Norwegian Sun Review

Best money ever spent!

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Norwegian Sun
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First Time Cruiser • Age 30s

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Sail Date: Apr 2009
Cabin: Inside

Our family decided to do a big family cruise with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, pretty much everything!  My other side of the family had already done a NCL cruise to Hawaii and what a disaster that was.  Needless to say we were hesitant to go on NCL again but the rest of the family promised they liked NCL.  That all said everything went smoothly.  Our rooms wouldn't be ready until 1 or 2 but that was fine and very understandable.  The staff was friendly and helpful and lots of fun.  With such a big group we just talked to the Maitre'd of 4 season and got standing dinner reservations at 6 pm every night for our family and it worked very well!  Sometimes dinner took a little while, but that was nice so everyone had a chance to chat.  A few nights some people wanted to make a certain show (the "Golden Throated Tenor" was amazing!) and after simply notifying the Maitre'd that we wanted to make the show, he had us out of there with plenty of time to get good seats.  Loved all of our shore excursions.  In Roatan we went in clear kayaks... beautiful! then we snorkeled and relaxed on the beach.  After a while we wandered off and played with some adorable monkeys! so friendly and cute!  Belize we did the "Jungle safari and city of Lamani tour" and it's probably one of the most expensive tours for this stop but well worth it!  Relatively comfortable bus inland and then transfer to some speed boats (bathrooms but not the cleanest were available).  On the river we saw critters everywhere!  When we got to Lamani we had a meal waiting for us.  I was a bit concerned about health standards etc but it was through the cruise line so no worries!  This is a very active tour with lots of walking up steps but fascinating too!  It was warm but we were there in April.  At one point our guide (he was very personable, spoke excellent English, and always laughing) gave us the chance to hike up to the top of the Mayan temple!  It was fantastic overlooking the entire jungle!  You could hear howler monkeys all around us too!  On the way back to Belize city our boat broke down, but we didn't have to worry because we knew it was up to NCL to make sure we got back to the ship.  They sent another boat and after a bus ride, we made it back to the ship on the last tender!  I wish we'd had time for some shopping but I got lots of great pictures.  Cozumel was great as well.  We rode Segways to the beach.  Our guide again was very funny and friendly.  His English wasn't as great as the guide in Belize but it was still very easy to understand him.  The Segways were easy to catch on to and lots of fun to ride!  Snorkeling in Cozumel was fantastic!  The fish followed us everywhere!  I wish we'd had more time to spend at the beach but we enjoyed the beach umbrellas etc until they put us in cabs back to the dock.  Then we shopped for a while and got some great silver jewelry.  I ran out of cash but really wanted a ring I saw, and I did a risky thing and put it on my card!  But nothing happened!  I was charged a small foreign transaction fee but nobody tried to steal my information or anything.  I was so glad!  After another relaxing day at sea (we really needed it!) we were at NCL's private island.  I wish there were more hammocks because as I was sleeping in one a couple woke me up and asked me if I was using it.  I was pretty irritated!  Snorkeling wasn't the best there but I didn't venture out very far.   I did see a barracuda and chased it around a bit.  That water was a bit cool until you got used to it.  There was a little path to a lighthouse but we never went down that way.  The shows onboard were great, our cabin was always clean and well stocked.  Because of a knee injury months before, my doctor told me to ice it every night.  When I talked to the reception desk onboard, they said call room service for an ice pack.  The first two nights I got ice in a normal sized ziploc bag.  The 3rd night when I asked for one they showed up with ice.  I explained I needed it in a bag and he disappeared for a minute and came back with a big trash bag full of ice!  I felt so bad I just took it and put it in the shower and never asked for the ice again!  A word to the wise though: we noticed the first day not to stand in the glass elevators with skirts or dresses on!  Down in the reception area we saw a woman up on the pool deck and I felt so bad for her!  Beware!  We had a fantastic cruise and I'm so glad my family chose to do this cruise even after a miserable experience in Hawaii!  I cruise all the time on NCL now, planning on Europe and another Caribbean in the fall!  The Sun is a great ship with some unique features.  In front of the observation lounge is a deck which is amazing to watch the sunrise on!  I can only imagine seeing glaciers in Alaska from that deck!  The observation lounge also features wicker furniture which gives it a cheery feeling in the mornings when nobody is in there.  You can watch the sun come up over the Caribbean Sea from the very front of the ship.  Would love to do this ship again.  Bon Voyage.

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