Norwegian Sun- One piece of advice - what would it be?

[ignorance]

Thanks again everyone. I have found your answers very helpful. Thank you Clay for your advice on a number of things, it is really appreciated. We are hoping to enjoy the speciality restaurants and a drink ot two each night and know they will incur additional costs. I think I am probably worried about trying something out and then discovering it was not included in the cruise price on the last day if you know what I mean.

You have to sign off on those expenses that aren't included in the price and you'll get a receipt. Keep your stack of receipts and you can compare them against your final bill.

 

If you sign up for shore excursions, you get a ticket stating the price. If you buy booze, your card gets swiped and you get a receipt with the price. If you buy babysitting in kids club, you swipe your card and get a receipt with the price. Same for the spa, specialty restaurants, pictures, onboard stores.

[Clay Clayton]

You have to sign off on those expenses that aren't included in the price and you'll get a receipt. Keep your stack of receipts and you can compare them against your final bill.

 

If you sign up for shore excursions, you get a ticket stating the price. If you buy booze, your card gets swiped and you get a receipt with the price. If you buy babysitting in kids club, you swipe your card and get a receipt with the price. Same for the spa, specialty restaurants, pictures, onboard stores.

 

Well that would take all the fun out of the Price is Right inspired "high-low" game hubby and I play on the last night when the bill shows up under the door.

[oldmiller]

Thanks again to everyone who has posted, we really appreciate all the tips and tricks so we can make our first cruise and honeymoon enjoyable.

 

If the ship is sold it is a bit late now for us to change anything as we are paid up for our cruise!

 

If anyone else has some advice for us about the sun that we can put in our preparation notebook please add them on! Thank you all so much:)

[BlueJai]

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. We just came back from the Sun last week and she is amazing! Smaller and less dazzle that the newer ships but she is in great shape and the staff is amazing.

 

I agree with others, the outdoor cafe is a jewel. For 2 weeks we ate out there for breakfast and it was wonderful. Never a problem with it being busy either. To make it easy, we would walk outside along deck 12 to the back of the ship so that we didn't have to go through the garden cafe. Much easier. It is also lovely in the evening - never busy and a beautiful quiet place to sit and have a drink, take pictures or have quiet time.

 

Also agree with others if you can upgrade to a balcony, you should do it.

 

Loved all the specialty restaurants as well as the MDR, the food was wonderful as was the service.

 

Order room service for coffee/tea if you like. The coffee pots in the room are pretty small so it was nice to have a larger pot delivered to the room.

 

Popcorn in the sports bar after 5:30. Great treat if you like the salt/crunchy snacks. Or cookies from the outdoor cafe after 9:30 for the late night sugar fix.

 

Out front of the observation lounge is awesome - especially if the sun is setting at the front of the ship. Amazing and there was never more than 4 or 5 people out there during sunset.

 

The staff and crew are so very friendly and willing to help with anything you need. Find a guy/gal in the pool area that will be your server, they will get to know what you want and will always be there if you need anything.

 

I hope you have a great time! We loved the ship (were on her back on 2004 and 2005) and will probably go back next year!:)

[oldmiller]

:) Thanks!

[oldmiller]

:):):)

[puddles99]

Two weeks to go! I'll be sure to report back if we discover anything new. :)

[oldmiller]

Thanks Puddles Really looking forward to hearing all about your cruise on the sun!!:)

[oldmiller]

Just bumping this up to page one in case anyone else has some gems of advice. We are rally looking forward to our honeymoon on the sun especially now we have some extra information from experienced cruisers. Thank you again to all who have posted and I'm advance to those who may yet have some nuggets of info for very inexperienced cruisers!

[NMLady]

I recommend the "Great Outdoor cafe" wonderful place at the back of the ship to sit outside while eating and enjoying the sites. Also the "Observation Lounge" at the front of the ship, again you can sit down and see where the ship is going while listening to some music. The sports bar is great for late nite food..

 

 

Those are the same recommendations I was going to give. I loved The Great Outdoors not only for alternative buffet but simply for just sitting out there any time of day.

 

The Observation Lounge at the front of the ship, the very top is a wonderful place to quietly enjoy the view. And there are doors there on either side that lead to a small outdoor viewing area, wonderful spot for getting photos coming into port.

 

We liked the Sports Bar not only for late night food [5:30pm-5:30am] but we also enjoyed the view any time of day from window table/seats at the huge floor to ceiling windows. I often took breakfast or lunch from the buffet to eat in the Sports Bar.

