You will LOVE the SUN!!!:) Robes are available in balcony cabins and above, but we have nicely asked our steward when we have been in an inside cabin and robes "appeared" too! The same with coffee pots. They used to be in ALL the cabins - now balcony and above, but there are some spares so you may be able to get one of those too! Lots of storage in the Sun cabins too. Also, all the cabins on the Sun have a small fridge. We always ask our steward to clean out the "for fee" contents (or we put all the items on a top shelf and then return them to the fridge the night before we disembark) and then we have room for things we try to bring on board like soda or medicines. They also have these handy color-coded dials outside your room where you can turn the dial to "DO NOT DISTURB" or "SERVICE REQUESTED". I am sure I forgot things. Anyone else? I think you will really like the SUN if you like to do your own thing and relax while on vacation!!

[dreamcruiser525]

so you would definately recommend a minimum of a balcony for added perks?

[singinglizzie]

When exactly are you going? I ask because the Sun is scheduled for dry dock in January of next year, and they are going to replace all the bedding, carpets, paints, etc and spruce her up. We sailed the Sun about 5 or 6 years ago, and she was very lovely. We had hoped to sail her again in March, but decided instead to sail on the Star out of LA. In some ways NCL is similar to Carnival and RCL (I have sailed all 3) but we prefer NCL because we can eat whenever we want and dress however we want. If we want a more intimate dinning experience we can opt for one of the speciality restaurants, however the main restaurants are fine - even though you may read a lot of negative reviews. I think each ship has it's own personality, and the Sun is a very refined ship IMHO, for a smaller, older ship. Regarding robes, they are provided for balcony or higher category and free room service is provided for all cabins. Hopefully this was helpful!

[Sauer-kraut]

so you would definately recommend a minimum of a balcony for added perks?

 

Balcony and mini-suites do not offer any extra perks, other than a nice place to sit outside of your cabin. Our balcony cabin on the transatlantic last week did not have any robes, but we did have a coffee machine which we used to make hot chocolate most nights.

[debnjoe1438]

Balcony and mini-suites do not offer any extra perks, other than a nice place to sit outside of your cabin. Our balcony cabin on the transatlantic last week did not have any robes, but we did have a coffee machine which we used to make hot chocolate most nights.

 

 

I read on this board somewhere, that if you ask your steward for a rob, they'll get you one.

[dreamcruiser525]

The robes really are not that important although I do use them every time I have them. Hubby does not.

 

I care more about the service, food quality and selection, accomodations and activities.

 

I have always admired the ships from afar at port, they look really nice on the pool level.

 

We are thinking of cruising in march and we have been on the Carnival Dream and were not really impressed with the ship itself.

 

RCI is considerably more costly in my opinion. I just love their coffee, but the dinner selection are so few compared to Carnivals menu.

 

I don't do seafood, love my steak and pastas..

 

Is it true NCL has more of a mediteranian flare with pasta served more frequently? I also don't crave the Indian cuisine they have on the buffets on Carnival and RCI.

 

I do enjoy room service and being able to grab a bit to eat at 2am.

 

Do the NCL ships have the big screen outdoors? Do they even have a elegant night?

thanks for all the info I am really learning alot..

[electricron]

Is it true NCL has more of a mediteranian flare with pasta served more frequently? I also don't crave the Indian cuisine they have on the buffets on Carnival and RCI.

Do the NCL ships have the big screen outdoors? Do they even have a elegant night?

 

You'll find Indian cuisine on NCL ships too. The only NCL ship with a huge screen outdoors is the Epic. The Pearl and Gem have a huge screen indoors. The rest of NCL ships don't have huge screens at all, and that includes the Sun. Of course, with the Sun having a drydock in January, that could change by March, but I don't think it will.

 

What the Sun has in abundance are speciality restaurants, like all NCL ships. You will not find an ice skating rink, bowling lanes, climbing walls, cinema, ice bar, villas, nor swimming pool slides aboard her. But you will find fresh air, open spaces, full circle promenade deck, show theatre, atrium, kids crew area, casino, spa, gym, and a full variety of bar/lounges aboard. The standard inside, oceanview, balcony cabins, mini-suites, penthouse suites and owners suites can be found too.

Food is always a point of debate, some always dine in the buffet to save time, others would like to spend an entire evening in restaurants and never enter the buffet. The Sun provides plenty of choices, some are free and some come at a surcharge.

As for an elegant night, NCL has "dress up or not nights". Most do not dress up, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. You are free to dress up every night if you wish.

[STARFISH*4]

LOVE the FREE~STYLE and MY CHOICE!!!!

will be on the SUN in DEC cant wait...

hey MARG thanks for all that about the SUN...i am posting it on my RCs!!

[lambs2]

I even forgot to mention the Sports Bar where they have snacks! DH and I were always too stuffed for snacky foods (like hot wimgs. etc. so we never ate there) but they definitely ARE available on the Sun in the afternoon and evenings! :D

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

Don't forget the clinics! Margarita, Mojito and Wine...(those are the ones I know of) The Margarita is my Favorite! All for a fee, but worth it...

[dreamcruiser525]

what are clinics do they offer classes?

A rep from NCL called me this evening and we talked awhile he is supposed to call me back tomorrow evening to talk about booking.

 

My hubby is worried about trying a different cruise line when we are happy with the others. I love trying new things and am not hard to please.

 

Do they offer nightly dance shows or magicians and comedians?

[BarbRN]

what are clinics do they offer classes?

A rep from NCL called me this evening and we talked awhile he is supposed to call me back tomorrow evening to talk about booking.

 

My hubby is worried about trying a different cruise line when we are happy with the others. I love trying new things and am not hard to please.

 

Do they offer nightly dance shows or magicians and comedians?

 

 

He sounds like mine but we cancelled a reservation on another cruise line to use NCL. He LOVES NCL because he doesn't need to wear a tie or a tux. He will dress for dinner but not to that extent and we are free to do it however we want. A nice sweater or sports coat and you are in the dressy group this way and the women can still wear a dress or glitter if you want.

[STARFISH*4]

usually two shows a night are offered...early and late a variety of entertainment and some nights even an adult show...this being on the 3 different NCL ships i have been on...i am sure similar on the SUN.