A Trouble Cruise

Norwegian Star Cruise Review to Other (Asia/Africa/Middle East)

Cruisefred

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 71

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

21 Night Southeast Asia & Australia (Hong Kong To Sydney)

Sail date: January 16, 2017

Ship: Norwegian Star

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 4568

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

The staff were great and the food was fine. But this cruise was a trouble one. The Norwegian Star had mechical problem with one of its propellor in Singapore in December and they informed passengers for this cruise before the sailing of January 16 from Hong Kong that they had to cancel two ports of calls, Ho Chi Ming City and Bangkok. It was a disappointment to me but as they informed us before the sailing and offered $200 pp on board credit as compensation, I went on with the cruise. After we visited Bali, the captain announced that the next port of call for Komodo Island had to be cancelled to make up time as there was now. Unrelated issue with the propellor and it was not operatable. Then we received notice the next day that two more ports were cancelled, Brisbane and Airlie Beach in Australia. NCL upped the compensation to $500 pp obc and 50% cruise credit on amount we paid for this cruise but has to be used within a year. This created huge protests among passengers as many see the NCL was not being transparent with the mechanical problems associated with the ship and the compensation was not enough to cover the loss of 5 ports of call out of ten. Eventually, after meetings and negotiation, NCL agreed to change the credit to 100% of the payment paid to thus cruise and there is a 5 year time frame to use the credits. Some passengers were still not happy as many think they may not be able to cruise again due to age and health issues. A refund of the cruise fare would make more sense to many.

with the cancelled ports, we had a lot of sea days which were not planned for initially and we arrived Sydney on time on Feb 6. But I had unsettled feeling that this ship is mechanical unsound and should not continue to sail. NCL is taking a chance to continue to operate it for the rest of its iteninary.

Post Cruise note: Two of my friends, with many other passengers stayed on the ship to sail to New Zealand. My wife just received text messages from my friends that the Norwegian Star engine failed and the ship is inoperatable 70 miles at sea from Melbourne. The ship has to be towed back to Melbourne which may take 20 plus hours. NCL now have to offer all kind of refunds and compensatiion to passengers that now are put into Avery bad situation out at sea. The saga of is ship continues to unfold