I chose this cruise because it was going to Key West & Cozumel, 2 places I wanted to revisit and leaving out of Canaveral meant I did not have the additional drive to Miami. We are platinum with NCL so we know what to expect Ship: Small which is OK but it is laid out very poorly, you have to go thru too many places to get where you are going Cabin: we had a handicapped accessible room ( I use a wheelchair) Room layout was fine, Bathroom layout was fine. But there were a lot of issues, the toilet would not flush after about an hour of being in the room( it was fixed right away). The shower flooded all the way into the cabin ( they tried to fix it multiple times) it was never fixed. The air conditioner did not work, after they said they fixed it 3 times, until we waited in the room for the repair guy it was finally fixed , 3 days later. Dining: the food in the main dining rooms was good. The buffet is the worst I have seen on a ship. I know this was a smaller ship but the items in the buffet just mirrored on the other side. Poor selection, and some items were there for days. We tried the Sports bar for a change and that was awful. I ordered chicken tenders and my wife ordered a panini , the tenders were limp and rubbery, like someone microwaved a frozen piece of chicken, the panini was on a sub roll with a couple of grill marks on it and what was in it was inedible. We are not food snobs but this was bad Entertainment: saw the Rock and Roll show it was OK, the couple they had singing Country one night in the Bliss were really bad Service: as usual the NCL staff were great, but the room attendant was not so good, I don't think he actually cleaned the room at all, just took out the trash and gave us towels Key West : highlight of our trip, had a good time there Cozumel: too many people hassling you to buy there stuff Getting on & off he ship was fine, actually getting of was the best we have ever had , was in the car by 7:45 Would I go on the Sun Again, NEVER will I go on NCL again, yes , just has to be the right ship and go someplace new Read Less

We chose this cruise based on their itinerary and length totally forgetting this is the beginning of Spring break, more later.... We left Cape Canaveral on March 3 and returned March 8th. Our destinations were Key West Fl. and Cozumel MX. The ship was the Norwegian Sun. This ship is one of the smaller ships in service in the Florida Caribbean circuit, the Norwegian Sun was renovated last year and it still has a clean ambiance to it and the cabin was still very fresh, actually, the cabin was the best part of the cruise in my opinion. The trip as a whole rates a 3 out of 5 in our opinion, there was some good and some not so good issues with this cruise, nothing horrible but nothing great either. Being Spring break, The young adults aboard for this cruise were definitely out for a good time BUT ship security were very good at keeping control of the situation at all times. Evening was quite busy to be expected and the young adults were out in full attire to attract their mates, it was rather nice watching, yes a lot of drinking BUT again they all seemed to be well under control, I've seen much worse at local bars in our city. The food on this cruise was simply put okay, the specialty restaurants we ate at were nothing special, we ate at the Italian and Steakhouse, both were in many ways disappointments, especially the steakhouse as I was expecting something much better. The beef was not very flavourful nor the texture very appealing, we feel, we may have done just as good having dinners at the buffet. We did spent a lot of time in the casino after dinner, oh how I wish they would ban smoking in those places, the smell is just so overpowering. So as a final note, like all cruises, this one had it's issues, nothing great but nothing horrible, would we cruise Norwegian again? I doubt it, we prefer the other lines we have travelled much more and next cruise will be with Celebrity we expect... Read Less

This was my 7th cruise and my first time on NCL. I have to say I was very impressed. Upon reading the previous reviews, I was nervous about the food but the quality exceeded my expectations. The buffet, dinning room, and sports bar were really good. We never had to wait in line at the buffet which was nice. The ship was renovated and had a newer look. Although, it is small. I actually enjoyed it as it was more intimate and you didn't get lost in the crowds. Staff was attentive and friendly. The entertainment was really good, such as the productions shows, magician, and comedian. My only complaint, which is more of a remark, is that I found it was strange that the pool bars only served drinks in plastic beer cups. This is really not eco friendly due to the amounts of cups being used. The other thing is the ship was very rocky, I believe this was due to it not having stabilizers (read this in a previous comment), therefore the movements of the ship were constantly felt. Overall, I was very impressed with the cruise and will definitely be trying out NCL again. I would really like to try out one of their newer ships. Read Less

Even with the Carona scare the embarkation was quick. And debarkation even quicker. The food was good overall, my only negative would be the buffet. They have super reduced the variety at the buffet. The food at the buffet was ok, but not something that I would get excited about. The main dining rooms were good. I like the European speed of eating a meal (one and a half to two hours). It encourages conversation and a relaxed meal. So if you are looking for something faster you are going to be disappointed. The specialty restaurants are good. They are not going to be the best food you have ever eaten, but you will leave satisfied. The cruise director, Richard, is one of the best that I have experienced. He is funny, engaging, and highly entertaining. I especially like the Cake Bake Off. The service all over the ship was great. With the exception of the bar staff. I assume that since so many people are on the drinks package that Norwegian under staffs the bars to slow the pace down. The entertainment was good. Liked the magician and the comedian. The dance troop are standard across most cruise lines. Cabins were smallish but good. Loved the redesigned public rooms. They did a good job during the last dry dock. I would recommend this cruise to most people. Drinks package tends to attract a more social crowd. Read Less

This was our 7th cruise. We went with 2 other couples. One had been on the Sun six months earlier and loved it. Apparently, it has gone downhill since then. We spent 1 1/2 hours in line waiting to board. Probably the Corona virus slowed things down because they were checking passports very carefully. Once aboard, we noticed a general lack of attention to detail. One of the couples had written documentation that they had the Free at Sea items, but they didn't show up on their reservation and they spent a long time trying to resolve the problem. The food tasted just o.k. but was only luke warm because service in the dining rooms and specialty restaurants was extremely slow. They were obviously understaffed. It took 3 hours to eat dinner in La Cucina so we missed the entertainment that night. There were a lot of other issues. We got to our cabin and had no deck plans or instructions for using the phone. There was only 1 110 outlet and 2 USB outlets. Not enough these days! The shower was miniscule. At the stop in Cozumel, my husband wasn't feeling well so we stayed in our cabin. He wanted to take a nap. We were on the port side and faced the Norwegian Escape on the other side of the pier. For two hours, they had a DJ on the pier playing EXTREMELY LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS salsa music directly under our balcony. It was awful. I could go on but won't. There were some pros. The ship was clean, the room steward did a good job, we enjoyed the entertainment in the main showroom and in the lounges and disembarkation went smoothly. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves but I am not sure that I would recommend the Norwegian Sun and I don't think I would go on another Norwegian cruise. There are too many other choices out there. Read Less

