Review of the Norwegian Sun- Aug 25 sailing from Alaska to Vancouver

Just got back from the Aug 25 sailing of the Norwegian Sun from Whittier Alaska to Vancouver. Had a great time. What really stood out was how friendly the crew was. Everytime a crew member walked by they said hello. Many members of the cruise director staff were very personable and friendly like Sassy Sarah and Eddie Spaghetti. Also had a great nail tech at the spa - Trudy.

We had arrived 4 days before the cruise in Alaska to visit friends who live on the Kenai Peninsula. Stayed in a really nice 2 bedroom cottage in Moose Pass – definitely recommend – the name was "Alpenglow Cottage" if you are interested in staying in that area. Friendly owner, nice cottage. Also if you need a great charter boat for fishing or sightseeing out of Seward – contact “Gone Again Charters” – our friends own it and we were lucky the weather was good enough they took us out up around the bay near the glaciers for a nice sightseeing tour of the bay and area.

Monday, Aug 25

We arrived about 11:35am to make the Whittier Tunnel (the schedule is online, easy to find it when googling). Our friend drove us around Whittier and we arrived about 1215 at the ship. We dropped off our luggage (luckily the baggage handlers there had staples to staple the baggage tags you print off and also had some to provide). Lines were pretty short (I’ve been in much longer) – and we were able to board fairly quickly.

Was disappointed to find out none of the complimentary sit down restaurants were open for lunch that day. Was looking forward to having a nice relaxing sit down lunch, so we went up to the buffet on the 11th deck. Was expecting the buffet to be larger but it was never crowded.

Saw the entertainment show that night – comedian was funny, a lot of time spent introducing crew/officers

Signed up for the Behind the Scenes Tour of the ship – they only offered it once for 16 people on Sunday

Through the week saw the kids from the kids academy doing parades throughout the ship. Was surprised with the number of children on the ship - considering some schools had started already and others were about to start. During the behind the scenes tour saw there were 2061 passengers and 899 crew members

Mini Suite Cabin on Deck 11: Didn’t have to wait long for all the cabins to be ready. A few weeks early we had upgraded to a mini suite for a small increase in price (we had been told to call back to see the chance about upgrading for free, but the increase in cost was so small we decided just to pay and be guaranteed after getting great advice and good recommendations on this board). Great location – not many cabins located at that end and not much people traffic either. Large closet, with about 6 drawers of storage, including a shelf for the safe and another shelf for the life vests. Separate room for the sink with cabinets and storage and across a chair with another counter. Additional room with door to room with tub/shower and toilet. Cabin itself was nice size – another storage unit with about 4 drawers, tv, desk, refrigerator; and full size couch. We had the mini bar emptied. Could hear a thumping noise (not loud just very faint) from the lounge above but they stop playing music by 11pm so never bothered us.

Overview of the ship:

I thought the ship was nice – a little odd as you can’t go across from one end to the other for one of the sit down restaurants on the same deck. A tip we discovered about half way through the week was a stairwell next to the Seven Seas restaurant that goes down to the 4th deck – not many people know about it and easy to walk to the other side of the ship instead of going through the photo gallery, Dazzles, etc..

The two sit down complimentary restaurants had the same standard menus at both places and then another menu that changed each day.

Dazzles is the bar/lounge that majority of cruise staff activities occur. You have to walk through it to go from one end of the deck to the other. Ship also has shops, library, photo gallery, a smaller lounge called Windjammer.

Atrium in front of the ship opens up to deck 11 – stairs go between deck 5 and 6 where guest services is.

Took a tour of the spa, and took a free tour of the ship. The free tour of the ship was led by Sassy Sarah (a member of the cruise director staff). She was very nice and personable and always friendly everytime we saw her throughout the week.

Used the spa for a massage and manicure/pedicure. Really enjoyed the nail tech Trudy, she was very friendly and personable.

Seven Seas Restaurant: Made reservations ahead of time and didn’t need it – pretty empty. Food was pretty good – ate there a couple more times

Tuesday, Aug 26:

At sea day. Went to the buffet for breakfast (through the week served about all the same dishes for breakfast). Attended some activities including tv trivia.

Ship took us up really close to the Hubbard Glacier – the ship sailed toward it, then turned and stopped and then turned so the right side of the ship could have front view, then turned so back could see it.

Open Seasons for dinner – good but saw the same main courses offered at the buffet.

Entertainment show that evening was ok until the tap dancing started then it went downhill. Do we really need 4 or 5 numbers of tap dancers. Attended the Newlywed game which was funny.

Wed: Icy Straight Point:

I knew this was a stop created by the cruise ship industry and the town of Hoonah was very small. If you go make sure you have an excursion as not much to do after walking around the shops, food places, etc..

Took the Forest and Nature Tram excursion, which left 15 minutes late. As expected it was slow, laid back and saw mostly the rainforest and the water.

**Highly recommend the excursion “Alaska’s Wildest Kitchen”. We took it at the end of the day and it was great. The woman who taught this has lived in Alaska on the water for 20+ years. Worked on fishing boats, etc.. Gave us 3 recipes of her favorites – Salmon Dip, Salmon Burgers and Fish Soup. Showed us how to make it and we had samples. Then we each got a piece of halibut and salmon and were able to season it ourselves and cook it outside on the fire. It was very interesting too.

