Cap N

A question concerning the port of La Goulette. (for Tunis, Tunisia)

It is my understanding taxis and hired drivers cannot meet cruise ships in port.  They can only pick-up and drop off passengers outside the port's gate some distance from where the ships dock. Is this correct?  If so, what is the distance between the ship docks and the gate? Are there shuttles or transportation from the ships to the gate or do passengers have to walk? (We will be sailing on Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam this April.) Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Cap 

Cap: I posted some pics from the Dun yesterday in a new thread. Search on Refurb.

 

 

 

 

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Thank you Elaine for sharing your photos. The Sun's public areas look like they are in great shape. Too bad they didn't do much, if any, refurbishing of the staterooms. My wife and I both appreciate your help.

Cap

There's nothing inherently wrong with the bathrooms (aside from their size, small, and layout, awkward,) my complaint is that, at least in my cabin (9214, fore balcony on Deck 9,) there does not appear to have been any maintenance performed. Chipped paint on the door frame and in various places tells me that it has not been repainted in years, if ever. The mirror was peeling at the bottom. The whole room, from the archaic hair dryer to the counters and toilet, just felt dated and neglected.

 

The cabin, itself, was fine -- lots of storage, it never felt cramped, and the room was well kept. The door to the balcony was weird, it wouldn't close itself, getting stuck in whatever position you opened it to, unless you shoved it closed, which has never been my experience (even on the Sky last year.)

 

Apart from the bathroom, nothing on the ship cried out "old" to me. I missed O'Sheehan's, though you can get the same Buffalo Wings in the sports bar after 5:30pm. Don't like the ship's "no food on the bar" rule, which I haven't encountered before.

 

I hated the new "no straws" policy.

Thank you again. You have been a great help.

Just got home on Friday. The bathrooms do need re-done, but there was a hair dryer that fit the European outlet in the vanity drawer. Cuba embark was easy, just a look at the visa, scanning passport & visa, stamp & then on your way to the currency exchange. Getting transport off the Navy base in Key west was the real pain. Hope they have it figured out this week.

HarpHarp, thank you for your post. Could you please explain more on why the bathrooms need to be redone. What condition are they in? (I guess they were not refurbished while the Sun was in dry dock.) What if any problems did you experience specifically with the bathrooms. Although we have heard many positive things about the Sun and very much want to visit Cuba we have never sailed on a ship as old as the Sun and my wife is very particular about a ship's bathrooms. Any thoughts and help you could give us would be invaluable.

Cap

I would be grateful to know thoughts and opinions on the refurbished Norwegian Sun from anyone who has sailed on the ship since its April dry dock and refit.

 

Putting aside the terrible situation that many experienced due to the construction that took place on the cruises prior to the Sun's dry dock, I would appreciate knowing about the work accomplished, the changes and improvements and the shape of the ship now. For example, what if any refurbishments were done to the staterooms?

 

My wife and I are experienced cruisers but we have not ever sailed on Norwegian or a ship as old as the Sun. We are currently deciding which cruise to take this year so any information or photos you can share will be most helpful.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

We just sailed her for the first time last week and we mostly sailed princess, royal and carnival. We we're pleasantly surprised how nice she was, small but it was a short cruise so it was nice to relax. Our cabin was on deck 7 which we loved because we would go to the lounge down from our cabin to have a drink before and after dinner. Would book her again .

 

jstcruizin, thank you for your reply. I appreciate your help. Could you please tell me what you thought of your stateroom and the cabin's bathroom? I have received mix reviews on the condition of the Sun's staterooms. From those sailing since the Sun was in dry dock most like the work done but supposedly most of the staterooms and baths were not refurbished only the public areas were upgraded. I would be interested in your opinion of the staterooms. Thank you so much.

 

Cap

Well, Cruise Critic isn’t allowing me to post pictures, for some reason, but my overall impression, comparing the renovated Sun to the Sky, which I was on last October, is that it feels fresh and modern in the public spaces. The cabin feels a lot like the one I had on the Escape in February, though the bathroom is pretty run down and obviously wasn’t touched during dry dock. There are two USB chargers over the bed now. The buffet is the same poorly laid out space as it was on the Sky. Seven Seas dining room for lunch was nice. Sports bar has been updated with new bar, layout is still the same.

Thank you adjensen. Very kind of you to answer my questions. Best to you.

Cap

What I especially like about the Sun is the look and feel. It reminds me somewhat of my all-time favorite ship, the 700-pax Skyward. I miss those "little white ships!"

tef43, it looks like we have similar good taste. Thanks.

Cap

I’m disappointed that they appear to have changed/upgraded so little. There is another video that shows the rooms and it appears they have changed the carpet and perhaps the sofa fabric innthe balcony rooms but the insides look exactly the same and the sofas appear to be the same uncomfortable ones.

