Review of the Star to Alaska April 27, 2008 (long)

[freestylecruizer]

Review – Norwegian Star April 27 – May 3, 2008 (Sawyer Glacier)

April 27, 2008 - Embarkation

Left the house at 10am, for a brief 1 hour drive to Vancouver.

Left the car in North Vancouver and took the SeaBus from North Vancouver to Canada Place.

Was at Canada Place about 11:45am. The lines were atrocious. Seems that the port agency decided that the Star was going to be a “training” day for most of the employees and it showed (I know this first hand because one of my co-workers was there and hadn’t had any training prior). There were few porters and it took about 45 mins just to check your baggage. Then, another hour for security. When we got to customs, there computers were down. A border agent blurted out “This place sucks” and we all chuckled. The line started to move, and we were then put into holding pens within the NCL area – time now is 2pm. Unacceptable by my terms. There was no Latitudes check in, and it wasn’t clear about the VIP check in either.

We were finally called to get into the check in line and were at the counter at 2:45pm. We were then escorted onto the ship (Freestyle 2.0?), and up to our Deluxe Balcony (what were previously mini-suites). Because we had been in line for more that 2.5 hours, we were hungry, so we headed up to the Market Café only to be told it was closed because of the life-boat drill. *****? There were more than 700+ people still waiting to be checked in.

Nevertheless, we went back to the room to enjoy our bar setup – not there! I think it had something to do with our rooms being changed a couple of days before sailing – however our kids (20-somethings) had theirs, so I knew the ship mixed this one up.

The weather was crappy in Vancouver, so there was no sail-away party on the deck. The life boat drill was 20 minutes late, and we didn’t leave Vancouver until 4:40pm – 40 minutes late!

We decided to eat in the Versailles restaurant for dinner. It was (as usual) a treat.

Back to our room for a night-cap – still no bar setup. So, I went down to the reception desk. I explained my plight, and they looked at me like a deer-in-a-headlamp. They didn’t believe me, even though I have the amenities invoice and the kids got theirs. Anyway, not to bag on this forever, however it took me contacting the onboard ship coordinator and my PCC at NCL to get this straightened out, and voila – after breakfast on the 1st morning (Monday), the bottle was there.

We wandered around the ship and didn’t really notice much of Freestyle 2.0 on the Star yet, except that there’s a Latitudes room now on deck 12 (next to the games room).

Pool towels are now under lock and key. You get 2 towels per room, and if you loose them, you are charged $75. More evidence that a few rotten tomatoes ruin for everyone else.

Drinks seemed to have gone up since our cruise on the Sun in September 2007.

Decided to make some reservations for the specialty restaurants. They have a table set up in Endless Summer now so you can cruise through all the menus and make your choice. One caveat – you can only book one night in advance now. This was a change for us since September on the Sun.

April 28, 2008 – At Sea

As we were cruising the true “Inside Passage” out of Vancouver, the night was easy. A good sleep, however the room temperature was a bit warm, we couldn’t get the temp below 22c in the room, even with both A/C units pegged at maximum. A call to the front desk a couple of times equated to nothing. So we endured and left the balcony open a few times. I asked the steward about this, and they said that the A/C units are not all at full capacity when they sail in Alaskan waters.

I noticed this morning, that the fruit bowl that we got in the room, was opened and one of the apples had teeth marks in them – yech! We asked for another and got it a little later, no applogy

Went for breakfast in Versailles. While waiting in line, there was an Asian fellow in front of us. He got to the front of the line and the lady asked “how many” and he said “14”. My wife and I looked at each other and went “huh?” The hostess asked where the others were and he said “in the bathroom.” The hostess asked him to step aside. Breakfast was good.

At 1pm, we had the Latitudes party in Spinaker’s lounge. There weren’t many Latitude members on the cruise. The prizes they give away were a little better than the Hawaii cruise on the Sun, however they were still a wee bit lame.

Ricky, the cruise director (who is completely wired), was a dream on the ship – full of energy and always wanting to please.

Today was also the day for the CC meet and greet – we opted out of this.

Went to Le Bistro for dinner and as usual the food was great.

April 29, 2008 – Ketchikan

Arrived at 07:00 and it was foggy. However, after about 2 hours, it burned off and revealed a very beautiful day.

Getting on and off the ship was a breeze. We left the ship at about 10am and encountered no issues. Top marks here.

We didn’t do much here – some shopping, wandered around Creek Street, and we were back on the ship by noon. Went for lunch at the Market Café and boy, what a chore that was. It seems that most of the ship also had the same plan.

