Star 1-9 review

[CruiseFarmer]

Let me start out by saying the cruise was totally enjoyable and we have no gripes. This was our 10th cruise on 5 different lines and we are a married couple, 28 years, 50ish years old. We arrived at San Pedro about 1pm and were in our AF mini by 2pm. The bags came soon afterward and we enjoyed sailaway cocktails in our cabin from the preordered bar setup. The cabin stewards, Randy and Edgardo, were great, the first night my mattress leaned badly to the outside. The next morning I told Randy, I don't know if he changed it or just leveled it out some how, but it was fine the rest of the cruise. All the mini-suites are on deck 11 which is below the pool and buffet area, ours was under the pool area, and there was considerable noise from dragging tables and chairs at times. It would be nice if there was deck of less expensive cabins between the suites and the public deck. The bathroom was great, good water pressure and plenty of room. The balcony was large enough for two lounge chairs and small table and still room to move around. Over all condition of the ship is excellent. We were on her for her inaugual voyage in 2001 and she still looks like new, but for a worn bit of fabric here and there but not noticeable. She still creaks quite a bit in rough seas, but hey, it's a boat. We did the margarita tasting, it was good, but I still don't know what "blue" flavor is in the blue margarita. Yes, he actually called it blue flavor. The cooking demonstrations were interesting as well. The entertainment was all good to me. This is a very subjective area. We only did one excursion, the whale watching coastal cruise in Cabo. We did see whales up close and drank margaritas and had a great time. We like to eat, and do a lot of cooking and entertaining, so pardon my tone, but we know food. The menu in the main dining room for dinner is a little weak. Not too many nights when you just can't decide what to order because it all sounds so good. The meals in the dining room were all very good but the choices were only so-so. Dining room service was top notch. We did eat in all the specialty restaurants and I must say they are as good as anything ashore. The meat was cooked as ordered, it all came hot with beautiful presentation and with impeccable service. It seemed the servers were truly happy to serve. The idea of paying extra for food on shipboard grates on me some, but with the generally low cost of Norwegian cruises I did not mind paying the extra. I highly recommend these eateries. Winning $600 in the casino the second night out didn't hurt our perspective either. As for the ports, been there done that. One Mexican fleamarket looks like any other. I did enjoy the museum inside fort San Diego in Acapulco. Express debarkation may be easy for the cruise line but not the passengers. We carried our own bags and it still took 2 hours in line to get off the ship. This could have been due to only 4 customs agents showing up for work that day. We drove both ways and parked the car in the nearby lot, $12 per day. That's about it, would I book again? in a minute!

[Chipster2]

Thanks for your review. Glad to hear that you enjoyed your time on the Star.

[Don Haynes]

I agree, express disembarkation has becocme massive disembarkation, as most everyone chooses to do so. Its best to book a later flight, enjoying sodas or a late breakfast for a while, and avoid the longest line I have ever seen. Why stand for hours to be the first off?

 

I think its time for NCL tor review disembarkation, allowing only those with early flights express disembarkation.

[Cosmopolitan]

CruiseFarmer ~

 

Enjoyed reading your review...makes me want to cruise the Star.

 

Don ~ I agree...I do not do the express debarkation but it sure has become quite "messy". NCL should go back to the old way;)

[mattR]

Are you able to stay in your cabin till your called to diembark? If so sounds like a great morning to sleep in.

[CRUZIN TOM]

Stay in your cabin, oh yes this is a great feature of NCL. You can go eat breakfast and go back to your cabin and wait until they call your luggage tag. You can even stay later if you want. We were in no hurry last year, and were one of the last off, but still had to wait a long time for customs. that seems to be the drag with most cruises.:)

[blondblueeyes]

Thank you so much for your review. There is 6 of us going the end of september to mexico. I wasn't sure if I wanted to cancel & go with another cruise line with some of the comments that people have been posting on the Star.

 

Thanks again.

[Leafpeeper]

Thanks so much for the review. It really has me psyched to get away.

 

All food is subjective. I am easy to please because anytime somebody is cooking for me, I never complain. A fluffernutter and milk makes me happy.

 

We are sailing the Star in a couple weeks and can't wait. We've had such a mild winter on the east coast, but didn't the frigid air get here just a few days before our flight to sunny California. DH and I both got sick for this weekend and hope we are better in a few days. I've got to schedule a root canal for DH for this week and I've got to stop coughing before we leave for the airport on Friday. That damn sick bug seems to get me every year at the end of January. It must know that's when we go on vacation.

 

Were the hot tubs nice and hot? That's one thing I love when we are sailing away.

