Just Back Today - 3 days on the Sun

[iamajulie]

Hi everyone

 

Thought I'd post while it was still fresh in my mind, but apologies if this doesn't make sense! having been up most of the night and then 4 hours waiting for flight home at Sydney airport so things are a little fuzzy....;)

 

We were on the 4-7 Nov, N533 Weekend Wonder, it was a first time cruising for me and my 3 girlfriends in our late 30's trying out a cruise if it was suitable for our families of small children. I posted a few weeks ago about being upgraded from 4 berth inside Riviera to 2 twin berth inside Upper Deck cabins and it worked out really well. Was very happy with room and facilities, though would have liked tea/coffee making facilities as I need caffeine circulating through my bod immediately upon wake-up but I coped ok considering. :o

 

We flew up to Syd (from Melb) the day before so the day of the cruise we casually wandered over to Darling Habour at around 3 pm for boarding and we were all sitting on a bar stool by 3.30pm with an illusions cocktail in hand. ;) Getting on was really quick and well organised, we got the group shot photo which turned out great. Ship did not depart until 8pm so we checked the boat out and then relaxed. Unfortunately we had the 8pm dinner sitting so during the sailway we were in the Restaurant, but we managed to see a lot out of the windows facing on the Opera House side.

 

The next 2 days we covered just about everything on the board. My opinions here. I have travelled extensively and have likened a cruise to a floating Club Med, very similar in a lot of things.

 

Food was fine was breakfast and lunch though a bit of a queue at lunch for the hot food, but as I stick with sandwiches and salad I was in/out pretty quick. The dinner sitting (Bordeaux, oh however you spell it!) I must admit was very average. I found we were rushed through the courses, finishing 6 courses in an hour, and the waiter constantly whisking away plates when you still had not finished we were not all that impressed. But with the cruise was fully booked and extremely busy we understand this was probably done to keep on top of things. I have not read on here about this happening before? Food was always fresh and plentiful.

 

Cabin was great, I slept like a log and boy do those inside rooms get dark, we slept in until 9am every morning I just wish my bedroom was always that dark. To compensate not having a window we put the cruise cam on the tv so it helped! Our cabin steward we met once and never saw him again but he cleaned the room fine and kept the ice bucket/water topped up so we had no complaints

 

We did not end up seeing a show as we had no time with each night busy, a PJ night, a Formal night and then Island night. The showroom and library did not agree with my motion sickness, I could not sit in there for more than 10 mins without feeling sick, though I found the rest of the boat fine, weird?! :confused:

 

We tried the jackpot bingo and got close a few times and tried out luck in the casino. Our main complaint in this area is the smoke you could cut the air with a knife it was awful. They really need to make the whole ship a smoke free one. People smoking in the lifts and corridors was an issue also, people would even stubb out their cigarettes into the carpet in hallways!

 

We found with the boat packed to the rafters with people it got crowded at times but during the day you could always find a quiet spot which was nice. Everyone was in a great mood and considering a few people chose to spend the entire 3 days drunk it was surprising that we did not see any trouble or problems. Security guards were all around the ship, does this happen on the longer cruises?

 

I checked out the kids club (was trying out this cruise for maybe a future trip for them) and I spoke to a few parents and the reviews were mixed. I do think my kids would be bored I'm afraid with what they saw and heard. Though some parents said with it being a 3 dayer that it was hard for the staff to get a program together, my 8 yo son who is too cool kids clubs would be difficult for him.

 

Anyway, overall we had a tremendous time and was impressed with a lot of things. The precision and organisation on the ship is brilliant, it's just the dining and smoke issues as I mentioned were our main gripes. I would go on a cruise again but I think with the husbands or the girlfriends again not the kids.

 

We came through the heads this morning at 6am this morning, docked at exactly 7pm so got some great pics of coming in. As we missed photo opportunities with sailaway I made sure I got some great pics of coming back, and OMG going under the Harbour Bridge is a bizarre feeling, I wonder how many metres it is between boat and bridge!

 

If anyone wants them I have pics of the Upper inside twin cabin if anyone wants to see. Just let me know. Other than that, I better go and unpack, blech.....:eek:

[Past it]

Welcome back,I read your report,I did say you are rushed through 1st dinner, thats why I'm trying second next time. The smoke is terrible near the casino.I hope it didn't put you off,you will have to try a longer one

[lias]

Thanks for the report. It is great to read your thoughts and experiences.

 

The best news is that you enjoyed yourself and I can all but guarantee you that if you book a longer cruise you will find it a lot more organised and enjoyable.

I don't have young children but I am almost sure that on the longer cruises they are very well catered for. Maybe some of the mums and dads with young children can answer that one.