Decided to get off the ship again and just wander around the town – very nicely setup. Got back on the ship around 2pm and shortly thereafter we were on our way to Juneau.

The sail up the Alaskan Inside Passage was a bit snowier than through the Northern BC portion. My only regret is that the ship did not follow the “true” inside passage. I grew up on the Coast of BC and the true Inside Passage is the same one used by the Alaska State Ferry and BC Ferry to and from Prince Rupert/Ketchican/Juneau. Perhaps it has something to do with the size of the Star – dunno.

Tonight we went to Tempenyaki for dinner – as usual the entertainment was good. The scallops were great, however the lobster was frozen and when tasted, it showed. Too bad. I generally enjoy this restaurant, however this time because of the frozen lobster I have to only give it a 4/5 rating. I didn’t realize until the next day why they were using frozen.

Saw Murray the magician tonight – funny and entertaining. Don’t sit to the side up top in the balcony as it will ruin how his tricks are done (you can see how he does some from a certain angle).

April 30, 2008 – Juneau

Arrived in Juneau at 07:00. The weather was cool and cloudy.

We booked the “Mendenhall Glacier Hike – Guide’s Choice” for $89pp. I was a little disappointed in the hike, as I thought (according to the description) that we would have got a little closer to the glacier than we did. But I do understand that we were early in the season and the ground was a bit dicey to be walking on – so we got to the North side of the glacier and were about 900 feet up. The scenery to me wasn’t that spectacular - keep in mind I live in Vancouver and grew up on the BC Coast so most of what was on the hike I have in my own backyard.

We got back to the dock about noon. We had to be back on the ship by 1pm, so we did some frantic shopping and then headed back to the gangway.

As the line was backing up, the security officer decided to open the gates and allow everyone on without a security check or baggage check (read: no metal detector or x-ray screen). So, that was kind of interesting.

We promptly left Juneau at 2pm, and started towards Tracy Arm.

The captain came on to note that we would attempt to make it up the arm as far as possible depending on the conditions and should be at the glacier about 6pm – drat we had dinner reservations at Cagney’s for 6pm.

So, we hung out on our balcony and watched the world (er, Arm) go by. It was spectacular. Eagles, whales (one), dolphins, a couple of seals, ice bergs. The arm is so narrow, it’s amazing that they bring the ship up there.

At about 6:30pm we made it as far as we could get – sort of in the middle of the North and South glaciers as the remainder of the arm was iced in. The view was spectacular.

Cagney’s was good – not great this time around. I can’t put a finger on it, but something was missing. The cut of the T-Bone seemed a little thin for what I remember. There was no fresh lobster or crab either. It appears that the whole ship ran out on Tuesday.

After dinner we went to the show. Some 70’s thing put on by the Jean Ann Ryan company. Basically 45 minutes I will never get back. When I think of the 70s, I think of the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Doobies, etc – what their idea of the 70s was everything that was wrong with 70s music – DISCO. Need I say more?

May 1, 2008

Cruising from Juneau to Prince Rupert one would think NCL would chose the inside passage to get us there. But they chose open waters and let me tell you, it was rough. Even being on deck 11 midship, we could feel the odd slam when the ship would crash into a swell. Not very enjoyable.

We got into Prince Rupert at 2pm. This little town is exactly what I remember from back in the early 70s – not much has changed. They are trying to make it a bit more appealing to the cruise industry; however they have some work to do.

The Cow Bay area is nice and has been cleaned up quite a bit from the last time I was there (5 years ago on business). We elected to go to Smiles Restaurant. It’s probably the best seafood restaurant around – 3 pieces of Pacific Halibut for $14.95 – you can’t touch that in Vancouver.

We were back on the ship by 6:30pm and decided to hang out in Spinnakers for the sail away from Prince Rupert.

May 2, 2008

The sail from Prince Rupert down the West Coast of Vancouver Island, was well interesting. 20 foot swells, and Storm force (55mph+) winds made for a lot of green people. At night, I thought the ship was going to come apart we were crashing through waves so hard.

It was a shame that we couldn’t really do much this day. We typically opt out of Bingo because it’s so expensive. So, we went to the Latitudes room to read.

When we got there, there was and “incident” with some Asian passengers. It seems that they ran out of room in the games room to play Mahjong and decided to overflow into the Latitudes room. An officer and Matt (the cruise/port/latitudes rep) was there to ask them to leave.

It was now 2pm and we decided to go back to our room. Funny, our room was still not made up. So we left again. This would make it the 3 time that we would come back to our room in the morning or afternoon only to not have the room made up or have the stewards in the room. This never happened to us before as our stewards usually get to know your routine.

