Please help me out here

[Littlegoo75]

Hi. I am wondering if anyone out there can help me. I don't really know too much about NCL. I was brousing and found a cruise with a really interesting sounding itinerary. It's on the NCL Sun out of Miami on OCt. 30th and goes to Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan, and Cozumel. I love exotic places and would love to go to Roatan, and I've already been to Belize, but would love to go again.

Has anyone been on this itinerary before, and if so, could you please tell me about it?

Also, what kind of fellow passengers would I be likely to encounter? The husband and I are in our late 20's, professionals with no kids. We really like active vacations and enjoy fine dining. We took a cruise a couple of years ago on the Carnival Pride and loved it - we loved the atmopsphere on Carnival, and are wondering if NCL is similar at all.

The freestyle dining sounds like something we would like - we like to do things on our own schedule, and really could care less about having the same waitstaff and same table-mates. I do not care if the waiter remembers what I like to drink or not - those things are not an issue with me. From what I have read, it seems like people either LOVE Freestyle or HATE it. Being that we are young and haven't been on many cruises, I am not set on the "being pampered, having the staff cater to my every need, having them refer to me by name" etc. that some people tend to prefer. I would like to be tended to, but not smothered by the staff. I can do things on my own. What I want out of a cruise is a nice, newer ship with a lot of choices, a good casino, good entertainment, good food, cool fellow passengers, a large gym etc. I tend to choose a cruise based on the places they sail to, and this itinerary seems very unique. I would love to hear from people out there who have sailed with NCL, and especially those who have experienced the Sun.

THANKS!

Holly B.

[Stevie17]

Holly --

 

My husband and I went on the Sun's Exotic Caribbean cruise in May of 2002, and we had the BEST time. We are very active and in our mid-30's, and this was a great itinerary for us. We are also scuba divers, so we dove in Roatan...truly an unbelievable experience. Roatan is still very "untouched" and it's beautiful. We did a cave tubing excursion in Belize with Reggie (you can read about him on all of these boards) and it was unbelievable. If you didn't do this on your last visit to Belize, I would highly recommend it. You hike through a vast jungle with an innertube for a mile or so, and then you drift down a river that runs through magnificent caves for another hour or so. Reggie actually provided a helmet light that you wear on your head so that you can see where you are going while in the caves! This excursion currently stands as my all-time favorite!!

 

We are also BIG fans of the Sun. We found the passenger mix to be perfect...all over the board, actually. The crew are friendly and happy, and the entertainment is top notch. We love Freestyle dining, and the options on the Sun are nearly endless. I'm sure others will comment on this.

 

I think you should give serious consideration to this cruise...the magnificent Sun and the truly unique itinerary make this cruise very special.

[AmyinVail]

We are early 30's, enjoy fine dining and fine cruises. If you like Carnival, you'll LOVE NCL. It's a much classier, broader cruiseline, in my opinion. We've decided that we are only going to cruise NCL for quite a while (until we're older and jump into Crystal, etc.). Freestyle is perfect for an active couple, they have great cabin selections (try to get an AB category, you won't regret the extra $) and terrific service. It's a great cruise line and sounds like a great itinerary. Have fun!!

[ute_fan]

I would recomend that you read the posts under the thread "NCL Sun Caribbean Cruise" started by Schasz. There are a lot of positive posts that would give you some good information. I loved the Sun in Alaska, and we visited many of the same ports on a January cruise on the Sea. My next cruise will probably be on the Sun again once she moved to New Orleans.

[Zeno]

Can't tell you about the Sun but I did love Freestyle cruising. I had done 3 "traditional' cruises previously and I think after experiencing Freestyle, I would have a hard time returning to a "traditional". We are hoping our next cruise will be on the Sun.

[Littlegoo75]

Thanks everyone!

Stevie, we did the cave tubing in Belize on our last visit there and we loved it! We really like doing the more active excursions as well. I am really leaning towards this itinerary, every port on there sounds great! I couldn't pick a better itinerary except for maybe a stop in Costa Rica and maybe throw in Key West and make it a 9 day cruise!

It sounds like NCL may be worth trying. I think my husband would definately dig the freestyle dining as he hates having to follow a schedule.