My father in law booked a cruise for 6 to make it a family vacation. We had a balcony, free at sea package, etc. It was OK. The food was good to average, bars were always full and usually had to wait. Seemed under staffed. A nice tip here and there upped the service levels on future visits. Entertainment was good. The illusionist was great, really got the kids involved. The singers had some highlights, a couple sounded like they were heading to Broadway. The russian lady that did the Stevie Wonder tribute was just unexpected. Not great. I went by to see the bingo costs and was shocked. Never play that. Also went the the "art auction". Surprised to see original Peter Max and Dali. One Max sold for over $12k before I had to leave. Who would have thought people cruise to buy art. Used the dining package at the Steak and mexican. Steak was surprisingly good. The mexican was average but the quantity was over the top for what you could order. Felt bad about what was not eaten. With that said, don't order the max dishes available. The pool area stayed packed and loud. did not stay there much. Some nice places to read but inside. The slots are what everyone says, way leaning to the house. Rooms were OK. First time with a balcony and enjoyed that. In laws balcony door would not latch and kept flying open. Had to get maintenance up to beat on it to lock. A good thing. The last night the seas were crazy for about 4-5 hours. 15-20 ft seas, could not stand up in our room, doors slamming open, etc An upside, They really did due diligence for the corona virus. One agent checked your passport and asked the questions then another person went through every page to make sure no china trips recently. Would I go on this ship again? Maybe in Alaska Read Less

We wanted a short cruise on a smaller ship to celebrate our 50th anniversary of meeting (not wedding), which happened on Valentine's Day, 1970. The Sun appeared to fit the bill, being much smaller than our previous ship, Harmony of the Seas. We were pleased with some things, while others were just -- meh. A breakdown is as follows: Embarkation: A- The Sun was the only ship at Port Canaveral on Feb. 12, Wed. so parking, shuttles, etc., were a piece of cake. They apologized for taking a little longer to process paperwork due to the virus and scrutinized thoroughly our passports. Cabin: C We had an ocean view (deck 7) with a larger window. However, it was smaller than expected and the bathroom was tiny with a very friendly shower curtain. Space was adequate for our belongings for 5 days, but the sofa was hard and "cardboardish". TV was fine, but no network channels, 2 or 3 movie channels, and 3 news channels. The window was behind the bed, which provided lots of light, but to see out, you had to climb on the bed. Throughout the cruise, the room was cold and we weren't able to ease up on the AC. Living in FL, we prefer it to be a little warmer, but this didn't happen. Outside noise was minimal. Cabin Steward: C+ Our beds were always made and bathroom cleaned. However, we asked that he place some sodas in the frig, as we don't drink hard drinks and didn't have a soda package. This never happened after 2 requests,so we gave up. Also, he didn't replace the glasses with clean ones, so we ended up reusing the glasses. We couldn't tell that our cabin had been included in the recent refurbishment, as the mirror was "very old" and screws were coming out of the panel beneath the sink. Ship: C+ We liked the small size,although our forward cabin required us to walk to the aft for meals and entertainment. Elevators were usually uncrowded. Venues were on the small side, often resulting in no seats with people standing. Restaurants were usually smaller requiring a wait and the buffet was too small to accommodate the traffic. One big problem: With over 20 cruises, I've only felt queasy or dizzy a couple of times during storms. However, for the first 3 days, I was a bit on the seasick side with no apparent storms. Finally, I obtained some pills from customer service and asked why the ship seemed to be rocking (and rolling) so much. The crew member said that he had also been a bit sick and had missed a couple of shifts of work. He also didn't think that the ship, being so old, had the stabilizers that newer ones used. Although we didn't care about glitz, water slides, go carts, etc., we were still a little "meh" about it. It was OK. Entertainment: B+ Only went to a couple of shows. The Rock show was good and fun. The magician was really good (A) and funny. Missed the others. The piano guy was also good, but we could only find seats during one evening. Cruise Director: A- From what we saw, he was pretty good. The cake decorating contest was hilarious as his antics were "spot on" for us. Dining: C- Overall, we didn't care for the food. The main dining rooms were OK, but just OK. Our 2 special meals were at Los Lobos and Cagneys and we weren't impressed. I'm a vegetarian (not vegan) and choices were very limited. All the beans in Los Lobos are made with meat, leaving me with chips and salsa. The best thing I had at Cagneys was the creamed corn as the potatoes were so-so. My wife's filet mignon was OK, but not anything to brag about. Were supposed to get an anniversary cake, but it never came. Service: B In general, service aboard the ship was fine, nothing exceptional,but better than adequate. Staff were friendly and usually attentive. Ports: A- Having been to both Costa Maya and Cozumel, we enjoyed both. In Costa Maya, we just walked around all the shops, but had a good time. We'd been on several shore excursions on Cozumel before, so this time did something different - toured the chocolate factory where we made some chocolate wafers and took a quick tour of the Mayan ruins at San Gervasio. We really like these ports and will go back again. Cost: C We paid over $1500 for a 5 night ocean view cabin. Although not excessive, we've gotten better value on RCI, Carnival, and Princess. We've been on several Norwegian ships before, but this wasn't our favorite cruise. It was OK. Read Less