Thurs: Juneau:

Didn’t book anything ahead of time. We were thinking of going up the Roberts Tramway but had been told if it was cloudy/overcast you wouldn’t be able to see anything. Clouds hung around the top the whole day.

Booked a city trolley tour from one of the excursion booths at the port. It was informative and interesting – we got off once across the water for a nice view of Juneau and the ships. Walked around the town and were surprised that with several ships in Port more stores weren’t open earlier. With the recommendations of others – had lunch at Tracy’s Crab Shack and was definitely worth it. The crab bisque was really good too. Also got the mini crab cakes.

Our ship left 40 minutes late as one person didn’t return, they finally left her. We heard she got to Skagway and was at the pier when the ship pulled in.

Ship went up Tracy Arm Fjords which was amazing and very pretty. Can’t imagine the first people who discovered at the end of that was a glacier. We didn’t go as close to this glacier but the scenery was awesome.

Saw the comedian that night and he was good, improvised too when the ship started making noise. Heard his second adult only show was just as funny. He made fun of the people who can’t read the signs at the water dispensers in the buffet that says not to fill up water bottles, made fun of those who get up really really early and go to the buffet in their pajamas – even made fun of some kid that everyone saw all over the ship but never saw his parents anywhere.

Friday – Skagway

We had booked an excursion with Chilkoot Charters for a bus and rail excursion for 3.5 hours. We took the bus up (small bus picked up passengers at each of their ships). Good commentary on the bus, interesting. Small group about 12 people. Stopped a couple of places along the way. Had to go through customs when we got to Canada. We were then dropped off at small train station – our group had a car to themselves. Narration over the train – great scenery and you can go outside to take photos along the way. Very pretty and amazing how the pioneers during the gold rush climbed up and down those mountains.

Went back to Skagway and had lunch at a local pub/bar which was good food and walked around the town to the various stores – but were done by 2pm and headed back to the ship.

Saw the juggler/ladder guy at the theater and he was horrible, awful and corny.

Went to the sing along with the crew and guests in the atrium which was fun

Saturday – Ketchikan

Had booked the 1:30pm Duck tour through the ship (it was only a $2 difference between booking it directly) - **Plus for booking through ship – there was a long line to get off the ship – but after some of the excursions met in the theatre we were called to leave and walked by everyone in a special line and were able to leave the ship.

Duck Tour was just ok – wouldn’t recommend, the guides weren’t that good and corny. Walked around the town

**Note if you are Catholic and want to attend church – Holy Name Church of Ketchikan offers a Port to Pew Shuttle Service – just google their name – they pick up at 8:15am on Sundays and 4:30pm on Saturdays. Very nice friendly people and great service. One of the women on the shuttle said she had asked guest services about the local catholic church and they didn’t know – she asked the visitor center and they told her about the free port to pew shuttle service.:

Sunday – sea day

Took the behind the scenes tour which was interesting – saw the galley,laundry, waste management, walked by the doors to some of the crew cabins which were way down. Got a presentation of the history of NCL too. 15 minute break in the middle was a waste of time. Took a picture in the galley and at the end were presented with a padded booklet with our picture and a photo of the ship and itinerary – very nice gift.

Went to the Q&A with some of the ship officers and production staff. Staff talent show was awful – left before it ended.

Monday – Vancouver.

We chose to carry our own luggage which I’ve done before. We had to be out of the cabins by 8:30am although didn’t need to leave the ship that early. We left at 8:00am and were shocked, one person on the elevator with us – only a few people leaving the ship and only a few people in line for customs.

Stayed in Vancouver for 2 more nights – took two great tours with LandSea Tours

Took the Post Cruise City Highlights Tour – they pick you up at the port, handle your luggage and will drive you to your hotel. Great tour and tour guide, got out several times, had good time at Granville Island to shop and have lunch; went to Stanley Park and ended going up the Vancouver Tower for a great view of the city, ship.

The next day we used LandSea Tours again for the North Shore Capilano Bridge and Grouse Mountain Tour – another great guide, small bus and interesting tour

Sounds like you had a great trip. Thanks for taking the time to write it up.

I'll mention that on the East Coast, many places didn't start school until after Labor Day, after you'd have been home. It's possible that some of those kids on your trip are from those places.

It's so nice to read a clear, concise review with good grammar! Thanks very much. steve

Sounds like you had a great trip. Thanks for taking the time to write it up.

 

I'll mention that on the East Coast, many places didn't start school until after Labor Day, after you'd have been home. It's possible that some of those kids on your trip are from those places.

Just surprised with the number of kids considering it ended the day or two before schools started -

Thanks for writing this! I'm looking forward to going on her!

Concerned that you found no MDR open for lunch on embarkation day. Taking elderly parents on the Sun in October, and had planned on lunching at a MDR. Anyone else have this experience on the Sun ?

Concerned that you found no MDR open for lunch on embarkation day. Taking elderly parents on the Sun in October, and had planned on lunching at a MDR. Anyone else have this experience on the Sun ?

I think one of the restaurants that cost money was open and Moderno was open and complimentary but was a buffet

First link is of the scenery

http://public.fotki.com/avisn/alaska-and-vancouve/

Second link is of the Norwegian Sun - we stayed in a mini suite with a huge bathroom (cabin 1204)

http://public.fotki.com/avisn/norwegian-sun/