A few weeks ago, we featured an 11 night Southern Caribbean
cruise onboard the Norwegian Sun and stated it may be the best deal on a
Southern Caribbean itinerary out of Florida you’re going to see this year.
Well, Norwegian Cruise Line has stepped it up a bit since then.
Same home port of Miami. Same ship. Slightly different
cruise. On March 17, 2014, Norwegian Sun embarks on a 10 night Southern
Caribbean cruise. We said the 11 night cruise on March 6 was a steal at $469
per person. Well, the 10 night on March 17 can be had for as low as $399 per
person, based on double occupancy.
This is an awesome deal for two. However, if you have kids
aged seventeen or under, you may want to wait for the April 7 sailing for the
same itinerary. Norwegian has just announced a ‘Kids Sail Free’ campaign. The
10 night Southern Caribbean cruise on April 7 is about $25 per person higher
but you can take your kids along for just the cost of the taxes ($117.90 per
person for this cruise). Norwegian has applied this special to around 250
different cruises over the next year but you must book before March 31, 2014.
For more information, check out this article with a case
study comparing the pricing with and without the deal: Norwegian Kids Sail Free
The Cruise
Norwegian Sun embarks from Miami, Florida on a ten night Southern
Caribbean cruise, leaving Monday March 17, 2014 at 4pm. She returns to Miami on
Thursday, March 27 at 8am. Along the way, Sun makes five port calls. The five
port days are consecutive with two full days at sea before and after.
Sun docks at Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas in
the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday, March 20 from 8am to 5pm. The following
day, she moves south to Roseau, Dominica. She is at Roseau from 9am until 5pm.
Bridgetown, Barbados is the third stop. Norwegian Sun is
docked at Bridgetown on Saturday, March 22 from 8am until 5pm. She makes her
last true Southern Caribbean port call the following day at Castries, St. Lucia
from 8am until 5pm. The final stop is at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten on Monday,
March 24. St. Maarten is a pivot point in the Caribbean and is included in
Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries. She is docked at
Philipsburg from 9am until 5pm.
When comparing to the 11 night Norwegian Sun Southern Caribbean itinerary, there are the same number of port calls with Bridgetown
and St. Thomas showing up on both. On the 11 night, Sun also stops at
Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao and Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
The Price
An inside stateroom can be had for as low as $399 per
person, based on double occupancy. There is $117.90 per person in government
fees and taxes tacked on, no matter the level of stateroom. The total for two
for an inside cabin, including taxes, starts at $1,033.80.
Other levels of stateroom include ocean view starting at
$799 per person, cabins with a balcony starting at $899 per person and suites
starting at $1,849 per person. The military discount can be a real advantage on
some cruises but on this itinerary, it results in just $30 off per person.
The Ship
Norwegian Sun is one of two Sun Class ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. The other is Norwegian Sky, the older sister that was put in service in 1999. Sun was put in service in 2001 and was last refurbed in 2011.
This may have been a large ship in 2001 but is now closer to a medium sized boat. Norwegian Sun has a gross tonnage of 78,309 with a length of 258 metres or 848 feet. There are 13 decks accessible to passengers. The ship has a capacity for 2,002 guests, based on double occupancy. There are typically 968 crew members on board.
The Small Print
·Because of the nature of last minute deals, the pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.
·Prices are in Canadian dollars.
·Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!
·Also not included are gratuities.
·Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.