We sailed with NCL 5 years ago on the larger ships... Epic. We were happy to leave close to home and enjoy a smaller ship with the Sun out of port Canaveral. I just returned today. I’ve read reviews on this site and others for years. I’ve waited until today to post for the first time. Pros: we enjoyed the food. The traditional dining room was good. The stops and the size of ship were all nice. Cons: the service. We had a few really good experiences with severs and bartenders. However, we had too many poor or bad experiences with bartenders, servers, room stewards and managers. That is why I have decided to post. I previously held NCL in a higher regard in terms of service. (I have sailed with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess and NCL in the past). The automatic gratuity and handing out the drink packages has brought the level of service down to a point where I would hesitate to sail with NCL again. (Not sure RC would be better, but haven’t cruised RC in a few years). To make a long story short. My family would love to go on a cruise where service is a priority next time. Does anyone have a cruise line where service is still exceptional and gratuity means something? We would love to enjoy a trip and show our appreciation $$$ without being arm twisted. We did share this with a “guest relations manager” and although he said he would take care of it... are auto gratuity of $15 pp/pd remained this morning. NCL kept my $150 and lost my business forever. Read Less

Bad food couldn't find decent food tried multiple resturaunts ate at Brazilian buffet waited 10min btw meats to come around and was not busy Italian resturaunt sauce was bland pasta was thick and hard. Buffet food was same bland no flavour. Other than the regular menu items anything else never tasted right. Most of the food looked good but never tasted like it should. I'm not a picky eater but whoever was in charge of menu/ingredients should be fired. Pools were freezing cold not heated. Customer service destination was rude. And drinks were extremely over priced $20 for Hendrix gin and tonic. Ive never paid over $12 anywhere for same drink. Mixed drinks were inconsistant. Kids center was tiny and basic. Wifi was $39 a day and as soon as you get in the ship they must have a signal blocker cause cell phones don't work ever on upper deck while docked. This is about the 10th cruise I've been on and 1st with norwegain and will be my last with them. Positives room was roomy and clean. Ship was clean overall. Not very helpful in showing and listing shore excursions Read Less

This was our 3rd NCL cruise and the first on the Sun and the first with our 3 year old daughter. We booked last min, about 2 weeks out for an amazing price; so we didn't really do any up front research on the ship it was more of a case of the dates work, the itinerary looks ok the price is great lets do it! Getting There: We flew from NY to MCO that morning and had arranged a transfer through Norwegian. As Port Canaveral is about 45 mins from the airport this was both cost effective and convenient. We found the NCL rep easily in the baggage area and were directed downstairs to check in for the transfer. NCL has an easy to find desk with a big sign. We had a 30 min wait for the bus so we got some lunch from Starbucks while we waited. The transfer was smooth and efficient on a clean air conditioned bus. Upon arrival we left our bags to be loaded into the ship and headed inside; we arrived around 1:30 so expected to be able to walk straight on to the ship, instead we walked into complete chaos. Due to additional Cornovirus screening the lines were insane, luckily a member of staff noticed our by then extremely cranky toddler (who having gotten up at 5am and refused to nap on the plane was screaming the place down) and directed us to a special assistance line. We waited about 20 mins to get checked in and could then walk onto the ship. The Sun: The ship was awesome it was spotlessly clean and is probably now our favorite NCL ship. There are a few quirks in terms of layout but we decided we definitely prefer the smaller ships. Not once did it feel crowded, and not once did we have to wait on a long line; and it was easy to get reservations for dinner etc. at the times we wanted. Our favorite spot on sea days was the kids pool on deck 12; our 3 year old absolutely loved it and spent as much time there as possible; while we hung out with a drink. Every member of staff we interacted with was happy and helpful and especially treated my daughter really well. We didn't go to any shows or activities because my daughter has an early bed time. We tried to enroll her in splash academy; and the staff seemed really nice and they had some good activities planned for her age group; but she refused to be dropped off and had a melt down every time we tried. So we can't really rate the programs etc. in the splash academy. Our booking included free internet minuets but we found that it was so slow as to be worthless and we pretty much gave up on internet at sea. Dinning: We avoided the main dinning rooms; as to be honest we have never had a good main dinning room experience on any cruise we have ever taken. We ordered breakfast from the included continental breakfast room service menu in the morning so that we didn't have to rush out in the morning with or daughter who is up at 6am, and then went up to the buffet. We ate lunch at the buffet and had dinner in Cagneys, LeBistro and La Cucina as well as the buffet. Our booking included a drink package and a speciality dinning package which was totally worth it. Le Bistro was definitely the best meal we had on the ship, followed by Cagneys. The service in both was excellent. We really liked that they have an included kids meal in all restaurants across the ship so we could easily find something for our daughter. The staff were really accommodating and took great care of her. La Cucina was probably the worst experience we had; the service was just strange and seemed really disorganized and the food was bland and nothing special. The Buffet was great for breakfast and lunch but a bit confusing for dinner, the dinner selections just didn't make sense and were un interesting. However no matter what time we went there was always seating and it was very quiet at dinner time. Spa: We did use the Spa a lot; we both had massages and facials and I took my daughter to get her nails done. They kept offering really good promotions and we kept going back! The staff were amazing and so friendly. While smaller then Spas we have been to on other ships (they don't have a thermal suite) it was a nice space with really good treatments. Costa May: In Costa Maya we booked in to Maya Chan Beach. I think it was around $100 for the 3 of us and it was the best beach club experience we have ever had. We were met outside the port and put in a taxi by a Maya Chan rep who took us on a 20 min drive to the beach. Once there we were greeted by the owner and shown around. This is a beautiful off the beaten path location. Included in the price was a dedicated area with beach chairs, shade, a day bed, hammock and kids sand toys. All drinks, an amazing Mexican buffet (probably the best food we ate on the entire trip). Use of kayaks and floats and a pool, showers etc. If we go back to Costa Maya, Maya Chan will be our first stop. The only downside was the port itself. Its a very nice port with shops, restaurants, a pool, beach etc. but its very difficult to get out of if you don't want to stay there, and there are no signs pointing to the exits so very difficult to get out of. Cozumel: We booked the Playa Mia Beach Break with NCL; we had done this before but they have made some improvements. Our excursion included bus transfer, access to chairs, umbrellas, the beach, pools, kids waterpark, drinks and a buffet. It was really nice the staff kept brining drinks, and found a bucket of sand toys for our daughter. She loved the water park and pools. The only down side was the buffet was pretty awful and they had us return to the ship at 2:30 which seemed really early when we didn't need to be back on board until 4:30. The Port itself was similar to Costa May but a bit run down; like a maze again so that it was hard to find our way back to the ship as they wanted you to go via the shops. Disembarkation: Getting off the ship was a breeze; we walked off at 8: 30am with our bags, got on a bus and was at the airport by 10am. They had this cool new facial recognition immigration and customs clearance that they were doing as you walked off the ship so you were cleared in seconds with no lines. Overall we had an awesome trip and would definitely return to the Sun. Read Less

