Our one week aboard NCL's Norwegian Star ended all too soon. While it doesn't rank as one of my favorite ships and didn't provide us with the best ports-of-call, NCL did enough right to make this a truly enjoyable and memorable experience. As my previous cruise experience is with high-end luxury lines, I had my reservations about trying a "mainstream" ship. But NCL erased any concerns I had.

EMBARKATION: Embarkation was very well-handled by NCL. Despite a long line to enter the terminal building at San Pedro, once inside we were able to use the VIP/Suite check-in. It was quick, painless and hassle-free. We breezed on over to the VIP holding area in which we received our room keys from our Concierge and were escorted onto the ship. It was a well-orchestrated process and provided us with the perfect start to our vacation. For those who were not in suites, I cannot comment on the check-in process, except to say that their line was LONG!

ROOM: We booked a Penthouse Suite. Costing a little more than we had initially planned, I thought that the higher accommodations would provide a nice cushion for me in moving from the luxury ships to a mainstream ship. The day before sailing, NCL called to offer us an upgrade to the Owner's Suite for an additional $650/per person, which we snatched up. Our room was the Picasso Suite. Words cannot adequately describe the, ahem, bold use of color and design for the decor. One carpet was putting green-green, one was red, one had designs of roses, one wall was green, one was yellow, one was red. It was an assault on the senses. However, the layout was fantastic and the large bathroom was more than sufficient. We had one balcony off the living room (which looked off to the port side of the ship) and we had one large balcony with lounge chairs that faced the bow of the ship. If you are able to overlook the mirrored ceiling over the bed, this room was spacious and well-designed. The main concern I had was with the badly stained carpeting and scratched door and walls. This not acceptable for any accommodation, let alone a suite. Read more