LIVE from the SUN Jan 4-11, 2015

At last, a review by a real writer! Thanks very much. We'll be on her in 2+ wks. steve

Nice review so far. We love the sun. Spent two weeks on her last Jan. The Sun and the Pearl are our favorite ships. We have also done this itinerary a couple of times. And....a balcony is the best!!!:rolleyes: Enjoy!

Thanks. We're not on the Sun until April, but loving your review.

At last, a review by a real writer! Thanks very much. We'll be on her in 2+ wks. steve

LOL! Thanks.

For years after college, I didn’t write. I was photo staff at newspapers. If they thought one of the button-clickers, darkroom rats could write, they’d make us go cover school board meetings. YUCK! So, I didn’t even try. Until Grad School.

I just apologize for the loose format, and lack of editing. I’ve missed a few cases “to” instead of “too” and similar word choices. Tried to spell acapella the other day... had to connect to the internet to look it up.

And dinner last night was in Four Seasons, not Moderno. But, it was still yummy – we both had the beef pot roast.

You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see what Mrs. Photo has planned for us tonight. Also, we’ll be on a real excursion tomorrow morning, so no promises about WHEN I post.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there is a deck chair on 6-Starboard side, and a book (a collection of long-form works by Joan Didion) calling my name.

Thanks for your review! fWIW, you might want to add wrinkle release to your packing list....we bought a travel size bottle years ago, as we unpack we hose down our shirts and voila by the time we wear them the wrinkles are (mostly) gone. The empty bottle resides in our cruise bigass zipper bag when we aren't at sea and gets refilled before the next trip....I forget the recipe but a bit of fabric softer and lots of water makes your own pretty inexpensive formula....you can get the exact measurements from my friend Mr. Google!

Since you didn't know about Moderno for lunch, you may not have discovered the forward facing balcony in front of the observation lounge. Great place to almost feel like you are "king of the world". You can access it from the exit doors on either side of the lounge...way up near the front.

Have a great rest of your cruise.

The entertainment sounds good. I hope it will be that good next week when we sail. Most of the same acts?

Since you didn't know about Moderno for lunch, you may not have discovered the forward facing balcony in front of the observation lounge. Great place to almost feel like you are "king of the world". You can access it from the exit doors on either side of the lounge...way up near the front.

The first time we were on the Sun, we learned how to "graze" for breakfast. We'd hit Moderno for food (omelets made to order), grab juice at the buffet and coffee in the Great Outdoors. We usually sat in the Sports Bar or the Great Outdoors for the best views. You can't beat eating breakfast by a floor to ceiling window while coming into an Alaskan port!

Thank you so much for your review. We leave on the Sun on March 8th, so I'm starting to get really excited!

I have one quick question (and I apologize if this has been asked before): Does the Sun have the new menus in the main dining rooms yet?

Thanks!

excited to read your review. I'll be on the Sun for the first time in 52 days! have a great trip!

Like any other day onboard, I woke before the sun rose. Losing an hour off our clocks didn’t help. I’m blaming the French Coffee Gnome for stealing the hour. My body still operates on Eastern Time and he shoved time back. The sun is rising later, but I’m still waking up at normal internal clock time. It’s been cloudy enough early that the sunrise hasn’t been super spectacular, just regular cruise/cloudy spectacular. We miss out on that sky full of amber due to the cloud cover. Perhaps the gnome is trying to help… but, I’ll withhold judgment on that.

I’m writing this on Thursday, as we await docking in Costa Maya. Breakfast in The GREAT Outdoor, as usual. Switch tables, hoping to dodge direct sunlight – just in cast that darn French Coffee gnome was still going to play games. Yep he did… The sun is right smack in my eyes this morning. But, when I checked weather for back home and saw that Indy was running a frigid minus 9 degree (f) – that gnome can through sun at me all day long.

A side note for the coffee lovers out there. The Coffee gnome in the STARBOARD side GO coffee maker must be Canadian. That particular machine works just fine, no triple or quadrupal pushing of the button. The machine is nice and rather polite about it. Gotta love our neighbors to the Great White North!

