I sailed the star for very cheap and I didn't pay the gratuities to Norwegian. Obviously the crew gets a salary and never sees these gratuities anyway. I personally tipped employees who made my experience wonderful!! Had I not booked this ship for cheap, I would have been severely disappointed. I will never sail on the Norwegian Star again. I hope the star isn't a reflection of other Norwegian cruise ships.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
My experience getting on the ship was as expedient as possible. I was told I couldn't keep all my luggage with me. Supposedly my large suitcase wouldn't fit into the x-Ray machine. Later I was told that was a lie.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
The buffet wasn't very good. The restaurant that was advertised as always being open (24/7) was closed between meals for menu change. One night in the Versaille restaurant it took us one hour and 20 minutes to get our appetizers.
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
The fitness room didn't have a view of the water but the kiddie pool had a view of the water if the young children were tall enough to see the view or to care the view was there. Very disappointing layout. So one time in the gym was one time too many.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING !!! Very impressive entertainment. Dave the piano man is a pleasure to sit on the lounge and listen to.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Hit and miss. Sometimes meals were served very fast in the aqua and in the versaille dining rooms. Sometimes meals weren't served at all in O' sheehann's. Sometimes meals took a very long time to be served in the versaille restaurant.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
The ship was very clean! It was being cleaned continually and repetitively. I was told the ship was going to be inspected when getting back to the states. I was also told repositioning cruises are for a lot of maintenance to be done. There was painting being done which made not only my balcony cabin stink but also a fellow cruiser's inside cabin was unbearable.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!! I didn't have any engine vibration.
Ship tip
I wondered why this ship's transatlantic itinerary was so cheap a couple months prior to sailing. Then I realized it is due to the age of the ship. The crew appeared to be new also. For examples: not only the long dining times but also the muster drills. Yes plural. My muster station was in the stardust theater. So I asked the crew who was responsible for my staying alive, why were we told to come here and drown? I said look how long it is taking everyone to get out of here. The crew replied there are four exit doors. I said I know and all four exit doors are being used now. Then he said there are six exit doors. Then he there are eight exit doors. (Two more exit doors or four more exit doors behind the stage??????
Disembarkation was suppose to begin at 8 am. The ship had been docked since 7 pm the night prior because there was a medical emergency. Disembarkation didn't start until 8:40 am. So very frustrating that a huge group of people are trying to get off the ship at the same time.
My daughter worked on Disney cruise line for 2 years. The staff do get paid a cash salary. Staff that get tips do get paid less. Also during their vacation time if you are a tipped worker you must pay for your own flight home. If your not the cruise line covers the cost of the flight. Either way the staff on the cruise ships work very hard and long days. They never have a day off and they must always try to be happy and cheerful to all the passengers. So give them a break. They deserve everything they get and if you can't pay the gratuities than you shouldn't take a cruise.
Below is information I found from Jim Walkers website. He is an attorney specializing in cruise ship issues. USA Today stated that 95% of cruise lines use prepaid gratuities to pay the salaries of its workers. This is clearly not what its customers believe when they prepay these gratuities. I was shocked to read this information.
“NCL's CEO Frank Del Rio said during an earnings conference in 2015 that for every dollar collected in an increased gratuity, NCL earns an extra $15,000,000. Does anyone really think that the crew members are enjoying this extra income?”
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