JW and Jerome's Sun-Sensational Norwegian Sun St. Patty's Day 2011 Cruise Review

[flowerpetal2166]

We are sailing on the Sun this weekend and are so excited! Your review was great - just what I wanted to read.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[cruiseguys2009]

Thank you all for your comments and I will respond tomorrow!

[cruiseguys2009]

Thanks for the fun review! My DH and I are thinking of an 11 day on Sun next year. I have never been on NCL, but excited to learn more!

 

 

The Eleven Day is going to be fun. We did the eleven day on the Dawn and what a great time. Just long enough. A 5 day is too short, 7 day is just not long enough, 9 days is a teaser, and 11 get you to the point that you say "Wow this was nice, now I had a great vacation and I am ready to go back and face the world!" and for me 14 days is too long to be away from reality. Have a blast on the SUN, maybe the entertainment will be faaaabulous by then.

[cruiseguys2009]

We are sailing on the Sun this weekend and are so excited! Your review was great - just what I wanted to read.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

 

Be sure to tell Shona you read about her on JW's review board! Have fun, and be careful of the Silver's! They bite!

[cruiseguys2009]

JW -- can you talk a little about the casino? Being a slots addict I am wondering about the variety of slot machines on the Sun. The Gem had a great variety but sure didn't pay out. :(

 

I also thought that (and I could be mistaken) that NCL changed their Player Card requirements. I found it hard to believe that you had to rack up so many points just to get $25.00 off your bill. Didn't it used to be that points accumulated a little slower but at the end of the cruise 1 point = $1? Maybe I am confused with HAL?

 

Thanks,

Tracy

 

You are right, TracyE on so many points. Casinos At Sea was taken over by Harrah's in 2009 and they have since changed the parameters of the reward program. I racked up enough points to earn my $25.00 On Board Credit. Yay! I am being facetious.

I also want to say the Casino is kind of small but that keeps it exciting. The cigarette smoke was just as if you were in Vegas. I did see alot of people winning, and I did okay, but in the end, lost everything I intended to lose. I did discover a Card Game that I had never played before, LET IT RIDE and it was my first ever and only attempt at a Table Game. What fun and the odds are towards both the player and the house, so anything can happen.

Also for you NCL Casino Slot junkies. Go to:

www.slotplaycoupons.com

and pay $25.00 and get an additional $25.00 in free slot play coupon. Both Jerome and I bought the coupon for $25.00 each, and turned them in during the cruise for $50.00 in slot play. It works, takes the Casino Host about 10 minutes to activate, and gives you some free play! You can cash it out if you win, and the balance stays on your card until you exhaust the free play.

When we were on the Dawn two years ago, my accumulated points gave us a $300 on board credit. On the Sun, my accumulated points were far more than the Dawn, but only gave me $25.00 on board credit. So yes, things have changed, but overall, the Casino operated more smoothly. We still received a Free Drinks Whille Gaming Card, that we attached to our Casino At Sea card ring. Never had a problem getting a drink...ever. Loved it! But the Free Drinks While Gaming Cards are reserved for Qualified Players and I do not know the guidelines on that.

There are a variety of machines from video to old fashioned, Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune, Red White and Blue, and lots of Classics like Wolf Run, Munsters and several banks of new interactive machines. Great fun and I was not bored with the selection.

Many, many people won thousands of dollars in jackpots throughout the week. As I said, I did okay, but my winnings went right back in in order to rack up points. If you win more than a $1,200.00 jackpot, the Machine locks up and the IRS Tax forms come out! Yuck! They paid out one night (the third night of the cruise) over $10,000.00 in slot winnings.

Have a blast in the Casino and enjoy!

JW

[cruiseguys2009]

Great review again JW. I agree with everything..except. We loved Rod Long the comedian..Doug and I were cracking up all show..did you see his "R" rated show as well?

 

 

We caught Rod Long at the first show, we were bored so we walked out, did not appreciate some of the humor, then he did a stint on deck on St Patricks Day by the pool that was lame, and if it weren't for Shona, he would have been dunked in the pool by the masses.

