Norwegian Star Cruise Reviews - Reviews

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

The on-board experience was pretty good.  Cabin stewards, dining staff and shore excursion staff were helpful, friendly and efficient.  The problems all came from mechanical breakdowns and NCL's mismanagement of the situation.  Five of the original ten ports were cancelled, and two more were rescheduled to later days, making shore excursion availability uncertain (and often unavailable for advance purchase).  NCL staff in Miami were generally unhelpful.  The first two compensation offers were insultingly small, and they only got better when passengers started behaving badly.  Bottom line: a pleasant experience once aboard, but we never would have bought it if we had known the real itinerary.

This was an excellent cruise. Captain and crew treated guests outstanding. Some guests became an angry mob demanding full money back. NCL gave $1000 account credit, 100% of cruise cost less port charges and taxes towards another cruise in the next 5 years.  I thought that was fair. We traveled on this cruise at 50% off last year's cruise price due to problems on POA SF to Hawaii last spring. Will have to spend more air fare to get to another cruise if we book in future so no one comes out 100% no out of pocket expenses for further cruise.

For me, the best part was the sea days.  These were the most relaxing days and gave us time to socialize with our travel companions.  The ship's entertainment was good, especially the Stardust shows and the Melodic Trio who performed nightly in the Atrium.

As for port stops, I wish there had been more Level 1 excursions.  We did take and enjoyed an excursion of the Vung Tao highlights and the Hong Kong highlights with airport transfer. 

It seems like there is a recurring problem with the Norwegian Star.  I've cruised on other Norwegian ships, but the Star is always broken.  I've never researched a ship before a cruise, but I will every time in the future.

The propeller broke on the first day of the cruise, we went back to port and then spent the next 7 days at sea.  Instead of visiting 5 interesting ports in Asia, we had 9 of 11 days at sea because we could only travel at about half speed.  It was awful.

I kind of like the Norwegian, laid back style, but this was the cruise from hell.

As was true for every co-passenger I asked, this cruise was chosen for the itinerary and it did not disappoint. From the elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka to the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the locations we visited were thrilling and I'm so happy to have had this experience3.

Norwegian got the job done. Got us there, fed us, slept us and counted us countless (!) times on tour busses. But that's pretty much all they did. Meals were mediocre (overcooked fish, institutional and limited buffet) public areas ok, entertainment was just something to fill the time and on-board activities were limited and motivated by profit.

The nickel and dimeing was incessant. (After three Viking River Cruises were everything is included, granted, I'm spoiled,)

I will sail Norwegian again only if they are the only line offering the itinerary I want. I will be back to Princess, gratefully!

The Star first time in middle east and Asia...Encounter some mechincal difficulty.

Comped the cruise for all guest  plus half off next cruise..

Some ports seemed to be more cargo ports than cruise ports.

Indian visa was difficult to attain..Many people paid agencies big $$ to attain them,,,Dont wait for last minute to attain.

The crew and entertain were outstanding overall.

countries visited were good

We loved the cruise, with excellent ports of call, marred only by the failure of an engine in Singapore meaning we missed both Bangkok and Saigon, but were well compensated by Norwegian immediately a major problem became apparent.

During the cruise I had the flu and visited medical and my cost of that visit was over $950.  What a profit center NSC has was very over priced.    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We had sailed Norwegian once in the past and absolutely hated it. However, Norwegian was the only cruise line offering this itinerary and it was so unique we decided to try again. Turns out this was a good move. This boat (the Star) was MUCH better than the Jewel. The staff was friendly, the boat was cleaner, the entertainment surprisingly quite good.

The only downsides were the food was odd. The dinner menu paired things awkwardly, vegetables were nothing but garnishes, the desserts were horrible, and they did not offer food from the region we were in. Lastly, dinner was served at a glaciers pace. 

Lastly, we like to keep our balcony door open at night to hear the waves but the air conditioner in the room was linked to the door. So if the door was open the air was on full blast and you could not turn it off. This meant the room was ice cold all night. The heat could not be turned on or up. The only way to turn the air off (or heat on) was to shut the door.