Four friends just returned 02/12/20 from Norwegian Sun cruise to Costa Maya and Cozumel. The entire cruise was wonderful from the stateroom to the yummy food to the entertainment. We ate at two specialty restaurants, La Cucina and Cagney’s. The food in La Cucina was delicious. Two people ordered the tbone steak. It was great. Cagney’s was simply superb! Best steak any of us had ever had. And the OMG cheesecake was delicious. Our steward was very attentive. When we arrived the bottom drawer was broken. We told Elias and it was fixed early the next day. One day, our air quit working. When we reported it to Elias, he told us it was already reported because he noticed it was hot in there. It was fixed promptly. Dinners at Seven Seas or Four Seasons were delicious. Breakfast and lunches at the Garden Cafe and the Outdoor Cafe were good. Bar staff were jovial and made drinks to our specifica. Crew had smiles on the time. The adult comedy show was really funny. Read Less

Chose this cruise on a bit of a last minute special. We got Balcony Cabin for a great deal. I was a little skeptical due to the other reviews but don't listen to those negative cruisers. This was a fantastic cruise for my wife and I and worth every penny. The ship is bit older but still in great shape, clean, and serviceable where it counts. BE AWARE OF THIS THOUGH: It is best for adults and not first time cruisers. There is an extreme lack of outdoor kid activities versus what the big mega-ships are offering these days. There is no water slide, splash pad, etc. There did seem to be a kids club of some sort but not many children on the boat. If I were a first time cruiser I might be slightly disappointed. Embarkation: Security was very easy and fast. Just a normal Xray and walk-through metal detector. Everything was fast. We waited for the 12pm rush to die down before getting into the line and it went perfect...was on the boat in about 15 minutes. Cabin: We had Cabin 9075. It is located in far aft port side of the ship. I was skeptical but the room was PERFECT. A bit smaller inside (not much smaller) but the extended balcony more than made up for it. We had two chairs and two loungers to relax on. It was great! People reviewed that beds were uncomfortable. Couldn't disagree more...I thought the bed was very comfortable. One minor complaint is not being able to hear the announcements in the cabin. Food: We are not "foodies" but we enjoyed almost everything we had. We had dinner at Cagney's and La Cucina for the specialty restaurants. Both were spectacular. For dinner we also did Four Seasons and Seven Seas. Both were great but service was pretty slow. We had to rush the end of dinner at Four Seasons in order to make the magic show. Entertainment: Keith Bender, the comedian, was pretty funny and like-able...worth seeing. The magician was awesome. This was the best show of the cruise. We also saw the "broadway" style show called Rock You Tonight. Pretty cheesy and could have done without. The house band was terrific though. Be sure to catch their Cole Porter tribute in the Atrium. They are true musicians. Ports: Costa Maya and Cozumel. I'm always a bit frustrated with the lack of time in ports but both were nice. Did booked excursions that were not through NCL. Overall I would love to do this cruise again anytime. If you are wondering if it's worth it just now that it's very relaxing vs. many other cruises. It's a bit of an older crowd. Read Less

We decided on this cruise because of the great price offered by NCL. We had a mid ship balcony and took advantage of the 4 perk deal. I will review the items and places we visited and if not mentioned it's due to the fact we just didn't use that facility. Getting the ship was a breeze. We paid $100 for the VIP check in. What a great decision on that. We arrived at the ship around 1130 and security took about 5 minutes. We went up the elevator and there were probably 200 folks in line for check in. The VIP line had NOBODY. We were checked in and headed to the boat in less than 5 minutes. Walked onto the Sun by 1150. We purchased our water for th We trip and it was delivered to the room later in the day. We went to the MDR for lunch and to just settle down a little after a lot of walking and standing. A++++ for getting onboard. We ate in the MDR several times during the cruise. We had three breakfasts, three dinners, and one lunch in the MDR. The one consistent factor for every meal was slow service. Several meals took over an hour and it wasn't busy at all. Drinks were fine, coffee was delivered fast, but the main course just seemed to take forever. The food was good, not great, the servers were very friendly and seemed to apologize a lot for the slow service. We had lunch at Garden Cafe once and it was really good. Good service and good burgers and hot dogs. Our two nights of fine dining consisted of Cagney's and Moderno. The food was really good at Cagney's but the service was bad. Same with Moderno. Others seemed to be getting much better service, so hit or miss. ett We had breakfast room service twice, larger menu included free with the VIP check in package. Both days the order was completely messed up. Two things of hot water and no coffee the first day. Second day was no syrup with waffles, no milk for cereal. They seem to be trying but NCL just didn't seem to have the small things down like other cruise lines. Wife used the spa service twice. First time toes and fingers and the 2nd time 90 minute hot stone massage. Both were well done and wife stated the masseuse worked her problem areas and she did a great job. I had drinks, several at some of them, at most of the bars. Service was fine, the pool area bars got busy during the day but that is normal. The table/lounger service could be better and that would shorten the lines at the bar. I tried to enjoy a cigar or two but the only place to smoke was the Topsider Bar. The wind was blowing around 20-60 mph most days so not really good at all. No indoor smoking and that's OK but don't sell cigars in a bar (Spinnaker Bar) and then say no smoking. Drinks were good, we are a coke family and this is a pepsi ship. Coffee was very good everywhere I drank it. Miller Lite was always cold and refreshing. The pools were terrible, water temp around 35 it seemed. Most people in the pool that we saw was maybe 5 at a time. Hot tubs busy but pools not so much. Pool music was really good both life and recorded. We went to one show and it was OK. The music in the bars at night seemed really good and there were large crowds for some acts. The casino was good, we made a few bucks during the week. Disembarking was great. We carried our bags and left our room at 710. At 722 we were off the ship waiting for our ride to our car. There was not customs, just a face recognition camera and keep on walking. We filled out no paperwork, no questions, no hiding the extra bottle, just a great experience getting off the ship. We have cruised Carnival 5 times. Celebrity twice (another this April) and this was our first NCL trip. We may try NCL again with a larger ship. Costa Maya was nothing great. We enjoy Cozumel and went downtown for a great lunch and some shopping. We had to tender in Cozumel as there were 9 ships in port. We had no problem with the tenders but others had terrible experiences (they can write about them since not really my experience). NCL has a lot of good going for them, but seem a little short in regards to service. Those working on the ship were very friendly and always said hello or good morning and called you by name after running your card for your purchase. We did not travel with kids or with a group. Not a lot of children on the ship and average age would be around 51for the guests. Cruise entertainers seemed to be very upbeat and engaging with guests. Read Less

