STAR any tips/hints/avoids?

[Stillfloatin']

Stop! You're killing me with the cool pic. I still have 4 more months to go.:eek:

[Cuizer2]

Wow that's a great picture! I noticed there aren't people on the water slides -- does it get too hot?

 

Now tell us what did you love the best?

 

Julia

Even on sea days the water slides are not open all day. However, that picture was of the main pool. The kids pool is in the back, and those water slides are open all day (see photo below).

 

I don't know if there was one thing that stood out. However, I don't want to dodge you question with that answer either. So after thinking about it for a while, I would say what I enjoyed the most was how relaxing it was.

 

I wrote a long (20 typed pages) review. If you want to read it, click on the link below ...

 

http://www.cruise-critic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=13327

 

Here is a photo of the kid's pool area ...

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Go to the casino for free popcorn! We used to get it and take it in to eat during a show...

[Cuizer2]

Go to the casino for free popcorn! We used to get it and take it in to eat during a show...

 

When I was on the Star the free popcorn was in the Red Lion pub.

[cruisequeen10]

I was on the NCL Sun 2 years ago to Alaska. Of course, I never eat in the pay restaurants. I thought why do they have so many extra pay restaurants. What I didn't know is that some of the extra restaurants you do not pay for. When I was on the NCL Star last year, we went with my sister and her husband. They were on the first week of the cruise and we joined them for the second week. My sister suggested that we eat in a specific restaurant and my response was, I paid for the meals to be included, so why would I pay extra to eat in a restaurant when the dining rooms are free. That is when I found out about the restaurants that are free. You do have to make reservations, as they soon fill up. Now I know.

[FSUNole]

the $60 pass to the spa? I want to do this and since only 40 are allowed, want to do it early.

[legalcruiser]

the $60 pass to the spa? I want to do this and since only 40 are allowed, want to do it early.

 

 

We did it about an hour after boarding the ship on Sunday. We really did enjoy it- we were the only ones in the hot tubs the times that we visited.

[jbobst]

We are going on the Star this coming December. We have a couple children and I had a few questions about children specific things and a some other general questions. If anyone can help with the answers, that would be great!

 

1). Sounds like there are no do it yourself laundry facilities...is that true? Our last cruise was on Princess and they had nice laundry facilities. Other than the "fill the bag of laundry" thing on the second to last day, can you request laundry service at any time? Does anyone know the cost?

 

2). Are the hot tubs and pools open 24 hours a day? After a night of entertainment and fun, I like to go sit in the hot tub occasionally, as late as midnight or AM. Also, if I pay the $60 spa thing, are the lap pool and hot tub in the spa area open 24 hrs?

 

3). What food options are open 24 hours a day...if any? Our Princess cruise always had a nice buffet open 24 hrs. From what I've read, and from the pictures I've seen, the buffet on the Star has a cafeteria feel to it and does not seem elegant, like what we experienced on Princess and Royal Caribbean. Hopefully there is some sort of restaurant that is open and has a nice casual, but elegant feel to it.

 

4). One thing I really enjoyed on our previous cruises was afternoon tea. Does NCL or the Star offer this experience? Afternoon tea sounded kind of "up-ity" when I first heard about it, but they always had the best deserts and sandwiches (at least on the ships we were on). We usually had late dinner seating, and the afternoon tea hit the spot for a relaxing time with great food and snacks.

 

5). I believe it's forbidden to take any alcohol on board with you, but can we bring a couple of six packs of soda with us?

 

6). We will be traveling with another family and they will be bringing their two-year-old. I am not sure I would have taken my kids on a cruise when they were two years old, but our friends have no choice but to bring her. NCL is one of the few, if only, cruise lines that seems to offer child care to kids as young as two years old. My friends are a bit nervous, but I was wondering if anyone else has experience bringing a very young child on this cruise? Our older kids love to go to the kids club, and it's especially nice in the evenings when they can grab an early dinner at the buffet, then the adults can have a nice sit down dinner together and show, while the kids are engaged in the kids club activities. Hopefully we'll still be able to have some "adult" dinners together, and there will be be child care available for their two year old.

