Review.12 - 19 JAN 08 Arrived at Port of Miami with a rental car. Unloaded luggage, and wife. Tipped porters, and directed wife to terminal's entry with instructions to wait, inside, for me. Returned the rental car to their Miami office and returned to the Port via taxi. (Being 100 miles away from the port, I believe the $45 is as inexpensive away of getting there, on my schedule, as I can figure) Just make sure each person has their own I.D. & proof of a boarding ticket. You may need that to enter the port area and will need it to enter the terminal. Big plus for NCL: There is no easier or quicker way to get on or off a ship than the NCL "SMOOTH SAILING" way. Once aboard, just wait for the 7 SEAS restaurant to open. Sit in the reception area and people watch, and if/when the restaurant reservation desk opens, make yours. Then, go have a relaxing sit down lunch in the 7 SEAS. Don't start your cruise with the herd at the Buffet. (The only line up for meals during our trip was the boarding day line up at the buffet!). Relax, your room will be ready & your luggage will arrive (unless you have to go to the naughty room to explain why your suitcase is full of booze). There was quite a line to explain their contraband on this cruise. Our room was nice, the bathroom & closets/drawer space adequate. Lots of storage space under the bed & in the sofa. (The latter held my "large" golf bag.) The balcony was big enough. We ate in the 7 SEAS for almost all meals. FREESTYLE, it needs to be explained better. Not only are you free to eat whenever/where ever, you are also free to eat at a regular time & place, or time & same staff!! Once you find staff that answers your every need then upon entering the dining room you can ask to be seated in their area. (The staff rotate around the dining room) Or, if you like a certain table local you can ask for that, or if you want to sit with someone, you can ask for that! If you don't ask you'll be well treated, but if you want a certain service, ASK & NCL does try to please. Dining is such a large part of cruising - get it your way - and NCL does that!. The SUN is not that easy a ship to find your way around. Just check the "maps" by the elevators. You have to "go through" rooms to get where ever. Through the smokey Casino or Dazzles. The smoke spreads well beyond the casino. (That's the opinion of a reformed smoker) NCL must have a happy crew on the SUN. Every crew member smiled & gave a pleasant greeting when passed in the halls. Our room steward Josephine, in a very professional manner, introduced herself upon our arrival and lived up to her promise of prompt efficient service through out the cruise. Another outstanding feature of the SUN, Room service! I still can't figure how theyrespond so fast. I'm used to hotel staff they will get their, but when? NCL were there shortly after hanging up the phone. (Iron & board, coffee pot, etc...) NCL is known for quality entertainment & the SUN upholds the standard. The Jean Ann RYAN company shows are not to be missed. Lenny Windsor, a British adult comedian, gained a following in this short cruise. Every time he appeared it was to a packed house. WHAT A LARK!! Excursions: Those we took were worth the money! Clear Kayak and snorkeling in Roatan, & Lamanai Ruins in Belize. The latter entails an hour bus ride, and an hour boat ride to the site,lunch, a site tour and a return of boat & bus. A busy day & if your going to climb to the top of the temple get in shape before you go. (Not like me who nearly blew a gasket & still had to climb down) Good cruise, good itinerary, well run ship, big bang for the buck! It was reassuring the way the hand washing was enforced throughout the trip. Fewer people had colds leaving the ship than upon arrival!!

We disliked & found annoying the constant push to sell pull tickets, jewelry, art, etc... We tried to ignore it but, every Freestyle Daily included 4 trees from a virgin forest of junk - (emeralds, diamonds, art, on & on) & every show started with a sales pitch for pull tickets (which I think should be illegal) too much used car salesmanship for me!! We tried to ignore it but it was in your face!

The NCL Golf didn't measure up to Golf Hawaii aboard the Pride of Hawaii. The golf cage aboard the SUN is too small for 6'+ & the "Cozumel Golf excursion" was to send off the golfers in a cab with return fare handed to one of the golfers. It was a carry your own bag to & from the course affair. Not worth the $134. (I'd arrange my own tee time for $55. & pay the $8. taxi each way next time.) I'm disappointed that there was no NCL Bag Tag nor a course bag tag. Oh ya!I nearly forgot to say: There's no Freestyle 2. aboard SUN as yet. Read more