Can someone explain why NCL's Star is rated 4.0

I am looking into a cruise on NCL's Star for Oct 30. I have cruised extensively on Princess, HAL and Royal Carb.

When I look at the ratings it shows the Star is 4.0 and most of HAL's are 5.0

Since this will be my first time on NCL and the reviews for the Star are not good - I am leery to book although I love the itinerary.

For those that have sailed on other lines why are they rated higher than the Star?

Any help would be appreciated.

I am looking into a cruise on NCL's Star for Oct 30. I have cruised extensively on Princess, HAL and Royal Carb.

 

When I look at the ratings it shows the Star is 4.0 and most of HAL's are 5.0

 

Since this will be my first time on NCL and the reviews for the Star are not good - I am leery to book although I love the itinerary.

 

For those that have sailed on other lines why are they rated higher than the Star?

Any help would be appreciated.

The Cruise Critic Editors rating are meaningless. Every Ship has at least a 4 star rating that I know of. The NCL Breakaway has a 3.5 reader/member rating and the Editors give it 4.5.

I personally think the best way to get a reading on a ship is to rely on the member reviews, but toss out the 1 and 5 star ratings and read the rest. Getting rid of the haters and cheerleaders will give you a better idea of the ship. Of course, YMMV.

Just off the Star and I had no major complaints. I'm not a cheerleader of NCL in anyway. I think 3.5 stars is spot on.

I personally believe HAL ships are a bit more refined decor wise, cabins much bigger, the food better, and service much better. Those factors jump their ratings higher, but are they really 5 star in a 5 Star world? Again, reader reviews are a better guide in my world.

Good luck in your quest!:eek:

Thanks Jingle5616, Is there anything particular that was not to your liking on the Star that would be a deal breaker for you going on any future sailings with that ship?

I will check on 2-4 star ratings and dump the 1 and 5's.

Thanks for the reply

Thanks Jingle5616, Is there anything particular that was not to your liking on the Star that would be a deal breaker for you going on any future sailings with that ship?

 

I will check on 2-4 star ratings and dump the 1 and 5's.

Thanks for the reply

The only deal breakers for me are price (the lower the better) and if I'm feeling particularly aggrieved at the tactics and practices of the new management of NCL.

The ship is fine. Friendly staff, older ship but fairly well kept. Where you will notice the difference is:

#1 Staterooms. They are much smaller than any HAL ship I've been on. The furniture is also a couple of notches below what is on a HAL ship.

#2 The food in the main dining room isn't as good as HAL food. The specialty restaurants are fine, but they are mostly ala cart and are over priced in my opinion. The service with NCL dining is nowhere near HAL's level of service. For me that isn't a big deal.

#3 I think NCL's entertainment is much better than HAL's. But who's to say? It's all taste and preference. Something that does make me a little crazy is they play hip hop, newer music that I don't like on the pools decks in recent years. But I just move forward to the quite zone and I don't have to listen to the insensate noise.

I like casual and unscheduled, which NCL does very well......as long as you are on their older ships. The new Giant ships, everything has to be scheduled because the way it is designed. The Star is one of the 1st ships they built with the Freestyle concept in mind. If you like casual, you will probably like the Star. Enjoy whatever you decide.

Thank you for the response.

The Cruise Critic Editors rating are meaningless. Every Ship has at least a 4 star rating that I know of. The NCL Breakaway has a 3.5 reader/member rating and the Editors give it 4.5.

 

I personally think the best way to get a reading on a ship is to rely on the member reviews, but toss out the 1 and 5 star ratings and read the rest. Getting rid of the haters and cheerleaders will give you a better idea of the ship. Of course, YMMV.

 

Just off the Star and I had no major complaints. I'm not a cheerleader of NCL in anyway. I think 3.5 stars is spot on.

 

I personally believe HAL ships are a bit more refined decor wise, cabins much bigger, the food better, and service much better. Those factors jump their ratings higher, but are they really 5 star in a 5 Star world? Again, reader reviews are a better guide in my world.

 

Good luck in your quest!:eek:

I so agree with this. As we are beginning to look at other cruise lines for different itineraries I am doing just that. I also try to remember what one person may give a 5, may be a 1 to me. So I ignore the things that are not important to me such as someone complaining about deck chairs. For them it is an important thing for me it is on the bottom of the list. Neither one of us is right or wrong it is just our cruising or vacation style.

Food is very subjective. I just read 2 reviews of one ship on the same sailing. One boasted about how great the food at one of the specialty restaurants was and the other said it was bland. Who is right?

We have sailed on the Star. It is one of the smaller ships so it is quaint. It will not have all the bells and whistles of the new mega ships. I found the flow of the ship easy to navigate and the crew was wonderful. Of course we do not ask for much but were always met with a smile and a how are you today.

NCL will be different than other lines and that may give you pause but as with any vacation go with an open mind. We are looking at Celebrity for our next booking and while I know it will be different I know that I may love it or not but no matter what I will have a great time

Since when is 4 out of 5 stars a bad rating?

:eek:

Since when is 4 out of 5 stars a bad rating?

:eek:

When 3.5 is effectively the bottom of the barrel .

If you only want to pay 4 star cruise fare, you shouldn't be expecting 4 star plus to 5 star cruising experience.

I was just trying to figure out what the difference between a HAL or Princess ship that I have been on are which are rated 5 and the NCL Star (I have not traveled on is a 4). What makes it a 4 and makes the HAL & Princess a 5.

Now I know from the responses on CC it is the better food, better cabins (larger) nicer décor on HAL and Princess.

