OCB of the Sea

Norwegian Star Cruise Review to Panama Canal, Central America

Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 46

Overall rating:

2.9 out of 5
Verified Review
Norwegian Star

14 Night Panama Canal Westbound (Miami To Los Angeles)

Sail date: January 18, 2019

Ship: Norwegian Star

Cabin type: Inside

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

I would not describe myself as a typical cruiser. I was there for the sun, heat, a chance to exercise (deck walking, stair climbing), read a few books, and see new places. If I were there for the food, entertainment, or customer service I would have been very disappointed. Also if I’d paid full price I’d probably be upset! I got what I wanted out of the cruise and enjoyed the flexibility of freestyle. This was my first solo cruise and I was not impressed with how I was treated by the crew. They know I actually paid for two (single supplement) right? I would not recommend Norwegian Cruise Lines except for great last minute deals.

Embarkation

3 out of 5
Smoother than I anticipated.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5
The quality of the food was often worse than Old Country Buffet.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
Used the fitness center and walking tracks.

Entertainment

3 out of 5
The shows were amestureish. I rarely stayed for the whole show but I did attend most evenings.

Service and Staff

1 out of 5
Customers don’t come first on this ship. Customers are expected to yield to crew members when walking about. Customers are often ignored. As an example: I was only asked twice in 14 days if I’d like a drink by a cocktail waiter. The vibe permeates the ship with the exception of the room stewards. They’re great!

Ship Quality

3 out of 5
The ship was clean. The decorating is a bit gaudy for my taste.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5
Cabin was perfect for one person.

Ship tip

They told us most people gain 6 pounds on a cruise. Not if you only take the stairs!!

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

3 out of 5

Cartagena, Colombia

3 out of 5
Took a catamaran to the old town. It’s quite a photogenic area. They don’t seem to like tourists much. I would describe the people I met as irritable.

Panama Canal Transit

5 out of 5
The canal is interesting.

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

4 out of 5
Took a hiking excursion. Really enjoyed it.

Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua

4 out of 5
Absolutely loved the people of Corinto. I did not take an excursion; I spent the day in Corinto exploring on my own.

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

4 out of 5
Took an excursion to Antigua enjoyed the people and architecture.

Acapulco, Mexico

3 out of 5
Explored this port on foot. No excursion. People were friendly. Very heavy police/military presence.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

3 out of 5
No excursion; explored on my own. Too commercial for my taste. Has all the ambiance of a wealthy suburb.

San Pedro (Los Angeles), California

3 out of 5
Walked 10 miles to find the beach in El Segundo. Had a great time exploring and seeing a different side of LA.

Disembarkation

3 out of 5
Very long lines as expected.
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