Reluctant return to NCL on Sun

[bosox2009]

where is the sun in drydock.?

[manmtnmike]

where is the sun in drydock.?

 

Sun has a 5 day sailing Jan 8 with nothing scheduled until Jan 25, so I assume dry dock is between those dates.

[sparks1093]

How does GSC compare with other cruiselines private islands??

 

 

Mike

 

That's sort of a trick question. GSC used to be the laughing stock of the private islands, but NCL is busy renovating it so it is currently a work in progress. We were there in 09 and again this year. They had added a couple of excursions (the hippo water slide, a boat tour of the Berry Islands and I believe kayaking), expanded the beach area, added loungers on the beach and hammocks and chairs up in the shade, added bar kiosks, added a massage booth. They do a pretty good barbecue lunch with a good selection (mind the kamikaze seagulls). I haven't had the chance to visit any of the other private islands yet but I did enjoy GSC.

[michigan tim]

We've loved the Sun! She's a little smaller than most of the ships in the NCL fleet, but one thing that is bigger is the cabins!

 

Isn't the Sun a sister ship to the Sky and POA?

[lauderdalebob]

to hear that the Sun is going to be drydocked before we take her next May in the Baltics. Really looking forward to our first cruise on NCL. Have sailed just about every other line but NCL, but have friends that love NCL and really looking forward to seeing the Baltic States!

[dexddd]

Isn't the Sun a sister ship to the Sky and POA?

Yes - Sun & Sky sister, no to PoA (Pride of America) unless you mean Pride of Aloha which was renamed to the Sky.

[Paz1]

My husband and I were on the 12/3-12/11 Eastern Caribbean and the ship was in great condition...I didn't see any worn carpets or anything broken and I didn't see a lot of rust, just a little on the outside when we were awaiting tender...I did however notice a frequent smell like sewer gas in the rear. Our stateroom was a balcony on the portside aft and it only smelled when we were stationary.

 

We really enjoyed the food in the main diningrooms, only did the buffet for breakfast once, and preferred the main diningroom. We tried the steakhouse one night and it was excellent, then signed up for the murder mystery dinner and were treated to the same food from the steakhouse that night too!

 

We never had any trouble getting seated for dinner, we either got there shortly after they opened, opted to share a table or waited about 45min to an hour to go, to give the first wave a chance to start clearing out...its not rocket science; either way we never had to wait more than a few minutes.

 

The entertainment was good but we only went to a couple shows. We liked the "Organized Staff Activities" like trivia and game shows and such.

 

All in all, I wouldn't let a super old ship that was on its way out determine your opinion...plus the SUN will be fresh out of Drydock so she'll be nice and fresh.

[Don Haynes]

Yes - Sun & Sky sister, no to PoA (Pride of America) unless you mean Pride of Aloha which was renamed to the Sky.

 

Actually the Sky was renamed Pride of Aloha, and then back to Sky... They aren't exact sisters, but close. I consider the Sky and Sun near sisters... LOL... I would include Costa Victoria as well as a near sister, even though she is a bit more different than the Sky and Sun...

[electricron]

(1) Costa Victoria (1996)

(2) Nowegian Sky (1998) = Pride of Aloha (2004) = Norwegian Sky (2008)

(3) Norwegian Sun (2001)

are all sisters, as these photos prove. I'll admit they aren't triplets, but they certainly are sisters.

 

P.S. (1) At one time, NCL held an option for another ship, identical to the Norwegian Sun, but let it expired without ordering.

 

P.S. (2) As originally planned, the Costa Olympia would have had an exterior and interior design identical to the Costa Victoria. Following the acquisition by Norwegian Cruise Line she was radically redesigned. Design changes included two decks of balcony cabins (opposed to no balcony cabins in the original plans), three additional restaurants, entirely altered decor and moving the bridge down by one deck to accommodate an observation lounge/spa complex on the topmost deck. Both the original and revised plans were the work of Tillberg Design. It was completed and christened as the Norwegian Sky in 1998.

