Welcome to Your Favorites, where you have the opportunity to share your travel experiences with fellow Internet Travelers around the world.

Norwegian Cruise Line

MS Norwegian Star

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Jeanne Denenberg
# previous cruises: 10+
Date of Trip: May 17, 2002
Itinerary: Hawaii

After 14 cruises we know what we like and free style cruising is not it! We have done 3 cruises with NCL and this was the last with them. Very disappointed with food, service, and the rooms were nice but noisy. Shows were good. If you want to pay to eat then you won't mind going. Otherwise there are long waits for the main dining areas.

Pool was small, not for swimming with more than 4-5 people. Most lounges and bars were nice but very small chairs for sitting. Even the Main theater was cramped small seats and very little leg room. We liked the Sinnaker lounge with the large wrap around windows.

The food was good but nothing to rave about. Sometimes cold, and the sauces and gravies covered the meats, at times we weren't sure what we were eating. Breads and pastries were very good, my favorite was breakfast in the market Cafe, buffet style. I think the service was OK, but guess there is no incentive for them to go out of their way most of the time because of the tipping being added on to the bill at the end of the cruise.

The cabin was nice, beds quite comfortable, but the cabin squeaked and rattled too much. We were on the 11th deck and the Market Cafe was over us and most of the day and night we could hear them walking and pushing the food carts along the tile walkway. Shower was good size, although toilet area was very cramped if you closed the door. Enough closet and shelf space for a weeks worth of clothing for two adults, with changing twice a day.

The entertainment was very good, except for a not so funny comedian, the island dancers were fabulous and the theater shows were fun and done well. Most of the cruise staff were very nice.

Plenty of activities to do, itineraries were fair, not enough time on the big island of Hawaii and we didn't get to Kauai. Maui and Oahu were beautiful. Fanning Island is a waste of time and disgusting with all of the flies. We didn't eat the BBQ that NCL had set up because of all of the flies. Take a helicopter ride, it was the best!!!

Most passengers were in our age range 50+ and older. Probably in the summer when school is out you would get more children and families. Because of the free style cruising, we didn't get to enjoy the company of anyone more than one meal. On other cruises we have made many friends and keep in touch and visit from time to time.