Lower your expectations and you can still enjoy yourself. Especially meeting other passengers. The food and entertainment on the Star were not that entertaining.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Shuttle did not run frequently enough on a rainy day. I ended up walking the long distance from the train station to the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
I have cruised over 20 times and at Platinum level on NCL
Unfortunately, NCL keeps chipping away from quality (it does keep the prices down). Drinks were fine because I had the drink package and the bartenders were good. The same can't be said of the wait staff. Often hard to find, service was often slow (especially in the main dining room) and they seemed confused and got orders wrong. If you lower your expectations the food is acceptable but we are far from the time that shrimp cocktail and lobster were on the menu. Cruises use to be really special but even the specialty restaurants provide less service and the meat I got in the Italian restaurant was pretty fatty.
Versailles Main Dining Room
2 out of 5
Slow and spotty service. They have taken away any feeling of the passenger being special. Some language problems when ordering. Food was just OK.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Worked out every day. Workout area is adequate but equipment is missing some exercise equipment. Spa on the Star is rather limited. Locker room often needed to attend to very wet floors.
Best thing was lectures by an archeologist
Entertainment
2 out of 5
Stage shows had some hard working performers but it was like, here I age myself, mid level talent on the Ed Sullivan Show. Not one real comic during a 15 day cruise. Certainly, no name talent. Production shows varied from trite to good but certainly not great.
Some of the individual musicians around the ship were entertains.
Service and Staff
2 out of 5
The main problem I had was with the desk staff. Having been robbed in Rome I had no cash or credit cards. I had already paid the tips for the drink package and my excursions were taken care of before hand.. The staff were very insistent that I give them a credit card or cash. They seemed to not care about my situation. I tried to get a new credit card sent but a general strike in Barcelona prevented it getting to the ship on time. I told the desk finance people that I would send a check or my new credit card when I got home but that was not acceptable to them. I kept getting reminder about payment in my room. I expect good customer service would include a little compassion for my situation and they just made my bad situation worse. When you look forward to a long vacation and the company you expect to provide with a pleasant experience does the opposite, it is very disappointing. This cruise was part of 6 weeks I was on NCL this year. Worst service I have ever had.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Needs updating. I like the size.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
When I travel by myself inside cabin is fine. My cabin was functional.
Ship tip
Lower your expectations and you will have a better time.
Unfortunately, this was substituted for a Caribbean Island. Many of the places I wanted to visit were closed the day we arrived (NCL should have been aware of this)
Love Barcelona. Was there in the Spring. We arrived during a general strike which disrupted some transportation in the city. Has beautiful architecture and gone food.
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