Norwegian Star Experience

Item: Norwegian Star
Rating: 3
Author: rgoldberg

Norwegian Star Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

rgoldberg

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 52

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 03, 2016

Ship: Norwegian Star

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9176

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

I normally refrain from leaving comments or saying anything negative about a company or experience. But, this is the exception. I am an avid cruiser, I normally cruise with Carnival and Royal Caribbean. This being my first Norwegian ship experience, I of course can't help but compare. I will say, the music being played throughout the ship was awful. You would look around and see so many drab faces. Your environment around you is what creates the vibes and energy of those around you as well, and when the music being played isn't vacation style music or upbeat tunes and the staff and cruisers are all moping around, you too, can't help but notice it. I'm not sure if the crumby weather played apart of this, but something should be done about this. Along with the music, the outside top pool bartenders were beyond rude to guests, including myself. They wouldn't serve guests, copped attitudes, talked about guests while guests could hear, and argued with guests while bar tending. I've never witnessed such rude and disrespectful cruise staff towards paying customers, outrageous! Also, the top kitchens (buffets) closing so early in the evening was something new, and with such a "freestyle" way of cruising and "freestyle" way of dining, one would expect the buffets to stay open much later. Those were the major issues I found on my Norwegian experience. These were things that I've always received with other ships and were things I absolutely couldn't help but notice and couldn't help but bring to your attention. In my opinion, these are things that can and should be addressed for a better cruising experience. I left with giving my opinion to others that have asked, and honestly, it's to cruise with other ships, and these are the main reasons why.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

The cabin was great

Ports of call

Tampa, Florida

5 out of 5

Coxen Hole, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

3 out of 5

Belize City, Belize

5 out of 5

Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico

5 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

10 Comments

martinsgh 8 years ago

on Norwegian we just got off star. loved the ship. should check your daily guide and you will see all eating times. buffet would close at 9:30 and reopen from 10 to 11. o'sheehan's bar and grill from 9 to 4am. and room service 24 hours. what seem to be the problem. can't read maybe. also pool side bar was open late with buffet set up. top siders bar and grill. food everywhere. they even had snacks in casino.

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ljkdhall 8 years ago

I don't agree with the food or the entertainment comments. Food and service was very good in the mdr, loved the poolside BBQ, lots of variety in music, appreciated the live not canned music choices. If there was a downside, it was wait staff in the outside areas. The service at the bier garten bar was poor and nonexistent. There were only 2 bartenders at the bar. You stood in a cue line 5-6 people deep. Why not wait on the tables like a normal bar? This was our friend's first experience on Ncl and they will never cruise again with them because they were not served at the tables.

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martinsgh 8 years ago

this was my first trip on Norwegian star. the foodwas was best on any ship I have been on. they do have a buffet open from 5 to 9:30. don't know how you missed it. then from 10 to 11 at night it reopens. buffet at pool at bars grill. enjoy trip up til last day and a dealer complain about my husband offending him at a blackjack table. my husband kept asking him how he offended and he couldn't say. they said if he didn't leave casino they would get security. he wasn't loud either. they owe him a apology. in my business customers are always right. anybody else out there been treated rude in casino

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JusMe 8 years ago

Reviews are one persons experience. You can not just say "Well I had a great time on NCL before so the OP must be wrong. You were not on that same cruise in that same dining tables and same cabin.

I have been on 3 NCL cruises, NCL pearl, great cruise, 2 cruises on the Star. The Star both times had cold food, bad service and the food was not to good. The Star gets a lot of bad reviews, it is for a reason.

Be kind to reviewers.

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chirocop 8 years ago

I definitely agree with the hours of food availability being limited. Not many included options after 9:30.

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pinkp8ther 8 years ago

Just embarked and everyone was dancing and play "Tonight's gonna be a good night"; followed by "California Girls". I don't know how much more upbeat you can be.

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jeffdavies151515 8 years ago

I have been on princess as well as Norwegian. I am going back on Norwegian as my experience on ncl I found better. How many people a year go on these cruises and I see very few bad review. " on I got sick on yards yards " but then don't say they are a million pounds of food that day. That are all good lines. If you have a bad experience you have 7 days to take it up with the cruise guest services. why wait till your cruise is over

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pinkp8ther 8 years ago

My "rule of thumb" is try everything at least twice. The first experience might be the result of a fluke good or bad. I also try to avoid the "always" and "never" reports. They are most often skewed. Obviously there exceptions to these rules.

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TeresaC1963 8 years ago

Trust me db, I take all negative reviews like this with a grain of salt. I can't say the poster didn't have a bad time but I know those people are the exception, not the rule.

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db421 8 years ago

My experience was completely different. The music was very upbeat, staff was courteous, food was excellent. Please don't believe this review. Go on Norwegian and enjoy the trip.

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Other reviews of this sailing

Carnival is much better

Western Caribbean Cruise on NCL Star in January

Norwegian? no Star. You will get ripped off with them