Shadowmeboy's NCL Sun 12-Night Christmas New Years Caribbean Cruise Adventure

[SeekingKillerWhales!]

On 6/10/2024 at 1:46 PM, schmoopie17 said:

We had briefly looked at the Sun for a future cruise. However, after reading the horrendous reviews on CC, we quickly squelched that idea. 

 

But following along with you, it's nice to see that the Sun isn't as bad as most of the previous reviewers make it out to be. Or maybe your fantastic photography makes it look better.

 

Maybe we'll give it a shot some day.

 

I've been on the Sun a couple times and loved the boat and the crew. It was a great experience. However, I tend to prefer cold weather sailing, so am not looking for things like water slides and pools, and don't have any kids to entertain.

 

With Alaska, there tends to be a lot of ports and not many sea days, so being entertained is not a high priority. I would love to see a Broadway show, but of course that needs a bigger boat. I also find the Sun affordable, since I travel with a group of singletons and we all want our own cabins. One of the main reasons we almost always select NCL is affordability, but we've also had a great time on every NCL cruise. We like trivia, and eating in the MDR, and fast service at bars. We don't like drunk crowds and screaming kids. So the ship works well for us. But I am also excited about the ropes course on the Getaway next year, so a bigger ship has some appeal.

 

My group is pretty easy going, and we have fairly simple lives so we don't need 4 star food, etc. I think you will have a blast on the Sun if you appreciate all you get for your dollar, don't need extensive entertainment for yourself and/or your kids, and understand that it is not top tier cruising, but still an excellent value. But if you like luxury (i.e. I don't think the Sun has a Thermal Suite, which a friend greatly enjoyed on the Gem), and better food options I would not pick the Sun. 

 

If you are new to cruising, and just want to relax and have a pleasant trip think about the Sun. If you have done a lot of cruising, or need a lot of activities, think about another ship. Either is okay, but I do think it will be easy to move up to the Getaway and it's activities, versus the opposite. But I would do the Sun again in a heartbeat, even though I am really excited to try the Getaway Studio Lounge on my next trip. I've been very lax in leaving reviews, and I will try to get better in the future, but the people who are unhappy are much more likely to leave a review. But if you are not high demand/need (and I am not saying that in a negative way - you may need more than a middle aged woman whose daily highlight is getting to sit on an oversized couch and read with glaciers swimming by) do consider the Sun. 

 

Whichever you select, you will have a great time (barring an emergency) if you have the mindset to do so! And read all of shadowmeboys' posts on whichever ship you select. The food porn alone will get you beyond ready to get on a ship and taste test! (And a lot of it is MDR which is great for those of us without the budget to do specialty dining all the time.) Have fun!

[purpleally]

11 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

After dinner, we headed down to the Theater for Linda Belt's Adult Comedy Show

 

 

Afterwards, we headed up to the Sports Bar to watch Lions vs Cowboys.

 

 

Mudslide!

 

 

Susan got Chips and Artichoke Dip

 

 

I got a burger.

 

It was a good game and we headed to bed after it was over!

Lions were ROBBED!

[shadowmeboy]

24 minutes ago, purpleally said:

Lions were ROBBED!

I had no rooting interest in the game. It was just something fun to do!

[shadowmeboy]

December 31st, 2023

 

Sea Day

 

Somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Starting the day off right!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fruit Salad

 

 

Egg & Avocado Wrap

 

 

Eggs to Order

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

After breakfast, it was our big splurge! We bought the paid behind the scenes tour

 

 

The theater was the first stop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve & Cindy were on the tour as well! It was also Cindy's Birthday!

[shadowmeboy]

 

After the theater, it was time to head to the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

We got our picture taken in Chef's hats in the kitchen. Not sure why that photo missed getting in here. I will scan it later and and add it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 17 by shadowmeboy

[shadowmeboy]

 

We went to the supply rooms next!

 

 

meat cutting room

 

 

meat cooler

 

 

 

Ice cream freezer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found the green bananas!

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pallets waiting to be offloaded in Baltimore.

[drumming cruisers]

Loving your review. Thinking of going to AK on the Sun, haven't been on a smaller ship in long time. 

[shadowmeboy]

9 hours ago, drumming cruisers said:

Loving your review. Thinking of going to AK on the Sun, haven't been on a smaller ship in long time. 

 

Do it. I really love the Sun for Alaska. I prefer it for Alaska over the Caribbean.

[shadowmeboy]

Note about the review: I ran out of time. I was trying hard to get this finished before we went to Hawaii, but I failed. I will finish the day I was in the middle of (due to internet issues) and the remaining days as soon as possible after our return from Honolulu. I might share a picture or two from Hawaii as well!

 

I am almost finished editing photos from the Pacific Coastal Cruise, so once I am done with this review I will shortly roll into that one. I will be editing my Hawaii pictures while doing that one, then roll into the Hawaii review. A lot to look forward too!

 

Thank you for sticking with me. 

 

Matthew

[SeekingKillerWhales!]

1 hour ago, shadowmeboy said:

Note about the review: I ran out of time. I was trying hard to get this finished before we went to Hawaii, but I failed. I will finish the day I was in the middle of (due to internet issues) and the remaining days as soon as possible after our return from Honolulu. I might share a picture or two from Hawaii as well!

 

I am almost finished editing photos from the Pacific Coastal Cruise, so once I am done with this review I will shortly roll into that one. I will be editing my Hawaii pictures while doing that one, then roll into the Hawaii review. A lot to look forward too!

 

Thank you for sticking with me. 

 

Matthew

Have a blast in Hawaii! Looking forward to that review too. 

[purpleally]

I was thinking, you might not finish before your next cruise and I was right!
but, are you saying you have this to finish and then TWO cruises!?!?!?

[vacation44]

4 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

Note about the review: I ran out of time. I was trying hard to get this finished before we went to Hawaii, but I failed. I will finish the day I was in the middle of (due to internet issues) and the remaining days as soon as possible after our return from Honolulu. I might share a picture or two from Hawaii as well!

 

I am almost finished editing photos from the Pacific Coastal Cruise, so once I am done with this review I will shortly roll into that one. I will be editing my Hawaii pictures while doing that one, then roll into the Hawaii review. A lot to look forward too!

 

Thank you for sticking with me. 

 

Matthew

Wishing you both a wonderful time on the Pride of America.

[shadowmeboy]

2 hours ago, purpleally said:

I was thinking, you might not finish before your next cruise and I was right!
but, are you saying you have this to finish and then TWO cruises!?!?!?

Yes, once I am finished with this review, I will do the photo review from the Pacific Coastal we took in early April on the Bliss. Plus I am typing this as we are on our way to Seattle to fly to Honolulu! Taking pictures as we go for that photo review!

[shadowmeboy]

23 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

Wishing you both a wonderful time on the Pride of America.

thank you!

[SenatorsFan]

Enjoy Hawaii! I'll look forward to your next reviews!

[AKR2011]

Happy 50th State! I look forward to more of this journey, as well as your next, when you get back ❤️⚓️

[QuattroRomeo]

bunny ears??

 

and Bon Voyage!

[Silver Sweethearts]

Warmest Aloha, Kukana and Makaio and welcome to Hawaii.  Please enjoy!!