This is one of the last examples of a modern "classic" cruise ship sailing from North America, still filled with '80s decor: chrome-framed furniture, low deckheads that are shiny, vinyl swivel-chairs in the lounges, etc. Sure it's all outdated, but it's like a step back in time 25 or 30 years.

And for those who bemoan the loss of older ships without having sailed on one, this is a good opportunity to see what it was like. Unlike the modern ships of the past 20 years, here you are always aware of being on a ship: heavy wooden doors leading to the open decks, high thresholds in doorways, various ship's mechanical gear both inside and outside. And unlike today's sanitized and sterile modern ships, the SMELLS bring you back to the old days, and they are not always pleasant: a pervasive smell of fuel oil, mixed with the sewer odors from pipes and drains. This will come as a shock to many, but to me it brought back memories of at least 40 old ships I've sailed on.

So the "good old days" were not always so good, but if you happen to be in South Florida and want to spend a day on board, I encourage you to experience this ship. After all the engine problems she had in the past year, it's anyone's guess how long she will continue to operate.

Rich

[ 03-06-2011: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

Based on your report, I really think I would enjoy DISCOVERY SUN for all the reasons you mention. I'll never get my partner onboard though.

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Originally posted by eroller:
Rich,
I wish you would have told me you were going. I would have loved to have joined you.

Based on your report, I really think I would enjoy DISCOVERY SUN for all the reasons you mention. I'll never get my partner onboard though.

Ernie

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Ernie, this was a last-minute decision, literally from one day to the next, so no time for planning or letting you know. Maybe another time....

DISCOVERY SUN Photos

She has changed a lot since I spent a week on her as Commodore's CARIBE in 1980--many of the original cabins were converted into public room areas. During her days as SCANDINAVIAN SUN in the 1980s, the lay-out was basically the same, but all of those swivel bucket chairs were covered in velour, not vinyl.

Yesterday I ordered what I think is a pretty decent photo scanner. It's time to scan some of my old photos and get them online. Should be fun (although very time consuming) to go through them all.

Ernie

ps - how did the overall experience compare to BAHAMAS CELEBRATION?

[ 03-06-2011: Message edited by: eroller ]

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Originally posted by eroller:
Great pics! I visited this ship a couple times back when she was CARIBE. Once in Philadelphia I think along with BOHEME. In any case she looks relatively the same as I remember. I'll have to pull out old pictures. Did they ever fill the pool?

Ernie

ps - how did the overall experience compare to BAHAMAS CELEBRATION?

[ 03-06-2011: Message edited by: eroller ]

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They never filled the pool--it was very windy that day, and cold--well, in the 70s which is cold for S. Florida.

BAHAMAS CELEBRATION was with us in Freeport, bringing back memories of sailing her two years ago. Very similar product, although on the B.C. everyone has a cabin, since you're on board for two nights, and there are organized activities and entertainment.

On the D.S. you're pretty much sitting around waiting to get to Freeport or Port Everglades, just like on a ferry. People weren't even drinking the free drinks much because of the cold weather, and it was very subdued on board. It was more lively during several other trips I've made on her, but those were in hot weather with more of a party crowd on board. Also, nowadays everyone needs a passport, which eliminates a lot of Americans who simply refuse to get one, or are visiting Florida without one.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
On the D.S. you're pretty much sitting around waiting to get to Freeport or Port Everglades, just like on a ferry. People weren't even drinking the free drinks much because of the cold weather, and it was very subdued on board. Rich

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:

I noticed that in the pictures, everyone just sitting around with expressionless faces like they were just bored to tears and waiting for something to happen. I remember taking one of these day trip cruises many years ago and the next week it caught fire and burned up! Don't remember the name of it but I think it was the same company. Since I would be in it more for the 'cruise' experience I have this feeling I would be disappointed getting on it immediately after spending more than a week on a real cruise ship.

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You were probably on board one of the SeaEscape ships (several burned, with many people killed in the process.) This is the only ship Discovery Cruise Lines has ever had, although for many years she was with SeaEscape.

Many people on this ship are not there for a "cruise experience", even though that's how it's heavily advertised and promoted down here, with all drinks included. A majority of pax are one-way, either going to stay a couple of nights at a hotel in Lucaya, or returning.

Also, many local Grand Bahamians come to South Florida on major shopping expeditions, since they can then return with loads of things that would be impossible on an airplane. We saw people debarking in Freeport with mattresses, appliances, pallets of food, etc. It's much cheaper to buy ANYTHING in South Florida than on Grand Bahama.

