Sun?

[samtesla]

I'm thinking about going on a 10 day cruise in the southern caribbean on Sun Princess next spring. My qustion is, what are some things you enjoyed and disliked about the ship and the ports?

 

 

 

Sam

[Toto2Kansas]

There is nothing we really dislike about the Sun. We also have it booked again for the Southern Caribbean next March. The ports are fabulous and the ship is in great shape.

There is a big difference between the Sun Princess and the Grand Class though, not sure which ones you have sailed on before. It might help if you let us know which Princess ships you have been on, then we can do a bit of comparison as to what it does or doesn't offer compared to other ships in the line you might have been on. :)

[samtesla]

We sailed the Caribbean Princess in April 2005 (Eastern). The cruise we're looking at is the 10 day FLL to Isla Margarita, Barbados, Dominicia, etc. We were impressed by the CP and realize the SP is 10 years old, but the itinerary and timing are hard to pass. Plus we get to make another stop at St Thomas (10 more bottles of liquor :eek: plus a trip to DW's favorite jewelery spot)

 

More specifically, I'd like to know:

• how is entertainment in a 10 day? and on the Sun in particular? we liked most of the entertainment options on the CP
  
• dining options (DW is a seafood lover, and may suffer Caribe Cafe withdrawal)
  
• children activities (did not use any in CP, but for 10 days it may be worthwhile)
  
• Since this is during spring break, is it likely to be invaded by younger cruisers, or is the 10 days enough of a deterrent?
  

Not to mention MY favorite part of the trip, driving my turbocharged sports wagon from Indianapolis to FLL :D

[Toto2Kansas]

• how is entertainment in a 10 day? and on the Sun in particular? we liked most of the entertainment options on the CP
  
• The entertainment will most likely be on the same order, just not as many options on this smaller ship (smaller compared to the Caribbean Princess)
  
• dining options (DW is a seafood lover, and may suffer Caribe Cafe withdrawal)
  
• Well, there isn't anything like the Cafe Caribe onboard, sorry to say. I am with your wife, we dined every night on the CB at the Cafe Caribe, mainly because of all the seafood offered. Never ran into anything like that on any of the other Princess ships. The Sun has the Horizon Court buffet just like the CB, but no alternate buffet. There is Seafood served, mainly in the dining room though but it is not served as often.
  
• children activities (did not use any in CP, but for 10 days it may be worthwhile)
  
• Sorry, didn't travel with children on either ship so I can not comment on this one.
  
• Since this is during spring break, is it likely to be invaded by younger cruisers, or is the 10 days enough of a deterrent?
  
• During spring break you will more than likely have many children and teens onboard. Yes, the 10 day cruise will curb the numbers a little bit but it still should have more than it's share of younger ones
  

We have sailed on both the Caribbean and Sun Princess. You started out sailing on the newest ship in the fleet. Very hard to compare for you since you have seen the best they can offer. The Sun Class ships are a different breed when comparing to the larger mega ships on Princess. We love the Sun Class, but there are some that don't favor them as they are smaller, in comparison, and don't offer the same type of options that the larger ships do.

But I hope you enjoy the more intimate atmosphere on the Sun where you will run into people more than once during the cruise and possibly get to know a few of the staff moreso than you would on the mega ships.

One huge plus is that you won't have the long liines for tenders and boarding that we found on the CB. Far less passengers on the Sun so things went a lot smoother.

Enjoy your First cruise on a Sun Class ship.

[Druke I]

I for one think the Sun Princess is superior to any ship of the Grand class!

 

If it can't fit through the Panama Canal, it is too big!

 

Isn't it wonderful we have so many choices?

[Trlbnd1]

We're on the Sun for the itinerary, but we also wanted to try a smaller ship.

[m steve]

Both Toto and I sailed on the Sun earlier this year and it seems we are at opposite opinions. I felt 1. entertainment was poor. 2. food especially mbeef was below other ships, 3. staff not as well trained 4. dining room set up not nearly as refined as other cruise ships, 5. cabin and balcony smaller, 6. coffee terrible 7 casono small 8. no quiet bar. 9. poor selection of rums for a Caribbean cruise 10. cheap paper enclosed shampoos, 11.unresponsive desk personnel, 12.poor anouncement system, 13. no special DR. 14. constant fear of getting sick with reminders all over.

I did like fast embarkation, lower drink prices, and movie selections in room.

I felt that it was far below Celebrity in all these areas except comporable price for cruise.

I am sure Princess has better ships but I would not take Sun again.:mad:

[Trlbnd1]

Both Toto and I sailed on the Sun earlier this year and it seems we are at opposite opinions. I felt 1. entertainment was poor. 2. food especially mbeef was below other ships, 3. staff not as well trained 4. dining room set up not nearly as refined as other cruise ships, 5. cabin and balcony smaller, 6. coffee terrible 7 casono small 8. no quiet bar. 9. poor selection of rums for a Caribbean cruise 10. cheap paper enclosed shampoos, 11.unresponsive desk personnel, 12.poor anouncement system, 13. no special DR. 14. constant fear of getting sick with reminders all over.

I did like fast embarkation, lower drink prices, and movie selections in room.

I felt that it was far below Celebrity in all these areas except comporable price for cruise.

