NCL Sun Land tour 7/27-8/10-On our own

[languages1]

Hello fellow cruisers,

 

This is my 2nd time in Alaska and decided to venture on my own. DH really wanted to see Homer so I planned our itinerary and we are on our way. Will try and do every day for you so you can really get a feal of how it is to go off the beaten path.

 

Our first trip was in 2010 and we took princess as well as a 7 day land post cruise to Denali. We came ourselves that time and did the whole Denali trek. I added days at the end in Anchorage and we flew out of Anchorage.

 

We are average people with average likes and dislikes. DH is a TV hound, remote control freak and judges hotel rooms on those basis ugghh. Me on the other hand loves to travel and I plan my trips 1 year in advance and we take a month wherever we go. We love to explore new places.

 

Food tastes. well we are both not gourmet and DH does not drink very often so we do not order wines alot.

 

Our cruising experience is Mexican Riverea, Carribbean and Alaska. On Alaska we have done Northbound before.

 

Cruislines are Carnival, Princess and now NCL

 

 

We are traveling pre and post cruise by ourselves. Our family will be joining us for the cruise. So this review will help alot of age groups.

 

My oldest daughter (30) and her husband (30) and 14 month old will be in a forward mini suite cabin 1001. She has cruised before but this is hubbys first cruise.

 

DH (62)and I (56) are in a mini suite.

 

My second oldest daughter (28) and her husband (30), mother in law (64) and 2 1/2 year old daughter are currently on a balcony guarantee with no assignment. All 3 have cruised before.

 

My youngest daughter ((26) and a dear friend (her retired nanny) (67) did an oceanview guarantee and ended up with a picture window oceanview cabin 7201. Tina the nanny has never cruised before nor does she know how to swim. This will be her 2nd time in life leaving her country Costa Rica. She has only seen California.

 

So as said before this review will cover many opinions. We all have the ultimate dining plan and shore excursions planned. Some different.

 

With that said here we go

[languages1]

I plan all our trips and use the following items to help me. I am not a travel agent I just love to travel. Tripadvisor, Hotels,com, Hotwire and Priceline, Costco, Tripit (all my planning goes into that) and TOURSAVER. Last but not least Cruise critic. Where I am now paying back for all the info I have been able to get through here. None of the people here have ever left me down.

We always take super shuttle so we do not hassle anyone to drive us. We never slept the night before and Super Shuttle true to their words were there at 2:50 AM. We are flying Delta 1st class. I have found to book coach and then pay for upgrade 3 weeks before departure is the cheapest way to go. Originally the price was 1120.00 RT per person versus 371.00 per person coach.

I upgraded around 3 weeks ago and paid an additional 350.00 each.

 

I booked our cruises through Costco in January. We originally had a family balcony connecting with oldest daughter and all the rest had insides. Prices dropped considerably so we all upgraded.

 

Once at the airport dropped luggage with sky caps outside. Sky priority has an express line to go through security check so within 30 minutes we went to our boarding site. We usually travel United so I assumed first class got to use the lounge. Wrong assumption. Delta only allows international 1st class to use lounge so we waited at the gate about an hour.

 

The wait seemed forever. Our plane started boarding at 6:10 for a 6:50 am flight out. We were riding an older 737-800. It did not have the movies on the seat only overhead. Our seat had a pillow, blanket and bottled water. We always choose the last isle in 1st as no one is behind us.

 

We settled in and I watched as people loaded in to our full flight to Seattle.

Our flight was comfortable but we both noted that the breakfast on board was lousy. A very cold refrigerated egg burrito with 2 little stale hard muffins. Well I now know breakfast in first class is nothing to write home about...HAHA.

 

Though the service overall was good. I used my laptop to watch the Delta studio so I was not board. DH slept the whole way

[languages1]

2nd flight out of Seattle was quick and efficient. We arrived at terminal 3 and departed at terminal 2. Plane was newer with the seatback screens. We had much better service on this flight. Landing in Anchorage was quick and efficient. Baggage was there and the rental car through Alamo was waiting for us. We are ready to go

[languages1]

Headed to Costco and Walmart for some supplies and out we headed. The drive to Homer states 4 hours and it was definitely that. they are doing construction between Girdwood and Homer so we had some stops along the way as traffic is one way in some parts. Made the drive longer. But it was beautiful.

[dobiemom]

I am on the Sun in October, so I am interested in your review of the ship. What cabin did you have?