Pearl or Sun??

[KARTI1955]

Trying to decide between booking the Sun or the Pearl in November 2010. Haven't been on either ship. Any feedback from those of you who have sailed either of these two? Thanks!! Karen

[bakerintn]

The Sun is a 2001 ship at 78,000 gross tons. The Pearl is a 2006 ship at 93,000 tons.

 

For a warm weather itinerary, I can recommend the Pearl. I have not sailed on the Sun, but I am sure you will hear from others.

 

I loved on the Pearl: No wasted space with a tall atrium. Full walk around promenade deck. The Great Outdoors dinning area. The Buffet layout and food. The Bliss lounge. The pool area. The general layout of the ship. The location and layout of the Blue Lagoon dinning area. The staff. The gym and the refrigerated towels.

 

I didn't like: the Bar Central concept and the mini-mall concept nor having to walk through a smokey casino to get to the main theater. The photographers.

[garycarla]

Trying to decide between booking the Sun or the Pearl in November 2010. Haven't been on either ship. Any feedback from those of you who have sailed either of these two? Thanks!! Karen

 

Where are they sailing at this time?

[KARTI1955]

Both are East/West Carribean. Not picky about itinerary having done them both on other ships. Just as long as it's warm!

 

Thanks Baker. How was the gym on the Pearl? Was the jogging track on an upper deck? Also, how was the rock climbing wall? Sorry so many questions :o.

 

Thanks, Karen

[bakerintn]

Both are East/West Carribean. Not picky about itinerary having done them both on other ships. Just as long as it's warm!

 

Thanks Baker. How was the gym on the Pearl? There was a good assortment of equipment...recent vintage and clean. A separate room was used for classes, yoga, etc. Was the jogging track on an upper deck? The jogging track is on an upper deck and is only partial distance. At the aft end, it is very narrow and goes around the baskeball / tennis court area. Of course, lots of people do not honor the "jogging only" signs and amble along, making the joggers go around them. The walking track is the full ship distance. Also, how was the rock climbing wall? I did not use it...it is just a standard climbing wall, but the ship's motion should add some more drama. Sorry so many questions :o.

 

Thanks, Karen

 

Have a great cruise.

[KARTI1955]

Thanks! Great info! Know what you mean about the "amblers" Lol! I much prefer the upper deck tracks vs. the deck 6 tracks. Nice to run under the stars.

[newmexicoNita]

Trying to decide between booking the Sun or the Pearl in November 2010. Haven't been on either ship. Any feedback from those of you who have sailed either of these two? Thanks!! Karen

 

We will be doing the Pearl in a few months and have done the Sun 3 times. It is probably my favorite NCL ship, followed by the Jewel. The positive about the Pearl, it is newer and has more activities. The Sun has an awesome crew. I would go with the one that has the best itinerary for you and the best price. I might feel differently when we finish our Pearl venture.

 

Nita

[IWORK2CRUISE]

We will be doing the Pearl in a few months and have done the Sun 3 times. It is probably my favorite NCL ship, followed by the Jewel. The positive about the Pearl, it is newer and has more activities. The Sun has an awesome crew. I would go with the one that has the best itinerary for you and the best price. I might feel differently when we finish our Pearl venture.

 

Nita

We have been once each on both, and loved them but for different reasons.

The crew on the Sun as previously stated was very friendly and accomodating. On the Pearl they were more unobtrusive.

Both had the Great Outdoors that we love.

Loved the sports bar and Las Ramblas on the Sun. The Observation lounge was terrific.

Loved the spa pass on the Pearl with the thermal loungers.

We liked the flow of the Garden Cafe on the Sun better than on the Pearl.

 

The Pearl is newer and has a few more bells & whitsles like the Bliss Lounge and bowling.

We are not big late night people so for us it didn't mke much difference.

 

Look at your preferred itinerary and price.

[newmexicoNita]

We have been once each on both, and loved them but for different reasons.

The crew on the Sun as previously stated was very friendly and accomodating. On the Pearl they were more unobtrusive.

Both had the Great Outdoors that we love.

Loved the sports bar and Las Ramblas on the Sun. The Observation lounge was terrific.

Loved the spa pass on the Pearl with the thermal loungers.

We liked the flow of the Garden Cafe on the Sun better than on the Pearl.

 

The Pearl is newer and has a few more bells & whitsles like the Bliss Lounge and bowling.

We are not big late night people so for us it didn't mke much difference.

 

Look at your preferred itinerary and price.

 

thanks for mentioning Las Rambles, that is my favorite place on the Sun or one to them.

 

Nita

[tuffy88]

We have been on the Sun 2 times and loved her over all. One thing about the Sun that could be improved is the beffet. The Pearl buffet stations were much better last October when we were on her. Does anyone know if the Sun has changed its buffet to stations from what used to be a caffertia line?

 

Charles

[newmexicoNita]

We have been on the Sun 2 times and loved her over all. One thing about the Sun that could be improved is the beffet. The Pearl buffet stations were much better last October when we were on her. Does anyone know if the Sun has changed its buffet to stations from what used to be a caffertia line?

