Review Star - 3/29/15 to 4/5/15

[dadroy]

First of all, I am not a first time cruiser, so I am basing this review on a certain extent to my experiences on other cruise lines. Many of the issues I will report on are individual to myself and DW. Many people will not find my observations applicable to their styles, but I post them simply because “some” will find them useful or at least informative.

 

We live in the Los Angeles area and so had friends drop us off and pick us up.

 

This was our first time on NCL (Star) and I began the cruise with a definite negative expectation. A friend had done this same cruise about 2 years ago and they did not enjoy it. We booked this cruise simply because DW needed some time to decompress and this was about the only cruise from LA that was available. We booked about 5 weeks out and got a rate for an OV guarantee with a choice of OBC, UDP or UBP. We chose UBP primarily because I really like drinking and DW thought that she might enjoy the ability to try different drinks without having to worry about the cost of the drink she might not like. Not a problem, the drinks she did not enjoy, I finished off, and so no alcohol was wasted on this sailing.

 

Embarkation was perhaps the easiest of any cruise we have done. NO lines for anything at 11am. There was plenty of seating to wait to be called for boarding, with water and orange juice available if we wanted it. The only line we had was the hold up of the picture taking. It would be nice if they had two lines once cleared for boarding. One line for those who wanted their picture taken and another for those of us who did not want pictures. This could have saved us 20 minutes of waiting in a line that was not necessary.

 

Once on board we found a seat in the Market Café and had a bite for lunch. We found the offerings varied and if I had to find a fault, there were different options at the four different serving lines. Kind of annoying to find the person sitting next to you with a really good looking pasta dish that was not available on the line we went through. We did learn to look at all the serving lines before deciding what to eat. Not a big deal, but thought I would bring it up.

 

DW MUST follow a gluten free diet and we had contacted the special needs people before the needs. They recommended we talk with the Maitre D’ when we boarded. We did this right after lunch and were told what would become a common response, “not a problem”. They recommended when we went to dinner we just needed to notify our waiter to see what was gluten free, then we would get menus for the next day that DW could choose from and it would be available for all three meals in the dining room. Things appeared to be working out just fine.

[dadroy]

We then explored the ship and found it to be in decent shape. As with any ship, there was some rust here and there, some faded paint and other tiny things that needed attention but overall the ship was in great shape.

 

I am a smoker (please don’t kill me) and I found the smoking areas to be readily available and convenient. One nice thing is there was not a single non-smoker who complained about my smoking in a smoking area as I have had on other cruises. I really hate it when I am sitting in a smoking area and the non-smoker next to me complains. I have a tendency to get in their face, both verbally and with very close exhaling just to get my point across.

 

Once the rooms were announced ready, we checked out our assigned cabin, midship 8136. Nice location, near the elevators and one deck up from the promenade deck where smoking is allowed. Overall, the room was what would be expected of an OV. DW did complain the “end tables” next to the bed did not have any storage drawers but I did not think it was a problem. There was lots of room to store our stuff.

 

My complaint was personal. I am a “big” guy, 260 pounds. The bathroom was the smallest I have ever seen on a ship. When you walk into the bathroom, the sink is directly in front of you. The toilet is to the left with a sliding glass door. The entrance was barely large enough for me to go through sideways! I would never be able to fit walking straight in. The shower was to the right of the sink with a small doorway as well, but it was about 2 inches bigger so not as bad as the toilet. The inside of the shower was big enough to be comfortable while cleaning up.

This ship has the thinnest walls of any ship I have been on. We could hear every drawer open and close from next door, most of the conversations and even the TV station. Luckily we were not in the room except to sleep, but it was noticeable.

 

Once we unpacked and put everything away, we went to the lifeboat drill. No life jackets were required and it was held inside and was comfortable. I am one of those who believe that if you do not attend the safety drill, you should be escorted off the ship. For those who were already drunk and were hooting and hollering, you should join the others being shown the gangway.

 

We then went to the CC sail away at the Biergarten and found long lines for a drink (30 minutes) and NO servers around to get drinks. This was a recurring problem throughout the cruise. Not sure if UDP is the reason, but I seldom have had to practically tackle a waiter to get a drink. Often times when I would see them delivering drinks, it was not a full tray! It was one or two drinks at a time and after taking an order, they would walk back to the bar with their head down ignoring anyone who would try to get their attention.

