Planmaam

I will always suggest you visit Butchart Gardens at least once when visiting Victoria. I didn't on my first visit, and once I did on the second I wished I had the first time which was a separate visit after a cruise when I would have had more time.

Do a ship's excursion though, as if you are only there a limited time you won't have to worry about getting back to the ship on time; it is a bit of a drive outside of town.

If you are visiting during the summer, I've heard they have fireworks in the evenings. There is a winery close, and sometimes they combine a visit there with the gardens. We did a wine and chocolate pairing there combined with the gardens.

I'm looking forward to returning to Victoria again, and will definitely go to the gardens again. Amazing!

I also look forward to your review; what a breath of fresh air!

Have a fabulous time, Bon Voyage!

No, silly, the picture in his post.

Oh, maybe that's not what he was referencing. :confused: Just his avatar.:o

Not always.

I was a group leader, in a suite, from the US; no luggage tags. Though all the members of my group did. Go figure!

No idea lol

I know! I know! AFT!!!!!

I haven't been on the Sun since 2003, and I am getting excited to sail her again just reading this thread.

There are probably a lot of people out there who won't like her because of her age, but I'm sure there are even more of us who love her for just those same reasons. This is the first ship I ever sailed, and when I went on my second cruise, I immediately noticed that the stateroom (both balconies in about the same location on the ship) was smaller than the one on the Sun.

I'm sure I'll be sailing her more than the one cruise I currently have booked; just love the layout of this ship. The main aft dining room seemed different to me than on the newer ships, too. I just have this memory of being at a table centrally located and impressed how I could look to the left, right and in front of me and see out windows all three directions. The Star, Pearl, and Jewel have larger areas along the sides of the dining rooms that are closed in, without windows, and it just is a different feeling.

That and the Observation Lounge in the front of the ship is different than the newer ships. The Sun has more windows directly out the front of the ship, making it a wonderful place to sit, sip a drink, and chill during sea days.

Ahhhhhhhhhh Norwegian, take me away!!!

P.S. As I stated on our roll call, I have never seen Baked Alaska on any of the menus on NCL, sorry.

Tsar's Palace on deck 6 aft is open for lunch on embarkment day.

Go to the aft of the ship on deck 7 to take the stairs down into the entrance to the dining room. There should not be too many people there, and if you're lucky, can get a table at the rear windows.

Have a wonderful cruise!

Yes, Nancy, you will be able to dress up. Even get your picture taken with the Captain in your finest!

They also have photographers set up in the atrium area on their "Dress up or not" nights so that people, couples, or families can have their pictures taken professionally. I love sitting and watching all this going on as I enjoy a drink before dinner. Some fun photos/groups can be seen.

So take all the clothes you want, even dress up every night if you wish!

You can't keyhole people according to their age. I know old young people and I know young old people. I truly believe in the saying that age is only a number; it's more about your attitude and aptitude.

All that being said, I don't think Norwegian would EVER try to instill an age at which one is too old to cruise.

If so is there a coffee package?

No, there is not a coffee package, but I would LOVE it if there were!!!!

Well, I guess I'm not a major-league drinker, because I had two unopened bottles of wine I brought on board, paid and then was refunded the corkage fee. These were not the only bottles I brought on board, though.

You beat me to the punch :)

Took the words right out of my mouth :eek:

 

Stepping on board a cruise ship is quite the high and rush. The be handed a glass of bubbly just was WOW. So simple but so classy!

I third this. Does anyone know why it was discontinued ?

Wow. Second day in a row I've had some entertaining lunch-time reading! ;)

Can you tell me the differences between the Star & the Sun, keeping in mind what has been said below. Thanks

The two ships are of different "classes". The Star is of the Dawn class (which makes me think that the Dawn is older than the Star), and the Sun is the Sun class. The only other Sun class ship is the Sky. The Sun is 848 feet long with 1936 passengers; the Star is 965 feet long with 2348 passengers. I've been on both, but it's been over 10 years since I've been on the Sun.

The Sun still has their Observation Lounge (Spinnaker on other ships.) at the front of the ship, and has the Great Outdoors at the aft. There is no spa to join on the Sun, though they have free steam rooms and saunas. The Star's spa is at the aft of the ship about where the Great Outdoors is on the Sun.

The Sun's staterooms are some of the largest of the fleet. It was my first cruise, and I remember when getting on my next cruise, which was in a balcony on the Pearl in about the same place, how much smaller it was. I notice immediately as I came into the room.

Check out the aft penthouses on the Sun, and you'll see why its on my bucket list to cruise in one of these!

OK, I searched and found the thread I had referenced.

Have fun reading:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=977091&highlight=what+does+dh+mean+

Uhoh, typo. Stupid phone and predictive text! The whole point was lost.

It was DH, not DR. It was several years ago. 4 or 5 at least.

I'm with those who say they don't want to do laundry on a cruise. Really? I'm on vacation!

Love the laundry special during the cruise week, always use it. I'll be platinum after the next cruise, so then it's free!

I have also never even THOUGHT about checking to see if a ship had a self-serve laundry. No way, no how!

Can you tell I don't like doing laundry? Now you made me remember I need to get a load or two started..................... ;)

Kim, did you ever read the post where some guy asked what DR stood for? Said his wife said it was dick head but he wasn't sure.............. You should have read all the responses! Laughed so hard tears were rolling down my face.

Let's see.... that would be. LSHTRDMF!

The last time I used the AARP membership discount, I had to give them my AARP membership number, which hadn't been required before.

Sometimes Latitudes offers are better, though.

It's the first thing I pack!

I second this one! Medicalma'am and I both have made these at home. Yum!

I forgot my favorite food! It is the portobello mushroom appetizer. I even took a picture of the recipe during the Jewel kitchen tour that we got with our Chef's Table experience.

 

 

 

 

I read all the posts, and am surprised no one mentioned Spinnaker Lounge. It's at the top front of the ship, floor-to-ceiling windows to see out, and has a bar where you can order a drink.

Though I've been on the Pearl twice, the most recent was almost 5 years ago, so hope it is still open and available during the day.

On my first cruise on the Sun, I wrote daily in their Observation Lounge which is in the equivalent position as the Spinnaker on the Pearl, and loved it there.

Have a fabulous cruise, and enjoy Alaska!

On the Sun, can I wake up in the morning, can we claim a chair with a towel and go grab breakfast?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, you're talking a sin they'll make you walk the plank for!!!! Search for blue dot or chair hogs, and you'll get your answer!;)

So glad to seen your review; anxiously awaiting the next installment. Hope it continued to be "uneventful". Hope your wife is completely recovered. Was she in any pain on the cruise?

Thank you, Donna. And it is a fabulous location! Did this by any chance used to be where Le Bistro was? The picture looks like what I remember as Le Bistro in 2003.