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Never Again by
A Traveler from NY Sailing date: Aug 2012Pros: 2 main dining rooms has decent food Cons: Balcony room was very small, ran out of items at the buffet, not enough 120volt outlets in the room, no iron available for nightly use had to wait 45 min each night , room service took over an hour, to call reception or room service or restaurant reservations was at least a 10 min wait on hold I went on this cruise for a family members wedding, so we were a group of about 26 ranging from 2 years old to 80. I have cruisedin the past but more recently usually go on all inclusive vacations. The amount of money for this cruise was not worth what you were given. You can go to an all inclusive for the same amount or cheaper and not have to pay for anything when you get there, not even tips! The balcony mini suite was extremely small with only 2 drawers and a small closet. We had 3 people in the room, 2 adults And a child and had to take everything out of our suitcases and find places for it do we could stuff the suitcases under the bed or else we wouldnt b able to move. There was only 1 120v outlet in the room and 1 in the bathroom. We thought an iron would be available for use in the room but you had to call to get one, wait on hold for them to answer then wait another 45 min for them to bring it to you! They ran out of food items at the buffet such as Italian dressing but had 3 of the same types of dressing. They also had a lot of starchy foods on the buffet line. The watersides close at the pool very often and the pool closes to of the water is rough. The basketball court was usually being used during the day by a kids camp so you couldnt play. Most of the competitions pool side were for adults not children. Lastly you will be charged a $12 per day service charge per person on your bill. Make sure to go to the desk on the last night and ask to remove this. This is in addition to gratuity being added to your check Everytime you order a drink! Ship Quality
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 3 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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  the worst cruise I have ever taken!!!!!! by
Phyllis J from Liberty KLake wa Sailing date: Aug 2009Pros: nothing Cons: sat on the decck and did go to casino staterooom was terible had to beg clean towls the food was awful could not go tohot top or other things for all the kides children running up down the hallways had children above us the ran and jump half the nite I have cruised every cruise line except ncl and I will never do it again or recommond it to anyone Ship Quality
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Children's Programsdid not know there would be so many children aboad they would run over you I am going blind and my hope was a nice cruise and to alaska before i went toltally bling will let me tel you it was ruinedd for me 4 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Extra money for everthing by
David C from Rosemount Mn Sailing date: Mar 2009Pros: Not much at all, I have taken about a dozen cruises. THIS WAS BAD Cons: The service was bad. Nobody smiled Do not go on this one ,chose a friendly ship. Ship Quality
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7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Disappointing! by
Melissa B from Clinton, CT Sailing date: Aug 2011Pros: Shows, clean staterooms Cons: Food quality, too many extra fees on the ship, staff could have been better The staterooms were very nice, most of the staff was very pleasant, and the shows were excellent, however we felt that we had to pay for too much once we were on the ship. On the last cruise we took with a different cruise line, the only thing we had to pay extra for was alcohol and soda, and there were a lot more options included, such as juice all day, coffee, and more places to eat that were included in our cruise fee, however on NCL we felt there was a lot that was not included in our fee that we had to pay extra for if we wanted it. For instance, the only cold drinks that were included all day were water and iced tea, we had to pay extra for juice unless it was at breakfast. When we were in the lounge for a show, we had to pay for coffee, which was free in the dining rooms and the buffet. Room service options were extremely limited, and we had to pay a fee if it was after midnight, or if we wanted pizza, which was something that was included in the buffet. We also felt that the quality of the food was lesser than what we experienced on our other cruise. Additionally, while we were dining in one of the main dining rooms, we were asked by 3 or 4 different staff members if we wanted to participate in a pub crawl that was going on the next day (which we had to pay extra for), and we had 2 other staff members come around and try to get us to make a reservation in one of the specialty restaurants (where we had to pay extra to eat). We did not appreciate being interrupted during our meal so that the staff could try to sell us something else. While there were many options for places to eat on the ship, only 5 were included in our cruise fee, while 7 required us to pay extra fees. The drink prices were rather high as well, with most mixed or frozen drinks being $8-$9 each and beer being $5-$6 each. We also had an issue with the toilet in our room not working properly. We understand that occasionally issues can occur, however, when going in to use 2 different public restrooms on the ship, the toilets had been overflowing and there was water on the floor, causing the toilets to be inoperable, not to mention the serious safety hazard for anyone that entered the restroom. As far as the excursions, we decided not to book any because they were very expensive. We did go see the lumberjack show on our own, which was the same