 

Charles

 

Agree about the buffet, both arrangement and variety, but remember the ship was built before the food station idea came to being.

 

Nita

[bluesea777]

We have been on both Pearl and Sun - both for 14 days cruises (Southern 9 + Western 5 back to back on Pearl and 14 days South America).

 

If you are going on cruise with kids, then go on Pearl most definitely. Rock-climbing, bowling, better kids clubs (and better things to do for teens).

 

Sun - better dining rooms - Seven Seas and Four Seasons (our favourite) - fast service and food arrived hot - prolly due to close proximity to the kitchens - very pleasant staff. Because of this we did not use Speciality restaurants much!

Sun - larger B category cabins, and the balcony door opened outwards rather than slide. More desk and floor space.

Sun - better location of pullman bed.

Sun - Atrium that goes all the way from Deck 5 to 12. Glass elevators.

Sun - better decor throughout ship.

 

Pearl - better Speciality restaurants.

Pearl - better bedding.

Pearl - better bathrooms!! BUT Sun's toilet has more leg room!

Pearl - 3 sets of elevators/staircases - forward, mid and aft - as opposed to Sun's only 2 - forward and aft.

Pearl - better buffet (Garden Cafe)

 

Pool deck - both are good but Pearl has one pool with slide - okay if you have kids under 12. Sun has one with easy entry and exit steps (instead of ladder).

 

Bottom line, if you have kids, go on Pearl, otherwise, you decide!

[mafig]

I chose Pearl for October because Sun would not have had her drydock yet.

 

Also, AE on Sun is only a minisuite, so it's more expensive to get an entry-level suite on Sun.

[KARTI1955]

Wow! Thanks for all the info!! It is still a toss up for me. No kids but I am pretty active and on the other hand looking for as much R&R as I can get . Does anyone know if there are a lot of kids on the Pearl in early November? Also, is there an adult pool or quiet zone?

 

 

Karen

[rusticfurnituremaker]

Wow! Thanks for all the info!! It is still a toss up for me. No kids but I am pretty active and on the other hand looking for as much R&R as I can get . Does anyone know if there are a lot of kids on the Pearl in early November? Also, is there an adult pool or quiet zone?

 

 

Karen

I seriously doubt you will find children on a cruise in November (other than Thanksgiving holiday). The kids are in school and there are two scheduled vacations coming soon. I imagine the bulk of your fellow cruisers will be in the 50+ range.

 

Amy

[KARTI1955]

Thanks all, leaning toward the Pearl but will watch pricing and balcony availability.

[jdvmd]

Absolutely loved both ships. Went on the Sun last spring to South America and then on the Pearl, this past October. We also have a Baltic cruise booked for June, once again on the Sun. They are both wonderful ships and you can't go wrong with either choice.

[ParrothdJH]

Trying to decide between booking the Sun or the Pearl in November 2010. Haven't been on either ship. Any feedback from those of you who have sailed either of these two? Thanks!! Karen

Have sailed both,,Pearl much much nicer.

[Jamisonke]

Have sailed both,,Pearl much much nicer.

 

We also have sailed both (Pearl once and Sun twice). Our last sailing on the Sun was in November 2009, and we found the service, staff, activities, etc to be subpar. We had previously loved our cruise on the Sun, and we were surprised with the nature of things on our last sailing. Although we prefer the small ship atmosphere of the Sun, we have agreed that we will not sail her again.

 

The Pearl was lovely when we sailed to Alaska a couple years ago and we had no complaints.

[KARTI1955]

Thanks so much everyone! Looks like I will be choosing the Pearl.

[zdect]

I chose Pearl for October because Sun would not have had her drydock yet.

 

Also, AE on Sun is only a minisuite, so it's more expensive to get an entry-level suite on Sun.

 

SUN is not going into dry dock.

In Jan '10 we took PEARL for a week and then SUN from Chile to BA. Have been on SUN five times before and on PEARL once before.

 

SUN needs sprucing up. Pool deck on PEARL is so much better, as is the Garden Cafe.

[DMH15]

With the exception of the courtyard level, would take the Sun in aft AC over anything. The best!

[sunshine4u2]

Was on the Sun in 1/28/2007, was the 1st time we stay in a inside room OMG the room we had was nice. This is the only ship NCL has with an inside room this big. We went on the Spirit on 1/19/2006 to the southern caribbean and had a balcony room, it was nice but did not have the room of the inside room on the Sun.As for the Pearl I cant help you for we are just going on it on 3/13/2010. I will tell you this when we walk into our room I had to go across the hall to a balcony room to see who had more room and thats right we in our inside room on the Sun. So if your going with a inside and want the room the Sun is the way to go, and the rest was great to love it and would go on the Sun again. Hope this helpas a little.

[STARFISH*4]

sailing on the SUN in december and hope to sail the PEARL to alaska in 2011.