Thank you for chiming in on the review. Hey everyone, Nikki, her husband Doug, Jerome and I, all sailed together two years ago on the Norwegian Dawn. Nikki and Doug sailed the following week after our sailing on the Norwegian Sun, we were getting off and they got on! (Also we sailed on the Carnival Dream the week after they did last year!) Get it together girl! Let's finally do another sailing together!

Love ya both.

JW

[CTMHscrapper]

By far the most enjoyable cruise review I have read. We leave Saturday and cannot wait. Thanks for sharing!

[Coastalbreezes]

You are right, TracyE on so many points. Casinos At Sea was taken over by Harrah's in 2009 and they have since changed the parameters of the reward program. I racked up enough points to earn my $25.00 On Board Credit. Yay! I am being facetious.

 

I also want to say the Casino is kind of small but that keeps it exciting. The cigarette smoke was just as if you were in Vegas. I did see alot of people winning, and I did okay, but in the end, lost everything I intended to lose. I did discover a Card Game that I had never played before, LET IT RIDE and it was my first ever and only attempt at a Table Game. What fun and the odds are towards both the player and the house, so anything can happen.

 

Also for you NCL Casino Slot junkies. Go to:

 

www.slotplaycoupons.com

 

and pay $25.00 and get an additional $25.00 in free slot play coupon. Both Jerome and I bought the coupon for $25.00 each, and turned them in during the cruise for $50.00 in slot play. It works, takes the Casino Host about 10 minutes to activate, and gives you some free play! You can cash it out if you win, and the balance stays on your card until you exhaust the free play.

 

When we were on the Dawn two years ago, my accumulated points gave us a $300 on board credit. On the Sun, my accumulated points were far more than the Dawn, but only gave me $25.00 on board credit. So yes, things have changed, but overall, the Casino operated more smoothly. We still received a Free Drinks Whille Gaming Card, that we attached to our Casino At Sea card ring. Never had a problem getting a drink...ever. Loved it! But the Free Drinks While Gaming Cards are reserved for Qualified Players and I do not know the guidelines on that.

 

There are a variety of machines from video to old fashioned, Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune, Red White and Blue, and lots of Classics like Wolf Run, Munsters and several banks of new interactive machines. Great fun and I was not bored with the selection.

 

Many, many people won thousands of dollars in jackpots throughout the week. As I said, I did okay, but my winnings went right back in in order to rack up points. If you win more than a $1,200.00 jackpot, the Machine locks up and the IRS Tax forms come out! Yuck! They paid out one night (the third night of the cruise) over $10,000.00 in slot winnings.

 

Have a blast in the Casino and enjoy!

 

JW

 

Thanks a million for your response and coupon info. Years ago, I too racked up several hundred off my bill when I was on the Dawn so that is why I was so shocked at the end of my Gem cruise! Knowing I was going to do another cruise this year, I had them hold the points and will add them to my Sun points come October.

 

I know about the Uncle Sam part too, unfortunately haha. Hit a $2000 jackpot on the Westerdam and before I could even get excited, the IRS forms were in my face!

 

Have you decided -- will you be on the 10/22 Sun with us? I hope so! Thanks again,

Tracy

[KittyCatRya]

I hear ya, I have only been on 7 day cruises so I am ready for a nice long one!!

 

So do you have pictures for us all to see?!?!

 

The Eleven Day is going to be fun. We did the eleven day on the Dawn and what a great time. Just long enough. A 5 day is too short, 7 day is just not long enough, 9 days is a teaser, and 11 get you to the point that you say "Wow this was nice, now I had a great vacation and I am ready to go back and face the world!" and for me 14 days is too long to be away from reality. Have a blast on the SUN, maybe the entertainment will be faaaabulous by then.

[cruiseguys2009]

I hear ya, I have only been on 7 day cruises so I am ready for a nice long one!!

 

So do you have pictures for us all to see?!?!

 

I have posted my pics on our facebook site, and I usually don't post pics on CC. I actually need some instruction as everytime I post a pic its way too small and I am envious of those that post those huge pics on their review....any tutoring will help.

You are in for a grand time on the Sun, and since it will not be sailing out of SILVER CENTRAL (Port Canaveral) on the 11 day, you will have a marvelous time without the pushing, demanding and complaining SILVER crowd who remove their gratuities on the last night. Looking forward to staying in touch and reading all about your escapades!