 

Right after sail away, I discovered one of the GREAT things on the cruise. The afternoon BBQ! Unlike other lines, NCL served sort of BBQ’d chicken and steaks. I only say sort of, because the chicken was precooked and really only warmed on the grill, but what they served sure was tasty. Many other items (paella, seafood with rice) were precooked and simply warmed in big pans. Good job NCL.

 

At this time, I also noticed one deficiency. There was ALWAYS a line of 20+ people waiting for ice cream. NCL, you should have two people serving the ice cream, lines are the enemy of good service. The ice cream service area was also in direct sunlight, causing the ice cream to melt and the server was having to throw away a quarter of the ice cream in each 5 gallon tub. Good ice cream though! Perhaps adding an awning over the ice cream area would solve this problem.

 

Time for dinner and our #1 complaint! DW as I mentioned needs a gluten free diet. Without it, she gets red itchy blotches all over. Well, she had those blotches most of the cruise because the things they told us were gluten free were not gluten free! First night at Versailles, she ordered a salad with no dressing (most salad dressings have hidden gluten, so she brings her own). They delivered her salad with the dressing and croutons. When she pointed this out to the waiter, he apologized and offered to take off the croutons. DW declined and asked again for NO dressing and NO croutons. 15 minutes later, here comes the replacement salad. You guessed it, dressing and croutons!

 

We again complained and again the waiter apologized. They then delivered the Salmon Tartar which was very good and gluten free. Then the salad appeared again, Great, no dressing, just 20 croutons! They did bring the grilled salmon without the sauce, but the salmon was just a little drier than sawdust and way overcooked.

 

We asked for the Maitre D’ and along came the Asst Maitre D’. He apologized profusely and recommended we place our order for breakfast and dinner on Monday. DW made her selections based on the Maitre D’ saying the choices would be made gluten free. His attitude was in my opinion dismissive. He was the same person we talked to at boarding and he did not seem to care.

 

I’m not really a complainer, but when I saw Gary Brown, Restaurant Manager at the entrance to the restaurant I decided I would complain because when the wife gets itchy, she also gets *itchy! Not good for me! Mr. Bryan suggested we preorder, which made me laugh, yes to his face, because I had just told him we had preordered this meal and nothing was correctly prepared or served. He said he would talk to the staff and offered to have us preorder. Again, I had told him we had already preordered for this evening, he did not seem to be really listening to me.

[dadroy]

We went to the welcome aboard show and found it interesting. I don’t normally go to the shows but thought I should if I was going to honestly compare NCL to other lines. The show was interesting but to me it was the same level of performance as on other lines. It was college level performances. Perhaps I should lower my expectations, could be I expect too much from cruise lines. DW though the show very interesting and enjoyable. But then of course, she thought Kentucky would go undefeated and the art sold at the auctions are well priced. Different strokes for different folks.

 

Then off to the new Five O’clock bar. Supposedly new, but very boring. The chairs and “cushioned” bench seating was like sitting on concrete. The chairs have plain wood slats, no cushion at all. I said earlier, I weigh 260 pounds, largely located around the heart attack gut area. I have no butt, no padding, and I still have a sore bottom from sitting in those chairs. This bar is supposed to be Margaretville based, but it really doesn’t work. Very boring and it does not open until 5pm. The solo guitar player also had a tough time with pitch. Painful to hear him try to sing and nobody in the bar paid him any attention.

 

Off to bed and another difference of opinion. I thought the bed was comfortable, but DW thought it was very hard. Complained all week! Our steward introduced himself on the first day, but just as I like, we never saw him again. Room was always clean and tidy. Good job!

 

Went to Versailles for breakfast and DW ordered an omelet and gluten free toast. My breakfast was delivered, as was her omelet. 20 minutes AFTER the omelet was delivered, as we were getting ready to leave, along came the toast. Apparently anything, gluten free is prepared at some central galley and then walked to the restaurant where it was ordered.