This morning, facing the excursion to the Mayan ruins, and wanting to charge to the top (or at least as far as they’ll let her) Mrs. Photo decided to splurge on breakfast and get one of the mini waffles with whipped cream, apples and other toppings. She declared it the best waffle she’s ever had. Of course, I didn’t bring my camera down this morning to commemorate the Totally Awesome Waffle. You’ll just have to use your imagination. It was flower shaped, about four inches across, loaded with toppings. The whipped cream was slowing oozing down the side of the waffle, with the apples and their syrup gently settling into the divots of the fluffy pastry (is a waffle a pastry?)

Yesterday was another fun interior excursion day. We mixed up activities by finding a shady spot on the starboard side of deck 6 to sit and read. After an hour or so, we decided to head up to the buffet for lunch. For about the third time in 30+ years of photographing, I left my camera behind. It had gotten bumped by my backpack, and I didn’t see it when I was loading the bag. Fortunately, a friendly NCL maintenance worker or two were walking by and started yelling our way. I ran back the 50 feet or so to retrieve it and thanked them profusely. Ooops!

I’m not sure, but the Captain may be relieving his teenage hot rod drifting years. To park the ship this morning, we came in past the RCI and Carnival ships already docked. The RCI ship is facing the shopping plaza on land. The whale tail is at a 90 degree angel to her, aft end to aft end. We have to park on inside of the L of the dock, parallel to the Whale Tale.

As I’m typing this, the rumble of the engines increased, but we began to slow down, and our aft end drifted to the port side. I guess this ship isn’t as nimble as the Fast n Furious suped-up Hondas and Nissans. But we’re lined up, and are slowly backing into our berth. If you want to witness this ballet dance with slipping a cruise ship into its dock, be up on deck (I’d suggest the GO) by about 7 a.m. (Central Time thanks to the darn French Gnome).

Crowding?

I finally figured out where the crowds are… in DAZZLES. With all of the Game Shows and other fun activities there in the evening, that place quickly becomes standing room only.

Unfortunately, it’s a main thoroughfare to move fore to aft in the ship. In the mid level decks, there are only two choices to move fore to aft: Deck 6, from the atrium through Dazzles, past Windjammer and the photo gallery – or Deck 7, from the atrium, through the smoky casino, the shopping DUFRY store (there’s a corridor that is open to get through.) Otherwise you’re up to deck 11, across the pool deck and through either the Garden Buffet or through Moderno. This is one design feature that was greatly improved on the Jewel class ships. (the got the right idea for the Star class, then perfected it (with the exception of not walling off the casino) in the Jewel class.

Entertainment

Mrs. Photo made the very wise decision to marry me, but I seem to have one flaw. I don’t dance. This became extremely apparent last evening as she went to the Salsa lessons (in Dazzles – one of the few times it wasn’t crowded). I sat and watched her shake her groove thing.

Tru, one of the contestants in, and Walter, the winner of the previous night’s Freestyle Dance off were there. Walter was with a woman we assumed was his wife. They appeared in good spirits together despite the number of times the dance judges (Andre, Tyler and Russ) referenced “someone getting pregnant on the dance floor” to describe the various levels of silliness that occurred. Tru, a nice ginger-haired lady had repeated been mentioned as “spanking” her partner, Lester, from the cruise staff. (Much shenanigans occurred during that contest – it’s worth braving the crowds in Dazzles to see.

Despite the presence of such seasoned and decorated pro dancers, Gabi, the dance instructor was able to verse everyone in the samba shuffle (or whatever it’s called). Alternate bending your knees…. “work smarter, not harder”… “what happens when you bend one knee, then the other? An eight year old said it a couple of weeks ago: Your BUTT moves!” Gabi continued teach turns, corners etc. By borrowing one of the gents present (not the highly skilled Walter – she probably heard about his antics the night before), she demonstrated how to direct your partner through spins and turns.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Photo has to go solo. I don’t hear the beat under the music. I can kinda, subconsciously tap my foot to a beat. But, she’s realized I not actually on the beat of the song. I’m using following the actual notes, not beat, of whatever instrument is invading my subconscious. Add in having to actually think about what to do to lead the dance, and I collapse into a quivering heap of margarita soaked aloha shirts. She’s gonna have to solo. Poor girl.