That night we ate at Aqua. Jeans are allowed in Aqua, and (personally) I think it takes away from the ambiance in the room. The roast beef and Yorkshire pudding was amazing. Best I have had in a long time.

Went to the show again, and it was Murray and the Temptations Review – I guess they have done away with the farewell show on the cruises now, what a shame. We were back to our room at about 9:30pm – NO TOWEL ANIMAL. I was disappointed, as our friends on deck 10 got three during the cruise.

May 2, 2008 – Seattle

On time, we arrived in Seattle and disembarkation started at 08:30. I had to laugh at the number of people that decided to use the “Express” disembarkation. The line was from the Grand Atrium, through the Blue Lagoon, around the back and through the Red Lion and back to the Atrium. We had breakfast in Versailles and laughed at these people.

Went back to our room at 09:30 and waited for our colour to be called. At 09:45 Orange was called, and we were off the ship at 10:15 hopping into a cab to get our rental to drive back to Canada.

The cruise was good – not great. NCL missed the boat on the demographics on this cruise. They should have known that there was going to be a large Asian community onboard and provisioned accordingly. The embarkation (as previously mentioned) was the worst I have experienced and truly a black mark for the Port of Vancouver. People will always remember how bad it was to get on the ship.

Some pluses are that the food was good in all the restaurants. Some better than others. The serving staff in the Versailles was exceptional. The ship is in good condition, but she needs some reworking both inside and outside. The hot tubs were like luke-warm bath water. Despite saying they were 29c, they were more like 20c. So, you could not really enjoy them in the cooler weather.

We have another cruise booked on the Star in September 2008, so let’s see if things have changed.

I won’t divert from NCL - I am too loyal to them and love the service (usually)...

[Tapi]

wrong post!

[ute_fan]

Thanks for the review. I'm sorry that your cruise wasn't up to the usual standards. We sailed the Jewel a couple of years ago and had a very similar experience with the check-in procedure. It was the first sailing of the season from Miami, and I decided that I didn't ever again want to sail the "maiden voyage" of a different itinerary. It seemed like they just didn't have the kinks worked out yet.

 

One question for you: were you able to see either of the Sawyer Glaciers? From your review, I couldn't tell if you got to within viewing distance. Regardless, Tracy Arm is a spectacular setting, isn't it?

[BaileyandBella]

"20 foot swells, and Storm force (55mph+) winds made for a lot of green people. At night, I thought the ship was going to come apart we were crashing through waves so hard."

:eek:

Were the stabilizers working?

Also, the Star is going through the 2.0 transition this week.

[freestylecruizer]

Thanks for the review. I'm sorry that your cruise wasn't up to the usual standards. We sailed the Jewel a couple of years ago and had a very similar experience with the check-in procedure. It was the first sailing of the season from Miami, and I decided that I didn't ever again want to sail the "maiden voyage" of a different itinerary. It seemed like they just didn't have the kinks worked out yet.

 

One question for you: were you able to see either of the Sawyer Glaciers? From your review, I couldn't tell if you got to within viewing distance. Regardless, Tracy Arm is a spectacular setting, isn't it?

I will have to agree with you about the "kinks".

 

We got up the arm, however we could only see the 2 glaciers in the distance - too much ice in the arm.

[freestylecruizer]

"20 foot swells, and Storm force (55mph+) winds made for a lot of green people. At night, I thought the ship was going to come apart we were crashing through waves so hard."

 

:eek:

 

Were the stabilizers working?

 

Also, the Star is going through the 2.0 transition this week.

 

Stabilzers (for the most part) were working - no pitching. But, one stabilizer is not working 100%.

 

Are you sure about the 2.0 upgrade this week - there was no mention of it on the cruise; I even asked.

[BaileyandBella]

Are you sure about the 2.0 upgrade this week - there was no mention of it on the cruise; I even asked.

 

I recall NCLJames posting it. He is the one that works for NCL.

[Tobintemp]

Thanks, I enjoyed your review, we were just off of the Star on the 27th so it was nice to read another perspective.

 

We took the first sailing on the Sun last year from Vancouver and it was the same fiasco. It was so bad they put a letter of apology in our cabin - but they blamed it on customs/immigration.

[ute_fan]

We took the first sailing on the Sun last year from Vancouver and it was the same fiasco. It was so bad they put a letter of apology in our cabin - but they blamed it on customs/immigration.

