The flagship of Norwegian Cruise Line's Sun Class, and one of the first ships in the fleet to offer Freestyle Cruising, Norwegian Sun has been a comfortable, mid-size home at sea for hundreds of thousands of cruisers since its launch in 2001. Accommodating 1,936 passengers, Norwegian Sun sails the Pacific from Alaska to South America and, for its size, has an uncommonly high number (20) of wheelchair-accessible cabins.
A World of Dining Options: The addition of Brazilian steakhouse Moderno during its 2011 refit gave Norwegian Sun another international cuisine for passengers to savor — joining five specialty dining venues offering French, Italian, Japanese, and steakhouse menus (at an additional charge) on top of two complimentary main dining rooms, indoor and outdoor buffets, and a tapas bar.
Complimentary Childcare: No need to bring the sitter — Norwegian takes care of that with age-appropriate daytime youth programs at Splash Academy (kids) and Entourage (teens). Group sitting in the evening is also available for an extra fee.
Internet Cafe: It's well connected with 24 computers, so don’t lug your own unless you absolutely can’t live without it.
Flexible Dinner Times: The essence of Freestyle Cruising — not being locked into set dining times — works especially well when traveling with children. And kids age 12 and under always eat free, even in specialty restaurants where there's a menu designed just for them.
West Coast Specials: Residents with easy access to West Coast ports will find Norwegian Sun's itineraries, which span the Pacific from Alaska to Chile, conveniently appealing.
That Depends: With its winters in South America, where it circumnavigates Cape Horn, Norwegian Sun’s cruises are too long for the families with young children who book its one-week itineraries to Alaska or the Mexican Riviera in the summer. So at any given time the ship can be dominated by students or seniors.
It's Somewhat Old School: Although Norwegian Sun was refurbished in 2011, it does lack the bells and whistles (waterslides, ropes courses, climbing walls, bowling alleys) that many children and teens have come to expect at sea.