On a brighter note: The performance company’s “The Look of Love: The music of Burt Bacharach” was enjoyable. Lots of familiar tunes, with a running storyline. It is set in Vegas, so there are some PG 13 elements (think bachelor(ette) parties and such activities) – no nudity, but you may have some ‘splaining to do to the pre-teens.

Then we hit the Observation Lounge with “Into the Drift” (I believe that is the correct name. I know I’ve spelled it a few different ways. They did get their Eagle’s set approved, but it overlapped with the Salsa Dancing on the Pool deck, so we only stayed for a few songs from that set.

A word of caution. There are a few places on the ship with steps in unexpected places. If you’ve been to the Observation Lounge (Spinnaker on the Jewel Class), there are a couple of levels. The steps are usually marked by a line of inset LED light.

But, two different ladies took tumbles last night. Within 5 seconds of each other. I didn’t see the first, but saw the commotion of the bar manager rushing to her side. As I shifted my gaze that direction, I saw the other woman looking around right then, step off the raised platform around the bar and do the same. Medical and security came around. The first lady waved off the attention. The second lady decided to head out with the nurse, holding her wrist that had taken the brunt of her fall. I haven’t heard any updates on her condition.

So, if you’re in a dark area, watch your step. In you’re sitting near such a step, in a dark lounge, try to warn folks before they step expecting level floor, not a 4-6 inch drop.

Hi!

Hope you had decent weather for your Costa Maya excursion!

Before you disembark, could you please take a photo of the display of officer's names so the 2015 thread with this information can be brought up to date?

Thanks so much!

I'm enjoying your review of the Sun. :)

Hi!

 

Hope you had decent weather for your Costa Maya excursion!

 

Before you disembark, could you please take a photo of the display of officer's names so the 2015 thread with this information can be brought up to date?

 

Thanks so much!

 

I'm enjoying your review of the Sun. :)

How about this:

Also, tonight, Bobby announced that he's heading over this week to be CD on the Dawn, and Tyler is moving to Assist CD on the Getaway.

How about this:

 

 

Also, tonight, Bobby announced that he's heading over this week to be CD on the Dawn, and Tyler is moving to Assist CD on the Getaway.

Perfect! :)

How about this:

 

Also, tonight, Bobby announced that he's heading over this week to be CD on the Dawn, and Tyler is moving to Assist CD on the Getaway.

Loving your review, we will be on the Sun for our 4th time in March, (she's our favorite ship)

Is there any way of finding out who the butler and concierge are for the forward suites, it's only our 2nd time in a suite, we got spoiled by our butler on the Pearl.

Hope you continue to have a great cruise, I booked our cousins in a balcony cabin on our cruise, hope the shower curtain behaves, it's their first time on the Sun, they might have to use our shower.:eek:

Thank you for posting your review. Your pictures are pretty good.

We’ve hit that stage in the cruise week, where you realize that most of the cruise is behind you. Bittersweet with its memories of meals past, laughs at the shows, and smiles with your newfound cruise friends - weighed against the realization that the adventure is coming to a close.

The surf as we came back

Memories have been made: from the gent with the close-cropped dark beard sitting in the front row of Stardust Theater’s balcony who always orders a sprite with white rum; as well as the couple in their early 80s sitting next to us at dinner one evening regaling us with the tale of how they crossed zip-lining in Honduras off their bucket list.

Today: the last port stop, followed by a day at sea churning through the gulf toward Tampa, and a plane ride home to the cold north parts we call home. Sweet that we have two days left in the Caribbean on board the ship; bitter, that we have only two days left of the experience.

Memories Made:

Mrs. Photo much prefers exploration to leisurely sitting on the deck, letting the sun (or in my case, shade) and ocean breeze lull her to sleep. She does enjoy those lazy naps too, but new ports beckon her and engage her curiosity. This trip she was convincing, as only a woman can be, that we would be achieving some level of exploration, education, and general cultural experience.

She had originally suggested an eight-hour river cruise to visit some ruins. I, being the wiser of us in regard to comfort and availability of clean and friendly restrooms, as well as having a healthy phobia of things reptilian, cautioned against that excursion. My self-induced mental imagery of slithery creatures, draped along branches over-hanging the river, waiting to drop onto unsuspecting tourists convinced me that culture could be explored in more conventional ways.