We had such a great time on the Norwegian Sun! As with most cruises, the service on this ship was superior. The staff made every effort to ensure the comfort of it guests. There were only a few times I saw people getting aggravated with the staff and it was usually the customers fault. I will never understand why folks are rude to service staff. The food was decent in the buffet and MDR. We didn’t eat in any of the specialty restaurants this time but maybe Le Bistro on our next NCL cruise. The entertainment onboard was a musical medley from the 80s and a magician. Both had us up and cheering. The vocalists on the sun are truly magnificent. The only thing I would do differently is maybe go on a larger ship with more bells and whistles. I thinking would be a better fit our particular style of cruising. Overall, we had a blast. We liked Norwegian so much that we are now booked on the Bliss in November 2020. Read Less

First because it went out of Port Canaveral - we live nearby. Also, because the price was right. Getting on the ship was very easy and quick, although it was top time to embark, 1:00 pm. The ship was clean and looked much better than it had when we first took it in 2011. The cabin was clean and compact, lots of space for clothing and stuff. However, the bathroom was a bit cramped - not a lot of room for toiletries. We had 2 specialty dinners, one in Cagney's Steak house and the other in La Cucina, Italian but not typical spaghetti and meatballs. Both restaurants were comfortable and service was excellent - the food was very very good. The other nights we ate in either the 4 Seasons? on deck 5 or buffet on deck 11. The food was good at the 4 Seasons and almost as good in the buffet, especially the pasta. The show the first night was very good and entertaining - we didn't make the other shows as we were involved with other things. Did not use the pool - weather wasn't the greatest so spent time in card room playing cards or just walking around. Overall the service was good - very pleasant people. The bartender at the Champaign Lounge, Byron, was the best bartender on the ship and the bar was always busy. Everyone liked that area. We didn't get off in Costa Maya as weather was just OK and we had been there before. We did get off in Cozumel - but again, been there many times. Just wanted to get a bottle of my favorite after dinner drink, B&B. Didn't have on the ship and we got the last bottle at the Dufry store. We are scheduled to go again on March 13th with friends. We booked it after we got home and paid in full as we had to - too close to sail date. However, we were very upset when we found out that had we waited we would have paid $690 less. I called NCL and we received an OBC for $160 but they couldn't honor the lower price as we had already paid for the cruise. Maybe we should have waited. Oh well!! Overall, we had a very good time - relaxing way to get away from home. I would do this again but this time I might wait until closer to sail time to book the cruise. I hope the next one in March will be better weather - I know the company will be great. Read Less

Had a wonderful time on the Sun. This was a short cruise for me, 5 days, but always had something to do. Had previously read negative things about the Sun, but I thought I would see for myself. A cruise it what you make it. This was a joint birthday cruise taken with my grand-daughter, as we share the same day. The food in the MDR, Tepanyaki, Moderno, and even at the Garden Buffet was very good. Had plenty of choices. Enjoyed the musical show and especially the Adult Comedy. The cruise director Richard Matic was hilarious and such a fun person. We enjoyed the nightly entertainment. Participated in the Glow night on the pool deck. Had designs painted on our face with glow paint. Glow sticks were given out and everyone was just having such an amazing time dancing the night away. Enjoyed Battle of the Cake masters where the Pastry Chef, Cruise Director Richard and a Passenger were putting together a Black Forest cake. The Cruise Director was just doing his own thing and making everyone laugh. The crew and officers were all very friendly and greeted you whenever passing by. I have to say I truly enjoyed this cruise and would definitely cruise again on this ship or another NCL ship. This was my 38th cruise but only the second with NCL. I will definitely sail again with NCL. Read Less

Great experience just got off NCL Sun. Was very pleased with our overall cruise experience. Pros: Service in MDR was phenomenal. Ask for Vanessa, she was our server and an absolutely amazing one too. We requested her every meal after night 1 because her service was so great. Drinks came out fast and were good. Unpopular opinion, I prefer the ship with people being gifted the beverage package or purchasing it. I sailed the Sky in April and I preferred the experience I had on the Sun. Casino staff were great. Very pleased with the staff in the casino as well. Everyone friendly and inclusive. Very willing to teach people new games. Cons are going to be limited. Entertainment feels repetitive. The shows are VERY standard cruise fare. Are the performers talented? Of course. Is it a show or something similar to what you might have experienced elsewhere? Also yes. Food felt repetitive too. Buffet is small and can’t flow crowds super well and feels repetitive at times. Lunch buffet is better, I recommend dining at Moderno for lunch. Dinner in MDR was good but also not always “wowing”. Service was always great and we never went hungry. Very enjoyable ship, we were pleased with the cruise director, Richard Matic who was VERY present. It was a nice touch to see him often at the pier during port and like all cruise directors he was running around like a mad man the entire night. Expect to see him out and mingling with guest. You often don’t see that on large ships or even medium sized ships. Read Less