price as listed on the excursion order form, however, while in Juneau, once we got off the ship, we decided to take a bus to see the glacier and walk the trails. The same exact excursion booked through NCL would have cost us $100 for two people, while we were able to pay $30 for the two of us once we got into town. The combination of all these things has made us decide to cruise with our previous cruise line next time instead of NCL, and I will not be recommending NCL to anyone I know looking to go on a cruise. Ship QualityThe ship was large, although the layout was a little strange, where you had to walk through two restaurants to get to the other end of the ship, and getting to the staterooms was confusing since the hallways had lots of turns instead of being straight. At least there were lots of signs pointing you in the right direction. For the most part, the ship was clean, with the exception of some of the bathrooms as stated above. The other downside, was that you had to walk through the pool deck to get to other areas of the ship, like the buffet, and the deck was always very wet with lots of big puddles, and it was VERY slippery. Occasionally they would push the water off the deck, but not often enough, and I almost fell several times. Dining/FoodThe quality and variety of the food was lacking. We had one good meal in one of the main dining rooms, while all the other meals were disappointing. There were far too many places to eat where you had to pay extra, especially when the food was not very good to begin with. The room service was also seriously lacking. On the room service menu there was a soup, two salads, pizza, and four sandwiches to choose from, and if you wanted to have pizza or eat after midnight (all the dining rooms and buffets closed at 11PM), you had to pay extra. Stateroom QualityThe rooms were a decent size and were clean. We had a balcony room which was worth it to see the scenery as we went through the inside passage and by the glacier. The bathrooms were very small in the room. The toilet was separated from the sink area by a separate door, which seemed like a good idea, except that the toilet area was smaller than a phone booth and whenever you moved at all you hit your elbows on the door or the wall. Ship Staff QualityThe staff for the most part was friendly, although there were some staff members who seemed as though they did not want to be there. Our room steward was very nice and did a good job in our stateroom, but the other staff did nothing to go above and beyond. We did, however have many staff members come up to us throughout the cruise to try and sell us something else. Entertainment & ActivitiesThe shows in the theater were excellent, and there were always other activities and live music going on, however, the activities got repetitive after a couple of days, and there were lots of different things going on at the same time during the day, which meant you had to choose between the things you wanted to do, and miss out on a lot. There were a lot of BINGO sessions throughout the cruise, however, we never played because the prices were ridiculous! The minimum package was $39 for 4 games, which is twice as much as we pay to play BINGO at the casino near our house, for a fraction of the number of games. 24 out of 27 people found this review helpful.
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No More NCL by
Julie B from Sacramento, CA Sailing date: Mar 2011The ship, though once beautiful, is showing signs of age, and hard use. Very limited space outside except by the overly crowded, congested pool area. This area is noisy, overwhelming and uncomfortable. The pool is small, and there is only one main pool. There are never enough chairs avialable. The hot tubs and water slides take most of the square footage. The pool closes very early, so there is no night swimming avialable. Floors are treacherous because the area is so small, everything is constantly wet and slippery. Very limited sitting space on open deck. Jogging track closes at 8 PM. Ship QualityLarge ship, but much of the area taken up with "specialty restaurants." Public areas are kept clean, but furnishings are lackluster and shabby. Woodwork and railing are chipped and worn. Carpets trampled down and outdated, albeit clean. Public restrooms are usually dirty and out of tissue and seat covers. Dining/FoodFood quality on the Star has deteriorated terribly since 2009. What used to be prime rib and steak are now thin, tough, tasteless pieces of beef, usually heavy with fat. Menus are dull, and overall quality of food is mediocre to poor. Dining times are convenient and flexible. Ambiance is casual, nothing stellar. Far too many over priced specialty venues, some up to $25 per person. Stateroom QualityI'll give this an average only because the rooms are decent size, and there is abundant storage. Beds are old and uncomfortable, despite foam pads. Bed linens are dingy, although clean. Towels are stiff and scratchy. Soap and body wash and shampoo are dispensed from canisters on the walls. Ship Staff QualityA few exceptionally good staffers, but overall, the staff is cool, yet polite. Many of them appear bored and frustrated, and we often heard staff grumbling and complaing. Front desk staff are minimally helpful, and show a lack of concern for passenger's concerns. Problems get resolved, but nothing ever "over and beyond." Entertainment & ActivitiesUsual shipboard night life, and very poor schedule of activities during the day. Mostly "seminars" that are geared toward selling expensive goods and services on the ship. 
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Puerto Vallarta, MexicoShocking poverty and depressed conditions if you go anywheere on a secondary road. Sickening sights in the foreground against the backdrop of many cruise ships. Not much to do here but shop. Wouldn't care to return.
