Norwegian Star Activities

4.0 / 5.0
2,583 reviews
Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Entertainment

Entertainment & Activities

Theater

As usual on an NCL ship, the entertainment shines brightly. The main entertainment venue is the Stardust Theater - a 1,100-seat venue inspired by classic European opera houses and spanning three decks (5, 6, and 7). Nightly shows include magicians, comedians, lavish Broadway-style production numbers and a Cirque du Soleil-type of gravity-defying extravaganza. During the day the space is transformed into a cinema.

Daily Fun

Daytimes (and sea days) are made enjoyable with the many contests and activities available on almost all of the public decks, including movies in the Deck 12 theater, enrichment lectures highlighting the history and cultures of the region, golf chipping contests, and hairy legs contests at the pool (men only, please).

At Night

The ship also has scattered around its sundry bars and lounges a host of talented individual performers who add greatly to the ambiance of relaxation. Whether it's jazzy piano cocktail music, boogie-woogie and 1940's standards, the Beatles, calypso and reggae, salsa or classical, you can find it aboard Norwegian Star.

Norwegian Star Bars and Lounges

5 O' Clock Somewhere Bar (Deck 7): This bar – the first on the Norwegian fleet – replaces The Red Lion Pub. It retains the same shape, acting as a link between Bliss Ultra Lounge to the lobby, but the décor and vibe is completely different. The whole look and feel is ersatz Caribbean/South Florida, with surfboards stuck to the wall, multi-colored deck chairs and a long bar packed at the back with rums and tequilas. It's worth noting that this is not a Margaritaville – which debuts on Norwegian Escape – as this is booze only, no food. We felt there could have been more Caribbean/South Florida décor, personally, such as a parrot hanging from the ceiling, but it tries hard with what it's got and there is even a small area for live music. Cocktails such as the 5 O' Clock Somewhere (Margaritaville Silver & Spiced rums, passion fruit) start at $9.95. Open: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on sea days and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. when in port.

Sugarcane Mojito Bar (Deck 13, midships): This replaces the Star Bar, but shares the space with Moderno Churrascaria, which takes up the vast majority of this room. The bar is just that – a bar with a few stools, surrounded by dining tables. It's hard to imagine what the designers were thinking of here: there's no view or vibe, and it's hard to imagine why anyone would want to perch here other than waiting for their table to come free. The drinks selection is, as you would expect, centered on various interpretations of mojito cocktails from $10.95. Open: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day.

The Bier Garten (Deck 14): Located high above the pool deck, this outdoors was replaced by the Sky High Bar in summer 2018.

Public Rooms

Although this is a large vessel, the public areas are designed in such a way that makes many areas of the ship feel cozy and intimate. Most of the bars, lounges and restaurants are centrally located so you can just go steps from one to the other and have an immediate change in atmosphere.

The core area just slightly forward of the atrium elevators on Decks 6 and 7 is home to the Gatsby's Champagne Bar and the Star Club Casino, both of which lead nicely to the restaurants surrounding them and to the main showroom at the front of the ship, Stardust Theater.

The casino, which is large and well equipped, with a variety of table games and slots that range from nickel denominations to one machine at $100.

The Atrium Cafe & Bar is located in the middle of the Grand Atrium, serving specialty coffees at a la carte prices, along with cookies and pastries.

The Galleria Shops, located on Deck 7 forward near the theater, carry everything from logo items and toys to the shipboard equivalent of haute couture.

The teen and children's centers are at the aft of the ship, as is the Mandara Spa and Fitness Center.

The Internet Center onboard Norwegian Star is located in a mezzanine perched above the Grand Atrium and is only accessible via two doorways located on Deck 9. It's a hard-to-find space but once there, it is quite nice, separated from the activity but allowing you to witness the goings-on in the atrium lobby. Internet packages are available. Wireless Internet is available bow-to-stern.

Almost all of the ship is wheelchair-accessible, although some of the locations and entertainment venues seem to require a round-about means of arriving. Elevators have buttons that are reachable by guests in wheelchairs and they "ding" before they arrive so sight-impaired guests can find the one that is opening; deck numbers are listed in Braille.

Smoking is limited to the port side on outside decks, to the casino, and to certain areas of bars and lounges. There is no smoking in the Grand Atrium, in any of the restaurants, or in the Stardust Theater.

Spa & Fitness

This ship is so long that it only takes three and a half laps on the Deck 13 walking and jogging track to make a mile. The view from here is great, too, looking down on the pool and the gallery that rises above it at the forward end. And when you're done with your jog, you can flop into one of the chaises which are close at hand.

The big pool is flanked on the aft end by a pair of twisty slides, and at each end with hot tubs. If there are too many people in the main pool for you to feel comfortable swimming laps, not to worry: There is an indoor lap pool in the Barong Spa, 40 feet long and 13 feet wide.

The well-equipped fitness center is open 24 hours, and has a large variety of weight training and cardiovascular equipment, all situated at the aft of Deck 12 looking over the stern's wake.

The spa itself, aft on Deck 11, is a Mandara Spa run by Steiner Leisure. It's lovely, with the lap pool, a whirlpool and a special hydrotherapy pool, steam and sauna, plus an aft-facing solarium with comfy wicker chaises and a terrific view. There is a charge to use the lap pool, Jacuzzi and Hydropool. There are several treatment rooms where you can get facials and massages, and a salon for hair and nails. Check the Freestyle Daily for specials.

Elsewhere on the ship there are two golf cages, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes and Ping-Pong.

For Kids

This is a ship that is designed for families in mind. On Deck 13, aft, is Planet Kids, with activities for for children ages 3 to 12, including a movie cinema and a large jungle gym. Kids are welcomed from 6 months old, and if they aren't yet potty-trained, the parents will be issued a beeper so they can be called when it's time to change a diaper.

Note: No diapers of any kind, "swim" diapers, are allowed in any of the pools.

Norwegian's Splash Academy is currently divided into four age groups: Guppies (6 months to 3 years, with parent), Turtles (3 - 5), Seals (6 - 9) and Dolphins (10 - 12). The teen program, called Entourage, accommodates passengers 13 to 17.

On Deck 12 next to the cafe is the teen-only area, complete with a dance floor, jukebox, air hockey table, several computer stations and a "living room" space for mingling. Just across from this space is the Video Zone, with several high-tech (and loud) video games.

Behind the Barong Fitness Center is the hugely popular Splash Down Kid's Pool, with two rocket-shaped slides, a wading pool and a kid-sized hot tub. This area isn't limited to the children in the Kid's Crew program; it's accessible to all, excluding adults.

Since meal times are flexible with Freestyle dining, and there are so many activities on the ship for everyone, children of all ages can be happily accommodated. Mom and dad can have some alone time, too, with Mom and Dad's Night Out, and group babysitting is offered for a small hourly charge (plan on $6 per child, plus $4 per hour for each additional sibling).

Activities & Entertainment

  • Arts & Crafts classes
  • Behind the Scenes Tour*
  • Casino*
  • Comedy Performances
  • Dance Classes
  • Deck Parties
  • Entourage Teen Club - Kids Club
  • Fitness Center
  • Fitness Classes*
  • Game Shows
  • Gaming Lessons*
  • Golf Driving Net
  • Hot Tubs (5)
  • Hydrotherapy Pool*
  • Internet Café*
  • Jogging Track
  • Karaoke
  • Late Night Music and Dancing
  • Live Nightly Music
  • Onboard Movie Screenings
  • * May require additional fees

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