The Norwegian Star is an extremely tidy, well maintained ship with a very friendly crew. So why were so many of the passengers unhappy with a voyage to the Mexican Riviera. Well, when once aboard, the cruise director announced out of the blue that the ship's itinerary had been changed due to engine trouble, and we wouldn't be visiting two ports that many people had booked this cruise for. And while there were apologies aplenty at first, NCL fell flat on its face by offering a $50 credit to passengers that contained more loopholes than a New Orleans home insurance policy. And to top it off, the engine trouble never seemed to be a problem because the ship went to Manzanillo and then Matzatlan with apparent ease. But if you've visited these two ports, you know immediately that they don't hold a candle to Acapulco and Ixtapa, all the more if you love ports with world class beaches.
And it's hard to compare cruise ship cuisine from one cruise line to another, but I found I could easily have made a much better beef Stroganoff than the chef on the Star. It was too salty and didn't have the requisite sour cream added and it missed the mark by a city block in flavor. Mind you, the service in the Versailles dining room was quite efficient, but the Veal Piccata was more like eating my billfold than the young beef delicacy I've had elsewhere. Veal needs tenderizing and that vital step in the preparation had been omitted. Surprisingly, I had tilapia one evening, knowing that this inexpensive fish is cheap for a reason, but it was heavenly and basted in a sauce that had me happily remarking just how good it was.
But the first night I ate in the Aqua dining room, I spent well over 90 minutes waiting for food that arrive cold. I couldn't blame the waiter because he seemed new to the job and was overtaxed by the number of tables he was responsible for. I returned the last night only because friends had reserved a table and that night was not a replay, thankfully, and the bumbling fellow who served me the first night was nowhere to be seen.