 

We had lunch at the buffet and I found much to my liking. Do you remember I have the body of a God? Buddah! DW talked to the servers and was told certain items were gluten free. She enjoyed the lunch and about 2 hours later, itchy red spots! Something was not gluten free. We began to doubt the Servers English skills and understanding of gluten free.

 

This was a sea day and I spent my time doing my favorite cruise activity. Reading and trying to deplete the ships alcohol supply. Quick note her. A 16 oz Budweiser was $7 with the mandatory 18% gratuity. Strawberry Margarita was $10.72. Pricier than on past cruises, but with UBP, did not care!

 

DW decided she was best served by having lunch at the buffet and limited her lunch to vegetable and salads, safe choices. She brought her own gluten free salad dressing and was happy with lunch.

 

Dinner at Versailles , with her preordered choices. When we informed the waiter the meal was preordered, he told us her entrée could not be made gluten free. This is after the Asst. Maitre D’ told us “not a problem”. DW had two orders of the Salmon Tartar and we called it quits. My dinner was good, but it would be our last try at the restaurants. Of course we talked to the Asst Maitre D’ and he apologized. Sorry, but this is like OJ apologizing to his ex, does not do a bunch of good.

 

We went to the variety show and same as with the welcome aboard show. I thought the performance was not that good but the wife loved it. She had a good time which of course is the important thing.

 

Back to reading and drinking, the rest of the night, and the ship still had alcohol. Good job NCL!

[dadroy]

The next morning we gave up on the Versailles restaurant. We had breakfast at the buffet. Asked to talk with the Maitre D’ and we got the Assistant. DW ordered gluten French Toast and our favorite words floated from his mouth, “no problem”. 25 minutes later, he brought waffles! He apologized and said the gluten free French toast was expired!. Apparently, they are not made to order but are brought onboard frozen and their expiration date made it unwise to serve it.

 

Okay, I am not a chef, but French toast is made by dipping bread into beaten eggs and fried in a pan. I explained to him that the French toast could be made fresh with no problem. He looked at me as if he did not understand. Now you have to understand, I do not normally use words that would not be used in church, but this person apparently had the IQ of a turnip. He could not understand what I was saying and appeared to be saying DW should be happy with the waffles. These things were like Eggo’s and were heated in a microwave. Have you ever tried this? They end up with no texture and are like eating a dishrag! He went and got the chef in charge of the buffet.

 

Another 20 minutes and here is the head chef. I had the same discussion about how to make French toast. I don’t think asking them to do something so simple as to make fresh French toast is too much to ask. DW then asked the head chef to try the waffles and he would not! I think he knew he would be grossed out if he did. One nice thing with the upper management of NCL’s restaurant staff, they are really good at apologizing and saying “no problem”. Of course, there was no follow through.

 

No plans for the afternoon so we sat and read, and I went back to trying to empty the alcohol stash. We had gone to breakfast at about 7am because we are early risers. At 10:45, the head chef found us and proudly announced he had made DW some fresh gluten free French toast. Of course, it was cold since apparently he had spent some time looking for us. Turnip? We were at the same table we were at for our first discussion at 7:30. DW appreciated the effort and ate the French toast, partly out of a need to thank the chef for his efforts and partly because she follows the first breakfast---second breakfast rule. Lol No, she is not anywhere near as large as me! The head chef did say he had tried the waffles and agreed they were not fit for human consumption. Perhaps there were some service animals on board that might have enjoyed them.

 

At lunch, DW decided we would stay at the buffet and she would stick to plain salads and vegetables without sauce since she did not feel safe taking the servers word for items being gluten free. Luckily, every meal had grilled tomatoes and some sort of grilled vegetable. After such bad experiences with the full service restaurant, we did not return.

 

We did go to Ginza and DW was able to have gluten free sushi. Now before you laugh, soy sauce has gluten as does the nori paper!. But the Maitre D’ there was fantastic. He took our order and I saw him personally supervise the preparation. He then delivered it to us and the wife, who spent 4 years in Japan, said it was fantastic. This was the only decent meal she had.

