good first cruise-- would recommend

Item: Norwegian Star
Rating: 4
Author: JohnH5

Norwegian Star Cruise Review to Mexico

JohnH5

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Reviews: 0

Helpful Votes: 6

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

Verified Review

8 Night Mexican Riviera (Los Angeles Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 19, 2008

Ship: Norwegian Star

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 16 years ago

Review summary

itinerary is great. freestyle dinning experience is good in that the selection of when/where to eat is an big advantage, however the taste/selection of the food is just average. ship staff is very friendly/helpful. stateroom size is good, but this being my first cruise i have nothing to compare it to. would highly recommend getting a balcony because it makes the room seem a lot bigger/ more spacious. overall i would recommend this cruise. it is a good experience if you are looking to view the multiple resort areas of the mexican riviera-- especially if you are trying to decide which specific area to visit on a future vacation.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

freestyle dining makes it convenient to eat anywhere/anytime. food selection/taste is decent.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

very friendly/helpful staff

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

could use more pools

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

would recommend getting a balcony. it makes the room seem that much bigger and you won't get claustrophobic

Ports of call

Acapulco, Mexico

3 out of 5

very dirty/poor around the port. you have to travel out toward the "new section" of town... that's where all the resort areas are located. this area is very modern and tourist driven where the "old section/ dowtown" seems very run down. very nice beaches all around the entire bay. -- would recommend either playa hornitas or playa condesa.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: cliff divers--- we went on aztec dinner/cliff diver excursion.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

3 out of 5

very americanized. it doesn't really feel like you're in mexico at all with all the signs/stores being in english and everyone speaking english. prepare to pay higher prices for goods as this area is very tourist driven. small enough to see the whole city on foot in a few hours. this port had the most water sports out of the rest... jet-skis, parasailing, boat tours, etc.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: best place for water sports

Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Mexico

5 out of 5

very different from the other ports. we only stayed in zihuatanejo and didn't venture out to ixtapa. zihuatanejo is like a small mexican village. would recommend playa madera. this is a good place to just relax at the beach and then do your shopping. there are many shops near the port with same authenic mexican stuff without paying the increased prices at some of the more "Americanized" and tourist-driven ports.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: make this your relaxing beach/shopping day

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

5 out of 5

probably the best mix of mexico/americanized. acapulco was very poor, run down in some areas, people trying to sell you something every 3 feet, men with machine guns outside stores, etc. and cabo is too americanized with every sign in english, every person speaking english, all american stores. puerto vallarta seemed to be somewhere in the middle of these two with just enough of mexican/american culture.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: best mix of mexican/american cultures

Pros: freestyle atmosphere, friendliness/helpfulness of the staff

Cons: food was just decent.

Recommends Norwegian Star? Yes!

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