Norwegian Sun - Carribbean with kids

[alam555]

Hi,

we will be travelling on the norwegian sun with two kids(5yr and 4mos) for the first time ever(on a cruise!!). I am into diving so this meets most of the criteria. Big question: how is it for kids?

has anyone else done any diving with the Norwegian? how was the experience? any other general tips greatly appreciated.

 

we are travelling Nov 19th thru 26th from New Orleans.

 

 

thanks

[elwood_98034]

We got back on Saturday from Alaska with our 6yo boy and 12 week old girl.

 

Here are our observations:

 

We were told there were 10 kids on the ship. Most people were 55+, with few younger people. All passengers we met were either very good or ambivalent as far as kids were concerned.

 

The kids pool and jacuzzi is fresh water, but is very small, and in full sun. Often there was an adult in it drinking and smoking, as it is right next to the 2 bars in the forward observation deck. There is a climbable railing close by. Goggles and sun cream are available on board.

 

The adult pools are quite deep (7 feet) and salt, so your child would need to be accompanied closely at all times - as it is also a bar, and a smoking area on the port side. The adult pools are in full sun also. The adult jacuzzi's (4 of) are covered, but there are negative posts on here about kids being in them.

 

The kids club is severely under resourced, and despite the best efforts of the staff (who tried their hearts out) it is essentially a baby sitting service. Our 6yo refused to go back after his first visit for no apparent reason.

 

There was no kids entertainment offered outside of the kids club, and that was quite limited. I believe board games were available from the library.

 

The duty free store had a few (maybe 6) kids books, and toys, and t-shirts and caps available.

 

There is little kids entertainment offered on the TV channels, and there are only a few kids DVD's available for rent. We took our own DVD's from home, and a laptop in case we were really stuck. We had a DVD player in our room.

 

There was a high level of smoking throughout the ship (there are 10 bars), and there were not a lot of places to go where you would not suddenly be faced with a smoker. Passive smoking on our balcony was normal for us, as was smoke intrusion into our room.

 

The kids menu is limited, and the adult choices were not well tolerated by our child. I believe sandwiches were available if you asked. There is a pizza bar that was open during the day, but I believe it closed in the late afternoon.

 

Ordering for a child off the menu in the pay restaurants attracts the full surcharge. Ordering off the kids menu doesn't. 5.30 and 6.00pm sittings in the pay restaurants are available, but the number of places are limited to about 6 tables that we saw, and you may get refused if you try booking an early time after the second or third day on board (we did). Take your own entertainment to the restaurants.

 

The free icecream bar had 4 flavours, and about the same number of toppings. There was almost always fruit and melon available at the buffet, and from room service.

 

Hotdogs and hamburgers and fries were available most lunch times, and were quite good. Hot chocolate sachets (Nestle) were provided in the room, but flavoured milk wasn't available that we saw.

 

Fruit smoothies were available from some bars for $6.00 (+15%) each.

 

Boiled water was available from room service. Formula and daipers etc were not available on the ship that we saw.

 

The chocaholic buffet was at 11.30pm.

 

Ship tap water was often strongly tainted and had a strong chlorine smell after going through rough seas. Bottled water was quite expensive on board. We bought bottled water at our first port, and took our own juice and snacks.

 

Fruit juice was included with meals as part of the kids menu.

 

Croissants and pan cakes were able to be ordered from room service - however we had a Penthouse AD, and this may not be available to others.

 

The staff were very good with the children at all times. Our room staff would leave chocolates, and make towel animals at night. One of our butlers would bring cookies and milk each afternoon.

 

Our major outside entertainment was walking the decks, and kicking volley balls around the basket ball court.

 

Our boy really enjoyed the trip, but it was a major hassle for us, and we were more than glad to get home. We felt that our cruise was geared for seniors, and subsequently we don't recommend this ship for parents with small children based on our experiences. My wife and I are health care professionals, and the smoking situation was a major issue for us, and not just for the children. Maybe an non-Alaskan cruise would be different.

 

Good luck.

[heelfan94]

My kids (9 and 10 at the time) thoroughly enjoyed the Sun, but they're older than your kids are. I'm not sure it's a fair comparison. I've never cruised with a baby before. We found the older kids didn't need or want the Kid's Club and they found plenty to do on their own.

 

As far as diving, we didn't do any of that so I can't offer any input. Have a great time!

 

:)

[Marlissa]

Alam555,

 

Can't help you with the kid questions, ours is much older. I do think there will be more kids than elwood_98034 experienced. This cruise is caribbean and a holiday week.

 

I noticed you are cruising on the Sun the same time we are. Wanted to invite you to join our roll call, there are a few of us already. I believe there are kids in some of the other groups.