 

The remainder (with the exception of the photo center and the Los Labos/Cagneys/Tepenaki area) appears to be relatively unchanged except for upholstery and carpet. I had hoped they might make some changes to the buffet to make it clearer that it isn’t a continuous line but different areas. I do hope the rest of the chairs to go with the new tables in The Great Outdoors are doin delivered! LOL

 

 

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Thanks Clay. I will look for the other video. Best to you.

Cap

For those of us interested in learning about the recent Sun refurbishment--a video of the ship post dry dock was just posted on YouTube. It is 25 minutes and shows most of the public areas of the ship. I am grateful for "inspiration4him1" for making the video. Its title is "Norwegian Sun Video Tour Post-Dry Dock 2018." Here is a link:

After watching the video I would be interested in your comments.

Cap

Maybe because it was our first cruise? You never forget your first!

 

I’m sure some has to do with the great memories of the great cruises we have taken on her-round the horn, Panama Canal but it is also familiarity and ease of getting around.

 

The staff too has always been great-the Hotel Director makes sure his staff does the right thing...and maybe because the staff is smaller you get to know them better.

 

The forward facing BC staterooms are unique and let us cheapskates feel like we are high rollers and if you can’t swing those, the large insides (I forget the category) are huge!

 

And the Great Outdoors- I really hate sailing any ship that doesn’t have one.

 

 

 

 

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Thank you Clay. Greatly appreciated.

Cap

Sun is our favorite ship so subscribing to see how her plastic surgery went-hope it was good and not an episode of Botched! LOL

 

 

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Clay, thanks for the post. I would be interested in knowing why the Sun is your favorite ship. When did you sail on the Sun? It is great being a part of the Cruise Critic community and it is fun reading everyone's comments but I am also hopeful to learn about the Sun itself. I will appreciate any insight you care to share.

Cap

ElaineKeagy, it appears of those of us on this thread youare the only one who has recently been on the Norwegian Sun. I would begrateful if you could give us your thoughts, a mini-review, the pros and consas you see them, of the ship since it was in dry dock.

Concerning poker: Is the poker on board real Texas hold’emor is it one of the variations played on blackjack style tables such as threecard poker or so called “ultimate” Texas hold’em where you don’t play againstthe other players but only the dealer?

Thanks for the help.

Cap

To adjensen,

Thank you for your offer to post photos of the Sun. I would be grateful for your opinion of the ship especially now that it has been refurbished. Have a great cruise.

Cap

To bluesea777 & tef43,

Thank you for your posts. I am in agreement, I too have little use for today's mega ships but it would still be helpful to learn about the Norwegian Sun's refurbishment from anyone who has sailed on the ship after it was in dry dock in April.

I more than love my 1949 Buick Super convertible but when I bought it and before I had it fully restored you would have thought it a pile of junk.

Any information on the recent work done on the Norwegian Sun will be greatly appreciated.

Cap

I would be grateful to know thoughts and opinions on the refurbished Norwegian Sun from anyone who has sailed on the ship since its April dry dock and refit.

Putting aside the terrible situation that many experienced due to the construction that took place on the cruises prior to the Sun's dry dock, I would appreciate knowing about the work accomplished, the changes and improvements and the shape of the ship now. For example, what if any refurbishments were done to the staterooms?

My wife and I are experienced cruisers but we have not ever sailed on Norwegian or a ship as old as the Sun. We are currently deciding which cruise to take this year so any information or photos you can share will be most helpful.

Thank you in advance.

Cap

If anyone has cruised on the NCL Sun or Sky and stayed in one of the inside rooms on decks 8, 9 and 10 that back-up to the atrium I would be grateful knowing how noisy those rooms are. With the rooms sharing a wall with the atrium and the open space to the decks below could you hear in the room any noise from the public areas? Was there any noise from the glass elevators that run in the atrium?

You answers and help will be most appreciated.

Cap

On the NCL Sun & Sky there are inside rooms on decks 8, 9 &10 that back-up to the atrium. In other words, one wall of the inside room is also the wall of the atrium and the open area to the decks below. I would be grateful to know from past cruisers who have stayed in these inside rooms how noisy they are. How much noise from the public areas below do you hear while in the room? Do you hear any noise from the glass elevators that run in the atrium?

Your answers and help will be much appreciated.

Cap

Thank you ellieanne for the information. Very helpful. Much appreciated.

Cap

RE: Post Refit Features and Additions

I would be grateful to know what attractions were added on the Zuiderdam during last fall's dry dock. Does the Zuiderdam now have Holland America's Exploration Center (EXC) and the Rijksmuseum at Sea like were added to the Westerdam earlier in 2017? If not, does anyone know when they are scheduled to be added? I have read the Zuiderdam now features B. B. King's Blues Club and Lincoln Center but I have not been able to find out what other innovations were added. (Sadly, when I phoned HAL the agent said he wasn't sure.) Thank you for your replies.

Cap