Best of the Best... Worst of the Worst!!!

[JCF]

OK being a newbie to the whole cruise experience, I just love reading the posts from you people out there that I would consider experts at cruising. I’m looking for any suggestions, tips, ideas on cruising

I’m planning a cruise on the Sun to Alaska…… so I’m also looking for your opinions on the “best of the best”

Best time of year to go and why.

Best place to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner on ship

Best place for a drink

Best place to just hang out

Best place not too miss

Best Alaskan excursion

Best Alaskan port ….place to shop, eat, tour

Anything you would consider a must while on the Sun or on this cruise.

Teach me oh wise ones… help this newbie cruiser by offering any opinions or suggestions on cruising.

Thanks a bunch!!!:) :) :) :D

Jen

[Host CMLA]

You'll get a lot of great responses here about the Sun but for information about Alaska, please visit the ports of call board for Alaska. There you'll find tour information, tour operators, what not to miss, etc.

[Zeno]

OK being a newbie to the whole cruise experience, I just love reading the posts from you people out there that I would consider experts at cruising. I’m looking for any suggestions, tips, ideas on cruising

I’m planning a cruise on the Sun to Alaska…… so I’m also looking for your opinions on the “best of the best”

Best time of year to go and why.

Best place to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner on ship

Best place for a drink

Best place to just hang out

Best place not too miss

Best Alaskan excursion

Best Alaskan port ….place to shop, eat, tour

Anything you would consider a must while on the Sun or on this cruise.

Teach me oh wise ones… help this newbie cruiser by offering any opinions or suggestions on cruising.

Thanks a bunch!!!:) :) :) :D

Jen

 

Can't help with Alaska (have a great trip BTW) but I have been on the Sun twice

Best place for breakfast and lunch: dining room (I don't like buffets

Best Place for dinner: 1. Le bistro or Il Adaggio (Specialty Restaurants)

2. Dining room

Best Place for drinks and peaceful relaxing: Observation Lounge

Best Place for a pre-dinner drink and appetizers: Las Ramblas (Don't miss it. we regreted that we did not go there until our cruise was almost over. The appetizers are free and you don't need to buy a drink unless you want to.)

I think three things are a must: Las Ramblas for appetizers and The Observation Lounge (At night Twice as Nice (who are good) perform there. The atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable - nice after a long busy day.) And a dinner at one of the specialty restaurants.

[Cruise_More_Often]

JCF, I concur with everything Zeno said. We also liked the Windjammer Lounge for drinks after dinner and listening to the piano. We are again cruising on the Sun, this time to Alaska in May, and I wanted to share an excursion suggestion with you. We have had two people post on our roll call about the Tracy Arm Glacier Explorer. Just today I read another post on a roll call about it. ute_fan said:

 

Just happened to notice your thread. I'm not on your ship, but sure wish I was going back again. One suggestion on a shore excursion, if they're still offering it. We went on the Sun 2 years ago, a little different itinerary as it left out of Vancouver, but our favorite excursion was the catamaran trip to Tracy Arm/Sawyer glacier.

 

We left Juneau on a catamaran (probably 150-200 people) in advance of the Sun. On the way to Tracy Arm, we saw 4 or 5 whales and the catamaran stopped to let us see them. There was a naturalist on board, and she was giving us lots of good information about the whales as well as the scenery.

 

After getting to Tracy Arm, we were able to get up close to both glaciers (North and South Sawyer). The passengers on the ship were able to get within viewing distance of South Sawyer, but were iced out of North Sawyer. In front of South Sawyer, right by us on the catamaran, there were literally hundreds of seals. They come to the end of the fjord to mate and give birth as the whales don't normally journey that far up the fjord and they feel protected.

 

It wasn't a cheap excursion -- I think about $160 pp 2 years ago, but we felt it was worth every penny for the 4 of us

 

We have booked that excursion and are really excited about it..

 

Have fun on your cruise.

 

CMO

[newmexicoNita]

Here is my take, it is pretty much like Zenos

 

Best time of the year: for weather etc I would choose July or Aug. If price is a consideration: Very late May.

 

Best place to eat: Breakfast: I like the buffet; it is the same each day, but I love lox and they are always available. Also I have heard Pacific Heights makes awesome waffles. Lunch: great Outdoors: good hamburgers Dinner: Le Bistro is the place for us; all the specialy restaurants are great

 

Best place for a drink: has to be the Observation lounge. It's quiet, peaceful and has an awesome view of the world around you, especially when you are doing Alaska. Los Rambles is the place for tapas and a glass of wine. Actually you can make a meal out of the Tapas. Windjammer is fun as well.

 

Not to miss: of course the casino if you are a gambler. They have some fun slots, but I have heard they are all the older ones. They haven't replaced them at all. Surprise?

 

Exursion: our very favorite and it has nothing to do with the ship: Skagway has a small tour company, actually when we were there they had a van that would take you to town (you can walk) the van also does a tour that is probably the best or one of the best we have taken in 20 cruises. Everyone raves about the train ride, well this tour takes you far above where the train goes, clear into the Yukon Boarder and you get the entire history of skagway. We came across it by accident and I do not know the name of the company.

 

Best place to shop is probably Juneo (spelling) of course I don't know exactly what your itinerary is. If you are going to Victoria there is no place like the Gardens. That is a must. NMnita

[Michaelw5]

Does NCL charge to eat at Los Rambles? If so how much is it? Is it worth it?

 

We love eating tapas and having a couple of glasses of wine.

[newmexicoNita]

Does NCL charge to eat at Los Rambles? If so how much is it? Is it worth it?

 

We love eating tapas and having a couple of glasses of wine.

Michael, only the wine; the tapas are free and normally very good. NMnita

[Michaelw5]

Wow! This sounds like a great place to eat and meet!

[JCF]

Thanks for all the great info!:)

[electricron]

Best time of year to go and why.

As soon as you can in May, it may still be possible to book a dog sleigh excursion.....Later, forget it...

Best place to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner on ship

Which ship? I always try to eat, when I have the time, at one of the main restaurants. If you're in a balcony, don't forget room service for breakfast.

Best place for a drink

At any open bar. In Juneau, you got to go to the Red Dog Saloon for a drink.

Best place to just hang out

On your balcony!!!!!!

Best place not too miss

Again, in Juneau, take the tram up to the top of Mount Roberts........

The views of Juneau from way up there are great, if you arrive on a clear day.

Best Alaskan excursion

The White Pass & Yukon Railroad in Skagway. Hopefully you'll be there on Sunday when the take the steam engine out and use it to pull your train.

Best Alaskan port ….place to shop, eat, tour

Ketchican. There's plenty of shops right next to the piers. Take a totem pole excursion, fishing excursion, or whale watching excursion....