JW

[IDKaren]

Are there REALLY mostly only silver hairs sailing out of Port Canaveral? Oh my...my two daughters and spouses going along are not gonna love being on a silver love boat! There ARE some young people...right??

 

 

I have posted my pics on our facebook site, and I usually don't post pics on CC. I actually need some instruction as everytime I post a pic its way too small and I am envious of those that post those huge pics on their review....any tutoring will help.

You are in for a grand time on the Sun, and since it will not be sailing out of SILVER CENTRAL (Port Canaveral) on the 11 day, you will have a marvelous time without the pushing, demanding and complaining SILVER crowd who remove their gratuities on the last night. Looking forward to staying in touch and reading all about your escapades!

JW

[ncyankee]

I hope he will remove the headdress before dining!

 

Always a gentleman -- gives the fedora to the maitre'd

[cruiseguys2009]

Always a gentleman -- gives the fedora to the maitre'd

 

 

Funny and I hope you are now getting excited....fourteen days and a wake up until you cruise..

Please say hello to Shona Blair Yaws for us and tell her you saw the review on Cruise Critic.

 

 

JW

[cruiseguys2009]

Are there REALLY mostly only silver hairs sailing out of Port Canaveral? Oh my...my two daughters and spouses going along are not gonna love being on a silver love boat! There ARE some young people...right??

 

 

 

Yes there are younger people, however, Norwegian decidedly positioned the Sun out of Port Canaveral to fill a (at that time) financially beneficial niche market....the Silver Crowd. The thinking at NCL was that the senior development called THE VILLAGES is so close that NCL marketed heavily here for the past two years to fill this ship.

The Carnival Dream and smaller ship Sensation(A much younger booze cruise party crowd) and the Disney Dream and Magic (Families and no casinos with limited Adult venues) and one of the older non balcony "Mall" of the Seas ships from Royal Caribbean are all geared to a different crowd.

It made sense for NCL to try to capture the market, but with so many Silvers deliberately cancelling their gratuities to the staff, only because they are just Cheap and Stingy, NCL has rethought it's postiion and will not return to Port Canaveral with the Sun, season after next. We have been on all the ships sailing out of Port Canaveral and the Norwegian Sun is the Geriatric Barge.

But don't worry, the Silvers only eat and fight and claw and demand and are rude, and push and shove and God Help Me when I get that age and if I act like that, if I do, push me overboard.....but I digress, what was I saying, oh yes, they only eat at Feeding Time at 4:30PM in the Four Seasons Restaurant. (Mind you, the Four Seasons opens at 5PM but the line to get in first stretches every which way and the scrambling for position is a sight to see from one of the upper decks looking down on them)

If you go anywhere to eat else, you will be fine. The Silvers will not eat in the Seven Seas, too formal, they wear their pajamas to dinner. They will not eat in the Specialty Restaurants, too expensive and remember they are cheap, by the way, you can get a reservation at anytime for any of the restaurants because they don't go.

The Silvers will not buy the photos, so the photo Gallery is never crowded, they hate loud music, so Dazzles Disco is empty, they don't gamble (if they don't tip, they are not going to plunk twenty bucks in a slot machine!), the duty free shops are never busy on board, and the one draw back is getting off the ship in port. Every Silver seems be feel entitled to be the first one off the ship and consequently the exits are clogged with the beep-beep-beep of motorized contraptions, walkers and the like. Best advice, wait 45 minutes after the "All ashore" announcement and you will sail right off.

What they will do is fight you for a place in line to get Bingo Cards. Oy!

The Silvers go to bed by 9PM so they will have the ship to themselves.

Have fun!

[TXlakeres]

:pThanks for the great review! I will be on the Sun for my first cruise ever on April 9th. I've printed your review as a reminder of things I want to do and places I want to see.

Sounds like you guys are a blast ... wish you were going too! (P.S. I'm a former AA flight attendant....yes, I still love to do what I learned at the "charm farm")

[skbaw]

Wow! you are really harsh on the elderly. No doubt there are probably some like you described but that was not our experience.

 

Last week on the Sun was a mix of all ages, families, singles, couples. We interacted with people of all ages and enjoyed everyone we met.

