MOM & SUN TAKE NCL SUN Halloween Cruise 10/31/19

[Babygal77s]

Heyyyy My CC Peps! This is my 2ND review (so please bear with me 🙂)

 

Link to 1st review on Carnival Vista https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2522467-another-carnival-vista-review-2182018/

 

 

 (Copied  Intro)

So A little introduction, I'm Melvina (42) and my Hubby is Richard (45), we reside in the endless summer state of Florida, Fort Lauderdale to be exact. We have 4 children ( 11,19, 23,25) a glam daughter (5) and 1 year old grandson and a yorkie, Max (7).

 

We have only cruised with Carnival and always from the Port of Miami, even though Port of Everglades is much closer, It has just always worked out for us this way. We almost cruised out of Tampa and I say almost because we missed our cruise .. yes MISSED :mad:. We booked Paradise a couple years ago out of Tampa because my DH had received a casino deal that we couldn't pass up and it was only on select sailings, Tampa is about a 4 hour drive from us, so we decided to drive there on our sailing date, needless to say halfway through our trip, I remembered we didn't have our passports, birth certificates or any documents needed to board the cruise and no one at home who could have faxed or copied the info for us, so we turned around, grabbed our documents and tried to make it to Tampa. We did call Carnival to tell them we were running late, but was told if we didn't get there by 4 we couldn't board. We got there about 4:15, ship was still there but no porters and we still hadn't parked our vehicle. So long story short we missed our cruise and was refunded a portion of our money a few weeks later.... I'm going to change the subject now, because it makes me wanna cry just thinking about it.

 

[Babygal77s]

Side note: Y'all Loyal NCL folks Don't come for me.

These are my thoughts and 2 cents. In this quick review I may make some comparisons to Carnival as that is the only cruise line I have sailed.

 

My DH is cruising with cousins on Carnival Sensation same dates. His cruise had been booked months in advance but 10 days prior to his cruise I started getting cruise withdrawals, Cabin Fever, Cabinitis or something. I wasn't feeling well and needed a fix/medication aka browsed the good ole internet and scored a "sail away" GTY inside cabin for $99 on NCL Sun out of Port Canaveral. (3 --1st for me, I usually like to pick my own midship cabin because I hear they are the best if you're prone to seasickness, Never sailed out of port Canaveral and never on NCL.

 

About 5 days before the cruise I received an upgrade bid email for an Oceanview for $15pp. I called and was told I can keep the inside sail away with 1"freebie" for the same price. #nobrainier . They had 5 different NOT SO free freebies to choose from. I choose the free wifi(which was 100 free minutes of wifi) I paid an additional $44 to upgrade to the unlimited plan. The other freebies were Open Bar, $50 credit for shore excursions, Dining Package, 3 & 4th person sail for $99etc. I believe when I asked about the drink package it was an additional $80+ for me to have the alcohol and my 11 yr old son to have the soda package as you have to pay the gratuities. (I'm assuming this would be a great deal if I was a drinker or partying with friends or the hubs.

 

 

Edited November 3, 2019 by Babygal77s

[david_sobe]

The NCL folk are loaded for bear and waiting at the gates 🙈🙊🙊

 

Looking forward your review.  So sorry to hear about your previous cruise and missing the ship by 15 minutes 😖

[Babygal77s]

EMBARKATION DAY 

HALLOWEEN 10/31!!!!

 

The day started at 6am because of course I couldn't sleep and I had to finish packing. The Plan was to leave for Port Canaveral at 8:30am, stop for breakfast and be to the Port for our 12:30pm Check-In. 

We left more like 9:45am.

[Babygal77s]

The drive was uneventful no traffic and no rain. #winning.

We made a quick stop in Port St. Lucie to Wally world for a 12 pack of juice/soda and gum.

A rainbow to lead the way 🙂

Edited November 5, 2019 by Babygal77s

[C cruise]

following along

 

[Babygal77s]

2 hours ago, C cruise said:

following along

 

Welcome aboard. I’ll try and make it sweet & quick.

[Babygal77s]

We made it to the Port about 1pm passed our luggage to the Porters and Parked in the Parking Garage at the port. 