Can anyone tell me about the entertainment options? Are there comedians? We love stand up. The ones on Carnival were great! Also, how is the kid crowd control, I would be going off season, but can I expect many kids on the cruise? we would probably be on the October 30th sailing, and I would think that most schools are in session for the first week in November - too early for Thanskgiving vacation. Not to knock on kids or anything, but I would rather sail without them all over the place.

[newmexicoNita]

Ok, with school schedules all over the place and home schooling I think all cruises will have kids, but the first couple of weeks in November should be rather quiet. The kid control is better overall than on some lines; believe it or not our worst experience was last Nov on Celebrity. It was Thanksgiving week which made a difference. NCL has great entertainment, rated among most as about the best at sea. You may get one or two shows that would have been better never booked, but overall I think you will enjoy your cruise and freestyle is what keeps us coming back to NCL.

 

NMNita

[taszmom]

I absolutely love the Sun. Been on her twice and did this same Western itinerary. I would love to go on her again, waiting for them to give her a different itinerary out of Miami. Las Ramblas Tapas Bar is our favorite before dinner. Both times I was on saw different entertainment on this ship and it was the best on any cruise so far! For those who were on the same time might remember "The Chocolate Goddess"...she was fantastic. I wonder if they bring her back...does anyone out there know?

 

In Roatan I did the Carambola Mountain Eco Hike. Some friends did the Dolphin Encounter @ Anthony's and some went to Tabyana Beach. Roatan is very poverished and there is not much at the pier but a few vendors and cabs & buses waiting to take people places. Pick an excursion for this one.

 

I also did the Cave Tubing in Belize...AWESOME!

 

I've been to Grand Cayman several times. This last time I did the Bike Tour stopped at Hell and the Turtle Farm.

[Stevie17]

Tas--

 

I believe the Chocolate Goddess is deployed on a NCL ship currently in Alaska --- not sure which one.

 

She has a website that gives the details of where she will be performing, including in cruise ships.

[Guest nhrich]

According to the Chocolate Goddess's website, she's on the Spirit & Star until Aug. 28 (obviously not both the same night). The website is http://www.janelpowell.com. Anyone who gets a chance should see her show...fabulous!

 

Rich

[zimmerjulie]

Stevie17 first post could have been describing our Sun cruise last year. We had a great time. The Sun is an excellent:D . We loved Roatan and the incredibly beautiful beach we enjoyed at Fosters Resort (West Bay) www.fostersroatan.com

 

This was also our first time in Cozumel, and it is always an adventure to explore a brand new port!

 

NCL does a GREAT job with active itineraries, shore excursions, and entertainment. Since you mentioned comedians, I will tell you that our comedian aboard the Sun last year, Fred Klett, was the funniest human being I have ever heard. I laughed so hard that my stomach and face hurt. I know this is a VERY subjective thing, but he was hilarious.

 

I also really enjoyed the people around us on this cruise, passengers and crew. The atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly, overall. Many crewmembers had great senses of humor and were always smiling. It was an excellent cruise.

 

Kid's Crew was also very good, so I believe that (at least the smaller kids) will have lots to occupy them in port days and evenings. We sailed on a Spring Break week, and weren't bothered by an excess of unruly kids at all. Of course, this could be different any particular week:) .

[smudge's mom]

Cruised the Sun with this itinerary Jan 2002. The Sun is a beautiful ship - the itinerary was good. Sorry, but I can't remember what we did at each port, but I am betting it was all ship sponsored tours - guess they were good, or I'd remember.

 

I absolutely love Freestyle. This was our first experience with doing things "our way" and it makes it really hard when we are on a ship that has assigned seating and disembarking cattle call. You will love being able to stay in your cabin (or at least store your carryon luggage in your cabin) until your luggage tag color is called. What a treat Freestyle is.:D :D :D

[Globaliser]

What I want out of a cruise is a nice, newer ship with a lot of choices, a good casino, good entertainment, good food, cool fellow passengers, a large gym etc.

I do a week on the Sun every October/November for a specific reason and have nothing more to say about the topics that everyone has already touched on. The only thing that I would add - just so you don't end up disappointed, rather than to put you off - is that the gym (where I spend quite a lot of time) isn't what you'd call large. It's not small and it's perfectly adequate, but it doesn't have the open airy feel of gyms on some other ships that I've been on. The fitness instructors have always been great, though, which more than makes up in that department.