We settled on an overland bus trip to the Chacchoben Mayan ruins an hour out from the little port of Costa Maya. The port only, we would learn later, is called “Costa Maya,” while the village or pueblo around it is a different entity with a different name. We had a very frustrating time trying to find weather information for this part of Mexico, since Costa Maya isn’t part of any online weather data.

Weather was our big worry as the morning dawned. As the ship backed into it’s berth along side a whale tail ship, we began with scattered pockets of sunshine fading to mostly cloudy overcast – which was interrupted by a brief downpour that sent the breakfast crowd in the Great Outdoors café scrambling to get their plates and cups, as well as themselves, away from the railing and under cover. They stood under the canopy, a bit incredulous at the burst of water from the sky.

Since the rainy season was supposed to be behind us by a month, we were used to water under the ship, not above the ship falling upon us.

The downpour ushered in stronger winds along with it. Winds that would lick up the surf, and send loose items accross the pier for most of the day. Intermittent drizzle continued as well. Culture is culture, and doest wash off in the rain, I realized. But it would probably cling to our shoes and come back aboard with us in the form of mud from the site thanks to the rain.

Keycards in hand, water bottles filled, now-pointless sunscreen applied with hopes that it would come in handy later, we headed down to deck 3-foreward to disembark. A perky cruise staffer was chatting with people next to a tray of tightly folded and packaged rain ponchos. Three-bucks each. Cautionary thoughts may have tempted us for a moment, but we passed right by. Memories were to be made, rain or shine.

The rainy-drizzle sputtered and splattered a bit, but faded as we walk the dock toward shore and qued up for the coming tour. We moved toward the roped off, long and thin waiting area beneath a small thatched roof pavilion. The wall of the dock’s shopping plaza loomed before us. TOUR was spelled out in large blue acrylic letters attached to a small booth, also thatched. Next to that, a tall archway in the wall broke up the Mayan themed artwork and symbols that decorated the signaled the entry into the small tourist plaza.

Across the well-trod aisle into the plaza, four dark skinned men, dressed in what one would assume were Mayan ceremonial costumes. One wore a feathered headdress and full wings of long brown and white feathers cascaded down his arms. He turned at one point, and I saw how the headdress was shaped like an owl’s head, complete with eyes peering out of the feathers. Another of the men was clad in loincloth and vest, his body painted aqua blue. My first thought was he resembled one of the cartoon Smurfs, but the Mayan symbols in white paint he wore on his cheeks, along with the beads and wooden ankle and wrist bracelets belied a warrior image no cartoon Smurf could match.

Despite their fierce appearance, a wooden bowl set on the pavement before them, and their calls of “Take picture with us! ... We use your camera. You get in picture with us,” showed how the culture of this formerly unvisited section of the Yucatan coast was quickly acclimating to the influx of tourists the Costa Maya dock was bringing to the area.

We watched the Mayan warriors engage with tourists while we stood waiting for our tour guide to announce our departure. The warriors continued their calls with big friendly smiles. When someone would step toward their group, the Owl Warrior would sweep one wing high behind the tourist, and hold the other long, feathered wing low before them, creating a feathery cocoon to embrace them, while another of the warriors would stand fierce and menacingly next to the smiling touristsstanding amidst the impending ancient battle the warriors represented. Dollars were dropped into the wooden bowl as the blue warrior handed the camera or cell-phone back to the tourists. They drifted away, their first memory of the port a fun one. “Come take picture with us… we use your camera… come!”

Finally a small Mexican woman, wearing white button-up shirt with the official Mexican tour guide logo embroidered above the left breast pocket chatting in Spanish with another similarly dressed woman, moved to the front of our waiting line of tourists. Holding aloft a laminated sheet of paper printed with “Chacchoben Ruins Tour” she declared “Chacchoben Tour – Vamanos! Follow me.”

We wound our way through the shopping plaza with its open air shops, their fronts totally exposed. The temperature was brisk for Mexico, still in the mid seventies. We hardly noticed the chill of the conditioned air drifting out of the stores we walked quickly past as she led us to the waiting bus. Its orange and white skinned exterior, similar to a clownfish – a species popularized by Pixar’s Nemo character - stood out amongst the other four or so all white busses lined up ready for tour groups.

