The Sun is one of the older and smaller ships in the Norwegian Cruise line. The passenger capacity is 1,878 with a ship crew of approximately 900.
Built in 2001 and refurbished in 2021. She may not have all the bells and whistles of the newer ships, but she is exactly what we were looking for when booking our cruise. The Sun has everything necessary to make it an enjoyable experience.
Although the ship is important, it is our opinion the destination and itinerary are the top factors when planning a cruise vacation. There are so many options when researching an Alaska vacation, it can make your head spin.
There were times I needed to step back and take a break, just to let my brain digest all the options. We would talk about what was most important for us to see and do, after all, this was a major bucket list vacation for us.
We didn’t want to skimp, but we also didn’t have an endless amount of funds to cover the cost. If you haven’t looked into an Alaskan vacation, it can certainly be one of the more costly trips you will take. Therefore, planning and budgeting are essential.
Decisions, decisions. Should we take a land and sea tour, or sail north to south, south to north or a loop? Should we sail out of Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, British Columbia? How many ports do we want to visit, and do we prefer long port days or brief stops. Not to mention which glacier to see. So many choices to make.
When all was said and done, we decided on a 10-day cruise out of and returning to Seattle. With Alaska port stops in Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Sitka and Ketchikan and one in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In addition to embarkation day, there were three days at sea, one of which took us to see Hubbard Glacier.
Having ample time in each port for excursions was also a major factor when choosing which cruise to take. Many have only brief stops in Victoria, BC and are often 8 or 9pm until midnight. Our stop in Victoria was 10am-11:59pm, giving us plenty of time for an excursion and to explore on our own.
Once the decision was made to book a 10-day cruise in May on the NCL Sun, it was time to get to work on researching and booking excursions. That too can be an overwhelming array of choices. Do we book through the cruise line or book independently? Or would we want to simply explore each port on our own.
A whale watching excursion is always a must for me. Yes, I am a bit of a whale enthusiast and luckily my husband indulges this ritual on many vacations. But which port? Is there anything unique at each port that we might not find at the others? For example, zip lining at Icy Strait Point.
This post is all about our time on the NCL Sun, there will be a separate blog page for each port we visited.
Our stay on the Sun was in a club balcony suite. At the time of booking, the following was included in the package; two specialty dining meals and 150 minutes internet package for the first two people listed on the cruise reservation, a shore excursion discount for the first person on the reservation and the unlimited open bar package for all three of us.
NCL offers freestyle dining except for the specialty restaurants. You will want to set up your specialty dining reservations as soon as it becomes available, they fill up fast. It is a good idea to reserve a table in the main dining rooms. Although we were usually seated quickly without a reservation, there was one day when the line stretched out of the restaurant and halfway up the staircase. After two attempts, we decided to go to the buffet instead.
Something to be aware of is that the cruise line can change ports and itineraries at any time and without advanced warning. You must agree to this possibility before completing your booking. This is certainly understandable in cases of bad weather or disasters.
Another thing that can change is dock/tender. For example; in November, the Sun was scheduled to dock at all the ports for our May cruise. By March, Icy Strait Point was now a tender. Some time after the check-in (April 20th), Icy Strait Point was once again a dock and Juneau was now a tender.
For those who do not know what dock vs tender is, dock is when the ship pulls up to a pier, and you can walk off the ship. A tender is when the ship is anchored offshore and boats are used to transfer people back and forth between land and the ship. For those with mobility issues, this may be a concern. It may or may not affect the length of time to get to shore and meet your excursion. Due to the late change of dock to tender in Juneau, we purchased Priority Access.
Included in Priority Access are the following;
Priority Check-In and Boarding
Tender Priority when applicable (off the ship)
Priority Debarkation (home port)
Standard Room Service Breakfast Menu
$50 Spa credit per person (port days only)
Complimentary Canapés (second day of cruise)
We did take advantage of the tender priority. However, the biggest benefit was the breakfast room service. We didn’t use it daily but did order on our busier mornings.
Our club balcony suite was on deck 11, port side, forward. It was spacious, perfect for the three of us. The bathroom/dressing area was divided into three rooms: a nice sized walk-in closet, a sink and vanity area, and a toilet and shower/tub room separated by a frosted glass door. The bedroom and living room area could be separated into two rooms by closing a curtain divider, but we chose to keep it open. The balcony was large enough for three chairs and a small table. A place we used often while looking for whales, watching the beautiful Alaskan landscape and the small towns as we approached the next port. It was a welcome respite when the rest of the ship was crowded, especially when at Hubbard Glacier. The morning we went to the glacier, I approached the balcony door just in time to see a humpback whale surface.
Suite amenities include, a complimentary valet laundry, a bottle of sparkling wine, bathrobes, sitting area with TV and refrigerator.
There are two main theories when choosing a stateroom. Some people prefer not to spend extra money on a room with a view or a balcony, opting to spend their vacation money on activities instead. Others believe that a balcony or suite is money well spent. Some travelers don’t spend much time in their room, while others enjoy the retreat from the hustle and bustle of the ship’s public areas.
Is the club balcony suite worth the extra cost? Our opinion is a resounding YES!
Activities on board were numerous and far too many to mention them all. The Freestyle Daily was a great source, with the list covering all the daily activities, important port information and hours of operation for dining, bar and guest services.
We are so grateful we were able to take this cruise to Alaska and spend quality time together as a family. This was a special celebratory trip for us. We made the best of it, even when the weather didn’t fully cooperate. Memories we will cherish forever.