I know that my title for the review seems bad but it’s a good thing! Look, there’s no beating around the bush. The Norwegian Sun is an older ship- it’s from 2001 so compared to these new mega ships with water parks, ice skating, parks, and even go kart tracks- it’s hard to match up. But this ship is an excellent small to midsize ship. This ship is great if you are 1. A first time cruiser 2. On a budget like me 3. You just like the simple things about cruising. Despite not having the crazy amenities that the newer ships have, this ship still feels like your average cruise with non stop activities, modern and updated lounged and restaurants, and overall great service. Some staff members seemed to care less to be there with the majority was wonderful, patient, and kind. Many of the staff were friendly and took time to socialize with us a bit more than I’m used to which was great- especially the cruise director! He seemed to know most of the guests names including ours. The majority of the crew really do seem to care. Getting on the ship was by far the fastest, most simple process I’ve ever been a part of not just for cruising but for any type of major travel. All in all from the type we got dropped off by our family to the time we stepped foot onto the boat, it took less than 15 minutes maybe even 10. Despite crummy weather in Canaveral on day one, we had a nice time and the drinks were flowing! Quite a mixed crowd but mostly middle aged couples or elderly with some families or young couples here or there. We were definitely one of the youngest couples on the ship (24 and 21 year old males.) but we loved befriending many of our fellow passengers regardless of their age and we felt everyone was nice and up for a good time. The food is overall great! Some dishes were okay while others were outstanding. We did eat at 2 of the speciality dining venues Moderno and Los Lobos. Both were fairly good for the price and I don’t regret spending the extra money especially since service was outstanding at both. The ship feels somewhat small once you’ve gotten the hang of it but I sort of liked this. Perfect for a 4-5 day cruise. I didn’t like the way much of the decks were laid out compared to other ships but Just a small complaint. For example- to get across deck 6 you has to go through Bliss Lounge which took up the entirety of the deck and after certain times it’s adults only club. I feel as though Norwegians decks seem to have odd layouts compared to the competition but nothing that ruins your day lol. This isn’t the most amazing or best ship- but it certainly gets the job done. We had a great time on our budget vacation and got a killer deal with drinks included. I would travel on Norwegian again but maybe next time on a new ship to try something different! Read Less

I have cruised with NCL a handful of times, and have always been satisfied with the value for your money. This would be my first trip where I don’t feel that way. To be fair, the weather can never be predicted - but other cruises I have been on with inclement weather seemed to have better contingency plans. I haven’t cruised on a ship this small or old before, so I definitely will book any future cruises based more off of the ship vs the dates and destinations. The ship feels very old, and the rough waters during this cruise were unbearable. I never get sea sick, but there were plates flying on the floor in the restaurants and my closet door even swung open and broke off of the hinges due to the turbulence. The power went out in the casino as I walked through, and even some of the crew members called in sick due to extreme conditions. The outside areas of the ship were virtually useless for a majority of the trip, so most events were moved to the crowded Bliss Lounge. There wasn’t a lot of entertainment on the ship, with the exception of Bingo, Deal or No Deal, board games, and a comedian. Many of the locations and activities didn’t have active servers during the events, like most NCL cruises I have been on before. Some areas even had the bars closed during events, making it inconvenient for our travel party. On day 2, my husband booked an eyebrow wax at the spa. We have done this on other NCL cruises, and he gets them at home every 4-6 weeks. The spa employee completely ripped the skin off of the top and bottom of both brows. Either the wax was too hot or the technique was incorrect, but my husband had scabs around his eyes from day 2 through disembarking. We did show the spa manager, and he was very concerned and conceded that it had to have been a technique issue. He refunded the service, but my husband was forced to wear sunglasses for the remainder of the trip to cover the bloody scabs around his eyes. The dining was very limited compared to the other ships I have been on (even the staple Garden Cafe seemed to rotate hamburgers and hot dogs every day, and lacked variety). We went to the Sports Bar late one evening, and waited 20 minutes without being served, so we left and ordered room service. We dined as a large group at the Four Seasons a couple of times, and the service and food there was great. We brought 16 people, and a few of them were first time cruisers. I kept reassuring them that this wasn’t normal, but I felt bad that their first experiences had so many issues. The crew did a decent job, but many of them were noticeably off of their game due to the conditions. Dave (Trippong) P at guest services was very helpful. I had to visit the desk nightly to get sea sickness medicine. I’m hoping that this trip was a fluke, because NCL has been my preferred cruise line the past 4-5 years, but I definitely won’t go on the Sun ever again. My family is still worn out and seasick a day later. *I hadn’t cruised from Port Canaveral before, and the embarking/disembarking process was the easiest I’ve ever experienced. Read Less