 

We sailed the Sun in 2004 -- not the first sailing of the year -- and I still felt it was very disorganized. I hate to think what it might be like on the first sailing of the year, if they were trying to break in new employees :eek: . I loved the "inside passage" part of sailing from Vancouver, but the port of Seattle wins, hands down, in the way they have things organized.

 

My guess is that it does have something to do with everyone having to go through Canadian customs, but it seems like they could do something to speed up the process.

[Tobintemp]

My guess is that it does have something to do with everyone having to go through Canadian customs, but it seems like they could do something to speed up the process.

 

In Vancouver, on departure you are actually pre-clearing US customs and immigration. You don't go through Canadian customs until you return to Vancouver.

[ute_fan]

Thanks for the clarification! I probably knew that once, but wasn't thinking about it logically when I posted. :o

[SailAways]

Nice review - even with a few glitches here and there your seemed to have a fine time.

 

Maybe our choice of the last cruise of the season was the best because by then everyone knew what they were doing. No glitches at all.

 

The crew were exceptionally happy, as they were due for a break. The service was excellent, and the weather in September could not have been better through the passage. We had very smooth seas.

 

Thanks for your review - I wanna' go again - N O W!

[flashdog_1]

Thanks for posting your review so quickly. Today I was thinking, "wonder when we'll get word on the first of the Alaska sailings."

 

1) I didn't understand something. Why would NCL have known about a lot of Asian passengers on this sailing. Was there some kind of convention from their country in Vancouver around then? Thanks for answering.

 

2) Were there any information type seminars/lectures about Alaska prior to any port (not the shopping one!) I've been on a ship where they had one on whales, one on glaciers, & one on the northern lights and the difference in the skies at that latitude etc. I guess what I'm asking is "were there any naturalists on board"?

 

3) Was there any narration on the loud speaker as you went up Tracy Arm?

 

Too bad 2.0 hadn't been implemented.

 

I'd read that ships leaving Seattle were known to take the outside around Vancouver Island, but had no idea they did it from Vancouver. Could it have been to make up the time lost from late departure? Of course that doesn't explain doing that route on your return. How disappointing...and bad seas!

[SakeDad]

Thanks for the review. Interesting to see so many of the same comments I made from the repo up to Vancouver!!:rolleyes: As I said, the Star has alot of hits-n-misses in alll departments but we enjoyed her. I made those same comments as a first time NCL'er and you made them as a veteran so I guess those things really do matter to everyone!

As for 2.0 it was me who said they would implement it the week of May 3, based on what we were told by the officers at our meet-n-greet.

[mtwingcpa]

I didn't understand something. Why would NCL have known about a lot of Asian passengers on this sailing. Was there some kind of convention from their country in Vancouver around then?

 

Believe it or not, the population of Vancouver, BC is about 30% Asian. There is a LOT of trans-pacific trade in the area. Plus, as I understand it, Canada threw out the welcome mat when the British turned Hong Kong over to the (Red) Chinese several years ago.

[freestylecruizer]

Thanks for posting your review so quickly. Today I was thinking, "wonder when we'll get word on the first of the Alaska sailings."

 

1) I didn't understand something. Why would NCL have known about a lot of Asian passengers on this sailing. Was there some kind of convention from their country in Vancouver around then? Thanks for answering.

 

2) Were there any information type seminars/lectures about Alaska prior to any port (not the shopping one!) I've been on a ship where they had one on whales, one on glaciers, & one on the northern lights and the difference in the skies at that latitude etc. I guess what I'm asking is "were there any naturalists on board"?

 

3) Was there any narration on the loud speaker as you went up Tracy Arm?

 

Too bad 2.0 hadn't been implemented.

 

I'd read that ships leaving Seattle were known to take the outside around Vancouver Island, but had no idea they did it from Vancouver. Could it have been to make up the time lost from late departure? Of course that doesn't explain doing that route on your return. How disappointing...and bad seas!

 

 

1. Based on the TA that did the bookings and where they were coming from - the majority of people that live in the Richmond, BC area are Asian (this is where the Airport is). They could have figured it out - don't want to get in symantecs here.

 

2. No infomational seminars at all. Only the typical port consultant Diamond shopping, blah, blah, blah - I rated this poor in the post-cruise that NCL sent me.

 

3. There was narration on the speakers as we went up Tracy Arm, however my 14 year old could have done a better job - too much stubling of words, repeating themselves, stuttering, etc.