 

To find our roll call, look for Roll Calls > Roll Calls Norwegian Cruise Lines > Roll Calls Norwegian Sun > Thanksgiving cruise-11/19/06 out of New Orleans or click http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=342692

[newmexicoNita]

I have talked to kids of every age on the Sun (twice) some as young as three and some teens; all have loved everything about the ship and the program. As for the kids center being nothing but a baby sitting place; I don't know, but as far as I am concerned, when dealing with kids under 6 or 7 that is exactly what it is. You are not paying for a child development center; you are on vacation and have chosen to take your kids to the day care. What would you expect? Now, to Alam, the 4 month old will, of course spend most of the time with you. As for the kids pool being in the sun, yes, most pools are in the sun as far as I know. We have always enjoyed the water on the ship; have never had any trouble with it not tasting good or tasing strong. You have chosen the perfect itinerary for diving.

 

Probably one of the best things: the ship will be filled with kids; your 5 year old should have a blast. Sailing the western Caribbean is very different than sailing Alaska. Normally when people think of Alaska, they think of the older generation or kids that are older. It isn't the ideal vacation for very young ones. NMnnita

[Mekamax]

When you got to Cozumel try Chankanaab Park (check out the website) and take the family. That way you can shore dive with the dive huts along the beach and the family can hang out on the beach or watch the dolphins or do the dolphin encounter or etc/etc. and you will all be at the same place. Just an idea. We scuba dive here as I like shore dives and it is a good one. It was tore up pretty good last year with Wilma hurricane but it is finally open again and we plan to go there in Oct off our cruise and dive to see the difference from before... Debbie

[cmdchiefthom]

Alam55,

 

I did the Sun last April with my two grandsons, 4 and 6, the the Spirit the year before when they were 3 and 5. They absolutley loved NCL "Kid's Crew". The issue you have is that your youngest is too young to take advantage of NCL's child care staff, so that means someone from your family will be watching them while you're diving. The Kid's Crew is closed on port days until after the ship sets sail, so the kids are your responsibility while in port. I think, you can make private arrangements with the staff for a fee, but can't remember for sure, and I don't believe they take any child under 2.

 

Having said that, I've dived Belize, Cozumel and Costa Maya several times and you should have great diving. The winds in Costa Maya can be iffy and can make the seas pretty rough. In Belize, the diving out on the barrier reef is outstanding. The problem here is the distance the tenders have to travel to get into the port. A one-way tender trip can be almost a half hour, so if you wanted to make your own private arrangements for diving, time becomes an issue. The Shorex dives have the boats come right up to the ship, onload the divers on the way out, and offload after the dives. The one-way trip is almost an hour long, and at least when I made the trip, the boats had no toilet facilities onboard, and were basically Cigarette styled speedboats. What I'm trying to say is the diving was great, but it was a very long day, and there is absolutely no time to do anything else in Belize if you decide to dive.

 

Cozumel is really your best bet for a great diving experience, and time to spend with your family. I always use Tony Castillo aboard the Yucab II, cheaper than Shorex, and usually no more than 6 divers on a 42' boat. The Marina is a short taxi ride from the new town docks, around 4 hours for the diving, and that should give you enough time for some family fun after your dives.

 

In Costa Maya, the ship will dock at the purpose built tourist area, with a small beach and pool, perfect for the family. There is a dive operator just off the dock in the shopping arcade, so should you decide to dive, you could make arrangements right there, or if the seas look rough, just spend time with the kids.

 

You might also check out the SCUBA Snorkeling page here on Cruise Critic and get more suggestions there. Have a great family cruise!

[elwood_98034]

Alam, I have copies of some menus (including the kids) that I will post on the weekend if I get time, and price lists for various things on board, including water.

We actually saw a number of people coming on board with flats of bottled water, and soda, and there were a lot of people buying water at our first port after the rough weather that we had.

 

I will also put up the daily Freestyles that we received. They wont be relevant to you, but they could be an interesting counterpoint to an Alaskan rather than Carribean cruise, and it may give you an idea on how things operate in general terms.

 

When I said the Kid Club appeared under resourced, I meant it. Please don't ask me to elucidate on that, as I won't.

It was a nice place, but I think my boy wanted more kids running around there, and our cruise just wasn't one for lots of kids, as it was during the school year. As I said the staff were very good with the kids, but they were obviously operating on a tight budget. One girl that I talked to was from the USA, and the other Canada, and they were both hardworking, and very dedicated to their work.

 

Have a good trip.

[momofmab]

We traveled last April during a holiday week with our girls (aged 11 and 2.5 at the time). They absolutely LOVED the Kid's Crew and begged to go back each day. We didn't find it to be understaffed at all, but it was a holiday week and there were a ton of kids on the ship. They had plenty of fun age-appropriate activites - the girls were never bored. Your 5 y.o. will have a great time. As far as the pools go, our 11 y.o. mostly used the big pools and our 2.5 y.o. was not potty trained at the time and did not go in.

