Star Aft Facing Suite: How is it?

[dongordon]

Has anyone recently had an Aft-Facing Suite on the Star.

 

Being that the Star is fairly old compared to the rest of the NCL fleet, I was wondering if anyone recently experienced cruising in one and how it compared to other NCL suites?

 

We are booked on a Transatlantic cruise in April 2015.

 

Thanks.

Don

[fergusonvt]

We had an aft penthouse on deck 10 on the Star in 2012. Deck 10 have the largest balconies. It was a great location. Very quiet. It should be fantastic for a transatlantic. On my bucket list for 2016 when we retire. You'll love it. Don't worry about the age if the ship. They keep things well maintained.

Edited June 13, 2014 by fergusonvt

[dongordon]

Was your Aft Penthouse on the end?

I do not believe we have the end cabin, but we are in the middle.

Our balcony would be much smaller.

 

How was your Butler? Did you use him for many things?

 

That being said, I see you like the aft view as we do.

We always try and book an aft cabin....love the view!! :)

 

Thanks for your response.

 

Don

[DebbieCruises]

We went on the Star for 15 days on a Panama Canal transit in the AF suite 9732 just last month. In a word, it was fabulous! The corner suites on deck nine have a fantastic wrap-a-round balcony. All of the suite perks were present and as usual outstanding. Bruno was our concierge and he was fantastic, too!

Yes, there was a little wear on the ship due to age, but she is going into dry-dock in Feb. 2015. (I think) They were also replacing carpeting and fixing things all during the cruise to make it look good.

 

I haven't been on any of the new mega ships, but the Jewel class ship's suites have always been my favorites, but we loved the aft corner suite on the Star, too. Have a great cruise!

[dongordon]

We went on the Star for 15 days on a Panama Canal transit in the AF suite 9732 just last month. In a word, it was fabulous! The corner suites on deck nine have a fantastic wrap-a-round balcony. All of the suite perks were present and as usual outstanding. Bruno was our concierge and he was fantastic, too!

Yes, there was a little wear on the ship due to age, but she is going into dry-dock in Feb. 2015. (I think) They were also replacing carpeting and fixing things all during the cruise to make it look good.

 

I haven't been on any of the new mega ships, but the Jewel class ship's suites have always been my favorites, but we loved the aft corner suite on the Star, too. Have a great cruise!

 

Hi Debbie...

 

I am in cabin 9736 on the Star....I hope my balcony is large.

Do the suites have an espresso machine and is Cagney's available for breakfast as a suite cruiser?

What kind of services did Bruno provide?

Suggestions for tipping the Butler seems varied....what is your opinion on the amount for a 14 day cruise?

 

Thanks.

Don

[fergusonvt]

No, we were not in one of the end ones. Our balcony was rectangular and held 2 loungers, 2 regular chairs and a small table. We would pull the loungers toward the door at night in case of rain so the cushions wouldn't get wet. Google your cabin number and I bet you'll find pictures and/or videos. We have a forward penthouse next year on the Sun. Can't wait. Have a great cruise!

[fergusonvt]

Hi Debbie...

 

I am in cabin 9736 on the Star....I hope my balcony is large.

Do the suites have an espresso machine and is Cagney's available for breakfast as a suite cruiser?

What kind of services did Bruno provide?

Suggestions for tipping the Butler seems varied....what is your opinion on the amount for a 14 day cruise?

 

Thanks.

Don

 

You will have a Lavazza coffee maker. Yes Cagney's is available for breakfast and lunch. Frankly I got hotter waffles off the buffet though but Cagney's is very good. I know your balcony will be smaller than the deck 10 ones but it still should be large enough for 2 loungers. For a 14 day cruise I would tip anywhere from $150-$200 depending on how much you use the butler. We tend to not use them much.

[DebbieCruises]

Hi Debbie...

 

I am in cabin 9736 on the Star....I hope my balcony is large.

Do the suites have an espresso machine and is Cagney's available for breakfast as a suite cruiser?

What kind of services did Bruno provide?

Suggestions for tipping the Butler seems varied....what is your opinion on the amount for a 14 day cruise?

 

Thanks.

Don

The size of the balcony is relatively large. It doesn't have the wrap-a-round which only adds a stand-up view of the side (no seating could fit), but it does have a lounge chair and a small table as well as a regular chair. It isn't as large as the deck-ten Jewel class ships. They are huge! But it is much larger than a mini-suite or balcony-class cabin. 9736 is the cabin that my dad was in, so I did get to see the balcony. I think you will enjoy it and I'm sure you will love the view!:D

 

Yes, I LOVED the Lavazza coffee machine! Cagney's was always available for breakfast and lunch. If you like chocolate, be sure to try their warm brownie with ice cream. YUMMY!!

 

Bruno was wonderful! We had purchased the UDP, so we needed reservations every night at a specialty restaurant. We were traveling with my father and his friend, so we needed reservations every night for 4. We didn't plan ahead too much, so he was frequently finding a place 2-3 hours before we needed it.

 

We wanted to see what an SJ suite looked like, because we are booked for the British Isles trip in 9/2015 followed by a trans-Atlantic trip in an SJ which has no balcony at all. (I'm still not sure I can be as happy without a balcony.:confused:) Anyway, Bruno arranged for us to see it as well as the garden villa (as a bonus) on a port day when we planned to stay on the ship. He escorted us through them and allowed us to take numerous pictures.