So I don't recommend this ship for a "cruise experience", but rather to experience what an older cruise ship from the '70/'80s was like, since it's mostly unchanged from those days, as mentioned at the top of this thread. Lots of people seem to be mourning and pining away for "vintage" ships without ever realizing what many of them were really like.

When you sail for the day, how does it work. I assume the ship leaves around 9am, sails to Freeport where you have several hours, then returns to Ft. Lauderdale at night.

After a night out in Ft. Lauderdale I often see DISCOVERY SUN sitting all alone in the dark, with almost all the lights out. I often wonder what the crew does. Do they still live onboard or go elsewhere for the night? I assume they are not Americans like on most cruise ships, so I would imagine they don't have apartments in FLL and stay onboard.

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Originally posted by eroller:
Rich,
Could you purchase a cabin? If so how does that work? Are they all pretty much the same these days, or are there different categories. I guess it's assigned when you check in? Also, was the ship clean?

When you sail for the day, how does it work. I assume the ship leaves around 9am, sails to Freeport where you have several hours, then returns to Ft. Lauderdale at night.

After a night out in Ft. Lauderdale I often see DISCOVERY SUN sitting all alone in the dark, with almost all the lights out. I often wonder what the crew does. Do they still live onboard or go elsewhere for the night? I assume they are not Americans like on most cruise ships, so I would imagine they don't have apartments in FLL and stay onboard.

Ernie

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The ship sails every day except Wednesdays. Boarding begins at 6:00am and the ship sails at 8:15am. Breakfast is a buffet, served in the crowded dining room. No lunch is served on the ship. You arrive in Freeport about 1 - 1:15pm, and must be back on board by 5:00pm. Most people are going one-way, but for round-trip pax you have a wristband which identifies you--most of those people go over to the hotel, beach areas about 10-15 miles from the port.

The ship departs Freeport about 5:15pm, with a buffet dinner served (after our crowded breakfast experience, we opted to purchase dinner in the Grand Bahama Grill for $24.95 p.p.) Only about 8 people on board did that, but it was nice to have your own table and order from a menu--selection and quality were good. The ship docked at 10:45pm, and customs had us cleared and off the ship by 11:30pm.

For round-trip day pax, you can purchase a cabin, inside or outside, for either $55 or $65 --the photos show our outside cabin--I can't believe I spent a week in a cabin like that (as a paying passenger) aboard the ship when she was CARIBE! No storage space except those two drawers under the bed.

Most of the crew stays on board--there is no time to go "home" to a place ashore, since they must finish cleaning the ship, getting everyone off by around midnight, with the next day's crowd arriving about 5:30am to do it all over again. I guess Wednesdays are their day of rest, since the ship stays in port those days.

I had a look at their website. Once you tack on the "gourmet dinner" and a cabin you are looking at $350 for a day cruise. Suddenly it doesn't seem like such a great bargain anymore.

It would be interesting to sail on her to remember how things used to be. Mind you I never thought she was a great ship even back in her heyday with Commodore.

Let's face it, the ships today are far superior and less expensive to sail on. It's a win win for the current cruise passenger. Of course most will never know just how good they have it.

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Originally posted by eroller:
Thanks Rich.

I had a look at their website. Once you tack on the "gourmet dinner" and a cabin you are looking at $350 for a day cruise. Suddenly it doesn't seem like such a great bargain anymore.

It would be interesting to sail on her to remember how things used to be. Mind you I never thought she was a great ship even back in her heyday with Commodore.

Let's face it, the ships today are far superior and less expensive to sail on. It's a win win for the current cruise passenger. Of course most will never know just how good they have it.

Ernie

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There are ways to discount the cruise fare--for Floridians on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the base fare is $79pp. If you sail in your birthday month (as I did) the base is $26. But it's true, the costs do add up.

You're absolutely right that this is really the "Golden Age" for cruising. There have never been so many choices, with such high quality, for such low costs. I just wanted to point out in this thread, and use DISCOVERY SUN as an example, and the "good old days" weren't necessarily as good as we think they were.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

I just wanted to point out in this thread, and use DISCOVERY SUN as an example, and the "good old days" weren't necessarily as good as we think they were.

Rich

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Yesterday I ordered what I think is a pretty decent photo scanner. It's time to scan some of my old photos and get them online. Should be fun (although very time consuming) to go through them all.

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[ 03-08-2011: Message edited by: DAMBROSI2 ]