 

Ah the inside cabin. Apart from dressing, you should not need to do any more than all the "S's" in your cabin.... Shower, shave, shampoo, sleep, and sex. I left off the "use the toilet" S option :p

The inside cabin does have the disadvantage of no natural light. It comes down to cost and at worst using an alarm clock!

 

Strange about the evening meals being average. I hope that is due to the shortness of the cruise, but then again, that should not be an excuse.

I totally pig out at dinner. I usually have two desserts and now and then a caesar salad on the side and I always finished with a cheese platter. I have never had a waiter try to rush me.

 

Does the Sun only have buffet breakfasts and lunches? On the Sky you had the option of either a buffet on deck or al la carte in the restaurants.

[lias]

I did say you are rushed through 1st dinner, thats why I'm trying second next time.

 

I always go to first sitting and I have never found that they have rushed me.

These shorter cruise may be different.

[aussiedisneyfan]

They must change the meal options around. When we went on the Sky in 02 it was buffet/a la carte breakfast, then last year it was buffet only. Now I beleive it is back to both. The sun is both at the moment.

[kaseyoz]

full restaurant service is available both at breakfast and lunch. You can also order room servie for breakfast or as well as!! full service afternoon tea is also served. we never tried the restaurants service so cannot comment but it was there.

we had first seating 5.45pm (there are 4 seating times plus kids meal)and never felt rushed although the service was top notch.

 

it may be busier on shorter cruises due to a lack of children maybe, so more in the dining room, Or maybe they want you out so you can continue spending your money in the bars!!!

[Past it]

We were in the Bordaux restaurant,1st sitting the waiter would take all the courses at once,then they just kept coming,I am a fast eater too. He brought the next course and put it in front of the one I was eating off. I have never experienced this in a restaurant.You hardly had time to converse with anyone. You really got the feeling you were in a fast food place.I had to ask for coffee and several times was told too late. as they were busy taking the tablecloths off and getting ready for the next sitting. The meals were very basic,like what you get in a sports club or similar.I had built up an image of fine dinning that was really shot down in flames. I am giving it another shot next May,this time I won't be so built up with expectations.I am doing the same though with my other cruise on Royal Caribbean so I hope I am not disapointed again everyone talks about the fine dinning, leisurely meals and lovely conversation with their tablemates I have yet to experience this.I loved all the rest of the cruise though.The buffet was ok,didn't like the plastic cups. Will take own next time. I'm sure everone goes through this, we live and learn and the next one will get better and better

[aussiedisneyfan]

Wow, that is a shame it was like that. I have never felt that way on my cruises.

[lias]

Wow, that is a shame it was like that. I have never felt that way on my cruises.

No, me either. As I may have said in a post somewhere in the past, we went on the Sky only a few weeks ago, and the meals and service were just great. No one rushed us ever.

 

Is this only a "Sun" thing? I remember someone else rubbishing the food and service on the Sun in the past. Surely the staff are similarly trained for all ships.

[aussiedisneyfan]

The staff actually swap around the ships. At least the entertainment crew. Not sure about the hospitality crew.

[chaz cruiser]

We went on the Sun in Sept and I didn't feel rushed through dinner. In fact I have never felt rushed through dinner. We have never had a waiter place food in front of us without first removing the previous course. And I think if we ever did I would be asking them not to. Remember you can talk to them and tell them if they do something you are unhappy with and if you feel really strong about it you can always speak to the head waiter or Maitre D.

 

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we are always on time for dinner and usually don't take too long to order. When my brother comes he orders something from every course and even then we never feel rushed! Or maybe it is that we usually get along well with our waiters and by the end of the cruise they know what we like and usually do it. In fact our first waiter ever is now one of the head waiters on the Sun and always remember us. He appears genuinely excited to see us wanting to know who out of our usual group is travelling each time (we have up to 12 in our family who are regular travellers in different combinations!).

 

I am sorry that some don't get to experience the same high quality service that I have received but I guess that's what happens when you add a human element to anything. Just remember there is a right way and a wrong way to address problems. The way I have heard some people speak to restaurant staff is embarrassing. They may not speak perfect english but they can grasp the basics such as tone of voice!! If you ever have a problem with a waiter or any other member of crew understanding you, yelling is not going to help. Get someone else and have them help you to explain the problem.

 

Cheers,

Chaz:)

[chaz cruiser]

Hi Julie,

 

Glad to hear you had a great time and it appears that you too have caught the cruising bug!! I agree with the comments above about the kids having better programs on longer cruises. I also think it would help having more kids on board. My nephews have always enjoyed kids club, in fact we often had to tell them they couldn't go there because it was closed and they had to stay with us!! I am sure you would get a different crowd on the 3 night cruises, not that that is a bad thing just that I am sure the atmosphere is different on longer cruises.