 

Tipping is such a touchy subject on this board. We only had breakfast and lunch in our cabin the day we went through the Panama Canal. We didn't eat any dinners en suite, but we asked for cheese and crackers as our afternoon snack. Our butler also took our request for and picked up our Panama Canal t-shirts, so we wouldn't have to stand in the huge crush of people wanting them. He did all of the other usual things like regular afternoon snacks, emptied our fridge when we first arrived, re-stocked our wine glasses and coffee needs, brought sliced limes and pitchers of cranberry juice, etc. He probably would have done more, but we didn't ask for anything else. I think we tipped him $10 a day, plus some extra for a total of $200 for the 15 days. We also tipped Bruno $100 plus, and the room steward $75. For a lot of people, that might be on the low end, but it was appropriate for us.

 

It was an awesome cruise!

Edited June 14, 2014 by DebbieCruises

[Ilovesailing]

All the aft P/H are on the ends, decks 8/9 have the wrap around. But any deck aft P/H will have adequate space and 180 views.

[lshan]

Hi Debbie...

 

I am in cabin 9736 on the Star....I hope my balcony is large.

Do the suites have an espresso machine and is Cagney's available for breakfast as a suite cruiser?

What kind of services did Bruno provide?

Suggestions for tipping the Butler seems varied....what is your opinion on the amount for a 14 day cruise?

 

Thanks.

Don

 

I'm in Cabin 9736 on the Star for the Baltic Cruise on July 3rd this year. I'll be happy to give you any info on the room when we get back.

[mikemartha]

Take care of the room, we will be in 9736 in January. Would like to know the good and the not so good. This will be our third cruise on the star, starting with its inaugural cruise season.

[lshan]

Take care of the room, we will be in 9736 in January. Would like to know the good and the not so good. This will be our third cruise on the star, starting with its inaugural cruise season.

 

 

 

Mikemartha; We'll take great care of the room for you lol. I'll try and take a few pictures and give you the good and bad on the room. This is our first Aft balcony suite so I'm curious to see how we'll like it compared to a mini-suite.

[dongordon]

The size of the balcony is relatively large. It doesn't have the wrap-a-round which only adds a stand-up view of the side (no seating could fit), but it does have a lounge chair and a small table as well as a regular chair. It isn't as large as the deck-ten Jewel class ships. They are huge! But it is much larger than a mini-suite or balcony-class cabin. 9736 is the cabin that my dad was in, so I did get to see the balcony. I think you will enjoy it and I'm sure you will love the view!:D

 

Yes, I LOVED the Lavazza coffee machine! Cagney's was always available for breakfast and lunch. If you like chocolate, be sure to try their warm brownie with ice cream. YUMMY!!

 

Bruno was wonderful! We had purchased the UDP, so we needed reservations every night at a specialty restaurant. We were traveling with my father and his friend, so we needed reservations every night for 4. We didn't plan ahead too much, so he was frequently finding a place 2-3 hours before we needed it.

 

We wanted to see what an SJ suite looked like, because we are booked for the British Isles trip in 9/2015 followed by a trans-Atlantic trip in an SJ which has no balcony at all. (I'm still not sure I can be as happy without a balcony.:confused:) Anyway, Bruno arranged for us to see it as well as the garden villa (as a bonus) on a port day when we planned to stay on the ship. He escorted us through them and allowed us to take numerous pictures.

 

Tipping is such a touchy subject on this board. We only had breakfast and lunch in our cabin the day we went through the Panama Canal. We didn't eat any dinners en suite, but we asked for cheese and crackers as our afternoon snack. Our butler also took our request for and picked up our Panama Canal t-shirts, so we wouldn't have to stand in the huge crush of people wanting them. He did all of the other usual things like regular afternoon snacks, emptied our fridge when we first arrived, re-stocked our wine glasses and coffee needs, brought sliced limes and pitchers of cranberry juice, etc. He probably would have done more, but we didn't ask for anything else. I think we tipped him $10 a day, plus some extra for a total of $200 for the 15 days. We also tipped Bruno $100 plus, and the room steward $75. For a lot of people, that might be on the low end, but it was appropriate for us.

 

It was an awesome cruise!

 

Debbie...

Thank you for all that wonderful information...greatly appreciated!! :)

I just hope the weather is nice, but at at least I have a nice cabin to enjoy! :D

 

Don

[dongordon]

I'm in Cabin 9736 on the Star for the Baltic Cruise on July 3rd this year. I'll be happy to give you any info on the room when we get back.

 

Thank you...

 

I am looking forward to hearing about the room and the Star when you return.

Please take a few photos.

 

Have a great cruise!!

 

Don

[mikemartha]

Ishan, your trip is coming up quick. Would appreciate pictures you can post. Maybe you can do a review of your entire cruise. The Baltic is on our bucket list for 2016. Have two cruises scheduled for 15 and unfortunately not a endless supply of money to allow for more than 2 cruises a year. Have a great trip.

[Planmaam]

I was in the suite on the corner, and my sister in the suite next door on our Star cruise in January of 2013; the review is in my signature, complete with many pictures of the two suites.

 

We loved it, and I'm sure you will, too. The Lavazza machine was used VERY much!!!!!!

 

I'm jealous of your TA, have a great cruise!