Once we boarded, and our driver backed the “Nemo-bus” out of its spot, the diminutive tour guide took the bus’ microphone and introduced herself and our driver. “My name is Dee-anna” she pronounced in fluent English with a strong northern accent. We learned later that she had spent some of her early years in Canada, and developed an upper-North American dialect with her English. “Diana in English,” she said using the long I sound for the first syllabul, “but DEE-ana in Mexico. And our driver is Mar-r-r-r-r-teen,” she added strongly rolling the R in his name.

“Bueonos Dias, Martine” the passengers sounded in our various versions of American and Canadian accents.

“Not ‘Martine,’” Dee-ana coached us into the correct pronounciation, “Mar-r-r-r-r-teen. Try it again.” she smiled.

“Bueonos Dias, Martine” we sounded again. A few trilling Rs drifted in from the passengers, but most of us without the staccato sound in our own dialects flubbed and failed our attempts. Diana just smiled, and continued her introductory lecture to prepare us for our tour. We settled into our seats for the hour-long bus ride to the site. Mar-r-r-r-r-teen drove us steadily, while Dee-anna told us of the ancient Mayan culture. The rural green of Mexican countryside rolled by our Nemo-bus windows. We were making memories.

NOTE: I want to expand this essay quite a bit, and put in a lot of the details Diana told us on site, but I need to have full internet access. I’m running extremely short of internet minutes right now. I’ll work on getting an updated version of this essay pulled together and posted to my personal blog next week - if school work doesn’t interfere.

Quick updates:

Chacchoben was a very interesting site. A bit muddy, though. The treads on the soles of our sneakers were filled with mud as we returned to ship (after shopping – not buying, just shopping at the port). The tour through NCL was good, the staff was very pleasant. The bus ride was about an hour, on three different 2-lane highways. Note, this is one of the smaller Mayan sites, at the beginning of its excavation. There are still several large mounds to be worked on once funding is secured.

We did get rained on, but only lightly. The jungle foliage in the area served as natural shelter through a lot of it. Note to Photography folks. If you have a DSLR type camera (interchangeable lens type) – packing a typical plastic shopping back and a heavy rubber band (the larger ones for making pony tails for the ladies work well) will help you with a rain jacket for your camera.

Poke hole in the bottom of the bag, just barely large enough to stick your lens through. Do just that, but only the very front of the lens. If you have a lens hood, use that to help hold the plastic bag tight around the front of the lens. Use the rubber band to keep the bag tight around the lens barrel. Use the rest of the bag as the raincoat for the camera. You can photograph in rain with this set up. The bag should have plenty of room to contain your hands, while keeping the gear dry. You’ll look silly peering into a plastic sack, instead of looking at the historical site, but your camera will stay dry! The lens front will still get wet. Take a soft cloth along to wipe it off as needed.

The humidity, however, was annoying me as a photographer. I thought the sensor in my camera was clouding. After looking at the images back on the computer, it wasn’t the sensor. Those were vapor clouds that our eyes and brains were filtering out of our vision as we peered through them. The camera, however, was capturing them when the lighting was correct.

Oh well, after wiping and re-wiping off my lens-front in a futile attempt to clear up the fog I was seeing in the images, it’s pretty clean now.

Rain moved back in later in the day and stayed through bedtime for us.

We did have a bit of a concern when a Code Bravo was called (while docked) for the incinerator/garbage room port-side. Bobby our (now former) Cruise Director kept us updated. I haven’t heard word of the cause, but something was smoking where it shouldn’t have in the incinerator room. Fire crews were mobilized “just in case” according to Bobby, but eventually stood down. Kudos to the crew for a good job in handling the issue, and to the bridge for keeping us informed.

Dinner with new cruise friends, as we sat at 8-top table with three other couples. One of the couples we had sat next to (two 2-top tables) the night before. Lots of good conversation.

Then off to the show. Ivan Pecel: Making Juggling Tolerable – was a good mix of comedy with flinging things up into the air, or bouncing them intentionally (usually) off the stage. He even juggled a child.

Be warned that he, too, picks on the audience, including the cheap seats. You may want to be on the main level, however, to see his antics with the audience. We had to peer over the balcony railing several times, and still couldn’t see the action. The audio dialog was funny on it’s own, as we used our imaginations to fill in the action. Also, show up early if you can. Ten minutes or so before the show, they began running a photo slideshow with witty diatribes from Ivan… and less misspellings than I usually have (but my wife caught “Sanitize” misspelled on one slide). Laughing baby and silly dog videos were also part of the pre-show multimedia presentation.