 

In relation to your question about security. Yes there is usually a fairly large security contingent on board and you definitely notice them of a night time but I think that is their intention. People are less likely to do anything silly if they know they will get caught. I have known of people being locked in the brig on a couple of our previous cruises for silly things they have done while drunk!!

 

Once again welcome back and I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise.

 

Cheers,

Chaz:)

[Kazza1]

We went on the Sun in Sept and I didn't feel rushed through dinner. In fact I have never felt rushed through dinner. We have never had a waiter place food in front of us without first removing the previous course. And I think if we ever did I would be asking them not to. Remember you can talk to them and tell them if they do something you are unhappy with and if you feel really strong about it you can always speak to the head waiter or Maitre D.

 

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we are always on time for dinner and usually don't take too long to order. When my brother comes he orders something from every course and even then we never feel rushed! Or maybe it is that we usually get along well with our waiters and by the end of the cruise they know what we like and usually do it. In fact our first waiter ever is now one of the head waiters on the Sun and always remember us. He appears genuinely excited to see us wanting to know who out of our usual group is travelling each time (we have up to 12 in our family who are regular travellers in different combinations!).

 

I am sorry that some don't get to experience the same high quality service that I have received but I guess that's what happens when you add a human element to anything. Just remember there is a right way and a wrong way to address problems. The way I have heard some people speak to restaurant staff is embarrassing. They may not speak perfect english but they can grasp the basics such as tone of voice!! If you ever have a problem with a waiter or any other member of crew understanding you, yelling is not going to help. Get someone else and have them help you to explain the problem.

 

Cheers,

Chaz:)

 

 

Here, Here...:)

You took the words right out of my mouth Chaz.

Our experience has been the same as yours.

 

Kazza

[Skyrules]

We noticed a distinct difference in the service in the dining rooms between Pacific Sky & Pacific Sun, but I don't think it's down to the staff - as there were a lot of familiar faces from Sky on Sun, including the head waiter, who remembered us from Sky and commented that he much prefered working on Sky.

 

I would say however that I noticed we were more rushed in first sitting dinner on Sky than in second (and late) sitting on Sun. However, on Sun it was almost the other extreme, we waited too long some nights for meals, and I think this was partially because on Sun there wasn't seperate food and wine waiters, which there was on Sky, and later sitting tended to have more 'drinkers' so the waiters were making regular trips to the bar for drinks instead of serving dinner.

 

 

 

No, me either. As I may have said in a post somewhere in the past, we went on the Sky only a few weeks ago, and the meals and service were just great. No one rushed us ever.

 

Is this only a "Sun" thing? I remember someone else rubbishing the food and service on the Sun in the past. Surely the staff are similarly trained for all ships.

[Kazza1]

However, on Sun it was almost the other extreme, we waited too long some nights for meals, and I think this was partially because on Sun there wasn't seperate food and wine waiters, which there was on Sky, and later sitting tended to have more 'drinkers' so the waiters were making regular trips to the bar for drinks instead of serving dinner.

 

We went on the cruise after yours (I think) and we had a drink waiter and a meals waiter.

 

Kazza

[DanFromSyd]

...

I have known of people being locked in the brig on a couple of our previous cruises for silly things they have done while drunk!!

...

Cheers,

Chaz:)

 

Really Chaz?

 

I thought that only happened in movies! I'll be a little more careful on my next cruise :-) not that i ever cause trouble, but still I wouldnt want to spend any time in the brig..

 

Dan

[Skyrules]

Must have just been something different about our cruise then? Or the table we were at. Which restaurant were you in?

 

 

 

 

 

We went on the cruise after yours (I think) and we had a drink waiter and a meals waiter.

 

Kazza

[Kazza1]

Dan

 

When I read the post from Chaz, I immediately thought of you, your brother and those evil twins you have.:p

 

Kazza

[DanFromSyd]

Thanks Kazza!!!

 

I assure you we were the ones being silly, but never causing any problems...

 

Dan

[Kazza1]

Must have just been something different about our cruise then? Or the table we were at. Which restaurant were you in?

 

We were in the Bordeaux room, first sitting.

Might be because of the table size. We were at a table for 10.

Have come to the fact that ALL cruises are different:).

 

Kazza:)

[Skyrules]

We were on a table for 4 in the Bordeaux. Maybe the smaller tables only have one waiter?

 

I think you're right though - all cruises are different!

