NCL Cruises, Norwegian Sun Review

Overall Rating

First let me say that I decided to go on the New Norwegian Gem based on past positive experiences with NCL cruises. I've been on the Dawn twice and the Spirit twice also. Being the Gem was "brand new" I decided that this would be a best bet! However I do have a few disappointments. Getting on the ship went fairly smooth as we were considered "latitudes" members. But I will tell you that you will have to wait even though they say you will board first. It was a long process to finally get on this ship. When we did get on I will say the decor etc was beautiful. The ship itself was very very pretty! Our trip was heading to Florida and the Bahamas on a 7 day cruise. We boarded the ship around 12:30-1 pm and decided that we would get something to eat at the "Garden Cafe". My husband and I had a piece of rotisserie chicken which looked very very good. And it really was! They now have in the Buffet area's what they call "action stations" . I find them to be nice but at the same time holding up lines and making your experience at the buffet very very long and time consuming. On the other two ships I've been on before NCL upgraded to 2.0 the buffet was actually an enjoyable experience! Now I find it nothing more than annoying to go and eat there. (And the food and variety isn't as good as it was on other ships)
We decided to pay an upcharge of 20.00 per person at our usual favorite restaurant that evening at LeBistro (which I will tell you about later). Our stateroom was on Deck 11 and a mini suite. The room was very large as well as the larger balcony! We really enjoyed it a lot. However my husband had a complaint about the TV. Yes it is a new larger flat screen TV, but try to get some of the channels in. All you get on and off all day especially on TNT is "poor signal". Which I did find very annoying. They aren't giving you much TV anymore with their new 2.0 upgrade as they call it. And they are now charging for movies which range from 5.95-11.95 per movie. Don't get me wrong I DO NOT sit in my room all day and night and watch tv when I am on vacation, but I do enjoy it a little before going to bed. There TV stations are extremely limited now (which they weren't before). We had a nice dinner at LeBistro that evening, and the next day, Sunday afternoon, my husband and I both developed a violent illness( forgive me for being so graphic) vomiting and diarrea for the next 24 hours. Monday at Port Canaveral we couldn't even get off the ship! So that did ruin our first two days. After we started to feel a little better, all we did was eat their soup. Plus it was all we could hold down. Soup and crackers. We got off on all the other ports (Nassau, Grand Bahama Island, and had a good time at all the beaches)
As far as this new NCL 2.0 I just don't think NCL has it down. Even their signature chocohaulic buffet has changed. They served it at the hours of 10:45 pm and 11:30 pm in the Garden Cafe and the Chocolate was nothing like it used to be. All it was was chocolate cake with frosting, (nothing more than I could have made at home with Betty Crocker). As a matter of fact all of their desserts were horrible! Based on how the "stampede of people charged into the Garden cafe for this chocohaulic buffet, NCL should call it the chocohaulic stampede! Oh by the way , they also had servers coming around to offer champagne but and yes there is a BUT, while they are shoving it in your face, it also comes with a 4.95 a glass charge to your keycard! (What's up with that NCL?) Half of the time on this cruise ship you feel like a heard of cattle. From the buffet room, to the ship to get to their private island, etc. Not to mention everything is an upcharge,!!! NCL really needs to get it together and work on their food as well as their organization. I felt that this trip after sailing 5 with NCL in the past has definitely made me reconsider other cruise lines for future cruises. Good luck to all boarding NCL from now on, I wish you all good luck and health onboard!!!