Well, I am so sorry to hear your cruise is ending; although not as sorry as you must be. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your stories and will look out for you in the future. Do you only travel with NCL or do you mix it up a bit?

Thank you so much for this!!!! We travel on the late March/early April version of this trip and I am LOVING learning more about it. Thank you and enjoy the rest! I hope it STAYS wonderful!!!!

Troyphoto, did you use Flickr to upload your photos or some other program; or did you just upload from your computer? Thanks

Note: I’m darn near out of internet minutes. No photos this post, and I’m trying to stretch the logins to be able to check emails from home a few times today. Daughter is waiting to hear on a new job, frigid temps, has the cat survived a week without out various appendages to attack at odd moments, etc. — I will attempt to clean up the posts, fill in some details, and cross post most of this over to my personal blog next week. I’ll add a link at the end of this thread once that is accomplished.

I’ll try to write a wrap up blog later today – maybe post it tomorrow once I have land based internet again. But for now, some reflections:

I woke up this morning wondering what to write about. My mind was churning over ideas: watching the Epic pull into dock next to us in Cozumel, or, perhaps a comparison of various NCL ship classes, maybe the one Canadian I found who boarders on “rude” (Canadian rude is so much nicer than American rude – I’m just amazed that I found that person).

Instead, I’ll just go all reflective as I stare off into the waves, little ones this morning, maybe five-foot or so with little whitecaps, as I sit here in the Great Outdoors enjoying the rocking and swaying of the ship.

Special Shout-out to our new Canadian friends Terry and Debbie! (they’re not on Cruise Critic, but I’m trying to remedy that oversight on their part). They’ve been wonderfully pleasant every time we’ve sat with them, and happy to spend some time chatting with us southern folk. They’re not the only ones. The fellow travelers we meet on board have that special kind of “nice” that is often missing from other types of vacation goers.

People cruise for different reasons. For some it’s the booze, and knowing that no matter how often they ask, the Captain won’t let them drive the ship, so they’re safe from a DUI. Others go for the ports and shopping. Still others get their therapy sitting on a different beach each day or by the pool chillaxin’ and soaking up rays.

My wife comes for the time away, adventure (especially cultural adventure), and a chance to just get away from work.

I’m here for ocean therapy. The rocking of the ship, the tang of the salt air, the never ending breeze all fuel my batteries for another year back in real life. My wife and I joke often about what our roles would be as part of the crew. We’ve determined that should we be hired, she won’t be in any position that might have her driving the ship. Parallel parking isn’t her forte.

Eventually, we decided she’d end up in the laundry area, where her mad sewing skills (several 4-H State Fair ribbons have been earned many years ago) might come in handing mending uniforms and such.

I on the other hand, might be a natural for the photography staff. However, I’m not about to wear the dolphin suit on shore days. Nor will I ever wear a necktie again. (Well, if the daughter gets married, I’ll dress up for her – but not for anyone else. One can be well groomed and presentable without a necktie). So, what role could I fill on the ship? It takes a lot to push my buttons, but I’ve got a grumpy streak that would put that one Canadian to shame on the rude scale, so I’m not a good fit for the Cruise staff, nor would I fit in a Customer service role. Wife overruled my dreams of becoming a husband/wife music duo, like Into the Drift. She reminded me that I’m not allowed to either dance, or sing in public.

Ship lookout is about the best role for me. Just stick me in a shady spot, with an unobstructed view of the ocean and a radio to the bridge. Perhaps throw in a window I can open and hang my head out like a coon-dog rolling through the country, his head out the pick-up’s window, with his ears flapping in the breeze. That’s my dream roll. Just looking at the ocean every day.

Jimmy Buffet should write a song about that.

Cruising is different for everyone. But there is one thing in common for every cruise passenger. If we love cruising, the common factor has to be the ocean. There are all-inclusive resorts one can stay at. There are hotels and tours one can fly to and relax. But, they lack one thing. They’re all shore-bound. We’re all here because we love being on a hotel that floats – on the ocean.

That’s all the therapy I need.