[STARFISH*4]

Thanks for the input!

We booked on Tuesday and very excited about the new experiences that await!!:D

 

How does GSC compare with other cruiselines private islands??

 

Thanks again!!

 

Mike

 

two weeks next December on the SUN--just booked

 

GSC is under going renovations...to be completed in Nov 2011...we enjoyed our stay there earlier this month (unscheduled stop)...i think it really will be NICE when it is all finished...specially just for a BEACH DAY!!

[newmexicoNita]

Hi Norwegian loyalists,

 

I'm looking to book the post - dry dock Jan 25 4 day Bahamas cruise on the Sun, as a beginning of a B2B, the second leg on CCL Dream.

 

My first and only experience with NCL was had mixed reviews for me, a Bermuda cruise on the Majesty, Bermuda was great people and shows were as well...

But the ship:eek:, at the time it was already sold, and on its way out of the fleet.

 

Anyway, I haven't cruised with NCL after.

 

Help me out...Why should I try NCL again?

 

What's the difference between the Majesty and the Sun?

 

Thanks for the help!!

 

Mike

 

 

I am pretty much going to repeat what others have said I am sure, but to me, one of the best ships NCL has is the Sun. No, she isn't glitzy, but she is a wonderful ship, nothing like the Majesty and is 10 years old which makes her seasoned but not truely aged.

 

Some of the positives for us: the cabins are a little bigger than the Jewel class NCL ships, the food is great and unless they change Las Rambles going there for tapas late in the afternoon is one of our favorite treats. You can make a meal out of the tapas. Add to that a wonderful crew and a very nice casino.

 

The only drawbacks: 1-no Blue Lagoon, but you didn't have that before so what you haven't had you can't miss. Plus they might add Blue Lagoon when they go into dry dock.

2-the buffet is a nightmere. It is laid out really bad so make sure, when you decide to use it, you are not hitting peak times. Go as soon as it opens or just before closing.

 

Other than that I can't think of a negative thing to say about the Sun.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

Thanks for the input!

We booked on Tuesday and very excited about the new experiences that await!!:D

 

How does GSC compare with other cruiselines private islands??

 

Thanks again!!

 

Mike

 

That depends on how close they are to completing the renovation of GSC. GSC was the first private island any cruise line had, so it is older and was badly in need of some updating. I know some has been done, but how much I don't know.

 

Have a great cruise and be sure to report back. Just remember 1 thing, which I am sure you know, a 4 day cruise will not be the same as a 7 day or longer one.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

Isn't the Sun a sister ship to the Sky and POA?

 

Not the POA at all, but sorta to the Sky, but they are very different at the same time. The cabins on the Sun are larger for starters. Both ships were purchased from Costa, but at different levels of completion. If I remember right, and someone correct me if I am wrong, the Sky was closer to complete thus there couldn't be as many changes as NCL was able to complete on the Sun.

 

Nita

[tseliot]

Agree completely. Was on the Sun Dec 2010 and was very disappointed. Food was fair, except Le Bistro which was fabulous. Casino was great; super casino staff. However, so smokey I felt like I smoked a pack of cigarettes. Ports were skipped due to mechanical problem with Sun.

[newmexicoNita]

Agree completely. Was on the Sun Dec 2010 and was very disappointed. Food was fair, except Le Bistro which was fabulous. Casino was great; super casino staff. However, so smokey I felt like I smoked a pack of cigarettes. Ports were skipped due to mechanical problem with Sun.

 

but you forgot to add, the ports were skipped, but replaced. Stuff happens, too many seem to have trouble rolling with the punches. We have been on more than one cruise line where ports were skipped for various reasons or replaced (unually just skipped) it never interferred with the overall cruise. One cruise, the port we all had looked forward to was skipped because of weather. Most of us still loved our cruise.

 

Nita