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Most enjoyable first cruise

Norwegian Sun Cruise Review to South America

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 37

Overall rating:

4.2 out of 5
Norwegian Sun

14 Night South America Westbound (Buenos Aires To Santiago)

Sail date: February 03, 2018

Ship: Norwegian Sun

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8225

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

Our first cruise was very memorable, we enjoyed the relaxed “Freestyle” approach to cruising and would travel Norwegian again, we’d like to be sure that there is no major maintenance being undertaken during the cruise and that they cater for all ages, not just the under 35s especially as the average age of passengers was well over 70. We had Norovirus on board, it would have been better to enforce strict hygiene from day 1 then relax measures once there is reasonable certainty that there is no risk. No announcement was made about the situation until 3 days after the virus had broken out.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Very slick and well organised

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5
The Seven Seas was very good with a varied menu, but the service was a little haphazard and slow. The Bistro was more or less the same as the Seven Seas in a smaller space. The Brazilian restaurant was really good, pity it wasn’t better used. Tepanyaki was fun, but not sure how authentic. Buffet was always an acceptable fall back, but very similar day after Day.

La Cucina

1 out of 5

The art gallery overflows everywhere on the ship and there was much too much emphasis on promoting art sales.

Los Lobos Cantina

3 out of 5

This was a very underused space, so it helped to provide a venue for games players. Unfortunately there was often unsuitable popular musi (for teenagers) blaring out at unacceptable noise levels. When it was quiet, it was good.

Great Outdoors

5 out of 5

Lovely space which can sadly only be used in good weather.

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5
We didn’t get involved in any of the activities as non of them appealed to us. They were aimed at much younger people than average age of the cruise passengers. They were very noisy meaning it was difficult to find quiet space.

Conference Center

1 out of 5

It would have been good had it been available for passengers as the ship is very short of quiet space. It also meant that other unsuitable spaces had to be brought into use for “seminars”.

The Chapel

1 out of 5

This was nothing more than a walk through space, if people wanted quiet prayer, it was interrupted by other passengers walking through talking loudly. There was also no Episcopalian liturgy available and no chaplain.

Golf Driving Net

1 out of 5

This a waste of space, we are keen golfers, but this was useless. I have suggested that a computerised swing studio would be much better and could be a revenue generator.

Entertainment

3 out of 5
The Abbey Road Beatles were superb, but none of the others appealed to us. We looked in a few times and left left very quickly.

Observation Lounge

1 out of 5

What should have been a lovely place to relax and read was completely unusable due to the never ending work on the top deck. The noise was deafening and probably beached health and safety levels at times.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Everyone was friendly helpful and very personable. Particularly Fredlie, our stateroom steward and Brian Mateo who helped make our first cruise really memorable.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5
The ship was very clean throughout but is a bit dated and in need of a refit.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
The cabin was spacious with plenty of storage. The bed was extremely comfortable. Shower was a bit on the small side, and fittings are generally in need of renewal.

Ship tip

The ship very short of quiet space, due to the noisy activities, maintenance and only a small space for games and reading. The seminars were very trite in content and the art sale was completely overdone.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Buenos Aires, Argentina

5 out of 5
We had been in the port for several weeks before boarding.
Thumbs Up

Montevideo, Uruguay

5 out of 5
We took a walking tour which was very interesting and learnt a lot about the history of the port and City.
Thumbs Up

Puerto Madryn, Argentina

4 out of 5
It was a pleasant enough port, we took the Peninsula Valdez excursion which was too long and uncomfortable due to the unmade roads. Limited wildlife to see due to the time of year.
Thumbs Up

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

5 out of 5
Delightful port to visit, but just not long enough to do more than a walk round the town. We self guided.
Thumbs Up

Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina

4 out of 5
Ushuaia town is uninspiring, but the national park was beautiful. We took a taxi with another couple.
Thumbs Up

Punta Arenas, Chile

3 out of 5
Far too long in port. Port town was OK, but not remarkable other than the museum and the cemetery. We took a self guided walking tour.
Thumbs Up

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

3 out of 5
Port uninspiring, took shared taxi and had a lovely drive up to Coyhaique, but not enough time to explore Coyhaique. All too rushed.
Thumbs Up

Puerto Montt, Chile

5 out of 5
The port was nothing startling, but Puerto Vargas, Frutillar and our drive round the lake was really memorable. We took a shared taxi and saw more than the organised tours.
Thumbs Up

San Antonio, Chile Did not visit port

We were leaving to catch a flight and our transfer did not allow enough time for a tour.
Thumbs Up

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
Once again very well organised and slick, with minimum effort required by passengers.
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