Even on the two ships I didn’t enjoy as much – the now retired Dream, and the Star – the only down side was the layout of the ship. The Dream was built when worshipping the Sun was the rage and the reason for being on a cruise. NCL’s designers had a great idea with the Great Outdoors on the Sun class and beyond (Except the Star and Dawn – what happened? Where’d the Great Outdoors on those ships go?).

The aft open-air but covered cafe is really a great place to sit, chat with folks, have some snacks or a meal. As I write this, one of the guest just called one of her newfound friends on the wait staff over for a morning hug and a brief chat. This place, more than any other place on any of the ships I’ve sailed on, has that special Ocean Magic. It’s hard to be grumpy with Mother Ocean all around you!

I’ve booked a cabin on the Getaway once, and had to cancel due to schedule conflicts. So, I can’t speak of that class of ship. But, the lack of the Great Outdoors, is likely to make that class of ship into a second tier ship (like the Star class) for me. The hotel staff, the crew, and the fellow travelers (most of them, anyway, for that last class) have always been wonderful – even on the ships I didn’t enjoy as much. The one common item missing was a place for community to gather, and commune with Mother Ocean.

Back in Indiana, I’ll spend all summer long sitting on our deck, under a canopy, enjoying Mother Nature. I’m going to want to relax the same way onboard the ship. But, with the other mother, Mother Ocean.

I cruise for a variety of reasons – the foremost being Mother Ocean. I can sightsee anywhere from inside a cabin of a bus or a taxi. Nothing beats sitting and staring at the ocean. Or, like now, writing away at a table in the GO, glancing up at my fellow passengers to share a smile, or chatting with the coffee cart girl who’s refilling my cup every few paragraphs- and always behind them, ever-present like a watchful spirit, is Mother Ocean.

Today, the last sea day of the voyage is always the worst for me. Not because of the crew, or the ship, but because it’s the last day here, on the sea. Tonight, when I close my eyes and get rocked to sleep (gently I hope) by the swaying of the ship as she dances across the surf, I know that the next morning isn’t about BING-BONG announcements from our cruise staff, or the vague promised to keep in touch with many new friends we’ll likely never see again. It’s goodbye for another season, to the family of cruisers, to the family of staff who make it enjoyable. Most of all, it’s a goodbye to Mother Ocean, the reason for being here, together.

Last night at the end of the variety show, we saw the ship’s staff and officers come on stage for the NCL family song. We’ve always been pleased with our crews. The little touches, like our room stewards learning our names, the happy “Washy-Washy” greetings, knowing that they read the comments here and react where appropriate (6 point type to label the soap containers in the shower???? < — my only complaint)- those personal touches all make NCL a family that we enjoy returning to. But the glue that brings the entire experience together?

Mother Ocean. Without her, there would be no reason to gather, to share our experiences. We can do all of those things on land. Without the ocean, we’d be just another hotel packed full of smelly tourists. The cruise experience is many things to many people. And tomorrow, no matter what reason they’re cruising for, our current journey ends.

Tomorrow is the day we say goodbye, for now, to Mother Ocean and the serenity she brings. There will be many more journeys. Every time we climb back aboard a ship, everything we do, every person we meet, every smile we share with staff, crew or passenger, we really are one family. We’re here because of our mother. Mother Ocean.

If you will excuse me. I’ve got to spend some “family time” today. There is a deck chair in the shade waiting for me. Going to chat with Mother.

Well said; you had a wonderful cruise. Enjoyed your posts especially your last; it is so relaxing onboard the ship with the waves rocking back and forth; it lets us forget about time and everything in our lives; just for a few days or weeks; we feel at home and we all sleep better on cruise ships than we do at home. You gotta love that.

I really enjoyed your review. Thank You.

Thank you so much for doing this review. It was wonderful to feel some excitement for our cruise coming up in 3 weeks! We too are looking forward to reconnecting with our Mother Ocean!

I will eagerly await your link to the blog which will hopefully have many more photos!

Safe travels home!

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I have greatly enjoyed your review. After your last post, I find that I am looking forward even more for my March 29 sail date on the Sun. Thanks for sharing a bit of your time with us.

I hope your last chat today with our Mother was awesome.... :-) Thank you for sharing this in real time! Safe travels back to Indy! Peace!