 

7). Some assumptions maybe people could validate or refute: all the pools and hot tubs are salt water; the cabins still have the ugly bed spreads and carpet (an opinion I realize, but maybe they have changed them hopefully to look a bit more elegant?); pools are not heated, and will be pretty cold in December; There are ping pong tables available;

 

Sorry to be so long winded, but thanks in advance for any advice!

[Cuizer2]

1). Sounds like there are no do it yourself laundry facilities...is that true? Our last cruise was on Princess and they had nice laundry facilities. Other than the "fill the bag of laundry" thing on the second to last day, can you request laundry service at any time? Does anyone know the cost?

 

2). Are the hot tubs and pools open 24 hours a day? After a night of entertainment and fun, I like to go sit in the hot tub occasionally, as late as midnight or AM. Also, if I pay the $60 spa thing, are the lap pool and hot tub in the spa area open 24 hrs?

 

3). What food options are open 24 hours a day...if any? Our Princess cruise always had a nice buffet open 24 hrs. From what I've read, and from the pictures I've seen, the buffet on the Star has a cafeteria feel to it and does not seem elegant, like what we experienced on Princess and Royal Caribbean. Hopefully there is some sort of restaurant that is open and has a nice casual, but elegant feel to it.

 

4). One thing I really enjoyed on our previous cruises was afternoon tea. Does NCL or the Star offer this experience? Afternoon tea sounded kind of "up-ity" when I first heard about it, but they always had the best deserts and sandwiches (at least on the ships we were on). We usually had late dinner seating, and the afternoon tea hit the spot for a relaxing time with great food and snacks.

 

5). I believe it's forbidden to take any alcohol on board with you, but can we bring a couple of six packs of soda with us?

 

6). We will be traveling with another family and they will be bringing their two-year-old. I am not sure I would have taken my kids on a cruise when they were two years old, but our friends have no choice but to bring her. NCL is one of the few, if only, cruise lines that seems to offer child care to kids as young as two years old. My friends are a bit nervous, but I was wondering if anyone else has experience bringing a very young child on this cruise? Our older kids love to go to the kids club, and it's especially nice in the evenings when they can grab an early dinner at the buffet, then the adults can have a nice sit down dinner together and show, while the kids are engaged in the kids club activities. Hopefully we'll still be able to have some "adult" dinners together, and there will be be child care available for their two year old.

 

7). Some assumptions maybe people could validate or refute: all the pools and hot tubs are salt water; the cabins still have the ugly bed spreads and carpet (an opinion I realize, but maybe they have changed them hopefully to look a bit more elegant?); pools are not heated, and will be pretty cold in December; There are ping pong tables available;

 

Sorry to be so long winded, but thanks in advance for any advice!

1) I still have my Freestyle Daily from my cruise. I'll check to see what it says about laundry.

 

2) I'll check the Freestyle Daily for pool hours once I get home.

 

3) I'll check restaurant hours in the Freestyle Daily when I get home.

 

4) I'll check the Freestyle Daily to see if afternoon tea is listed.

 

5) The web site only says no alcoholic beverages can be brough on board. It does not say anything about non-alcoholic beverages.

 

6) Sorry, I don't have any experience with NCL's two year old program.

 

7) The pools are salt water. The hot tubs might be fresh, I don't remember. See photo of cabin below and decide if it is ugly or not. The main pool was definitely not heated. As I recall there are ping pong tables (are there any cruise ships without ping pong tables?).

 

This is a cat BB cabin (9586) ...

 

 

 

 

The cake is extra ...

 

 

But the ice cream is free ...

 

[FSUNole]

We did it about an hour after boarding the ship on Sunday. We really did enjoy it- we were the only ones in the hot tubs the times that we visited.

 

Stupid question, but I'm assuming you pay/signup at the spa?

[legalcruiser]

Yep - we signed up at the spa reception desk.

[offwego]

This will be our first time on the Star too but we have been on other NCL ships and traveled with small children. The pay areas, pools and day care are wonderful! the child MUST be potty trained so if she/he isn't yet that would be where they need to put their energy! LOL I took twin 2.5 year olds in and about a month before we left I wasn't sure my son would be fully trained like his sister but he came through and they had a blast.:)

 

There was tea on the Spirit and the Dream I believe. But my family is saying it was on Princess so they could be right LOL I'll check some dailies from last year.

 

The main pools are always salt water -- at least on all the cruises and lines we have been on. I have a DD that reacts in it with hives but the others do fine in it other than stingy eyes at times.