Cabo San Lucas, MexicoVery little to do in this port except kayak and snorkel, and explore the rock formations. The area near the pier is filled with surly vendors selling junk. We didn't eat, but found a cute place to drink some good cold Negra Modelo, at only $3 a glass. That was the high point
11 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
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review the ship by
mary w from LA Sailing date: Apr 2009Cons: staff not knowledgeable of directions on the ship; staff too anxious to get in and clean up cabin while passenger still sleeping; ship ran out of fresh fruits (bananas, strawberry, used canned strawberries); ship will not accept personal checks if you need additional cash, just a few of the complain staff did not know locations on board to direct passengers Ship Qualityaverage, confusing directions Dining/Food
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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Tne Norwegian Star by
A Traveler from LA Sailing date: Feb 2009Pros: The friendliness of the crew. The express disembarcation if you carry your own bags Cons: Except for the specialty dining i.e.La Bistro the food was about average and the coffee weak. The open buffet was generally oor quality. The ship was built in 2001 and has few of the features of more current ships. On cold days they had no movable roof to cover the pool, the staterooms (outside) were small compared to Holland American. Small and inadaquet dinning rooms to handle 2100 passengers Ship Qualitysee prior answer Dining/FoodOne of the items people go on a cruise is for the eating experience. Except for the specialty restaurants the food was average at best and the selection minimal. Stateroom Qualitysmall with little room to sit 4 people. We had to slide the bed to the wall on one side in order to get out. Ship Staff Quality
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Mazatlan, MexicoAn old and idrty city with not too much going for it
Don't Miss: Staying on the ship Puerto Vallarta, MexicoDon't Miss: Head north to Neueva Vallarta for great beach and small fishing village Cabo San Lucas, MexicoThe Giggling Marlin is an old favorite.
Don't Miss: Fishing or diving 4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Lovely ship! by
Bert B. from Orange County, Calif. Sailing date: Jan 2009Pros: Loved the stateroom, large and comfy Cons: The food was mediocre Design and ship layout good! NIce staterooms/baths. The food was not impressive in the dining rooms, buffet and specialty restaurants. ( Husband liked Cagneys) This was our first cruise (and probably last) on NCI. Freestyle did not work that well for me. The entertainment was just OK.
Many of the public areas needed repair or cleaning. None of the latches worked in the women's restroom by the Grill eating area. Much of the time the toilet paper was out. It just did not seem like the ship was getting the TLC it needs. Showroom front row had at least 4 broken seats. Staff were all great. Everyone of them greeted the guests. Ship QualitySee above regarding areas needing attention on the ship. Dining/FoodWith the exception of "Cagney's" speciality restaurant with a $20.00 cover ($30 depending on what you ate) food did not compare with other cruise lines such as Carnival, Celebrity etc. We were VERY disappointed in the buffet...same stuff every day. Nothing exceptional to try out with this cruise. I eat better at home. Preparation was not that good, even desserts were blaah. Staff were kind, caring especially when there were concerns about gastro problems going around on the ship. Sanitizers were appreciated and the diligence of staff to remind everyone to use them before eating. Stateroom QualityLoved it! And all we had was the basic stateroom, but it was spacious, comfortable and attractive. Ship Staff QualityThe staff were attentive, friendly and kind. Could not have asked for more. Entertainment & ActivitiesSome acts were good, some just OK. The Other City....not so good. Magician good, liked the variety of entertainment offered. Something for everyone. Loved the Andrew Lloyd Webber tribute. Some great voices on board.
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Mazatlan, MexicoOk...City tour was average
Puerto Vallarta, MexicoCity tour was better at this port...more to see. Beautiful sites to observe.
Cabo San Lucas, MexicoWhat I expected for Mexico I guess. Thought I would like it better than I did. The City tour was OK.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Ship Review by
Sharon from New Jersey Sailing date: Aug 2007
Dining/FoodThis was our first experience with "free style" cruising. I would not do it again. Since you didn't sit at the same table every night, you had different wait staff. I felt they did not work as hard because chances are, they would not see you again. Tips are added to your bill, so they get their tips regardless of the type of service you have received.
Stateroom QualityThe room was quite small. I don't believe it was every dusted. The dust around the tv set was about 1/2 thick.
Ship Staff QualityThey were ok, nothing special.
Entertainment & ActivitiesActivities: This was the first ship we have ever been on where you had to pay extra for the fitness center. It was $20/day or $75 for the week.
Entertainment: No poles in the theater which was very nice.
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Cruise Inside Passage, AlaskaExcursions.
While the excursions are somewhat pricey, I would recommend the helicoper tour and dog sled.
Juneau, AlaskaMendenhall Glaciers.
Breathtaking experience. Do not miss.
Ketchikan, Alaska
Cruise Sawyer GlacierSawyer Glacier.
We couldn't stay too long as the ice flows were moving very quickly.
14 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
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Not Happy Campers. by
Jim from Reedsport, Oregon Sailing date: Mar 2007We were not very happy with this trip. We were not happy with the entertainment choices. Other cruise lines have acts appearing in different lounges, so you can see a different show every night. I will not cruise again. Entertainment & Activities
Entertainment: Same old acts we had seen on this same ship two years earlier. Not enough acts in the various lounges. Too much loud music, not enough a\comics, etc. 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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