Norwegian Sun Review

4.0 / 5.0
2,171 reviews

What happened to NCL?

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Norwegian Sun
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Just us 2 sisters
6-10 Cruises • Age 70s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Dec 2019
Cabin: Family Balcony

Our last experience cruising NCL was on the Jewel back in 2005. My expectations were to expect the same on the Sun...such as a beautiful ship, an updated comfortable room, a buffet that would knock your socks off, a casino I could afford to place a minimum bid and hearty soulful cocktails. This ship needs to be put to rest. It's all cut up; meaning to get to places you walk thru shops or lounges, no mainstream designated promenade. The outside windows (everywhere) dirty even though they may attempt to clean them. The sofa bed is horrible even as a sofa. To sleep on it, the room attendant throws a folded comforter on top so it's really not made up as a bed. The rooms are not so much "updated" as they claim. The Garden Café buffet consists of sloppy looking food in small metal containers that never seem to change what's in them. We ate every night in the dining room and 2 speciality restaurants-that aren't so special. Had the unlimited beverage package; stick with bottled beer at least you know what you're drinking. I had multiple cocktails and wondered if they where all virgins. Affordable casino, not..$10 min bid. I think someone heard people complain and the next day it was reduced to 5$. Shows you ask? I went to 2 and found them not so good. The Stardust theater again is a reminder that the ship needs an overhaul. People who tried to seat in the chairs on the main floor close to the stage could not get comfortable falling back into the seat. If you didn't have long legs or your height wasn't at least 6' you'll need to move back to the theater seating, but those seats looked like you'll need to be less than a ladies size 14. Our arrival back to Port Canaveral was the straw that broke the camels back per say. They docked at a different terminal and we had to load onto a bus with all the luggage to get back to our original terminal. They make no provisions for you if you're in a wheelchair. Good luck trying to get on a large bus with 5 stairs to board. While leaving the ship, we were directed down an elevator due to the wheelchair and moved to the exit door thru customs. No one asked if we had other luggage to pick up before we walked thru the exit doors. Once outside we were told we could not go back in and had to wait till the terminal was emptied. For 2 hours we stood outside, no benches and no customer service except for a couple of agents from the bus companies hired to move folks back to the original terminal. NCL staff where no where to be found nor come upon our request for assistance thru the security officer. We not only feel like we waisted a whole lot of money on this trip, but a whole lot of vacation time was not anything talking about.

Cabin Review

Family Balcony

Horrible sofa to sit on and extremely hard. As a bed for the 3rd or 4th person; expect no sleep. It doesn't pull out to become a bed. It just collapses down and the room attendant places a comforter down on top of it so it doesn't get made up as a normal bed would. I asked NCL upon making our reservation if our room had an inside door that open to 2nd room 6268 and never got a true answer as to wheather the ajoining room opened inside or outside thru the balconey. To clear that up to you - it's INSIDE only. So call guest services once you're onboard and ask them to have that door unlocked. On the up side, Great closet and draw space everywhere. Bring an extension cord if you need to plug anything in from the one bed end table you have. The other bed side does not have a table, but has a USB port thru the light fixture. Nice bathroom, small shower but the shower head and water pressure was delightful.

Port Reviews

Cozumel

Cozumel hasn't changed in years even with so many ship passengers there to support trade; sad but true. Shopping is not an easy pleasure, you're interupted with callers begging for a sale. NCL tenders to the downtown area. RC and Carinval have there own dock space and port market areas about 15 minutes south of the local district.

Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Nice and convient parking garage, easy to get to. But.....not so easy if you leave from one terminal and then return at another. Yes you get transportation included, but no provisions if you're disabled. Plan to have one other person from your party go retrieve your car then pick you up. Also, there will be no where to sit while your waiting.

Costa Maya

Walk outside toward the back of the port marketplace, rent a golfcart and it's easy to get around. Short drive down to the locals market and beach. Purchases are less expensive there and you can work out some good deals with the locals who appreicate you.

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