 

I don't think ANY buffet is elegent but you can find food 24 hours around the ship. The restaurants --other than Blue Lagoon -- all have set hours but the buffet had the grill open at 2 AM on the Dream last year so I assume this is true on all the ships. And, of course there is always room sevice.

 

I think all ships have ping pong tables and such. All cruises are great --anytime I'm not cooking and cleaning is a good time!!

[Hikini]

When I was on the Star the free popcorn was in the Red Lion pub.

 

When we were on the Star there was often free popcorn out on deck (but undercover) near the pool.

[Cuizer2]

We are going on the Star this coming December. We have a couple children and I had a few questions about children specific things and a some other general questions. If anyone can help with the answers, that would be great!

 

1). Sounds like there are no do it yourself laundry facilities...is that true? Our last cruise was on Princess and they had nice laundry facilities. Other than the "fill the bag of laundry" thing on the second to last day, can you request laundry service at any time? Does anyone know the cost?

 

2). Are the hot tubs and pools open 24 hours a day? After a night of entertainment and fun, I like to go sit in the hot tub occasionally, as late as midnight or AM. Also, if I pay the $60 spa thing, are the lap pool and hot tub in the spa area open 24 hrs?

 

3). What food options are open 24 hours a day...if any? Our Princess cruise always had a nice buffet open 24 hrs. From what I've read, and from the pictures I've seen, the buffet on the Star has a cafeteria feel to it and does not seem elegant, like what we experienced on Princess and Royal Caribbean. Hopefully there is some sort of restaurant that is open and has a nice casual, but elegant feel to it.

 

4). One thing I really enjoyed on our previous cruises was afternoon tea. Does NCL or the Star offer this experience? Afternoon tea sounded kind of "up-ity" when I first heard about it, but they always had the best deserts and sandwiches (at least on the ships we were on). We usually had late dinner seating, and the afternoon tea hit the spot for a relaxing time with great food and snacks.

 

Okay, I'm home now. So back to questions 1 - 4.

 

1) Sorry, there is nothing in the Freestyle Daily about this.

 

2) Embarkation day, main pool open noon - 8pm. Jacuzzi open noon - 10pm. Slides closed.

1st full day, day at sea. Slides open 9 - 11:30am and 4 - 6pm. Jacuzzi open 7am - 10pm. Main pool open 8am - 6pm.

2nd full day, day at sea. Slides open 9 - 11:30am and 1 - 3pm. Jacuzzi open 7am - 10pm. Main pool open 8am - 6pm.

3rd day, Acapulco. Slides open 9-10am and 11:30am - 6pm. Main pool open 8am - 6pm. Jacuzzi open 7am - 10pm.

4th day, Zihuatanejo. Slides open 11am - 1pm and 4 - 6pm. Main pool open 8am - 6pm. Jacuzzi open 7am - 10pm.

5th day, PV. Slides open 9am - 4pm. Pool open 8am - 6pm. Jacuzzi open 7am - 10pm.

6th day, Cabo. Slides 9am - 3pm. Pool open 8am - 6pm. Jacuzzi open 7am - 10pm.

7th day, day at sea. Slides open 9am - noon and 5pm - 6pm. Pool open 8am - 6pm. Jacuzzi open 7am - 10pm.

 

3) 24 hour food service is available from room service and the Blue Lagoon every day.

 

4) Nothing listed in the Freestyle Daily regarding tea time in the afternoon.

[bbcruiser]

We are going on the Star this coming December. We have a couple children and I had a few questions about children specific things and a some other general questions. If anyone can help with the answers, that would be great!

 

1). Sounds like there are no do it yourself laundry facilities...is that true? Our last cruise was on Princess and they had nice laundry facilities. Other than the "fill the bag of laundry" thing on the second to last day, can you request laundry service at any time? Does anyone know the cost?

 

2). Are the hot tubs and pools open 24 hours a day? After a night of entertainment and fun, I like to go sit in the hot tub occasionally, as late as midnight or AM. Also, if I pay the $60 spa thing, are the lap pool and hot tub in the spa area open 24 hrs?