 

I so wish it was March and we were preparing to sail on Pacific Star. We've promised ourselves we aren't going to do too much comparing on this cruise! We spent most of the last cruise comparing (not favourably) Pacific Sun to Pacific Sky. Of course it didn't help that it' had only been 6 months since we'd been on Sky and it was still fresh in our minds!

 

 

 

We were in the Bordeaux room, first sitting.

Might be because of the table size. We were at a table for 10.

Have come to the fact that ALL cruises are different:).

 

Kazza:)

[iamajulie]

Yikes, I logged on here to see 20 replies, thanks guys for the feedback. I hope I don't come across as a whinger, as I mentioned this 3 day trip was going to be a good test for cruising and most of our fellow passengers I found out were there for that also. Though a few were seasoned cruisers, one on her 26th cruise and she was staying on board for the 13 day cruise to Fiji. As a family we usually head to Bali or Thailand or Fiji each year, but with the recent problems in Bali again this was a good chance to try out cruising.

 

Apologies once again for my disoriented report, I'm suffering badly today with that dizzy feeling, as I mentioned I get bad motion sickness but having only popped 1 pill on the boat (only felt ill on last night, it got a little rough) I'm surprised with suffering more now, but since arriving home I feel like I'm still 175 nautical miles off Sydney :o though I don't have a Pina Colada with the little umbrella in my hand and lying back on a blue stripey deck chair :(

 

With the dining choices: Breakfast can be a choice of buffet or restaurant service. We did try the restaurant for breakfast and we found the service once again rushed, so we stuck with the buffet the other mornings. Lunch was buffet or you could pay for the steakhouse or pizzeria. Dinner was restaurant service, no buffet.

 

The other things I forgot to mention, I tried the Lotus Spa and had a seaweed massage, that was very lovely. It was very hard to get a booking and there were even wait lists for massages, once again in a 3 day cruise time was indeed against us.

 

On the 3 days out of Sydney we headed up the coast about level with Port Macquarie level but 200 nautical miles off the coast so could never see land or even another boat, was expecting to see cargo or fishing boats. Weather was foggy/drizzly in morning and then brilliant sun in the afternoon, many people get burnt to a crisp on the first day.

 

I didn't end up in any of the pools/spas, but they looked great, the kids were having a great time in the pool Sun arvo when it was rough, body surfing the waves.

 

Anyway, better get back to work again....

[cruiselover96]

Great post Julie. Enjoyed reading it and all the responses. We've been on the Sky twice, both times we had the first sitting and we were never rushed and often we would be one of the last tables to leave. Even when the staff were changing the other tables they never hassled us and we weren't eating, just chatting. We did have a fabulous waiter so maybe that made a difference.

We took two kids, 1 was 12 the other 15. They had a ball. The 12yo joined in the Teen group -she was going to be 13 in Dec. - which was no problem and still communicates with some of the people she met in 2002,

All the littlies and under 12s looked to be having a ball. So maybe being on a shorter cruise was a bit different. - I would have thourght the 3 days would be a good break for adults, not so much involving kids???? - brackets on computer aren't working -

Do take the kids next time, maybe do a 7 or 9 night cruise - which is what we first did - 9 nights - to see if hubby and kids would enjoy themselves and we found it to be the best family holiday we've had.

We're having our first solo cruise with no kids next march and can't wait to too what it feels like. - kids will then be 16 and 19, ahhhhhh. - trying the 2nd seating for dinner this time -

[cruiselover96]

Great post Julie. Enjoyed reading it and all the responses. We've been on the Sky twice, both times we had the first sitting and we were never rushed and often we would be one of the last tables to leave. Even when the staff were changing the other tables they never hassled us and we weren't eating, just chatting. We did have a fabulous waiter so maybe that made a difference.

We took two kids, 1 was 12 the other 15. They had a ball. The 12yo joined in the Teen group -she was going to be 13 in Dec. - which was no problem and still communicates with some of the people she met in 2002,

All the littlies and under 12s looked to be having a ball. So maybe being on a shorter cruise was a bit different. - I would have thourght the 3 days would be a good break for adults, not so much involving kids???? - brackets on computer aren't working -

Do take the kids next time, maybe do a 7 or 9 night cruise - which is what we first did - 9 nights - to see if hubby and kids would enjoy themselves and we found it to be the best family holiday we've had.

We're having our first solo cruise with no kids next march and can't wait to too what it feels like. - kids will then be 16 and 19, ahhhhhh. - trying the 2nd seating for dinner this time -

[cruiselover96]

Apologies for the second post, retched computer went slow and off.

Also Julie, was the massage expensive?