Norwegian Star Review

4.0 / 5.0
2,583 reviews

It certainly wasn't smooth sailing!

Review for the Panama Canal & Central America Cruise on Norwegian Star
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mesaronz
6-10 Cruises • Age 80s

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Sail Date: Nov 2010
Cabin: Family Suite

This cruise was a "bucket list" item for us. Probably don't have that many more cruises to enjoy together and NCL management did their best to ruin the enjoyment.

Be very cautious of booking embarkation from Miami if you are physically challenged. NCL is completely unprepared to accommodate in an expeditious and caring way for anyone who is challenged. There were 5 wheel chairs to accommodate approximately (by my count) 75-100 "guests" in need of wheel chairs for embarkation. It was no secret to the company that they were to be prepared to handle the situation. Their manifest is duly noted of "special needs" guests. I had to speak with 6 different individuals before any appropriate action was taken and that was only because I was in total "melt down" and was bellowing about the incompetence and uncaring non-chalant manner in which they were treating those guests in need of special accommodation. It was brutal!!! When my bellowing did produce results, my partner was placed in a wheel chair and we were whisked through security to registration like we were at the Indy 500. Upon arrival at the registration desk we were asked for our credit cards. Don't most couples generally travel using one card to cover their on board account? Oh, I forgot, we're two men traveling together. Then the security pictures were taken. I asked the registration personnel if my picture looked contemptuous. She responded "Yes. Why do you feel that way?" I went on to explain the humiliation which we had experienced by being ignored and how insulting it was to our intelligence for people to give lame excuses for non-performance,i.e, "You have to understand that the wheel chairs have to be cleared by Customs". I began crying and then she realized how serious the situation was. She then said "How did you get here? You belong in the VIP lounge for embarkation." She (Carmen Acevedo) was the heroine of the day and did NCL a magnificent CYA. Once she realized how serious the situation was, she abandoned her station and assured us that she would remain with us until we were ready to embark. She was absolutely terrific and a very compassionate human being!...and that she did!

Whatever is going on between NCL and the Port of Miami is very detrimental for the "guests".

Cabin Review

Family Suite

Cabin SJ

12530

EXCEPTIONAL!!! Tastefully furnished with separate dining area and living area, wall mounted plasma TV, free DVD for your enjoyment. Abundance of storage space. Bathroom with double sinks, full tub and separate enclosed shower. This suite has a "bump out" so that inherent in it's design one can look forward and see the bridge. Therefore, it's an excellent choice for the Panama Canal. You can remain in your living area, relax, imbibe and watch it all through your floor to ceiling windows and when looking forward you witness the opening of the locks. Can't say too many positives about this suite!!!! I'd book it in a quick minute if I had the chance to do it again. Showed it to many other guests who were "thunder stuck". You won't regret booking this sweetie.

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