 

You'll have a great time!

[NotMyRealName]

We've traveled on the Sun the Jewel with our five children. Current ages are 14, 14 (twins), 7, 5 & 2. Our daughter was 12 weeks old when we were on the sun for 7 days in the carribean.

 

Kids club - We've heard great things about NCL's programs but to be honest our kids have not really expereiced it. The first trip our teens had friends traveling with us so they did their own thing. Our middle two sons are very close to one another but unfortunatley their age difference would have had them in different groups therefore they've opted out. The babe of course was far to young and on this trip spend most of her time in a Bjorn sling with me. Our kids had A GREAT TIME without having to use the Kids club facilities. Our last crusie on the Jewel our Twins joined the teen club and had a blast. Most nights they returned to the room after the rest of us had gone to bed.

 

Food - No problems here. Food was excellent for all ages. We ate at a specialty resturant at least five times and regardless of where we were they ordered whatever they wanted (usually chicken fingers and PB&J)..... Yes, we're the type of parents that bring kids of all ages to the "nice" places. We eat as a family at home and we do so on vacation. Our kids tend to do well in nice resturants however there is always the odd couple that roll their eyes when we arrive.... Get over it.

 

Staff - absolutley amazing with kids... end of story.

 

Smoke - We are non-smokers and very sensitive to second hand smoke. To be honest the only time I recall complaining about it was in the Casinos.

 

Pools - I have to agree that the Sun's kid pool to far too exsposed to the sun. The newer ships have moved this into a covered area that is more practical. Yes, the odd time adults are sitting in the kids pool. Either send your in splashing or ask one of the staff to politley ask them to move on to the adult pool.

 

After just two cruises with NCL we've decided this is the way to vacation with family. It's the perfect venue with a ton to do and a good mix of adult fun and memorable moments with the kids. For those that are traveling with kids and do not have or plan to pay for evening babysitting a balcany room is a must. We typically would put our kids to bed and order a tray full of drinks from room service, sit on our balcany and relax.

 

Next January my wife and I are taking our first cruise without the kids.... and they are NOT HAPPY.

 

Good luck!

Tim

[Vyhanek]

We were on the sun about a year and a half ago and it has a wonderful kids club.

 

The poster that just got back has to realize that they were cruising in Alaska in mid September. There are not too many kids cruising Alaska and mid September there are going to be hardly any kids. No one wants to pull their kid out of school this early in the year.

 

I can tell you the Sun has a super kids club. My dd's were 4 and 6 when we were on the ship. The do all sorts of age appropriate activities and it is so much more than babysitting. They dressed up as pirates and then took a parade around the ship. One day they went into the kitchen and made their own pizzas. They had a scavanger hunt around the ship ~ finding cute things like a lady in a polka dot bikini had to sign their sheet, they were accompanied by a Kids Crew Staff member as they wandered the ship looking for different things.

 

As far as the food goes, my very picky eaters were completely happy with the kids menu. They had all the basics, grilled cheese, pizza, chicken nuggets, or anything off of the adult menu. I found the food mediocre at best and very dissappointing, it was similar in quality to something you would get at a Golden Corral type place. But my kids were completely happy with the food.

 

The ice cream bar did have only like 4 flavors of ice cream to choose from but a whole variety of toppings. My kids loved that it was like a make your own sundae thing.

 

The kids pool is very small, agreed. Its also in the sun but the OP has a little baby that wouldn't be allowed in any pool on any ship since she is in diapers.

[elwood_98034]

The poster that just got back has to realize that they were cruising in Alaska in mid September. There are not too many kids cruising Alaska and mid September there are going to be hardly any kids.

 

Hi, I think I made that point in both of my posts. I think I also said that a Carribean cruise would most likely be different regarding the kids club.

 

I never said it was bad, but I did say that my boy wasnt interested in it for whatever reason. He had other things that he wanted to be doing rather than what was on the 'menu' there. He really loved the rear deck on aft 12 where there is open railing all around, and a helipad type thing. He could see really well and run unobstructed there, and very few people went up there. That was really nice.

 

To the OP: if you are using baby bottles, you can get them that take disposable liners, so that you only need to steralise the teats, and not the entire bottle. They were very handy.

And if you want to use the pools early in the morning before the sun gets up too high, check the temperatures yourself before you get in, as I was told that they only turn the pool heaters on at 6.00am, and at 10.00am in Alaska the water was still screamingly cold, as it hadn't warmed up yet. One of the engineers was most amused to see us in the pool that early.

 

Also, order what you like on the menu's. If you see one thing with fries, and another with steak there is no problem to cross order between the dishes to get what you want. The fou-fou stuff was often pretty out there for our boy though. And if there is something you really want, often they will have it or be able to get it if you ask. They were really good like that.