We chose this cruise based on reviews, destination, ports of call, and price. It was a birthday trip for my husband and our first time cruising. We ruled out Carnival because of the party type atmosphere. Royal was not loved by friends, and while Disney is well...Disney, we wanted a relaxing week on our cruise. Let's start with the pros...because I will give credit where credit is due. First off the Captain is super cool and was wonderful to meet an talk to. Not to mention he is hilarious. He and the staff overall were great. Super friendly crew for the most part. Our room steward was incredible. We couldn't of had better. He decked out the room on my husband's birthday and everything was spotless. In fact, the entire ship...spotless. It's also a beautiful ship. We loved that it wasn't a giant ship filled with slides and such, but an overall great ship. While we got some rough seas coming home, the captain and his crew were amazing and handled it perfectly. The food was outstanding everywhere we went. If you leave hungry...that is definitely your fault. Something for everyone!! The chef knows what he is doing along with his teams. The entertainment was fun for what we saw and well Richard the cruise director is great. Super friendly. Embarkation and Disembarking was smooth as could be. Everyone was fabulous. Now for the cons... We again chose this ship and line because we wanted to relax. This was not an option on sea days. At all. On the way to our first Port the weather was gorgeous and we wanted to be at the pool. We couldn't enjoy the sun or use the pool because of the lude, crude and obnoxious trashy behavior of the people at the pool. Families couldn't swim, we couldn't swim, no one but the people bar dancing on the pool deck, swearing, bumping, twirking and being nasty overtook it. so much for the pool. It was a booze fest. After about 2 hours of this garbage some security officer asked them to settle down...really? Settle down? How about stop being so rude or you are done. I mean really Norwegian? I'm about people having fun and bar scenes don't bother me...what does is when you have a public area you let it get overun so only those who care about drinking get that space. It stunk. The Four Seasons restaurant was so good and the staff was fantastic...except the Maitre D....that guy is about the rudest host I've ever met. And wow the way he spoke to staff, ridiculous. I've been a manager for 20 years. Not how you treat a staff, that's for sure. It's a con simply because he's the face of the restaurant and he didn't show that. It seems that this cruise again caters to those who but the drink packages. Just because we don't drink doesn't mean we only want to sit in the library. We enjoy fun. Just not fun that involves nastiness. Norwegian needs to take all guests into account. Look, this is my opinion and my review. Hope you have a great cruise because at the end of it all we did have an amazing time. Norwegian needs to do some refinement. Read Less

This was my first cruise, so I didn’t know what to expect. Embarkation was a breeze and I enjoyed our inside cabin. It had plenty of space! Onboard service was OK. I was erroneously charged a cocktail in a restaurant. It took 3 trips to guest services and the restaurant to get it reversed. They still didn’t reverse the entire charge, but I was done asking about it. Otherwise the service was acceptable. Lines and service at bars were disorganized, but you got drinks quickly, once you were able to order. I appreciated staff spraying people’s hands with noro-killing spray at every entrance to the buffets. Onboard entertainment was fantastic! the cruise director, Richard, has a great team of people that kept us entertained. The main stage shows were pretty good, too. Smoke in the casino wafted into the atrium which was gross, but I hope that will change during the ships next refurb. Being able to walk around the ship on deck 6 was nice, especially because the gym was always at capacity during the day, with long waits to use equipment. Navigating the ship was confusing at first, but once you figure out the layout and shortcuts, it’s really not that bad. Excursions were well organized and time in port was enjoyable, despite losing an hour in Costa Maya due to an emergency disembarkation in the middle of the night, prior to arriving at port. We encountered high seas on the second half of the cruise. The ship moved a lot, parties got canceled, pools closed, but what can you do? I’d go on this ship again! Read Less

I'm writing from the point of view of someone that has cruised with Disney a few times and loved it (but it was too expensive) and did quite a few Carnival cruises (cheap, but inconsistent quality). We had heard that Norwegian fits somewhere in between these 2 options, and based on our first NCL experience on the Sun, we agree. While the entertainment and service are no where near Disney Cruise Line's offerings, this was certainly overall a step or 2 above our recent experiences on Carnival. The most notable advantage that we observed on the Sun over our last few Carnival cruises (even on small ships) was that the Sun never felt crowded. There were always places to sit and relax, whether at the scenic outdoor buffet on deck 11 or in the shows, bars or other public areas like the library or atrium. Also, contrary to any Carnival ship we've been on, the Sun has enough dining choices, both free and premium/paid, to keep you fed at most times of the day. There are ample free options including multiple buffets, 2 free dining rooms and several premium/paid dining options. We never had much of a wait getting seated in the dining rooms, and the buffets were never very crowded, even on embarkation day. As others have noted, the food in the dining rooms is, in large part, repeated, so don't expect much creativity. However, the food was almost always very good, and the dining room and buffet staff were always attentive (both improvements over our last 3 Carnival cruises). On the downside, since this is a smaller, older ship, it rocked...A LOT. To be fair, we were traveling through some rough seas, with waves from 5 to 8 ft at times. But by far, we felt it more on this ship than any other recent cruise. Also, due to a poor design, cigarette smoke from the casino can become overwhelming at times, and not just in the casino, but also in the Atrium area as the smoky casino air tends to waft throughout midship on deck 7 (note: this is due to be fixed in an upcoming dry dock). Also, another minor annoyance/quirk of this ship is that the older layout can be confusing at times, as you have to travel through venues to get from one end of the ship to the other on deck 6 (ie: you have to go through the Bliss lounge, Windjammer bar, and Photo Gallery to get from the Atrium area to the theater (Stardust lounge). Entertainment was hit or miss. The welcome show was typical (aka a bit lame) cruise fare - it killed some time, but you can skip it if you find something else to do. There was a fun comedian (Dylan Mandisohn) and and entertaining magician (Greg Gleason) onboard for shows on Day 3 and 4. The final show by the NCL performers, World Beat, was high energy and is worth checking out. The cruise director, Alvin, was 'OK', but he sometimes lacked the high-intensity energy and leadership that we've seen from some other CDs. However, we learned at the end of the cruise that he was moving to a different ship, so perhaps that was weighing on him...regardless, you'll have a different director for your cruise. Overall, this was a pleasurable cruise experience and we're now sold on the value of an NCL cruise - not too expensive and not lacking expected services, dining and quality. Read Less