There was plenty of covered parking.

[Babygal77s]

We made our way to the building for check-in only to find out. NO SODAS.

 

That wasn’t enough to ruin my Vacay. It was totally my fault. I assumed and we all know what they say when you assume. 

 

Embarkation otherwise was a breeze. There was probably about 5 passengers in line ahead of us, we took our pictures, setup our onboard account and was given our cabin cards.

[Babygal77s]

We’re on a Cruise...Yaaaayyyyy Vacay has officially began!!!! Insert Happy Dance Emoji.

 

I was handed a paper to register the little one for Splash academy upon boarding the ship

IMG_8023.HEIC

 

 

1st comparison

NCL DON’T allow Passengers to carry-on beverages including water, soda or juices.

NCL DOES allow a bottle of wine but charge $15 corkage fee.

 

CCL DOES allow 12 pack of can/cartoon of juice or soda. They no longer allow bottled water.

CCL DOES allow each adult a bottle of wine with no corkage fee unless you bring the wine to the Main Dining Room..... That’s a Plus in the books for Carnival.

 

 

We were told our cabin will be ready at 1:30 and that we can head up to lunch so we did just that. 

 

Seven Seas Lunch and Dinner Menu:

IMG_8018 2.HEIC

 

IMG_8019.HEIC

 

IMG_8020.HEIC

 

IMG_8021.HEIC

 

 

Edited November 6, 2019 by Babygal77s

[FLAHAM]

NCL allows as many bottles of wine as you may wish to carry aboard, subject to the $15 corkage fee for each. 

[Babygal77s]

4 minutes ago, FLAHAM said:

NCL allows as many bottles of wine as you may wish to carry aboard, subject to the $15 corkage fee for each. 

That Sucks. But I guess to each it's own. It'd be worth it if you're bringing a nice bottle of wine but if you're going down the street to the Walgreens before boarding and getting a $20 bottle of wine to pay $15 to drink. It won't be worth it.

[Babygal77s]

We then headed up to Deck 11 to what the  buffet had to offer. Son opted for lunch in The buffet. I did like the Washy, Washy staff that was there to make sure you sanitized or washed your hands.  A plus for NCL.

I also like that they had the condiments and utensils at each table.

No Buffet Food Pics..Buffet food is just That Buffet food..Nothing to write home about.

 

 

 

[Babygal77s]

Tweety was either Bored and wanted in on the fun or was hungry & was hoping someone would leave him a crumb.

[Babygal77s]

After we satisfied our hunger we headed to the cabin, no luggage yet but cabin was ready.

 

Cabin 4306 AFT would be our home for the next 4 nights. The room was Comfy and the temperature was perfect. They didn’t get the memo for 2 twin beds but that’s ok. The room steward was in the hall and came to introduce himself. He gave great service throughout the cruise and always smiled and greeted us.

[Babygal77s]

[Babygal77s]

We headed back up to deck 11 for pics and then it was time for the Mandatory Muster Drill. We were at Muster Station N outside. I believe Deck 6 (at least we were on the shade side 🙂.

[Babygal77s]

A little after 4 the muster drill was over, luggage was delivered and DS was ready for the pool and I was ready for the “sail away party”.

[Babygal77s]

After PoolTime we went to get DS registered for Splash Academy. There wasn’t many kids on this sailing and there wasn’t any Halloween activities scheduled outside of a Scavenger Hunt which we (I) participated in and received a few pieces of candy at each clue. There was 1 area decorated. 

[Babygal77s]

Dinner tonight was at Seven Seas.

My dinner date was bad to the bones.

Edited November 6, 2019 by Babygal77s

[Babygal77s]

The Menu:

[Babygal77s]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The French Onion Soup was good.

 

 

 

Almost forgot to take a picture of my entree and the spinach dip we shared.

 

[Babygal77s]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The French Onion Soup was good.

 

 

 

Almost forgot to take a picture of my entree and the spinach dip we shared.

 

[jimbri]

Enjoying your review and photos.

[bam1957]

Enjoying your review.