We enjoyed ourselves, a little disappointed regarding ship service. ATM down, toilets malfunctioning, our bank card didn't want to do business with ship charge procedures, and we were tired of constant empty apologies for the inconvenience.

Item: Norwegian Sun
Rating: 3.5
Author: denisedecourcey

Norwegian Sun Cruise Review to Panama Canal, Central America

denisedecourcey

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 14

Overall rating:

3.5 out of 5

Verified Review

18 Night Panama Canal: Mexico & Costa Rica (Miami To Seattle)

Sail date: April 01, 2024

Ship: Norwegian Sun

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 0006

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 months ago

Review summary

First time cruisers, start with Norwegian, so you won't be disappointed. We are spoiled by Royal Caribbean. Price is very good.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

We carried our bags off ship, went straight to transportation.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

We expected a little more, like fruit prepared and ripe, pineapple and watermelon, coffee not offered anywhere except dining areas, not coffee pump stations available (even in morning). Dining room was good, buffet boring, yet there was always a place to get food 24/7. I was looking forward to Salmon, it was only offered in specialty dining and appetizer items. Royal Caribbean has spoiled me.

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

Very limited and extra cost very disappointing.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Mediocre at best, again we were spoiled from Royal Caribbean.

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Very good except for guest services constant empty apologies.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

We like smaller older ships, layout strange but navigatable.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Inside stateroom, loved the closet, bathroom layout great, toilet kept malfunctioning.

Ship tip

Takes a few days to navigate layout, short cruises on this ship not worth it. You get what you pay for, prices good , quality mediocre.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Cartagena, Colombia

4 out of 5

Colon, Panama

3 out of 5

Use excursion, otherwise not worth getting off.

Thumbs Up 0

Panama Canal Transit

4 out of 5

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

4 out of 5

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

4 out of 5

Used excursion

Thumbs Up 1

Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Mexico

4 out of 5

Used excursion

Thumbs Up 0

Manzanillo, Mexico

4 out of 5

Used excursion

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

4 out of 5

Good, carried bags off ourselves.

9 Comments

Gwbigdog 7 months ago

Thanks for sharing

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BnCTcruising 7 months ago

Thanks for sharing.

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cruising2004 7 months ago

Thank you for your review.

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DessertSteaks 7 months ago

Thanks for sharing

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1960cruiser 7 months ago

Just realized this review is the Norwegian Sun, not Sun Princess, but Norwegian ships do offer limited beverages at all hours.

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1960cruiser 7 months ago

International Cafe has coffee 24/7, along with buffet area, so not sure why you couldn't get coffee at your convenience. I have cruised with Princess for almost 9 years now and have had good experiences on all of my cruises, and did not have your issues, if thats what they can be called, cause no two cruise lines are alike, so comparing one to the other is not conceivable.

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HeavySeas 7 months ago

Thanks for sharing

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bubbles60 7 months ago

We are always pleased with NCL and like the free at sea options. Maybe you would like the amenities on a large and new NCL ship. Sounds like you had a good itinerary.

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javawoody 7 months ago

Thanks for the feedback

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