On Deck 6 & 12 there are many, many inaugural port plaques on the wall. An impressive display that says this ship has-been-there-done-that. Built in 2001 it's age shows here and there but the 2018 refurbishment has definately invigorated the beauty, comfort and cruising experience aboard this ship...As veteran cruisers we've come to anticipate and expect bells & whistles, spacious contemporary designs and all the 'wows' of todays mega-ships and new boats. We had uncertain expectations booking a 5 day cruise on this small old vessel but the price was right. In review, this was a highly satisfying cruise surpassing our expectations. The Pros; The crew was pleasent and hard working, they did their jobs. The senior staff was obviously experienced and visible. Our cabin steward Arleine was a new hire and did an exceptional job, such pleasantness and attention, thank you...The food & beverage is consistant with other NCL ships, better than many others, good food and selection. The Specialty Restaurants are exceptional...The ship's size and layout is nostalgic, very clean, nicely decorated and easy on the eye but it is a challenge to navigate...The ship never felt crowded. Limited and modest waits for elevators and buffets...Embarking and disembarking was efficent and quick..."washy washy" prior to entering the buffet is a good and healthy practice, well done, good move...Decent cabin space and comfortable beds Cons; The canvas roof over the aft outdoor dining area on deck 11 is badly stained. It appears to be new, provides very functional shade & cover and is likely expensive. However, when docked next to the Disney ships in the home port and docked shoulder-to-shoulder with three other ships on the Costa Maya pier this canvas is an eyesore ("yep, that's my boat")...Loud band music in the Atrium location makes conversation difficult on three decks...On the upper decks oudoors nearly all viewing is through glass, windows that sea water relentlessly cloud. Guess it is what is. Seek out forward and aft deck 12 and anywhere on deck 6 for clear views. Overall; This is a comfortable clean ship with an air of nostalgia but no bells & whistles. The staff is pleasant and do their jobs. The food is good. The price is right...Our recent NCL cruises were aboard the Encore, Getaway and Breakaway and we would not hesitate to sail this ship again or to recommend. In fact, we have booked The Sun for an Alaskan cruise in August. Read Less

The ship is pretty small, but I actually enjoyed that. It allowed for closer friendships. However, I found the service very poor. I was routinely ignored at the bars and the sports bar, there’s no towel animals, the ship lost a bag and sent guests a note asking guests to look for it, activities routinely started late. Just a really poor experience when you’re paying so much. The buffet is in a poor location and people were always tumbling over each other during mealtime. Food was either bland or salty, and the shore excursions offered were poor quality. I found better excursions on shore excursioneer. For some reason they held a lot of the big draw entertainment, like the newlywed game, in the teeny tiny lounge instead of the theater. We often had to stand and stretch our necks to see over the crowd. However, my cabin was big and comfortable, the ship was clean, and the comedian, magician, and dancers were all very good. Read Less

We chose this cruise as a quick and cheap getaway to recover from the holidays and to regroup after the passing of my dad two days before Christmas. I had two good books and just wanted to relax and forget about reality for five nights. Plus, it was cheap. $1,100 for a balcony for two. We had sailed on this ship in April 2019 and had fun. We were allowed to board at noon, but got to the port at 12:45. The lines were long and people were sitting around waiting to get on. Apparently, they had to move the gangplank and that caused a backup. Also, the computers went down when we were checking in and we had to stand around and wait for that to be fixed. We were on the ship by 1:50. We went to the buffet and it was a madhouse, but we expected that. However, the layout is so poor. You have to get your own water/juice/tea. The machines are in a hallway-type part of the room where people are walking to get to the buffet. I love having strangers breathing in my water. The food choices were odd...bean stew? No one walks around offering beverages like on Royal Caribbean. We went outside to get two sodas at the bar. They only serve Pepsi products. Two small glasses of Pepsi were $7.20. They are $3.00 each and a 20% gratuity is automatically added. On our previous cruise on this ship, all drinks were included in the fare because it was a short cruise on a smaller ship. Maybe THAT is why we don’t remember it being so bad. Our cabin was a soaking wet rug by the bathroom and smelled musty. We had trouble even opening the cabin door because the rug was buckling. We were told to go to the 7:30 show and they’d put a dryer in there to fix the problem because there were “no other cabins.” We unpacked and went to the show. We returned to the cabin at 9:14 and the blower was still going and it was still smelly and wet. Guest Services came and offered to show us another cabin. We did not ask why we were told there were none. Anyway, the other cabin was directly under the pool and the smell of chlorine was so strong that we chose to smell mustiness instead and stayed where we were. Also, we were exhausted. At 10:30 that night, Guest Services called, woke us, and wanted to know why we didn’t contact them regarding the other cabin. We told them we had, we looked at it, and chose not to move. The next morning we went to Guest Services after getting a note on our door to contact them. We were told we could have an inside cabin to hang out in while the rug dried in our cabin. The employee explained this cabin hadn’t been used because the occupant “got on the ship, felt claustrophobic, and left immediately.” We accepted this offer and went to that cabin. The inside cabin offered was being made up and the occupants had ordered room service and their dishes were everywhere. We were told by another employee that this cabin was rejected by the people it was assigned to because of all the noise from the stewards’ work area right next door. Two employees, two different stories... We opted not to take this cabin either. The rug dried by Day 3 and we got used to the smell. The bed was extremely comfortable and the air was cold. We actually slept well. I will say Guest Services was excellent with trying to accommodate us. They sent champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries and also offered us a $100 credit to a specialty restaurant. We are at Cagney’s and it was delicious. The service was impeccable. Room service costs $9.95 per order, with 20% gratuity added. We ordered once and the portions were plentiful. We had the free continental breakfast one morning. We requested delivery between 9-9:30 am. It arrived at 8:40 am. There are a total of 12 deck chairs on the promenade deck, Deck 6. This was disappointing because they were always occupied during the day and is one of my favorite places to relax. Pool chaises were stacked by 6:15 every evening, so we couldn’t sit outside and enjoy the night sky. There’s no outdoor movie (or indoor movie), so that’s a disappointment. Costa Maya was ok. The shopping area had aggressive shopkeepers. One mumbled something about Americans when I didn’t want to come into their store. We stayed in the ship in Cozumel because we’d been there before and Deck 13 (or maybe it was 12) was empty and relaxing and peaceful. Attitude is everything, so we made the choice to have a great time. We had to overlook a lot, but we did have a good time. Disembarkation was a breeze and we were off the ship and in our car within 15 minutes. As a side note, I wish there was a way to teach people that it’s polite to wait for people to get off an elevator prior to them getting on the elevator! Read Less