First many of the crew members I met were great. My room attendant was amazing. The reason for 1 star is for the worst customer service from Corporate Office to hotel director who does not need to a hotel director. First I had a issue with the travel agent company World Travel Holdings (represents all the airlines) who represent Norwegian cruise lines. I had an issue with my reservations. It a clearly a issue on there end and I have proof but no responsibility from them. They do not care about there customers. I tried to get the issue fixed before I left. No call or response. Now for the hotel director. One I was at the front desk at Halloween night talking to guest service agent and I ask him if he was the hotel director he looked at me and said nothing. All I want to say was hi. Go look at the video. Throughout the cruise he doesn't smile. I few issues with guest services. I wanted up grade my room and pay for it but they said no more rooms were available. What's funny is there were 2 room I was looking to up grade was empty on my floor throughout the cruise. I love when I can catch people in lies.  A few issues with my room. Guest Services called me back to make sure that issues got fixed. But the big issue I got back from a long day of excursion. I used the rest room and five minutes later I heard something in the bathroom. It was my toilet overflowing. I called guest services to let them know. I called few times even my room attendant called. It took 40 minutes for someone to get there. I took a video of the water overflowing.  It was my birthday I missed my dinner and had to take a shower with toilet water on the floor but what can you do. I tried to make the best of it and skipped my dinner specialty restaurant and had regular dinner. What is disturbing issue is that no one from guest services called my room to apologies for the issue or offer anything for the inconvenience. If I was the hotel director I would have called personally but maybe that just me. I guess you have to be in suites to get a phone call back but the little people just don't matter. I work in the hospitality industry and know how guest should be treated. One last thing is its amazing that certain people on the cruise get offered to stay on the cruise for amazing low price but other do not. That comes from the hotel director I could have stayed but if this is how guest are treated from Norwegian. All I wanted was the same offer as the other passengers to stay on onboard.

we enjoyed everything from our penthouse suite to dinning. The production shows where by far the best. We have cruised many times and this was the most friendly staff all over the ship we have ever encountered. The casino staff was great.

This was my first experience with NCL and probably the last. Price wise, they are always in the game, however, quality wise they are inferior in relation to Holland America, Princess and RCCL. Once on board, you become an object to be coerced into paying great prices for things which don't offer a comparative value. Paying $49.00 to play bingo seemed a bit much. Paying a hefty supplement to eat at specialty restaurants,, which might have offered decent food but with indifferent service, was not a bargain.

Overall the best part of the cruise were the ports visited, which included Cannes, Marseilles, Barcelona and Naples and the attention to handwashing, which was non stop.

The freedom of dining is a plus, although one doesn';t get to mingle with the other guests as much, with this format.

The lack of staff sophistication was very evident and the lack of smiles as well.

Oh yes, the entertainment on board was very good. There was a quartet of Spanish singers who were fabulous as well as a couple of circus performers from Russia who were also great.

On our first stop we visited Florence then Pisa Italy,  these two stps alone were well worth the trip.  To see things you've only seen in books or TV was great.  The next stop you can take the train to Monte Carlo need I say more.  The next stop was Marseilles.  Our next stop in Barcelona we took a guided tour about the life of Picasso when he lived and studied in Barcelona.  Plus the Picasso art museum.  Very worth the time about 1 hour of walking then atleast 2 hours in the museum.  Next day was a sailing day to Naples, Italy.  There's plenty of entertainment on the ship everyday especially today.  In Naples we climbed Mt Vesuvius then took a guided tour of Pompeii.  This too was well worth the trip but be prepared to walk.  We took this trip to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and that's why it was a trip of a lifetime.

This cruise Itinerary ports were amazing.  You get to see so many cities in 3 different European countries with a nice cruise.  This ship was a little out to date compared to all the new ships but we weren't on board that much due to all the great cities we visited.  The rooms were nice and the trip was enjoyable. 

My complaint was there was a drink/liquor tax at sea during the entire trip, no matter how many miles we were off coast. We were told on the first day of the cruise that there would be no liquor/drink tax once we out to sea. There were about 100 people complaining the 2nd day of cruise because of the miss communication. Count on an extra cost of over 100.00 (per couple) for taxes on drinks...this is a hidden charge because NCL do not explain when ordering your cruise. We choose the free unlimited drink package and prepaid 330.00 for gratuities and an extra 100.00 for taxes onboard.  If you are not a big drinker like us it is not worth the costs to take this package. Even if you order the "special" drink of the day, which is marked at a special price they charge you tax on the full price of drink. We were told that special price is not available for anyone with the drink package. The quality of food was excellent everyday.  Also, the ship was very clean and the staff were very friendly.

Ship is well worn but working well.  The staff, and crew were excellent, shows were also very good with lots of variety.  Norwegian is not known for their cuisine, we found a few evenings with nothing to our liking, and we are not picky eaters.

Awesome itenerary, never visited so many places in 14 days. Price was right, service starting from room steward to captain was outstanding. Entertainment was excellent with acrobats and Broadway style cabaret dominating. Food was very impressive specially with specialty restaurants, Cagney's steak house have my 5 star overview. Crew worked hard, very pleasant staff from more than 20 different nations. NCL and crew of Norwegian Star done an outstanding job. We will be back for sure and will recommend to all our friends. I salute you Norwegian Star have fantastic sailing where ever you are. Dmitry Feld

All the ports we new for us and love all the excursions   Shetland islands were our favorite followed by Ireland and Iceland   Scenery was unbelievable and the people were so friendly. Lots to do in all ports 

NCL has slipped in Service, Ship cleanliness, Ship Maintentence, even the crew that sprays you hands when you renter the ship and the buffets missed over and over again. 

On on our first tour we even had the guide using the "F" bomb over and over again.