[Tressacruise845]

[. that seems to be the drag with most cruises.:)

 

How true! Try disembarking in Acapulco, going through customs and it's 90oF and 90% humidity! Believe me disembarking back in San Pedro under any circumstances is then a pleasure.

Will see how it goes a week from Fri. We do not like to rush off, which is what I enjoy about NCL.

[Leafpeeper]

We had to clear customs in LA about a few years ago and had alot of problems when they had all the foreigners stand in the same line as US citizens. I think they may have been asking aliens to get fingerprinted. Whatever, it was, it took forever to get through customs. Things would have gone much faster if they separated US citizens from the foreigners.

 

Fastest debarkation: Boston

 

We were expecting a big hassle, but were delighted to walk off the ship and out the door faster than a NY minute. Police detail and all the Port Authority people were helpful and good natured. They must be making good $ because everyone was smiling.

[Leafpeeper]

Please tell me whether the ocean was warm enough to swim at any of the ports? What were the air temperatures like? Just wondering if the sun will be nice and warm for our cruise Feb 2.

[Chipster2]

Blondblueeyes

 

You might also want to know that there are roll calls for upcoming cruises. You say that you will be cruising at the end of September. Will that be the cruise on the 29th? If so, here is a link to that roll call

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=425610

 

BTW, we will be on that cruise also. Stop by and say Hi!

[4 cruisers]

"We like to eat, and do a lot of cooking and entertaining, so pardon my tone, but we know food."

 

I totally understand what you are saying! That describes us too! so which specialty restaurant was best for you? Which regular restaurant did you tend to like best? The last time we were on the Star, I have to confess, we ate at speciatly restaurants every night.:o and loved every bit of food and atmosphere! The only sad thing now is, Soho is gone and we liked it the best!:(

[johnieo]

my family was on the ship the same time. When we disembarked it only took 45 min from the time we left our room on deck nine and then to be on the freeway in our van. we did this from 7:15 to 8.

[CruiseFarmer]

My internet has been on the blink all day, so sorry for the slow response. The hot tubs are warm enough for the cool days and too warm for me on the hot days. The weather should be nice and warm next month. Most all ocean water seems warm compared to our northern Calif. water. Leafpeeper, hope you feel better before your trip, being sick on vacation is such a waste. 4 cruisers, we had lobsters from the live tank in the Soho one night, so it is still open. Choosing a favorite restaurant is tough. If I had to pick one I would say Le Bistro, just because they are the only ones with escargot appetizers. We ate mostly in the Versailles when not at a specialty. Most breakfasts I would run up to the buffet make a plate for us both, and eat on the balcony or in the cabin. The in room coffee maker is a nice touch too. Hope this helps.

[4 cruisers]

Glad to hear Soho is still there! I thought they removed it when they added the casino! We tried the dining room once for breakfast and I'm with you on picking what you want at the buffet and enjoying the balcony! What kind of coffee maker? Can we bring our own grind and filters?

 

Thanks for the info!:D

[Bedford Wife]

 

All food is subjective. I am easy to please because anytime somebody is cooking for me, I never complain. A fluffernutter and milk makes me happy.

 

 

Mary,

 

I love that you mentioned a fluffernutter. Having grown up in New England, I had many of those! My parents even named a ****zu they had after that peanut butter and Marshmallow Fluff sandwich!

 

I'm with you on the food on board the Star. My DH and I will probably try a couple specialty restaurants for the experience, but will be happy with anything because someone else is doing the cooking AND cleaning up!

 

I think the most important thing to bring on a vacation is a positive attitude. Is is what you make it!

[CruiseFarmer]

4-CRUISERS

 

The coffee maker is the little 4 cup type you find in most hotel rooms that take the premeasured packet they provide. They have Folgers regular and unleaded. A little tip to all cruisers, grab some silverware and napkins and a set of salt and pepper shakers and anything eles you might need for in room snacking form the buffet and stash it in your cabin. We kept milk, butter and juice in the frige the whole time. If you order room service they bring utencils but will take the dirty stuff away, and anything you leave out the room steward will take away. Keep the tray roomservice brings because there are none in the buffet, and it is hard to juggle two plates and drinks up and down the stairs.

[4 cruisers]

Great advice! Do you think I can bring fresh ground coffee with the little 4 cup filters for a bit of a coffee upgrade? We really like "Peets" coffee! Would the flat bottom round filters work, or is it the cone type?

 

I remember reading on CC YEARS ago to bring a cup with lid to get your juice or make fresh iced tea in...once again to "foil" the baby juice cups in the buffet and prevent spills on the way back to your cabin. I have to remember to pack those again!

 

Thanks CruiseFarmer!!!!