I am sure Princess has better ships but I would not take Sun again.:mad:

 

 

I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience on the Sun. I'll see for myself of the sub-par service, entertainment, and food that you speak of. I'm already aware smaller rooms, casino (smaller ship). I don't always have to drink coffee on board, yes the coffee isn't that great but I have had worst. Ever have coffee by grinding the beans with the butt of a musket rifle, wrapping the grounds in cloth and twine, boiling in a half washed pot that was used dinner before and still staining the grounds through your teeth? That was none too pleasant coffee.

[Aquarian]

We sailed on the Sun Princess to the Western Caribbean when it was new. It was my first cruise on a Princess ship and we've sailed on the Dawn, Grand, Golden and Caribbean since then, so you know it left a very good impression. It was a wonderful experience on a beautiful ship. I think you will enjoy the Sun, keeping in mind that some venues won't be available since it is a smaller ship. I also think you will love the southern itinerary.

[cruiserforlife]

Trlbnd1,

Don't get too caught up in what you read about the Sun or at least take everything with a grain of salt.

Reports leading up to our 1/28 sailing were pretty dismal with talk of norwalk virus running rampant throughout the ship,bad food,lousy service,etc.We started a letter writing campaign to Princess and I personally wrote 2 letters to the president,sent certified mail.Things started to get better in the final weeks leading up to the cruise but we all still had our doubts.

Well from the moment we stepped foot on the Sun,we had no worries and except for some rough seas,we couldn't have had a better cruise.There were no signs of the dreaded virus and the food and service were both outstanding.

Don't worry about your cruise.With so many positives regarding the Sun,you're certain to have a great time.

[LMCAT123]

We totally loved the Sun Princess. The ship is the perfect size, the crew/staff were all delightful, the food was ranged from good to very good and service was excellent. We were on the Sun in April and went to St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Grenada, Martinique, St. Thomas, Princess Cays. All ports were great -- of course, it helps to have the right attitude about ports as all are not created equal in the way of amenities for tourists. If you understand that you can have the time of your life anyplace :-) We had a mid-ship balcony cabin on the Aloha Deck and it was fine - ok, the cabin is not the largest in the world, but it worked !! The balcony was small, but it worked for our needs (2 chairs & table). All in all I have to give the Sun very high marks.

[phillipahain]

We were on the Sun 3rd May through to 23rd May and I would totally agree with M.Steve on all points especially the repetitive entertainment and the food selection/quality in the Buffet and that so many cabins simply do not work unless they are made up with twin beds only

 

The Norwalk problem was cleared up but will return again while the crazy double banked dishes design of buffet areas exists and people who fail to keep proper hygeine standards handle tongs and place them back on top of foods

 

One particular group of cruisers were the worst offenders on the hygeine front

 

We loved the Diamond Princess and the buffet on that is well designed and more extensive

 

Unless the Itineary is to die for we would avoid the Sun in future

[santamaria]

We were on the Sun last month, and these are my opinions and experiences: We had a full suite, aft, beautiful! Room and balcony were the very best, as was our room stewardess. All of the hotel personnel (rooms) were always very friendly and greeted us as we passed. Didn't get most of suite perks, but didn't care because we had picked this for balcony. The bad about the room: The smell in the bath drains is horrible!!!! Don't know if this is for all cabins, or just aft. Also, if it's rough seas, aft is definitely not for me. The childrens' program is great. My grandson loved it (he is 7, but all kids, only about 10 of them, were just grouped together and got very personal service) and it was very convenient for just drop-ins after you have registered the first day. I was not at all impressed with the food, just so-so, but that was OK too. What I really DIDN'T like and was NOT ok was the poor dining room service. Sloppy, inattentive, rude and arrogant. For instance: the one day we had very rough seas, the waitress at a table next to ours spent at least 5 minutes telling the guests that her room-mate was sick, throwing up, all day and could not get up to work. Not what I wanted to hear while eating my dinner! I just felt that the dining room personnel had the idea they were doing everyone a favor (except the one night we had a very pleasant Mexican waiter). The Horizon Court was OK for atmosphere but boring food. I like the size of the Sun and would definitely sail again regardless of the other problems (food and dining room are not my priorities).

[iancal]

We were on the SUn in Feb. Really liked the ship, and the ports. The ship was in great condition and our room steward was excellent. Food was just ok for the first five days (dining room) and better for the final 5 days but not spectacular. This is not by way of complaint, rather by way of comparison to other cruises. Entertainment (subjective) was mediocre. First floor show was good, the other 2 seemed to us to be fillers. Lounge singers seemed to think loud was better or that it would carry a poor voice-which it did not. Coffee was terrible so bring your own devices. Pizza/Italian was very good. Horizon buffet was better than average. Dining room service was mediocre but that was OK. Seemed to be a lot of fuss about the 'free' ice cream in the Horizon every afternnoon...don't really know why folks get so emotional about a free dish of ice cream. We would go on the SUn again. We were there to relax.

[m steve]

Maybe they should have used the musket and real beans on the ship. Other than logs about the Princess ships I have never seen so many complaints about coffee. I had better coffee on the Norway which was built about the same time as your musket.

It's one thing when you're camping and not paying $1800 per person on a cruise.

[amagar]

the coffee question is as subjective as the rest.

 

my mother turns up her nose to starbucks

 

and her maxwell house makes my lips curl. yuk.

 

to each his own.

[Trlbnd1]

Maybe they should have used the musket and real beans on the ship. Other than logs about the Princess ships I have never seen so many complaints about coffee. I had better coffee on the Norway which was built about the same time as your musket.

It's one thing when you're camping and not paying $1800 per person on a cruise.

 

LOL.