 

3). What food options are open 24 hours a day...if any? Our Princess cruise always had a nice buffet open 24 hrs. From what I've read, and from the pictures I've seen, the buffet on the Star has a cafeteria feel to it and does not seem elegant, like what we experienced on Princess and Royal Caribbean. Hopefully there is some sort of restaurant that is open and has a nice casual, but elegant feel to it.

 

 

4). One thing I really enjoyed on our previous cruises was afternoon tea. Does NCL or the Star offer this experience? Afternoon tea sounded kind of "up-ity" when I first heard about it, but they always had the best deserts and sandwiches (at least on the ships we were on). We usually had late dinner seating, and the afternoon tea hit the spot for a relaxing time with great food and snacks.

 

5). I believe it's forbidden to take any alcohol on board with you, but can we bring a couple of six packs of soda with us?

 

6). We will be traveling with another family and they will be bringing their two-year-old. I am not sure I would have taken my kids on a cruise when they were two years old, but our friends have no choice but to bring her. NCL is one of the few, if only, cruise lines that seems to offer child care to kids as young as two years old. My friends are a bit nervous, but I was wondering if anyone else has experience bringing a very young child on this cruise? Our older kids love to go to the kids club, and it's especially nice in the evenings when they can grab an early dinner at the buffet, then the adults can have a nice sit down dinner together and show, while the kids are engaged in the kids club activities. Hopefully we'll still be able to have some "adult" dinners together, and there will be be child care available for their two year old.

 

7). Some assumptions maybe people could validate or refute: all the pools and hot tubs are salt water; the cabins still have the ugly bed spreads and carpet (an opinion I realize, but maybe they have changed them hopefully to look a bit more elegant?); pools are not heated, and will be pretty cold in December; There are ping pong tables available;

 

Sorry to be so long winded, but thanks in advance for any advice!

 

We were on the Star 5/21 to Alaska. We traveled with a 3 y.o. and a 6 month old. My son loved the Kids Crew (he is more of a young 3 y.o. and the counselors were great with him). If the kids aren't potty trained, they give you a beeper and call you if he/she needs a diaper change. We always changed our son before we dropped him off and never got paged to change his diaper. They will have evening programs for the kids too. On a few days, we fed our son early in the buffet, dropped him off, and had a nice dinner in one of the restaurants with just our 6 month old. It was nice because our 3 y.o. always wanted to run around the dining room by the time dinner was half-way through.

 

They did have a laundry bag in our closet to use on other days. We didn't look at the cost of the laundry though. It takes 1 1/2 days turn around time for laundry. Unfortunately, there aren't any self-laundry facilities on the Star. We just washed some clothes in the sink (brought along some detergent) and dried them on the clothes line in the shower.

 

The Blue Lagoon is open 24 hours. They have late night snacks in the Casino from 11 - midnight, I believe. We really didn't eat much after dinner, and traveling with kids, we were ready to sack out by 10:30 or so.

 

They do not have afternoon tea on the Star, but the buffet is open for "snacks" from 3-5 PM. The food wasn't great, in my opinion, but it was fun to grab a snack once in a while. The ice cream bar is open from 9 AM - 11 PM, per the daily. We only stopped there twice.

 

If you can spend the extra $$, a Penthouse AB suite is great. On our first cruise, our son was 20 months old and we were in a balcony room. That left us on the balcony while our son napped (not always a fun place to hang out if it's rainy or windy). This last cruise, because we had our 6 month old, they told us we had to be in a Penthouse AB because of space needed for the crib. We went ahead and spent the extra $$ and loved having a separate "children's" bedroom. That way, the kids could sleep and we could still mill around the cabin and watch television. It was also great for Alaska, since you're not limited to the public areas when cruising the glaciers. I don't know what views are on the Mexican Riviera cruises, but for Alaska, a balcony is pretty much a must.

 

I can't answer about the pools and hot tubs as we did not use them.

 

Have a great trip and I hope this answers some of your questions.

[jbobst]

Cruizer2, thanks for the information...you always seem to have great photos and great details! (thanks to everyone else too!)

 

Was the main pool REALLY closed by 6pm every evening??? So much for evening swims...

 

On another note, are the "big" theater shows the same time each evening on the Star? The reason I ask, is that will be the only thing I am concerned about with this Freestyle dining setup that NCL offers. I don't mind making reservation, and having different restaurants to choose from sounds interesting. However, reservations will probably need to be made around the shows, as that is something we really enjoy seeing and don't want to miss.