 

This sailing originated in Vancouver. It went up the Canadian Inside Passage towards Ketchikan (as all ships do that leave Vancouver), and with all ships returning to Seattle came down the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

 

The crew were not prepared for the cultural differences in dealing with a ship of 60% Asian. They also commented a lot about this.

 

The crew was also wanting to be in a warm climates and it showed.

 

On the last day at sea, I ventured out into the winds and up to the Bier Garten. Thinking that it was closed I wanted to take a shot of the pool deck with the 20 foot waves - I got up there and one of the crew was at the bar and the bar was open! I asked him what he was doing there and he said "boss said open, so I opened". See what I mean about not getting it??!!

[freestylecruizer]

Thanks for the review. Interesting to see so many of the same comments I made from the repo up to Vancouver!!:rolleyes: As I said, the Star has alot of hits-n-misses in alll departments but we enjoyed her. I made those same comments as a first time NCL'er and you made them as a veteran so I guess those things really do matter to everyone!

As for 2.0 it was me who said they would implement it the week of May 3, based on what we were told by the officers at our meet-n-greet.

 

As I stated, and you concur, there we some highlights and some lowlights. I just hope they are more engergetic when we are on her in September this year. We are seriously thinking about trying another cruise line in 2009 just to mix it up a bit.

 

Funn how you didn't like the steak and yorkies - I liked it, but as I always say - food is very subjective and what I like you may not like...

 

Cheers!

[BaileyandBella]

Is this a new crew to the Star?

 

Does anyone know?

[freestylecruizer]

Is this a new crew to the Star?

 

Does anyone know?

 

I suspect most of the crew changed when we got to Seattle, as the hostess in the Versailles was new as were the front desk staff. So, perhaps they were just cranky on the 3 day repo and the 6 day Alaska.:confused:

[mtwingcpa]

Is this a new crew to the Star? Does anyone know?

 

I was on the Star repo cruise a couple of weeks ago. A number of the waiters in the pool area were talking about how cold it was getting as we cruised up the coast and were speculating about conditions in Alaska.

 

I asked my waitress that night if she had ever been to Alaska. She said she had and was looking forward to working up there again, but she was aware that a number of crew members were apprehensive about it. She said she had just returned to the ship a couple of weeks before and that the weather down in Mexico had been extremely hot. So the crew was definitely experiencing a rapid change!

 

I thought I heard that Captain Lars rotated off the ship in Vancouver. I wouldn't think they would want a LARGE crew turnover at any particular port, but I honestly don't know how all that works. For example, does the cruise line pay to fly crew members back home? Or at least to a location of their choosing? My waitress was from the Philippines but mentioned that she had spent the winter between cruise assignments in Los Angeles.

[Tobintemp]

I thought I heard that Captain Lars rotated off the ship in Vancouver.

 

Yes, we spoke with Captain Lars and was leaving the ship in Vancouver to go on holidays.

[Tobintemp]

I suspect most of the crew changed when we got to Seattle, as the hostess in the Versailles was new as were the front desk staff. So, perhaps they were just cranky on the 3 day repo and the 6 day Alaska.:confused:

 

Was on the 8 day Mexico and then 3 day to Vancouver. We noticed a difference in the quality of food and service, between the two portions of the cruise. I even commented that at the buffet it looked like they were cleaning out the kitchen of the leftovers on the 3 day portion. In the dining rooms we were brought wrong order at least once every meal (incorrect appetizer, dessert etc).

 

We did notice on the day 1 of the 3 day portion there was an orientation of new employees taking place. They were being given a tour of the ship - it wasn't a huge number maybe 20 or so.

[eetonaee]

Did you end the review by saying you got a rental to drive back to Vancouver?

 

I am under the impression that Canadians can not rent cars in the US and take them in to Canada.

 

Unless perhaps this was a Canadian car that you were returning for them.

[freestylecruizer]

Did you end the review by saying you got a rental to drive back to Vancouver?

 

I am under the impression that Canadians can not rent cars in the US and take them in to Canada.

 

Unless perhaps this was a Canadian car that you were returning for them.

 

Yep, that's what we did - drove a Washington plated vehicle back to Canada - that appears to be the issue.

 

Got to the border and was politely told that we weren't allowed to do this; however he CBSA let us go through. Funny that the rental agencies in Seattle don't tell you about this because there were about 10 other people in the same position as we were (renting cars to go back to Vancouver). If it was a HUGE deal they wouldn't let us cross.

 

It's funny that I cannot find a regulation or law anywhere on the Gov of Canada's site or CBSA or anything else that states the exact wording or reason why this is the case.

 

I work closely with the DMV (MVB in BC) and they can't answer this either.