 

I am not a fan of Asian food and DW talked to the Asst. Maitre D’ at the buffet who told her she could order the Sushi at Ginza and bring it to the buffet so we could eat together. I did not want to eat at Ginza again. Unfortunately, you cannot get food from Ginza delivered elsewhere even though it is al la carte pricing. Had we known the buffet manager was talking OHA ( out his *ss), DW could have gone to Ginza at opening, ordered the Sushi, then asked for a doggie bag to bring it up to the buffet. I can’t understand why they would not allow her to get the sushi to go, makes no sense.

[dadroy]

We went to the aerial acrobat show and same result as previous, except I was somewhat bored with the performance. DW thought it was interesting. I think she just liked the fact the guy was well built and did not weigh 260 pounds!

 

The rest of the week was pretty much the same. I have been on this itinerary about 6 times and so never even thought of getting off the ship. Nothing there to see. On past cruises I would get off the ship just to drink for 50 cents a beer rather than $5.25. But with UBP, no need to get off. DW got off in each port, but just to do some pier shopping since she too has been there, done that.

 

This was our first cruise with DW being on the Gluten Free diet, so hard to compare it to other cruises. Overall, I would give the kitchen staff an “F” on intelligence, food prep and overall customer service. For a person without a dietary restriction, I found the food to be good and the selections varied. I would have liked to try some of the pay restaurants but not worth it if DW was not able to eat anything safely. Simple things like a nice roast or chicken is often marinated and the marinade often contains gluten.

 

We skipped the comedian since during the welcome aboard show; he was not funny at all. So cannot report on how well he did. The same with the CD. I did not go to anything he was in charge of, but his accent was so bad, I could not understand most of the announcements he made. Now please, don’t misunderstand my next statement. So much of the staff had accents that made conversation impossible. I think this was part of the problem with the dining, the people in charge simply did not understand what we were saying! One concern I have, is in the event of an emergency, if the CD was making the announcements there would be about half the passengers who would not understand what the heck he was saying. Is there a problem with getting someone on a ship who can speak understandable English just in case we need to Costa Concordia? Here come the flames!!!!!

 

Getting off the ship was by far the most organized and simplest I have experienced! No lines, except when a woman who did not know how to use an escalator fell at the bottom and took out the 3 people behind her as they all fell at the bottom of the escalator. They should have an emergency stop button at the bottom of the escalator since this could have ended up with many more people piling up at the bottom.

 

Other than our dining problems, I was impressed with NCL. Every cruise has some minor irritations, as did this one (slow bar service and uncomfortable chairs) but overall I was impressed. Would not hesitate to cruise with NCL again. Will need to get a divorce since DW will not trust the kitchen to be able to provide a tasty and safe experience on this line again.

 

Recommendation to NCL! Hire some chefs who understand Gluten! If they know what goes into each dish, they can provide flavorful meals that are gluten free. Of course, not every dish has to be gluten free, but by marking those dishes that are gluten free, it makes it easier and safer for those on restricted diets. Luckily, DW only gets itchy blotches when the kitchen screws up, some people become very ill when the kitchen screws the pooch. NCL, please train your people. It’s not like this diet is one in a million. The buffet head chef said there were over 100 people on the ship requesting Gluten Free diets, so it is a common allergy that you should take more care in providing for.

 

If you are reading this, you know that each day on each ship has the exact same menu. A good chef can mark Gluten free items as Gluten free (GF). I know on Holland America, they mark items as Heart Healthy and low calorie in the main dining rooms. . It should not be that hard to add GF to safe items so guests can pick them out and even mark them as CBMGF (Can be made gluten free). Yes, it is a bit more work for the kitchen, but it is not very difficult.

 

If this diet restriction cannot be accommodated you should simply state it on your website. “WE CANNOT (OR WILL NOT) PROVIDE GLUTEN FREE ITEMS. EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK!” This way, people can choose whether they want to cruise with your line. You should not advertise that you will provide a GF diet then serve frozen nasty waffles and pass it off as a decent offering.

[mking8288]

First, thank you for taking time, plenty of time to write this review to benefit the rest of us - every review is unique & different, and valid on its merits, based on what's important to your partner, you (and anyone else in your traveling party). We missed the STAR, last sailed her in 2009 and had a great crew onboard for our runs to Mexico & Alaska.

 

We have been thinking about the Pacific side for a while so this could put those ports back on our marine radar. Will be on the lookout for the rest of your review and about the ports, and, if you have photos to upload & share, as those often tell the stories themselves.

