Norwegian Star Review

Norwegian Star Did Not Shine

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Norwegian Star
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Porthole Pete
2-5 Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Mar 2013
Cabin: Balcony

The balcony stateroom on level 10 was fine. Comfortable, clean and well maintained. OK the TV was from a bygone age but no big deal. The bathroom was well arranged with a proper shower door. Fine so far. The use of liquid soap and shampoo dispensers in the bathroom summed up the Norwegian Star - down market. These days it is expected that rooms, at the prices charged, will have proper soap, shampoo and hair conditioner but not the Norwegian Star.

The much promoted 'Freestyle' is a complete disaster. At peak times you will have to queue outside the restaurant or be given a pager to alert you when to return. Unlike other cruise lines you cannot just walk to your designated table where the waiters will know your name and you can join fellow guests. You wait until you are allocated the first available table. The result is that at every meal you will be served by a different person. Expect to wait 15-20 minutes at peak time before someone comes to take your order. Some waiting staff cannot be bothered or too busy to come back and take your dessert order and you are required to order dessert while ordering starter and main course. Service is generally poor. This is not the fault of the waiters who are very pleasant but management and their systems.

There are two main dining areas, the Aqua and the Versailles. The Aqua with a low ceiling and few windows is noisy and claustrophobic. It is designed to pack in as many people in as possible and is best avoided. The Versailles is better but because of a lack of work stations staff use pop-up tables to store the used dishes and the slops from the plates are piled up inches from the diners. Not a very appetizing sight!

Cabin Review

Balcony

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