 

Jeff

[Cuizer2]

Cruizer2, thanks for the information...you always seem to have great photos and great details! (thanks to everyone else too!)

 

Was the main pool REALLY closed by 6pm every evening??? So much for evening swims...

 

On another note, are the "big" theater shows the same time each evening on the Star? The reason I ask, is that will be the only thing I am concerned about with this Freestyle dining setup that NCL offers. I don't mind making reservation, and having different restaurants to choose from sounds interesting. However, reservations will probably need to be made around the shows, as that is something we really enjoy seeing and don't want to miss.

 

Jeff

 

You know, I don't remember ever looking at the pool after 6:00pm. That does seem a bit early, though the hot tubs are open later.

 

As I recall, the shows were not aways the same time, though most were. I'll have to check the Freestyle Daily for that (again, when I get home).

[Cuizer2]

Cruizer2, thanks for the information...you always seem to have great photos and great details! (thanks to everyone else too!)

 

On another note, are the "big" theater shows the same time each evening on the Star?

 

Jeff

 

Okay, I'm home. Lets look at the show times ...

 

Day 1 - embarkation day - one show at 9:30pm

Day 2 - day at sea - two shows, 7:30 & 9:30pm

Day 3 - day at sea - two shows, 7:30 & 9:30pm

Day 4 - Acapulco - one show at 8:45pm

Day 5 - Zihuatanejo - two shows, 7:30 & 9:30pm

Day 6 - PV - two shows, 8:00 & 10pm

Day 7 - Cabo - two shows, 7:30 & 9:30pm

Day 8 - day at sea - one show at 9:45pm

Day 9 - debarkation - check local theater listings, 'cause you're back home. :(

[offwego]

Is there a way to see what entertainment will be shown for each cruise?

[drk]

This is a great thread for us future Star cruisers. We are veteran cruisers but have not sailed NCL since the old days pre-freestyle so very helpful.

[Hikini]

This is a great thread for us future Star cruisers. We are veteran cruisers but have not sailed NCL since the old days pre-freestyle so very helpful.

 

I agree this is a great thread, and I'll be sure to post to it again when I return from the Star. We leave in 5 days - but who's counting?!

 

We've been on the Star before (June, 2004) and there were a few secrets we discovered then, but I'll post when I return this time just to make sure those secrets haven't changed.

[juliejoe]

I'll be watching for your update Hikini. :) We're taking two of our grandsons (10 & 12) on the Star to Alaska 7/30. We want to make some special memories of a trip with Nina and Popa. We've booked Captain Larry in Juneau, Flight to Anan Creek in Ketchikan and we're renting a car in Skagway for "The" drive, with notes from Yukon. Victoria is the only port unplanned and we may keep it that way.

 

Julie

[dam1050]

I agree this is a great thread, and I'll be sure to post to it again when I return from the Star. We leave in 5 days - but who's counting?!

 

Hikini -- I hope you have a fantastic cruise and will also be looking forward to any of your posts when you return. From all the good reviews that have been coming back from the Star recently, I'm sure you'll have a spectacular cruise.

 

BTW -- Do you have any favourite downtown restaurants for seafood (or other ;) ) you'd recommend near the Seattle Sheraton?

 

Dave -- who still has a while longer to countdown ...

[SKYBLUE4]

OMG!Did we have the perfect weather for a cruise to alaska!!!

We did not see any rain for 7 days.On the way to Glacier Bay it was 75-80 degrees and no clouds in the skies.All the excursions was perfect.Juneau had overcast,but no rain.Here are some pictures we took.Laundry was $20. for a bag full on Thurs. got it back early SAT.morning.I hope my pictures answer alot of your question about an inside cabin.

http://community.webshots.com/user/sibhusky2 :D

[dam1050]

OMG!Did we have the perfect weather for a cruise to alaska!!!

We did not see any rain for 7 days.On the way to Glacier Bay it was 75-80 degrees and no clouds in the skies.All the excursions was perfect.Juneau had overcast,but no rain.Here are some pictures we took....http://community.webshots.com/user/sibhusky2 :D

 

WOW -- thanks very much for sharing your pix with us SKYBLUE4, you sure got some fabulous shots!

 

Dave