 

Great to read about the sailaway BBQ, we haven't been on one lately sailing out of our NYC homeport - now, I'm hungry for a midnight snack at the buffet (and our kitchen) is closed.

 

If & when you get that post cruise e-survey from NCL, please write in your comments about GF issues to let them know. We're on the Breakaway & only in the buffet twice all week, and witnessed a somewhat similar encounter between the pax & crew behind the buffet counter lines when asked about GF items - all of them looked lost. It sounded like your DW & you still managed to made the best out of it and didn't ruin your cruise.

 

Very much understood the issues us XXL or XXXL faced with the toilet layout in those Jewel & Dawn class ships (Star being the same) ... look forward to reading about the 3 ports, etc. Much obliged.

[lisakoivu]

Thanks for your great review.

 

I agree completely, 100% that they shouldn't be promising gluten free if they can't deliver. I also agree (did you actually say this? I think so?) that there should be a regular consistent GF dish each night that they can guarantee is prepared the same way all the time.

 

One of the problems, I think, is that there are a lot of people out there who are GF "by choice" because they think reducing the gluten is healthy. It may be.. but for those folks "almost' GF is good enough. Your wife actually MUST be 100% GF, and so clearly, NCL does a poor job dealing with what is actually a medical condition. I wonder if contacting the actual medical team beforehand would have made your experience any better, since she has a medical condition, but I agree with you, not knowing how to make French Toast is over the top.

 

Loved your review.

[cadien]

We're on the Star now. They explained at the Meet & Greet that the furniture and decor for 5 o'clock Somewhere hadn't arrived in time for the dry dock. Ditto O'Sheenans. Because of that cargo strike. They're going back into dry dock either after this cruise or the next. Because of a separate technical issue but maybe they'll get the furniture then too.

[dadroy]

mking8288 -- Sorry, we have done this Mexican Riviera cruise so many times we did not really get off the ship at any of the ports. I cannot help you with the ports of call.

 

lisakoivu - - I did not really recommend a specific Gluten Free dish, but more of a marking on the little tabs that give the name of the selection. So on the dining room menu might be something like "Poached Salmon in butter sauce" and next to that would be something like a small GF if no gluten is added to the meal. If the sauce would have gluten, they could mark it as could be made gluten free, they would just not put the sauce on the entree. The same could be done in the buffet.

[mearsfansinboise]

We were on the Star the week before you - who was your CD? Was it Ben? That's who we had. He's Australian, and we didn't seem to have any trouble understanding him/his accent. Wondering it was someone else...?

[mearsfansinboise]

First, thank you for taking time, plenty of time to write this review to benefit the rest of us - every review is unique & different, and valid on its merits, based on what's important to your partner, you (and anyone else in your traveling party). We missed the STAR, last sailed her in 2009 and had a great crew onboard for our runs to Mexico & Alaska.

 

We have been thinking about the Pacific side for a while so this could put those ports back on our marine radar. Will be on the lookout for the rest of your review and about the ports, and, if you have photos to upload & share, as those often tell the stories themselves.

 

Great to read about the sailaway BBQ, we haven't been on one lately sailing out of our NYC homeport - now, I'm hungry for a midnight snack at the buffet (and our kitchen) is closed.

 

If & when you get that post cruise e-survey from NCL, please write in your comments about GF issues to let them know. We're on the Breakaway & only in the buffet twice all week, and witnessed a somewhat similar encounter between the pax & crew behind the buffet counter lines when asked about GF items - all of them looked lost. It sounded like your DW & you still managed to made the best out of it and didn't ruin your cruise.

 

Very much understood the issues us XXL or XXXL faced with the toilet layout in those Jewel & Dawn class ships (Star being the same) ... look forward to reading about the 3 ports, etc. Much obliged.

 

We've done the Mexican Riviera 3 times.

We've done the tacos & tequila tour in Puerto Vallarta through NCL excursions. It was fun - and cheap. Take a bus tour, lots of stops to see churches and other sites, also to a place where they make tequila - and you get to try it; and a stop for lunch was included.

In Mazatlan we just did the beach getaway through NCL excursions and it took us to a resort with a beach, pools, buffet lunch. It was cheap and easy too and we enjoyed it much.

[hunterjackson]

Did you contact the Access Desk before sailing?

 

With GF and Kosher meals, they get a head count before boarding so they can special order and not have problems with expired food, etc.

 

"Special Medical Dietary Requirements and Diabetes

 

Guest with food allergies should contact the Access Desk to discuss Norwegian Cruise Line's policies and procedures concerning special diets and your specific allergies prior to your cruise. Because the vessels are supplied all over the world, it may be easier to meet your specific food allergy requirements in some countries, but very difficult in others. We can arrange to have no sugar and low sodium meals for guests with those specific medical dietary restrictions upon request. Refrigerators are available in many staterooms for storing insulin"

[mking8288]

mking8288 ... I cannot help you with the ports of call.

dadroy, thanks - no need to be apologetic as that's like someone asking me about the newest at Port Canaveral, FL - we didn't even take a walk off the gangway to checkout the "new" terminal used for docking the BA 2 weeks ago.

Continued with your write-up. the audience is interested & appreciative. The more details that we can put to use, the better. Thanks !

 

We've done the Mexican Riviera 3 times ... the tacos & tequila tour in Puerto Vallarta through NCL ... In Mazatlan we just did the beach getaway through NCL ... and we enjoyed it much.

Thanks, NCL (and other lines) cancelled the Riversa shortly after we did our one & only Mexican cruise out of San Pedro. DW was ever "slightly" freaked out once we hit solid pavement to see MP/soliders and national policia patrolling with M16's all around, not her idea of a vacation - and I missed that on my due diligence then, I smack myself in the head (and, she grew up in a city with plenty of M16's, Colt's and AK 47's ...)

Sounds like you are happy, the deals were good & you would do that again - we did the Rivera & booked 2 independent tours then (pretty brave, all things considered) and 1 with NCL @ PV, to taste the Mexican waters, LOL with tacos for lunch, probably the same exact tour. Now that the post-cruise bugs had bitten us, I got the mandate to start planning more. Starting to look at 2016 and 2017 options, our "gang" of extended family cruisers are leaning toward doing Asia, RCI got some serious itineraries floating whereas the closest thing to NCL is ... but we might also do a coastal/repo with a combined itinerary depending on timing.

 

send from my Google Nexus 5/7 via Tapatalk

[mearsfansinboise]

Thanks, NCL (and other lines) cancelled the Riversa shortly after we did our one & only Mexican cruise out of San Pedro. DW was ever "slightly" freaked out once we hit solid pavement to see MP/soliders and national policia patrolling with M16's all around, not her idea of a vacation - and I missed that on my due diligence then, I smack myself in the head (and, she grew up in a city with plenty of M16's, Colt's and AK 47's ...)

 

You know what, I remember the police/soldiers/rifles on our last sailing, but not on this recent one. We did see a fair amount of police cars in town, but not the scary in-your-face rifle ones when we got in to port last time.

[sfaaa]

You know what, I remember the police/soldiers/rifles on our last sailing, but not on this recent one. We did see a fair amount of police cars in town, but not the scary in-your-face rifle ones when we got in to port last time.

 

Those heavily armed Mex soldiers with M16 are real friendly. They would even post for photos if you ask them nicely.

[Envelope21]

We were on the Star the week before you - who was your CD? Was it Ben? That's who we had. He's Australian, and we didn't seem to have any trouble understanding him/his accent. Wondering it was someone else...?

 

We were on this same cruise. The cruise director was, in fact, Ben. He is Australian and did speak with an accent but I didn't feel he was hard to understand. His assistant, though, WAS hard to understand. He was the one doing most of the announcements. When he would MC an event, DH and I were constantly looking at each other saying "What did he say?"

[mearsfansinboise]

We were on this same cruise. The cruise director was, in fact, Ben. He is Australian and did speak with an accent but I didn't feel he was hard to understand. His assistant, though, WAS hard to understand. He was the one doing most of the announcements. When he would MC an event, DH and I were constantly looking at each other saying "What did he say?"

 

Which guy was this - the one that was a little older than Ben, thinning hair? Or was it Helmi? Or someone else?

(Not that it matters - just curious.)

Edited April 8, 2015 by mearsfansinboise

[Envelope21]

Which guy was this - the one that was a little older than Ben, thinning hair? Or was it Helmi? Or someone else?

(Not that it matters - just curious.)

 

I'm not sure of his name, but Helmi does not sound familiar. He was tall and thin. He was very friendly. I just could never understand him. He was at the pool party (such as it was) and he made some announcement and I thought he was saying something about the next dance. He walked by us later and we asked him what he just said. Turns out he was admonishing the young people in the pool for splashing too much. DH and I looked at each other and just laughed. I had NO idea that was what he was talking about.

[fransgeldman]

First of all my compliments of this funny and positive review. We are on the Star in june to go to Norway. We hope that we enjoy it as you, good for us, we are not having any kind of diet.... probably we should to loose some weight.... Thanks for the best and clearest review ever.

[jenf22]

First of all my compliments of this funny and positive review. We are on the Star in june to go to Norway. We hope that we enjoy it as you, good for us, we are not having any kind of diet.... probably we should to loose some weight.... Thanks for the best and clearest review ever.

 

Are you on the June 5th cruise? We are and there's a pretty good meet thread going on. Don't remember seeing you over there.

 

Thanks for the review OP. This is our first NCL cruise in June and we're really looking forward to it! I wonder if they'll still do the BBQ in Norway???

[NUPDCOP]

Thanks for a great review. I feel your pain buddy... 6'1" 250lbs and carry it all in my heart attack zone as well.....Oh yea and have a wife who is GF and is about 130lbs soaking wet.

 

Sorry that you and her had a hard time eating, we haven't run into that issue at all. In fact, on the Pearl the Asst Maître D sent GF cookies to our cabin - twice. We have found that breakfast is the best place for her to eat - but then again she love omelets so having them cooked to order is the best because she see's what is going in. Usually lunch is a salad at the buffet for her with some of the sandwich meats and cheeses. We hit the MDR and always pre-order the night before....but even then the issues with croutons on a simple salad are hard to understand. I agree that there seems to be a communication issue/problem at least with some of the staff/crew.

 

Thanks again for the review!

[mking8288]

I remember the police/soldiers/rifles on our last sailing, but not on this recent one. We did see a fair amount of police cars in town, but not the scary in-your-face rifle ones when we got in to port last time.

 

Those heavily armed Mex soldiers with M16 are real friendly. They would even post for photos if you ask them nicely.

 

Thanks, that's good to know. I still have those photos from P.V. port and remember the "talks" we got onboard the ship from Q&A and from our private local tour guides & drivers about it. State Dept's travel advisory, I haven't check lately - always do before final payment & sailing date - is a good starting reference point.

 

Policia were riding in the back of those big & tall Ford/GMC pickups, but at least they weren't manning some of the mobile checkpoints on the roads with .50 calibers. We're among the first to travel into mainland China back in the mid-1980's and without internet, out of touch for several days & upon landing on a flight from CAN to HKG, walked right into the arrival hall with dozens of fully MP5 armed SWAT police patrol in teams of 4's - turned out that ex-Philippine President Marco's government collapsed & his family on the run, and rumored for his aircraft to be landing as an unwelcomed foreign visitors - only a little "shocked" but clearing immigration & custom was easy & fast, as usual.

 

Don't want to "drag" a dozen extended family members to come along to cruise and not caution them prior to booking it - about the possible sights of M16's as we docked/tender into the piers for local tours, ya know.

 

On the other hand, on the escorted tour thru the local street markets & food places, saw some of the biggest & jumbo'd sized (truely) local prawns being sold - inexpensive & wow - made those ex-NCL frozen lobster tails looked like baby shrimps in comparison. Yummy & tasty, we're told & not enough time to get some on our way to the next sightseeing stop.

 

Standing by to read the rest of the review.

[cadien]

Which guy was this - the one that was a little older than Ben, thinning hair? Or was it Helmi? Or someone else?

(Not that it matters - just curious.)

 

We were on the one right after this (April 5) and we're both pretty sure the assistant was Andre. They also mentioned in passing at a Saturday performance that it was Ben's last cruise but that's all they said.