 

We shared a table a couple of evenings with elderly couples, both times in the Seven Seas dining room and they were not wearing their pajamas! We had an enjoyable conversation with them. We later saw one of the couples at the White Hot Party and the other one coming back from an excursion.

[cruiseguys2009]

Wow! you are really harsh on the elderly. No doubt there are probably some like you described but that was not our experience.

 

Last week on the Sun was a mix of all ages, families, singles, couples. We interacted with people of all ages and enjoyed everyone we met.

 

We shared a table a couple of evenings with elderly couples, both times in the Seven Seas dining room and they were not wearing their pajamas! We had an enjoyable conversation with them. We later saw one of the couples at the White Hot Party and the other one coming back from an excursion.

 

I am not harsh on the "Elderly"

 

I am harsh on the "Silver" Segment of the Elderly who abuse the staff and cut off their gratuities because of their cheap and nasty attitudes which abound in this "Group". The "Senior'" Group is another group entirely.

One note, you also stated that you ate in the Seven Seas. That alone is the distinction with "Seniors" and "Silvers". Silvers do not eat in the Seven Seas, too formal and they can't wear their pajamas.

On our sailing alone, 40 percent of the guest's on board cut off their gratuities. 40 PERCENT A fact that only the "Silvers" do it because they can save a buck, as I was a witness to it.

[cruiseguys2009]

By far the most enjoyable cruise review I have read. We leave Saturday and cannot wait. Thanks for sharing!

 

 

One Day and a wake up! Yay, are you tinkeling yet?

[cruiseguys2009]

And Happy Sailing to everyone this morning!

[cruiseguys2009]

:pThanks for the great review! I will be on the Sun for my first cruise ever on April 9th. I've printed your review as a reminder of things I want to do and places I want to see.

 

Sounds like you guys are a blast ... wish you were going too! (P.S. I'm a former AA flight attendant....yes, I still love to do what I learned at the "charm farm")

 

Thank you so much for your comments. I hope that you are Tinkeling as you only have 6 days and a wake up to go until you sail. Have a blast!

JW

[cruiseguys2009]

Happy Saturday to those who are sailing on the Norwegian Sun today!

[Coastalbreezes]

JW -- did you decide yet if you'll be on the Sun with us Oct. 22nd? (hope so!!)

 

Tracy

[XxSunshineXx]

Loved, Loved, Loved your review!!!! :p

 

I have been giving alot of thought to sailing on the Sun, in October, for my "50th" birthday!! After reading your extremely entertaining review, I'm just about sold on it! Now, to convince the hubby ;) LOL. We love going out of PC, as it is very close to us, and much less chaotic then, Miami.

 

As I was reading this review, I quickly realized, I remembered reading your review of the Dawn, back a few years ago. We were getting ready to sail on her for our honeymoon, and you literally had me laughing, through the entire story of your cruise!! Soooo, thank you very much for your detailed reviews, but, mostly thank you for the many laughs, you have given me.

[cruiseguys2009]

Loved, Loved, Loved your review!!!! :p

 

I have been giving alot of thought to sailing on the Sun, in October, for my "50th" birthday!! After reading your extremely entertaining review, I'm just about sold on it! Now, to convince the hubby ;) LOL. We love going out of PC, as it is very close to us, and much less chaotic then, Miami.

 

As I was reading this review, I quickly realized, I remembered reading your review of the Dawn, back a few years ago. We were getting ready to sail on her for our honeymoon, and you literally had me laughing, through the entire story of your cruise!! Soooo, thank you very much for your detailed reviews, but, mostly thank you for the many laughs, you have given me.

 

 

Ahh yes, the Adventures of the Dawn Queen are well remembered! We had a blast with Shona Blair then and we had a blast on the Sun with her again.

I highly recommend the Sun, but I hope they have changed the entertainment for the better by October. We are scheduled to sail on her again the end of October, so we will see.

Thank you so much and have a wonderful day. Happy Cruising!

JW

[Clay Clayton]

JW you keep saying you are sailing the Sun in October but you don't have a countdown clock and you haven't joined our roll call.....you aren't just being a big ole tease are ya?:rolleyes: