cruise critic ncl sun

The Norwegian Sun Review & Everything You Need To Know

The Norwegian Sun is one of the oldest cruise ships in NCL’s fleet dating back to 2001. With several refits over the years, the ship, while old by industry standards, is extremely well-maintained and modernized in all the ways you’d expect. Unfortunately, it’s not a ship for everyone and we’ll explain why.

Norwegian Sun Cancellations

Norwegian Cruise Line has contacted both travel agents and booked guests to inform them about the cancellation of seven months’ worth of cruises aboard the Norwegian Sun. This encompasses sailings scheduled from late March to early November 2025. Notifications have been sent to booked guests, and the cruise line is also reaching out to travel partners to ensure they can inform their affected clients. The email states, “Due to a fleet redeployment, Norwegian Sun’s sailings from March 28, 2025, through November 3, 2025, have been canceled. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.” Full refunds for the 22 canceled cruises are automatically being processed back to the original payment method within 30 days from the cruise line. Following this, it may take an additional 7-10 days for the refunds to be processed through individual financial institutions. We appreciate your understanding during this process. There has been no reason given for the cancellations but would make me wonder if the ship is being sold off or scrapped given it is one of the oldest ships in the Norwegian Fleet (initially launched in 2001)

About the Norwegian Sun Cruise Ship

Built in 2001, the Norwegian Sun capacity is about 1950 passengers (plus approximately 900 crew), about half the size of most newly built cruise ships. In 2018 the NCL Sun had a complete refit and was upgraded in line with the NCL program called Norwegian Edge , to bring it to the standards of the rest of the fleet. During the renovation, the Sun received upgraded amenities including restaurants, pools, and bars, that you’d expect and want to experience on the rest of the Norwegian Cruise Line ships.  Specialty dining was added, the Spinnaker lounge was refurbished (commonly known as the observation Lounge on the ship in the forward area) and common areas including the casino, pools, and Bliss lounge were also added or refurbished.

The rooms were mostly left original during the refit. 

The added spaces are a bit unusual and nothing like the other ships in the Norwegian fleet. The specialty dining exists mainly in a long galley space that contains Cagney’s, Teppanyaki, Sushi, and Los Lobos Cantina. Only La Cucina and Le Bistro have truly dedicated spaces that aren’t mixed with other eateries.

Despite the refit, the ship remains cramped in most spaces when anywhere near capacity.

What’s the vibe of the NCL Sun?

Overall, the clientele is a little older than on other Norwegian ships most likely due to the itineraries and the lack of child-friendly activities. There are no water parks, slides, or really designated child-friendly areas making the journeys feel more “adult” than other ships. There are also far fewer passengers trying to ‘break even on the drink package’ making the overall feel of the ship calmer and less of a party vibe. 

The Cabins / Staterooms on the Norwegian Sun

While not substantially upgraded during the 2018 refit, the rooms are spacious and modernized with plenty of storage and everything you’d expect in a typical cruise cabin. The cabins include both 220 and 110v electrical sockets in a couple of areas along with a USB plug on either side of the bed integrated into the lighting. 

The bathrooms weren’t part of the overall renovation and remain dated.

Interior Cabins & Staterooms

Quite possibly the most surprising rooms on the NCL Sun are the interior cabins. They are more spacious than many balcony rooms on newer ships. Many include a seating area and small bar space. For passengers who like interior staterooms but are concerned about the (usually) smaller size, this may be a perfect option.

The Balcony Staterooms

These are the choice cabins on the Sun as they are quite a bit bigger than the interior rooms with a nice seating area, simple modern decor, huge amounts of storage, and of course a large wall of glass. The design and layout of these staterooms make them feel substantially larger than most other balcony cabins on other ships.  With mirrors everywhere, including over the headboard, the cabins feel slightly dated.

• Read : Norwegian Sun Balcony Room 360 Virtual Tour

The Suites on the Norwegian Sun

The Norwegian Sun doesn’t have the Haven which is found on all the newer ships but they do have a selection of suites that are a bit larger and include butler service. The suite options include:

Owner Suites – Large 1-bedroom staterooms that are nearly 800 square feet in size with the huge balcony

Penthouse Suites – One bedroom suites approximately 350 sq feet + 126 sq foot balcony

Mini-Suites – Slightly larger than a Balcony Cabin + Bathtubs

The Suite passengers gain access to Cagney’s for lunch since there are no dedicated suite or Haven restaurants available.  (not available for the Mini-Suites or Club Suites)

Receive Our Monthly CruiseLetter

Including cruise reviews, travel tips, and cruise deals

Dining & Restaurant Options on The Norwegian Sun

As with all Norwegian Cruise Ships, there are free and specialty dining options available to all passengers. The free options are more limited than other NCL Cruise ships simply due to the size of the vessel.

Included Free Restaurants:

There are two Main Dining Rooms serving essentially the same food every evening. 

Four Seasons , located in the center of the ship off of the main atrium is a large dining space that fills up early and sometimes has availability issues with smaller 2 and 4-party tables, where they’ll ask if you’d like to be seated with another party. 

Seven Seas , our preferred main dining restaurant, is located in the rear of the ship has abundant space, great views from everywhere especially the aft of the ship, and is the only main dining room that serves lunch (on select days). 

Also included is the Garden Cafe (Buffet) . This space is entirely too small for the size of the ship and a very cramped buffet layout creates lines or confusion among passengers trying to get to different sections.  The food overall was usually good, albeit sometimes unusual. 

If the buffet seating is too crowded, the ship has done a good job to provide areas for overflow seating including an outdoor area aft with nearly as much seating as indoors along with another buffet line that serves basics like burgers and hotdogs. Many passengers didn’t realize there were food options outside in this area since the food was tucked away behind the bar! Don’t miss it, it’s a great alternative to the buffet.

Moderno, opposite the buffet, is open during lunch for additional seating. There is also a dedicated pizza and noodle station set up during lunch in the Moderno dining room, both quite good. 

Finally, what’s missing from the Norwegian Sun is O’Sheehan’s bar & grill .  While there is no large bar/pub as featured on the more modern ships, the Sun does have a small sports bar serving a limited menu similar to what’s found at O’Sheehan’s including the yummy chicken wings and a few pub burgers & hotdogs. Unfortunately, food service starts at 5:30 pm so getting your mid-day pub snack isn’t possible. 

Specialty Dining Restaurants on the Norwegian Sun

After the 2018 refit of the Sun, more specialty restaurants were added. We tried them all!

Cagney’s Steak House – The staple of Norwegian’s Premium Dining was consistent with other ships. The starters were as expected with small-ish portion sizes. The steaks were amazing and perfectly cooked and the sides were tasty as usual. The desserts were ridiculously large and quite good.  See the Cagney’s Menu

Le Bistro – The French restaurant on NCL ships always seems to be hit or miss, regardless of the ship. The same is true with the Sun. The appetizers always seem to be a bit off while the main meals are generally quite good. Since this space is separate from the other specialty restaurants, it actually feels more elegant and refined.  See the Le Bistro Menu

Teppanyaki – The Teppanyaki grill, again, is always very consistent across the whole Norwegian brand. On the Sun, the space is a bit smaller and in a fully enclosed room with multiple grilles. It’s exactly as expected in all ways including food quality and experience. But be sure to wear clothes that you don’t plan on using again on your vacation! You leave smelling like the whole restaurant and it’s impossible to get it out of your clothes. 

Moderno Churrascaria – We love the Brazilian steakhouse concept on Norwegian Cruise Line. However, for this particular ship, the biggest letdown is the physical space where Moderno Churrascaria is. It almost seems like an afterthought being very bland and almost an extension of the buffet. Aside from that, the menu is exactly as you’d expect across the NCL Brand.  Unfortunately during the Mediterranean sailings, we were told by the restaurant managers that the quality of meat sometimes suffers from the suppliers. We noticed this mostly in the Picanha meat, which is ironic considering the ship sails from Portugal, where this meat cut is popular and quite good. See the Moderno Menu

Los Lobos Cantina – We were surprised to see Los Lobos Cantina on the Norwegian Sun since it’s a relatively new concept by NCL. The food was quite good and had something for everyone looking for a full Mexican meal. The meat dishes such as Carne Asada were superior while the fish dishes lacked flavor. The best surprise of Los Lobos was the unique margarita drinks available, all of them well within the beverage package limits. Booking a table there using one of the dining package credits may not be the best value, as most of the meals won’t add up to the $59 dining package value (when used elsewhere). So it’s just better to use those credits at Cagney’s, Le Bistro, etc. See the Los Lobos Cantina Menu

Sushi Bar – The Sushi bar on the NCL Sun seems like a bit of an afterthought, but it’s comfortable and easy to get a table or sit at the sushi bar. Unfortunately, the quality of the sushi served isn’t great. It may be sufficient to cure a quick sushi roll craving, but not advised for a full meal. It pales in comparison to the sushi bar on other Norwegian ships such as the Epic. Definitely do NOT use a dining package credit at the sushi ba r!

La Cucina – The well-known Italian restaurant on board NCL ships is on the Norwegian Sun as well, in a dedicated space that is quiet and elegant. The food at La Cucina is the most consistent on this ship with the rest of the NCL brand.  If you’ve eaten at La Cucina on other larger NCL ships, you should be satisfied with the food quality and preparation on the Sun. Take a look at the La Cucina Menu .

Bars & Pubs on the Sun

It’s not much of a surprise that Norwegian has made sure there are plenty of watering holes on the ship! Even with capacity at nearly 100%, it wasn’t often difficult to get a cocktail or soda from any bar.

Bliss Lounge – This repurposed central space is more of a theater-style setup rather than a “club” as it is on other ships. The space is used for live music and some of the special events on the ship (glow party, etc). But when you want a drink, this bar is almost always quiet and drinks are easily available.

Atrium Bar & Cafe – More of a coffee bar with a side of alcohol within the small atrium of the ship.

Champs Bar – At the very top of the ship (Forward), this outdoor space is a great place to get a drink when you want to sit in the Spinnaker and the bar there is not yet open (Days). Just exit Spinnaker and go straight up the outdoor stairs to the bar, which is rarely busy.

Champagne & Martini Bar – The most popular space later in the evening, this bar has seating around the atrium and the bar itself with table service. It gets quite busy, so get a table when it’s available.

Los Lobos Bar – The hidden gem! It’s a small nook just inside the specialty restaurant check-in desk. Most guests don’t realize you can just go to this bar and have a drink without being booked in the cantina or other specialty restaurants. The best part is, if you’re a margarita lover, you can order the specialty margaritas any time the bar is open serving Los Lobos Cantina! (definitely don’t settle for the everyday margarita found everywhere on the ship)

Great Outdoors – The best outdoor bar space serving the rear (aft) of the ship. Great views all day / evening and often with food options to go with the drinks.

Sports Bar – Open all day and til late at night, this is the answer to the O’Sheehan’s bar & grill found on the other NCL ships.

Casino Bar – Just a simple walk-up bar to grab a drink while in the casino. It’s also a good place to get something if the rest of the bars are crowded, as the casino bar is usually empty.

Topsiders Bar – The typical pool bar serving everything the ship has to offer.

Windjammer & Havana Bar – A favorite on the ship! A dark wood paneled room with a large bar where some of the best cocktails are made. I still don’t get the division between Windjammer and Havana, as it’s the same space, theme, etc. Usually, solo performers arrive in the evening for light music.

Spinnaker Lounge – The crown jewel of the ship! At the very front of the NCL Sun, this huge lounge with sweeping views and relaxing seating areas is the place to be. During the day it’s a great place to read, play cards, or just gaze out at the sea. You can even exit the bar and walk around the front of the glass windows outside and see the wide open ocean! Stunning!

The bar usually doesn’t open until around 4pm, so grab a drink at Champs. Unfortunately, the ship has chosen this venue to do karaoke at around 10pm many nights, which makes the space less enjoyable.

• See : NCL Bar Menus & Drink Prices

Norwegian Sun Entertainment, what’s on board?

Entertainment quality is always very subjective, and with NCL cutting entertainment budgets in 2023, it’s a bit of a sore spot with travelers. On the Norwegian Sun, entertainment doesn’t include the big production shows found on larger ships, but it’s sometimes quite good. You’ll hear people complain about the theater shows, and in fairness, they are a bit repetitive, but the ship doesn’t do much to promote the shows they actually have. The musicians in each of the venues with a rare exception were very good and enjoyable to listen to. The stage shows were a bit strange but entertaining enough to give passengers something to do.

The entertainment on the Norwegian Sun is probably the biggest weakness of the ship. Passengers who book their cruise around a strong entertainment lineup will likely be disappointed. Otherwise, we found it sufficient and as expected for a smaller ship. 

Some of the shows included :

Rock Symphonies Violinist – An incredibly talented violinist with the support of other instruments 

World Beat  – A variety show of sorts featuring music & dance from around the world. 

Rock Tribute – A tribute performance for Queen, The Who, and Journey

Other activities & things to do on the ship

Despite the smaller size of the Sun, there are quite a few activities including an outdoor sports court, shuffleboard, and a full ship jogging track. For the healthier version of cruise passengers (rare, I know), there is a full-size gym that is remarkably well-equipped, and a separate aerobics studio with scheduled classes. The studio is free to use for yoga, stretching, HIIT, etc at your own leisure when classes aren’t being taught. These studios are complimentary and open 6 am until 11 pm (so there’s hardly an excuse!).

During the day, there were plenty of random activities around the ship for just about anyone. The Bliss Lounge often featured new release movies, there were always arts and crafts, Zumba classes, and themed trivia to be found.

For passengers wanting some quiet time, the Norwegian Sun has one of the nicer libraries and game rooms we’ve seen at sea. There were hundreds of books to read & check out as well as a fully stocked game room with backgammon, new sets of cards, and plenty of other board games.

These game rooms also make a great place to quietly work on your laptop, as they have full-size tables where you can spread out and get something done (even if you ARE on vacation)!

The pools & sun decks on the NCL Sun

The pool level was a pleasant surprise with two relatively large pools connected in the middle by 4 covered jacuzzi-style hot tubs. There were plenty of chairs on multiple decks overlooking the pool and rarely was there a problem getting a good poolside spot.

For sun worshippers, there was a HUGE number of outdoor spaces with loungers throughout the ship from wide swaths of decking to little private nooks.

The Sun Casino is a decent size given how the ship is smaller. There are dozens of slots and video games in two sections as well as gaming tables down the center of the casino. What’s a bit mind-boggling is the fact there is only one roulette table in the entire casino and it is clearly the game everyone is interested in playing. It was consistently packed while all other tables were nearly empty. Common sense would say add more roulette tables.

The slots ranged from penny slots to machines where you could easily spend $10 per spin. Unlike on the larger ships, there wasn’t really a buzz about the casino but it was sufficient to keep people occupied and donating money to NCL during the cruise. Hardcore gamblers will likely be disappointed.

Another unfortunate bit about the casino is the smoking situation. It’s such a small space where smoking is allowed, it’s almost impossible to function as a non-smoker. It feels like the smokers on the ship make use of the casino as a smoking parlor rather than going to other designated smoking areas making the air quality in such a small space, let’s just say, less than ideal.

The Mandara Spa

The NCL Sun has a relatively small spa facility but lacks the thermal spa suite that the newer ships have. However, for people who enjoy the use of a sauna and steam room, the Sun has dedicated men’s and women’s locker rooms each with a dry sauna and a steam room which can be used when receiving a treatment or by purchasing a daily or full cruise pass. Approximately $29/day for use of the sauna & steam room or $149 for the duration of a 10-day cruise may seem excessive for most people, but at least it’s available for those passengers who really want this feature. (cost may vary based on itinerary and cruise length)

Other services offered at the spa are as expected including various massage therapies, acupuncture, facials, and salon services (hair, mani/pedi, etc)

Do you have a comment?

Did we miss something? Have you had a different experience? Did we get it wrong?

Spa Service Prices Norwegian Sun / Mandara Spa

Please wait while flipbook is loading. For more related info, FAQs and issues please refer to DearFlip WordPress Flipbook Plugin Help documentation.

We’d try another voyage on the Norwegian Sun, if the price was right. We found the food quite good overall, the service better than expected and even though the cabins were dated, they were comfortable.

For the right price and right itinerary, the Norwegian Sun is a great value!

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our Monthly Cruise Digest?

Thank you for this detailed review. May I know how much gratuity per person is expected on cruise lines? I did not know we had to pay for gratuities. I thought it was already included in the cruise cost that we are paying. I am hoping to book a 19 day cruise with the Sun for Panama Canal.

Hi Jacklyn, for NCL – the Daily gratuities are charged at $16 per day and more for The Haven. You can see more about the tips and gratuities here on this article!

Smoking in casino Not so good ! I guess smokers are regular gamblers Hard to separate But could have a smoking room Like the cigar room ! Other wise this will disgust the non smokers being around this ! !

We’re Giving Away a Cruise in 2024! Enter Now

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

• Cruising / Norwegian (NCL) / Ship Reviews

Norwegian Sun Ship Tour and Review

by Prof. Cruise · Published September 22, 2022 · Updated September 22, 2022

Introduction

I like to think I’m not a jealous or petty person, but the story behind why I booked this sailing on the Norwegian Sun might lead you to believe otherwise and also that I’m not very self-aware. Here’s the story:

Because my husband’s job offers less flexibility, my 9-year-old son and I often cruise together without him. So this year Mr. Cruise decided to plan a special father/son cruise. And after they were booked, my in-laws, who would be visiting us for a month in Seattle during that time, decided to join them. So I watched from my living room as my family sailed away…without me. It wasn’t a pretty sight, as documented here on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prof Cruise (@profcruise)

So after polishing off a pizza, a four pack of apple fritters, a pint of ice cream, and a dozen iced sugar cookies, I did the only thing a gal can really do in a situation like that – I booked myself on the exact same ship and itinerary for two weeks later, loudly uttering some unkind words, not fit for this PG rated, family friendly blog as I did it: Take that M***** F*****s! Better add “vengeful” to my list of characteristics.

So that’s how I ended up cruising solo on the Norwegian Sun. But I don’t think it has anything to do with my impending divorce (kidding, kidding). In any case, here are the things I loved and didn’t love about the Norwegian Sun, followed by some tips for those lucky enough to be booked on her. But first, a ship tour (do me a solid and subscribe to my scrappy little YouTube channel when you’re finished watching):

NCL Sun Ship Tour

Things I Loved about the Norwegian Sun

I’ve divided the things I loved on the Sun into three categories: design features, activities/entertainment, and food. I saved food for last, otherwise you wouldn’t read the rest, having logged onto DoorDash to see if they deliver cruise food (yes, for a small delivery fee of $300,000 + tip).

Design Features I Loved on the Norwegian Sun

Size of the norwegian sun.

At this point in my review (and especially for those who regularly follow my blog) you’re probably thinking: “Wow, she’s a lot to handle.” But you love me anyway because I supply you with an endless supply of cruise food pics. That’s kind of how I feel about the giant NCL mega ships: I love them anyway because they supply me with an endless amount of cruise food, but they can be a lot to handle.

I’m one of a dying breed of cruiser who actually prefers smaller ships, which is one thing I loved about the Sun! At 78,000 gross tons (including roughly 1 ton of sugar and 3 tons of cheese) and with a capacity of around 2,000 passengers and 900 crew members, I found her to be the perfect size.

Hull Art on the Norwegian Sun

True confession: I once forgot my government issued photo I.D. at a port stop and required a security escort back on my Princess ship. Embarrassing. But even more embarrassing? I had them escort me back to the wrong ship: “Ma’am you’re on the other Princess ship.” Because a seawitch is a seawitch is a seawitch. But thankfully, the vibrant, distinct hull art on NCL will never lead you astray (but be warned, if you’re late for sail away, it will taunt you for approximately 4 hours and 100 nautical miles as you sit crying at the end of the pier watching it journey on without you). I especially love the hull art on the Norwegian Sun, depicting a stylized…sun…in shades of yellow, orange, and red. It’s particularly unique in that it extends all the way up the side of the ship.

Huge Cabins on the Norwegian Sun

Another unique feature of this older ship, one long extinct in newer, flashier models, is the size of her cabins. They are huge! My inside cabin featured a desk, loads of storage, and full-sized sofa, something almost unheard of in an inside. You could live on a cruise ship for less than what you’d pay for a studio apartment of this size in my home city of Seattle (true story and a daily temptation – if my kid would just go off to college already!).

Spinnaker Lounge on the Norwegian Sun

While not nearly as impressive as on the larger NCL ships (I’ll admit there are some advantages to the large, newer ships), the Spinnaker Observation Lounge on the Sun was still a great spot to relax, sip a cocktail, read, listen to music, and gaze out at the ocean. Or fall asleep and get nudged awake by security after a complaint of “nuisance noise.”

Library on the Norwegian Sun

As many of you already know, my parents met and fell in love working at a library. So I suppose you could say libraries are in my blood. I supposed you could also blame them for my existence. *shrug*

In any case, I love ships that have a real bona fide library and the one on the Sun, while not huge, was warm and lovely and had a great selection of books for loan.

Promenade Deck on the Norwegian Sun

But if I had to choose one must-have ship feature, it would be this:

A wide, wraparound outdoor promenade deck. And the one on the Sun was among the best I’ve ever experienced. It was so wide, it allowed for both walking and jogging without doubling as a carnival ride (specifically, bumper cars). I would book this ship again (and did, stay tuned) just for the promenade deck!

Large Aerobics Studio and Spin Bikes on the Norwegian Sun

Moving from my favorite feature of a cruise ship to my least favorite thing in cruising and life…exercise. But when you cruise as often as I do and eat as often as I do (and in quantities that threaten to wipe out any revenue on my sailings), it’s a necessity. So I appreciate a large, well equipped gym with good hours (the gym officially opened at 6am on the Sun, but was always open by at least 5:30am). And I *really* appreciate a ship with spin bikes (as that’s the form of exercise I hate the least).

On the Sun, I especially loved the HUGE aerobics studio with spin bikes on one end (that remained there – they didn’t get pushed against a wall or tied up when not in use) and an open area on the other end with small weights, yoga matts, and other items available. While the bikes are generally reserved for those who pay for a class, I was able to use them early in the morning (5am – I did ask permission first and was told it was fine at that hour).

Activities/Entertainment I Loved on the Norwegian Sun

Moving on to activities and entertainment…

Production Shows on the Norwegian Sun

While I missed the full Broadway shows offered on the larger NCL ships, I enjoyed the two production shows featured on my sailing: Rock You Tonight and World Beat. I thought the set design, costumes, and choreography were all excellent and the cast was energetic and talented.

However, the entertainment provided by this particular audience member knocked “Kinky Boots” from the top spot on my list of “best entertainment at sea:”

Live Music on the Norwegian Sun

There was plentiful live music offered throughout the ship both during the day and at night. I especially loved this jazz band:

New Wines Around the World Loyalty Benefit on the Norwegian Sun

I was lucky enough to be on one of the first ships to offer the new Wines Around the World loyalty benefit for those Platinum and above. And I loved it!

You can read my full review HERE :

Food I Loved on the Norwegian Sun

Let’s move on to…FOOD!

Dining Room Breakfast on the Norwegian Sun

Breakfast in the Seven Seas main dining room was never crowded:

And the food was fresh and delicious:

Here’s the menu:

Norwegian Sun Breakfast Menu

Buffet Cinnamon Rolls on the Norwegian Sun

But you’ll definitely want to hit the buffet for a second breakfast, especially on the days it offers cinnamon rolls:

These are offered every third day with pecan rolls and apple cinnamon rolls on the other two days (which are also good, but the regular cinnamon rolls are the best).

Buffet Desserts on the Norwegian Sun

Speaking of buffet offerings that will send you into a sugar coma faster than main lining cotton candy, there was always a delicious cobbler of some sort (eat this with vanilla ice cream on top) and a rotating “feature” dessert at dinner. One night it was brittle, one night it was eclairs, one night it was blondies…

…and one night the Captain’s grandmother had to step in for an ill chef (I mean, I can only assume) and this happened…

Crepes on the Norwegian Sun

There were a few additional buffet desserts that deserve their own heading. First, crepes! These were made-to-order at dinner with a variety of fillings available. Due to my love of chocolate, lack of creativity, and general belief that fruit doesn’t belong in dessert (see video above), I went with Nutella and cream every night.

Hard Ice Cream on the Norwegian Sun

And hard ice cream. Chocolate, vanilla, one rotating flavor, and a handful of toppings were offered. My favorites were coconut and pistachio.

Cagney’s Steakhouse on the Norwegian Sun

You may find it odd that a vegetarian would dine by herself at a steakhouse. And I’ll admit, it’s a bit of an unexpected choice until one understands that the primary reason I chose to dine there was for the free bottle of wine (served all at once in the giant-est wine glass I’ve ever seen) provided as a Platinum perk and an entire loaf of garlic rosemary bread with butter to soak up said bottle of wine. That alone was worth the price of admission (free – again as a loyalty perk).

HOWEVER, I met with the assistant manager of Cagney’s on embarkation day and he arranged to have the chef prepare me a special vegetarian meal: French onion soup (made with vegetable broth), a wedge salad, and a vegetable pasta. While it was all delicious, I sacrificed half the pasta in anticipation of the (even giant-er) chocolate cake (which is the best cake I’ve ever had on a cruise and, by far, my favorite dessert at Cagney’s).

Here’s the menu for the non-vegetarian steakhouse patrons among us:

Cagney’s Menu on the NCL Sun

La Cucina on the Norwegian Sun

After the equivalent of approximately 6 years at sea on NCL ships, somehow this was the first time I’d dined at La Cucina (you can read my review of Onda , the other Italian specialty restaurant on NCL HERE ). And I loved it! There were quite a few vegetarian options to choose from, but I went with the Burrata “Caprese,” Gnocchi Di Patate Al Pesto (which I pronounced three different ways, all clearly wrong, before my waiter figured out what the heck I was asking for), and the Panna Cotta alla Vaniglia. Everything was as caloric (looks like another awful date with the spin bike at 5am) as it was delicious!

La Cucina Menu on the NCL Sun

Things I Didn’t Love about the Norwegian Sun

Wasted space on the norwegian sun.

Unlike the newer ships that seem to jam an amusement park ride into every available nook and cranny – “This looks like the perfect spot for a Mad Tea Party ride. I mean everyone’s feeling a bit queasy anyway.” – there was a lot of open (dare I say wasted) space on the Sun. Especially on decks 12 and 13 forward (both pictured above). I can do without the rides, but a nice adults only space would have been lovely.

Lack of Comfortable Outdoor Seating on the Norwegian Sun

It’s not uncommon on my cruises for me to locate a comfortable padded clamshell on an outside deck with a water view on embarkation day and stay there, leaving only briefly 5-6 times a day to pee and get food, until debarkation. I give new meaning to “chair hog.” I’ve also become very resentful of my small bladder and inconvenient female parts, as elusive orcas always seem to appear as soon as I get up to hit the bathroom: “OMG, the entire pod just breeched at once in a choreographed synchronized swim.” “Damnit!”

However, on the Norwegian Sun there was NO comfortable, unique, outdoor seating. Just milk toast loungers, some with bars that dug into your back (I started to think it was intentional to lure people to the spa for an expensive treatment).

No Naturalist, Lectures, or Movies on the Norwegian Sun

Some of my favorite cruise activities were missing on my sailing. There was no naturalist, no lectures given by experts in various fields, and no indoor or outdoor movies.

Buffet Layout on the Norwegian Sun

First, watch this brief 12 second video…

If that video, filmed at 6am, before the crowds arrived, felt super awkward, imagine how this space is in real life at peak dining hours. In order to get to the main food area, you first have to walk through a super narrow corridor where the self-serve drinks are located. They should really station a crew member there with a mop and a “Caution: Wet Floor!” sign at the ready to handle all the collisions, most of which involve beverages. You also might want to add “personal injury lawyer” to your packing list as some of those beverages are HOT.

While I found the food at the buffet quite good, the layout was awful. Consider working as a chef at Original Beef (any other fans of “The Bear” on FX?) for a few months prior to your cruise to prepare for the chaos.

Hidden Soft Serve Machine on the Norwegian Sun

Basically the whole point of cruising is unlimited self-served soft serve (try saying that five times fast). Am I right? But it seems shaming culture is alive and well on the Norwegian Sun where the soft serve machine is hidden behind a counter and requires a crew member serve you. Never on any other ship on any line have I ever uttered the words (dozens of times, I might add): “Just keep swirling until it’s about to tip over – with a height equivalent of a women’s size 6 shoe.” At a certain point I just hopped the counter like I was trying to steal a subway fare: “See, like this!”

Tips for the Norwegian Sun

Here are a few tips for those booked on the Sun…

Eat Lunch in the Seven Seas Dining Room on Embarkation Day

Hit the Seven Seas main dining room on deck 5 aft on embarkation day to avoid the buffet crowds and enjoy a relaxed and delicious full-service lunch. I especially love the tomato soup and the desserts. You can find the menu HERE .

Find Pizza and Noodles in Moderno at Lunch

For all the 9-year-olds in your life or 9-year-olds at heart (“Ma’am we don’t allow 44-year-olds at Splash Academy. I don’t care how well you moisturize your skin and avoid the sun, you simply don’t pass for 5-12.”), hit Moderno at lunch for pizza and noodles. There’s also overflow seating in there (and in the Sports Bar) if the buffet gets crowded.

Watch Sail Away from the Promenade Deck, Aft

For gorgeous sail away views away from any crowds, hit the outside promenade deck (deck 6) and head aft. Wake views + sail away views = heaven. Even if you hate math (I used to teach statistics – go ahead, break my heart), that’s an equation you can love!

Visit the Cruise Next Desk for your Loyalty Benefits

Visit the Cruise Next desk on deck 6 forward to find out about your Latitudes loyalty benefits and to sign up for any special events available for your tier level. The ship tour still wasn’t available on my sailing, but the other events were.

Be sure to attend the Latitude’s party for those Silver and above in the Spinnaker Lounge (ours took place on our second sea day at 5pm) for unlimited free drinks and an introduction to the ship’s officers:

Take a Dip in the Secret Hot Tub on the Norwegian Sun

I saved this tip for only my most loyal readers, those who suffered through this review to the bitter end (I didn’t even include it in my video tour, it’s so top secret). There’s a secret hot tub located on deck 12 forward on the starboard side of the ship next to the small kiddie pool. I wondered why no one ever joined me in there until breakfast on the last morning when I was telling a friend I’d made on the ship about it and he said, “Oh, I know all about that. It’s just that I kept seeing you go in there after your third trip around the buffet and worried about where the bubbles were coming from.” Seriously though, this hot tub offers great views and no one was EVER in there except for me.

Final Thoughts

Between our two cruises, everyone in my family has now sailed on the Norwegian Sun EXCEPT for my mom. And I simply can’t let an injustice like that stand. So I’ve booked the two of us on the October 6th sailing to celebrate her birthday. Be sure to follow us live on Instagram and stay tuned to learn if she’ll be brave enough to join me in the hot tub! And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points): Check out my other recent NCL-related posts…

Norwegian Dining and Restaurant Menus 2022

Norwegian PRIMA Dining Menus

NCL 5 Night Dinner Menus

Norwegian Cruise Line Bar Menus And Drink Prices 2022

Wines Around The World: NCL’s New Loyalty Benefit Reviewed

Norwegian Spirit Review and Ship Tour (Post Refurbishment)

Review and Tour of a Balcony Cabin on the Refurbished Norwegian Spirit

Norwegian Encore Ship Review

And be sure to follow Prof. Cruise on your favorite social media sites:

Twitter  (@cruiseprof)

Instagram  (@profcruise)

TikTok  (profcruise)

Share this:

Tags: Norwegian Sun Review Norwegian Sun Ship Tour

You may also like...

San Juan: The Forts, Churches, Museums, Cemeteries, and Architecture of Old Town

February 28, 2019

 by Prof. Cruise · Published February 28, 2019 · Last modified June 26, 2019

Majestic Princess Mini-Suite Review and Tour

March 9, 2022

 by Prof. Cruise · Published March 9, 2022

3 Ways To Score FREE LOBSTER On Your Carnival Cruise

November 5, 2022

 by Prof. Cruise · Published November 5, 2022 · Last modified July 31, 2023

8 Responses

• Pingbacks 2

this… was… AWESOME. 2 weeks to go for us!

Woohoo! So excited! *high-five!*

Really great to have this preview!

Have a great cruise!!!

Excellent review! A+ for so much detail! We get on the Sun at the end of October so this review is wonderful timing. It will be our tenth cruise, but our first on the Sun.

[…] (10 points): Check out my NCL Sun Ship Tour and Review. And be sure to follow Prof. Cruise on your favorite social media […]

• Next story What Does An Upside Down Pineapple Mean On A Cruise Ship Cabin Door?
• Previous story How Much do Medical Services Cost on a Cruise Ship?

About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

Email Address

Subscribe To Blog

Search and you shall (hopefully) find!

Save on shore excursions.

Start your own travel blog with hosting from Bluehost!

Popular Posts

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Norwegian Sun

with a cruise advisor

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1978 guests have reviewed Norwegian Sun , giving it a rating of 3.7 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Fun Getaway BUT Very Tired Ship!

Apr 4th, 2024

In the future, the next time I shop for a cruise I will consider the ship to be equally as important as the itinerary.

Traveler Type

Singles/Friends

4-6 cruises

Mar 31st, 2024

Worst Trip Ever

Mar 30th, 2024

Of all the cruises that we have done, this was by far the absolute worst experience we have ever had. Our friends booked with us, and they had never cruised before. They were very disappointed in their first cruising experience. I am so embarrassed and ashamed for Norwegian Cruise Lines!!!

Not the vacation we was hoping for!!!

Overall, very disappointed in this ship and overall vacation. I have always been true to Norwegian but going forward that might change.

Family (older children)

2-3 cruises

Not The Best, Not The Worst

Overall, it was just okay. The ship had issues with sewage, amount of service staff at the bars, and a slight lack of onboard activities, particularly for the cost of some activities.

It was okay

The ship was freezing cold. Many people were wearing jackets The food was not very good and it was same every day. There were not many shows or things to do like on every other ship I have been on. No DJ on the upper deck and no dance club or area. Had lots of boring trivia. Had one deck with 5 hot tubs and 2 pools and they were filled with children. No adults could get in the hot tubs. All other cruise lines are better and offer more things to do on the boat and better food.

Sisters Sail Splendidly

Mar 26th, 2024

Much needed R&R. Weather always plays a big factor in cruising and we were blessed with great days!

1 cruise (first)

Basic cruise no frills, Norwegian is the Spirit airlines of cruises.

Mar 16th, 2024

Will not sail on Norwegian again. It has the basic elements of a cruise (clean cabin, food and entertainment) but missing many extras.

OK, BUT.....There are better cruise lines (Holland)

Mar 11th, 2024

Norwegian failed to give us our complimentary room upgrade (as Diamond Lattitude members) which we had requested. Told us no rooms available and to submit a cash request which they accepted. Cruise Next will lie to you and claim you'll get the upgrade free, but Corporate Norwegian won't grant it. Company is based on a series of marketing lies and misconceptions. Don't fall for it.

Amazing Trip

Feb 17th, 2024

Booked the ship for the itinerary. Times in port could have been longer. For price paid it was excellent value and an amazing experience.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

You Might Also Like

Norwegian Pearl

Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Breakaway

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

• Norwegian Cruise Line

By ShipsAhoy508 , March 6, 2019 in Norwegian Cruise Line

Recommended Posts

ShipsAhoy508

I realize on the NCL Sun free adult drinks are included BUT if I were to take a "Sail Away" category will the free drinks still be included? I asked this because I have done sail away on other NCL ships and free drinks were not included. I really would like to know before I book.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

a good question...we were on the Sun to Cuba last Oct and there were no free drinks we had a large inside cabin.  Call Ncl and be sure. 😃

How long is the cruise you are looking at?  The Open Bar concept is offered on short sailings like their 3 and 4 night Bahamas or Cuba cruises. 

• 2 weeks later...

Sail Away does not come with any promotions.  

Sail Away Balcony

As our lowest available rate for this category, a Sail Away Balcony stateroom guarantees you’ll receive a Balcony stateroom or better! Your stateroom may be on any deck and assigned up to one day prior to embarkation. Promotional rates and offers are excluded on this category (BX).

Any category ending with (X) gets you nothing

For a 3 or 4 night sailing that says it includes open bar, yes that includes the sail away rates.

The difference is that if you get the perks and take the free open bar you are upgraded to the Premium Plus drink package which includes more high end liquors and the option to get certain bottles at dinner. 

27 minutes ago, RupanIII said: For a 3 or 4 night sailing that says it includes open bar, yes that includes the sail away rates.   The difference is that if you get the perks and take the free open bar you are upgraded to the Premium Plus drink package which includes more high end liquors and the option to get certain bottles at dinner. 

JulieJulie311

On the 4 day Sun Bahamas and Florida it is included for everyone.  Including Sail away.  it is not considered a perk.  The Perk is for patron, etc.  The ship is all you can drink.  I booked this yesterday and specifically asked the guy why the perk being offered to me was beverages if it already came with beverages.  He said that's if I am a top shelf drinker.  My other friends took a sail away as a result.  They also confirmed they will get all you can drink even though they did not qualify for free at sea stuff and were told yes 

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
• ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 10 hours ago

LauraS · Started 11 hours ago

LauraS · Started 15 hours ago

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 08:38 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...