It never was a cost issue it was a matter of figuring out why the Star has a 4.0 and a 67% favorably rating and other HAL and Princess' ships are 5.0 and 80% Like I said "Now I know". I have to decide if the itinerary is worth a smaller cabin for 21 days on board. Food is subjective, I can find something to eat, no issues there.

Since when is 4 out of 5 stars a bad rating?

:eek:

Except cruiser consensus is the Star is 3.5 Star.

I sailed on her in September and had a wonderful experience. Definitely agree with jingle5616's comments.

I certainly wouldn't just chuck out the 1 and 5 star reviews without reading them.

A rating between 1 and 5 is too tight. Depending on an individual's rating policy, you can still write a 5 star review whilst having some issues and everything not being perfect.

I've just come off the Star and if I was doing a review on that section then I probably would give it 5 stars. It was one of my best cruises for a while.

There are certainly some issues though. The balcony rooms are on the small side and the buffet is probably the smallest I have seen on a ship for example.

The list of positives as much longer though.

I certainly wouldn't just chuck out the 1 and 5 star reviews without reading them.

 

A rating between 1 and 5 is too tight. Depending on an individual's rating policy, you can still write a 5 star review whilst having some issues and everything not being perfect.

 

I've just come off the Star and if I was doing a review on that section then I probably would give it 5 stars. It was one of my best cruises for a while.

 

There are certainly some issues though. The balcony rooms are on the small side and the buffet is probably the smallest I have seen on a ship for example.

 

The list of positives as much longer though.

Thank you all, I am going to book on Monday.

Probably the layout gives it its low rating. Personally I miss not having the observatory lounge and the great outdoors and for this reason if I ever sailed Star again I wouldn't book less than the balcony category. (Although I don't plan on booking the Star ever again.) The Spinnaker lounge is also midship and dark and there isn't a second venue like on the Jewel class ships, Sun and Sky. Also the seating around the pool is the old style tiered seating. Definitely not my favourite NCL ship.

Go you'll love it!

I personally think the best way to get a reading on a ship is to rely on the member reviews, but toss out the 1 and 5 star ratings and read the rest. Getting rid of the haters and cheerleaders will give you a better idea of the ship.

Agree with jingle 1000%!

Since we're in the middle of the Olympics recall how the judges score the ice skating, diving, gymnastics or any competition that involves some subjectivity? They take ALL the judge's scores then they knock out the one highest and the one lowest scores and then average the remaining for the actual "score". I think you have to do the same with ship reviews here on CC.

I agree with "KeithJenner" that you shouldn't completely discount the "ones" and "fives" but you should take them with a grain of salt. For example, someone once complained in their review that the waiter didn't serve them their glass of chocolate milk within 30 seconds of their being seated. :eek:

FYI, we will be sailing on the NCL Star for the very first time in 3 weeks time so we'll write a review that i hope will be fair and objective.:D

Probably the layout gives it its low rating. Personally I miss not having the observatory lounge and the great outdoors and for this reason if I ever sailed Star again I wouldn't book less than the balcony category. (Although I don't plan on booking the Star ever again.) The Spinnaker lounge is also midship and dark and there isn't a second venue like on the Jewel class ships, Sun and Sky.

Didn't the real Spinnaker lounge make way for a dozen or so suites?

Didn't the real Spinnaker lounge make way for a dozen or so suites?

Yes, on the Star and Dawn the Spinnaker got relocated down to 7 where the shops were and they put in several suites and inside rooms on 12. They are actually pretty nice.

Hi,

I am also looking into this cruise departures on Oct.30 from Rome to Dubai. Do you worry the safety at Luxorand and Cairo or not ?

QUOTE=Fragile-Beauty;50812330]I am looking into a cruise on NCL's Star ,

for Oct 30. I have cruised extensively on Princess, HAL and Royal Carb.

When I look at the ratings it shows the Star is 4.0 and most of HAL's are 5.0

Since this will be my first time on NCL and the reviews for the Star are not good - I am leery to book although I love the itinerary.

For those that have sailed on other lines why are they rated higher than the Star?

Any help would be appreciated.

JKSUN20

I have been to Luxor and Cairo twice before and I found it very safe and the people so friendly. I will definitely take a tour with a tour company as they know the lay of the land so to speak and I feel they will take us where it is safe. As long as we stay at tourist areas ie. Pyramids, Museum, Temple of Karnak etc and not go into residential or commercial areas I think we all will be fine. Last time I was there they so wanted tourists to come back it is just killed their economy. I did dress conservatively though, no shorts or sleeveless tops so I did not make myself a target that way.

If things did get worse I would just stay on the ship but as of now, Yes I would feel safe.

I sailed on the star last November with my wife and three children in a suite. After sailing once before on NCL Getaway, we were concerned about the ratings as well (Getaway was new at the time). Service, entertainment and dining exceeded our expectations. We are very easy going and had a great time. The service was A+. This may be due to being in a suite though. The shows were geared towards an older crowd (70s Rock and Burt Bacharach), but we still enjoyed them. Pool and casino are smaller than the mega ships (waiters very slow in pool area). We prefer large ships, so may not sail on Star again, but we had a wonderful time.

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albucchi

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your NCL cruise. I will write back after I go on the Star in Oct-Nov.

Thanks

JKSUN20

 

 

 

As long as we stay at tourist areas ie. Pyramids, Museum, Temple of Karnak etc and not go into residential or commercial areas I think we all will be fine.

Seriously? I'm the first one to say GO. But I think that description isn't quite accurate.

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