Norwegian Star Review

It Was All About the Ports

Review for the Baltic Sea Cruise on Norwegian Star
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1americanrev
2-5 Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Aug 2014
Cabin: Mini-Suite with Balcony

This was our 4th cruise on NCL, however it had been 11 years since the last one and things certainly have changed in the world of cruising. We departed from Copenhagen and chose to take a cab ($40) from our hotel the, Hotel Alexandra as we were pressed for time after a walking tour. The public bus #26 would have worked fine if we had had the time. The Star left from Frihavnen Port and checkin was a breeze. We had a mini-suite which was spacious and had a very large balcony. We hit the buffet at 3:00 having missed lunch and found the food quality poor and the selection small. My hot dog was cold and the bun hard.

We ate all our meals, including most breakfasts in the Versailles Room which was pleasant and the tables not too close together. Food was average to above average cross the board, we loved the soups! However, the service was inconsistent. The first night our waiter failed to even make eye contact with use and seemed preoccupied. At other times we had outstanding wait staff. For a quick breakfast or lunch we ate in the Blue Lagoon which had great views and acceptable food. Our one experience in the Market Cafe was a horrible one. Just like eating in your high school cafeteria. However, if you have children with you it might be something to consider. We ate one night in Cagney's and it was very good. We felt we would have received the same quality of food and service 11 years ago on NCL in the main dining room. We also ate in Le Bistro where the for was excellent, but it was too crowded and noisy. Tables were too close together. If you have never cruised free style, you might find this experience quite different. In order to meet other couples and share our port experiences we had to ask specifically to share tables with English speakers, or we usually ended up automatically at a table for 2. Evening entertainment was varied with the high light being a Beetles Tribute Band that was the best you would find anywhere. Lots of bars to choose from, but our favorite that we visited the most was the Star Bar on deck 13. Quiet and a wonderful friendly bartender and wait staff. We enjoyed playing trivia in the Red Lion Pub and also enjoyed a 50's 60's sock hop in Spinnaker. As for shore excursions, we booked 3 through SPB in St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm and used Rick Steves guide book in Tallinn and Germany.

Our biggest complaint about the NCL Star in the Baltics is their poor management of moving people off the ship in St. Petersburg and Stockholm. Little to no information was given the day before and morning of our arrival on the process and the end result was mobs of pushing and angry passengers trying to get into nonexistent lines to get off the ship. There were probably as many people doing private tours in St. Petersburg as Ship Excursions, but they gave priority to those on their excursions as far as information and where to exit the ship from.

Cabin Review

Mini-Suite with Balcony

Cabin MB

Room 11516 was right off the stairs and elevator near the front of the ship which was convenient. On our floor there was very little noise, however, above us were family suites and apparently kids who were not supervised as they ran up and down the hall above us. Lots of thumping above noise.We loved the balcony and thought the room was spacious, including the bathroom. It was clean, but worn.Our room steward was excellent, cleaning our coffee pot sometimes twice a day. There was plenty of storage and closet room for 2 people and I think if you had 4 it would be tight, but durable.We slept well and felt little if any ship movement as we sailed the Baltic. Aside from the noise above, I would book this room again.

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