Norwegian Sun

DonnaMarieNJ · 06-08-2006, 12:30 AM

Has anyone sailed her? I am thinking about booking on this ship in December. From what I've read on the internet, the reviews are so-so. Wasn't she just renovated? Oh, well, who really cares? I'll be cruising!!!!

The Sun is sailing to Costa Maya, Santo Tomas De Castilla, Belize City, and Cozumel. Of these ports, I've only been to Cozumel, so the rest are new to me. Any suggestions as to what I should do while in port?

Thanks!

Dani · 06-08-2006, 01:40 AM

In Belize if you are into nature, then there is a shore ex. that we took.

It is all day tour. You take a large air conditioned bus to a river . There we boarded motorboats to go 26 miles up the river to The Lamini Ruins.

On the ride up we saw crocodiles, many birds, a huge stork in the tree in it's huge nest. Termite mounds in the trees. The boat was stopped often for pictures.

At the ruins we had a lunch of chicken, rice, etc. Then the walk through the jungle. REAL JUNGLE ! We saw and heard Howler monkeys.

The ruins are very large. At the time they were building a tourist building so it would be finished by now. There is a small museum with items dug up at the ruins.

We then went back on the boat for a race down the river to catch the bus.
There are people selling handcraft items at the bus shelter.

If you have never heard a howler monkey, you will not believe that such a small animal can sound like something out of Jurassic Park.

This is the real country on this tour. Get out of the city and see the countryside. There is an Amish community living on the river bank in the middle of the country. They have been there for many years.

Cozumel = snorkeling. We took a catamaran tour that was wonderful.

Costa de Maya = get out of the newly built tourist area. Catch the bus and go down to the small town. It is right on the ocean. Many shops, vendors are persistent. You can get a massage right on the beach in the huts along the way.

There are places to eat there, however we did not eat...never do on shore anywhere...food is already purchased on the ship..

We were on the first ship into Cozumel after the hurricane. They had gone to great lengths to clean it up even then. It should have lots of new construction by now.

Never gone on NCL. From what I can tell people either love them or hate them.

We met a couple on board one cruise that had a very good time on one of their ships.

I just checked her out...she is not all that old and the pictures look very nice.

From some of the reviews, you would want to decide which restaurants you want to try...some seem better than others.

The prices are very good...the weather should be too...I'd go for it !

mojo boogie · 06-08-2006, 04:14 AM

.....on Costa Maya-the only thing there is the OPEN BAR beach.

mojo boogie · 06-08-2006, 04:17 AM

..as to Cozumel-been there, done that, don't know why the cruise ships continue to force this port on us. Veracruz and Progreso are much better.

DonnaMarieNJ · 06-08-2006, 08:52 AM

Thank you one and all! As of now I'm not booked. The price got me and I saw that it had a "4 star" rating. I've been on better, and yet again worse. Any day cruising is better than being at work (well just about, anyway)!!!! To me, they weren't your run-of-the-mill ports. And I had to take vacation the second week of December - no choice in that. So, I'm still not sure..... but thanks again. I'll be doing more research on the shore excursions, too.

Liz · 06-08-2006, 09:11 AM

That Belize tour sounds fantastic

CruiserJohn · 06-08-2006, 10:01 AM

Dani: We took this tour also, and agree that it is great -- unless it rains. At the time we took it (several years ago) the boats were open, and it rained as only it can rain in the tropics in tropical storm season. We saw all the wildlife that you describe, but from beneath a blue tarp that the boatman gave us to hold over our heads! It was a great tour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dani

In Belize if you are into nature, then there is a shore ex. that we took.

It is all day tour. You take a large air conditioned bus to a river . There we boarded motorboats to go 26 miles up the river to The Lamini Ruins.

On the ride up we saw crocodiles, many birds, a huge stork in the tree in it's huge nest. Termite mounds in the trees. The boat was stopped often for pictures.

At the ruins we had a lunch of chicken, rice, etc. Then the walk through the jungle. REAL JUNGLE ! We saw and heard Howler monkeys.

The ruins are very large. At the time they were building a tourist building so it would be finished by now. There is a small museum with items dug up at the ruins.

We then went back on the boat for a race down the river to catch the bus.
There are people selling handcraft items at the bus shelter.

If you have never heard a howler monkey, you will not believe that such a small animal can sound like something out of Jurassic Park.

This is the real country on this tour. Get out of the city and see the countryside. There is an Amish community living on the river bank in the middle of the country. They have been there for many years.

Cozumel = snorkeling. We took a catamaran tour that was wonderful.

Costa de Maya = get out of the newly built tourist area. Catch the bus and go down to the small town. It is right on the ocean. Many shops, vendors are persistent. You can get a massage right on the beach in the huts along the way.

There are places to eat there, however we did not eat...never do on shore anywhere...food is already purchased on the ship..

We were on the first ship into Cozumel after the hurricane. They had gone to great lengths to clean it up even then. It should have lots of new construction by now.

Never gone on NCL. From what I can tell people either love them or hate them.

We met a couple on board one cruise that had a very good time on one of their ships.

I just checked her out...she is not all that old and the pictures look very nice.

From some of the reviews, you would want to decide which restaurants you want to try...some seem better than others.

The prices are very good...the weather should be too...I'd go for it !

dj-atr · 06-08-2006, 12:47 PM

I've been on her and i thought it was a pretty nice ship!
It was my very first cruise though..but still..
i LOVED the 24 hour buffet on the upper deck...i was there almost the whole cruise
the crew was extremely friendly...unbelievably...i even got to play cards with one of the chefs at 4am..lol
if you want pics i have quite a few

Dani · 06-08-2006, 01:02 PM

CruiserJohn,

I am so glad to hear from someone that took the tour .

The boat we were on did have a top ! The ride back was wonderful. I love fast boats and we really booked ! Around curves and straight out flat

Our son climbed up the huge pyramid using a rope that is stationed on it.

He got some fantastic pictures at the top with his video camera.

I took pictures of him going up and coming down. He said the coming down was the hardest. Of course, he waited until the last minute , tour leaving and he is almost rappeling down the thing.

I had them framed . I was surprised that they allowed the climb and wonder if they will continue to let people climb. The ruins can get worn down really fast that way.

I was glad that we went before it gets too much of a tourist place.

So Donna if you book, take this Ex. before it gets like Disneyland !

All the ports will be fun on this trip and the weather is usually good. We love to cruise in Dec. The first two weeks can give you some wonderful prices.

cclguy · 06-08-2006, 05:46 PM

I was on the Sun last January. I found her to be in great shape, the staff was very friendly and the food was good. I have sailed on NCL 10 times and this was the best ever on NCL.

Robert