[oldmiller]

Thank you NMLady appreciate your advice. We are compiling a list of the advice given here and it is wonderful to have the insight of previous SUN cruisers. Thank you again

[fairext11]

DH and I just booked our first NCL cruise, on the Sun, Southern Caribbean, Jan 2013. Am sooo glad to have found this thread. Such great info. Am wondering about the MDR's. There are two of them. Either one better/nicer than the other? What would the differences be?

[mali06]

fairext11 . . . have you joined our roll call yet? Check us out!

 

Now for my question . . . I thought I put this on here but must have asked somewhere else . . . Does the Sun have robes in their balcony cabins like Carnival does? We had them on the Norway but that was a suite and I can't remember if we had them on the POA (I was still on chemo then so some things are hazy)!

[bostongal965]

mali06 - we've sailed on the Sun twice (Feb '11, Jan '12), and had robes (and coffee makers) in our balcony cabins. I love that ship!!:D

[mali06]

Thanks BostomGal! Glad to know that is one less thing to pack for 11 nights! Something I just read another thread that I thought would be of interest to everyone (have saiked NCL twice before and did not know this) . . . ask any attendant as you board the ship and they will direct you to a room where you can stow your carry ons until the cabins are ready! Why don't all cruise lines do this? I hate taking my things with me while we eat and have our first Miami Vice or Pina Colada!

[NMLady]

Thank you NMLady appreciate your advice. We are compiling a list of the advice given here and it is wonderful to have the insight of previous SUN cruisers. Thank you again

 

One more item -- someone mentioned an in cabin coffee pot. However, since you are not in a balcony (or category above that) you will not have any kind of coffee pot. NCL discontinued them in OV and Inside cabins.

If you ask your cabin steward, though, he MIGHT be able to find one in a storage closet. If so, be sure you give him a nice tip.

[NMLady]

DH and I just booked our first NCL cruise, on the Sun, Southern Caribbean, Jan 2013. Am sooo glad to have found this thread. Such great info. Am wondering about the MDR's. There are two of them. Either one better/nicer than the other? What would the differences be?

 

Seven Seas is supposedly a little dressier than Four Seasons, but in all honesty in 33 days aboard the Sun, eating in both MDR's I never noticed any difference.

 

If you check both menus each day you'll find a few differences, especially in the entrees, and can then decide which MDR to eat dinner in that evening.

[oldmiller]

little bump in case there are more gems of advice when travelling on the Sun - thank you!

:)

[FloridaGram]

You'll love it regardless. And realizing money is tight for all of us....however, as a honeymoon cruise, if you can spring for the extra bucks and get a balcony room, that would be my first thought. Having that private area for the two of you to sit out is nice. Otherwise, here's way too many pictures of the Sun from about a month ago That will give you an idea of the ship.

 

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff281/roganderson60/NCL%20Sun%20Jan%202012/?start=all

 

I loved your pictures, I did not think there were too many! Did you sail from Tampa?

 

Seeing the pictures made me perceive that the Sun seems more like like a Hampton Inn and the Disney Fantasy I just got off seems bit more like a Marriott. However I usually stay at Hampton and it is just fine for the price difference and I can see that the Sun would be great too.

[jlat]

We were on the Sun in April. Its a great ship and an awesome crew. I did find the cabins a bit small for 4 people (balcony with 2 kids) and the shower is definitely VERY small, but functional. One tip, is try to stay on your cabins floor as you go forward and aft. Some of the public spaces dead end (ie into the Casino or into a lounge). But after you get used to navigating it works out just fine. It is a very intimate ship, that does not seem crowded at all except at the buffet. Go aft to the Great Outdoors and you'll miss most of the crowd. Engage the crew whenever you can. They are great and love to chat. Jamie is an awesome cruise director, with a wicked sense of humor. You'll have fun no matter what...hey its free style!

[oldmiller]

Managed to upgrade to a balcony so coffee pot here we come!!!

 

Any other pieces of advice out there!! Thank you

[triplett]

Only one piece of advice - that's hard for us Sun lovers to do.:D

 

In addition to everything everyone else has said, be sure to go to Las Ramblas one evening pre-dinner, get a number of tapas and a glass or Pitcher!) of Sangria and take them just outside to the upper level of the Great Outdoors and enjoy.

 

I agree..... This was my favorite way to start my evening/end my day.

[oldmiller]

A tiny little bump in case there are any more pieces of advice out there!! Quick question also regarding laundry - is it expensive on the sun and is it ok to bring a travel hair dryer on board?? Plus what type if electrical outlets are in balcony statesrooms? Thanks in advance

[wwwfla]

One thing? The people. Super staff. Chief Hassad, Safety Officer Mark (aka George), and the whole crew will make you feel safe and comfortable.

[DMH15]

Count me in! Love the Sunny Sun! Especially the ambience, food and service in Il adagio.