bsblindab

We sailed the Pearl on our trip to Alaska..Had an Oceanview and absolutely loved the outside aft deck from the buffet. I thought I would be dissapointed because the star didn't have that...so I booked a balcony for our trip to Bermuda. I was really surprised at how much I really liked the ship. I'm sure the balcony helped and being docked for a few days at a time. Food is food..We ate most breakfasts in the buffet..but ordered coffee for room service early..and was ALWAYS on time. We ate in the Versailles dining room and had the same waiter every night because we requested him (sitting by the rear windows made it spectacular) The shows were good..We are in our 50's so we didn't need "kid" stuff..We have our next cruise planned on the Pride of America which is also a smaller/older ship..but heck I get lost in a closet.

Can anyone sugguest transportation from Pocono PA to Newark Airport?

when you boarded, did you go to the buffet or the dining room? Is the dining room open on embarkment day? My sisterinlaw and brother leave on the 26th. He has issues walking and I think the dining room would be better for him. they still allow soda on board don't they?

Has anyone ever had that room? I see a little bit of Italy is above it...But don't see any explanation as to what that is..is it similar to the Blue Lagoon?

Much noise? I was upgraded from the 8th deck balcony to this deck balcony, and was wondering if it was a good move

What does everyone use to find the best airline prices? I used something back in 2010 when we sailed NCL from Seattle to Alaska, and we flew from the east coast to the west coast and it gave me 2 different airlines for the best price..but I can't seem to remember what it was.

We have another NCL cruise planned for 11/2015 and I'd like to see what the rates are now..so I can be better prepared..:D

Nor'easter here in Boston:eek: So I will resume the review this afternoon and try to get us up to arrival in Bermuda.

 

Coming soon:

The la Cucina Surprise:eek:

The Bingo No surprise

The missed EPIC and Breakaway seminar

The Promenade blowdown

The Red lion sing along with Kenny the Human Jukebox

The Trivia embarresment

The don't SHOUT about it show

In Room movie madness

The pizza box outside the room

 

Kev:cool:

Supposedly a dancer was hurt..so we didn't get the SHOUT show per say..oh well

My husband LOVED the blue lagoon on the Star and ALWAYS had the wings..We always tried to get a seat by the window..I honestly enjoyed the NCL Star better than the Pearl and Gem..

So I headed to the gangplank and just as I did the Sun came out. It had been rainy and cool all morning but now Sun, and Star. I had on Jeans and a long sleeve due to the weather so I was not feeling very cruisy but I endured and headed into deck 7. All I can say was it was quite ornate and rather breathtaking. The atrium reminded me of the Spirit but it went higher and was larger. Beautiful fountains and quite classy as all NCL ships tend to be. No glitz and Vegas like I am told carnival is famous for. I checked my room number on my boarding pass...again....like it was gonna mysteriously change from porthole 5520 to 12056 or something. I was way way up front in the furthest cabin up except some other poor room 1 up. The swells I expected were gonna be a ride like Splash Mountain. I hope the folks in front of me are not prone to seasickness.

 

I decided to skip the main dining room for lunch and opted for Blue Lagoon but when I went up the stairs one deck they were not open. I guess 24 hours does not mean 24 hours on embarkation day. Hostess told me only Buffet, Oasis grill and MDR. So I elevated myself in one of those glass suckers up to deck 12. Lots of confused passengers everywhere. We had one of those little and very helpful maps that was great because the Star is big and I was lost...again....and again...and again....I finally found the pool deck after taking a wrong turn and finding myself in front of room 12056....Spooky.....seriously....I turned around and went out to pool after passing through the buffet. Only half the stations were open and I found this unusual for embarkation but that would be the trend for the week.

 

Buffet was packed and looked unappetizing so hit the pool deck and found it to be quite small and crowded and it had 2 useless looking slides that tended to make it even worse. I walked around a bit and things opened up and got better on the other side which was rather cool with all these tiers and stuff that went up like 3 decks to the Bier Garten. On the Spirit the bier garten had food so I thought I might head up and check out the brats and veinerschnitzel....but no luck...only booze. But a great view of all the comings andd goings.

 

There was a large contingent of elderly people and no kids. I like the trade off...Apprently parents do not take the kids outta school so early into the year and the elderly know this so you get the vice versa effect. I think I like this better but that opinion may change.....I saw more wheelchairs and hoverrounds in 5 minutes than I did at an early bird dinner at my local all you can eat restaurant at 4:30.

 

Next Up....Lunch

 

Kev:cool:

Kevin,

We were on the ship the week before you..I'm 57 and my husband 61..and I thought the same thing...we were one of the "younger" ones on board..but loved it!!!

Tapi..

love the pic of your dog....looks like my rottie/lab mix..same smile :)

You get what you pay for....

 

If you get an inside/ocean view/balcony room you will get a room similar (or smaller) as other bargain lines and pay close to the same amount (more for newer ships/less for older ships). If you get a suite you will probably pay more than those same lines but NCL gives suite guests more in terms of room sizes and services offered. It's up to the cruiser how he wants to vacation. NCL just gives you the options on what to purchase.

 

It's equal opportunity for everyone to purchase whatever rooms or services they want. We got 2 inside rooms for 4 on our last Epic cruise. We got what we paid for in terms of room size and service, which was more than my Carnival Cruise (1 inside room for 4) of similar length and a little less than my Disney Cruise (1 oceanview room for 4) 7 years ago. If I wanted more I would have paid for it. I certainly wasn't jealous of those who did pay for it.

 

I really don't understand those who through class into it. If you want more then save up and buy more. I personally, don't want or need the extra room or services offered for the higher price charged. But I do like that I have a choice when I am deciding what I want to purchase.

Funny story,,,we sailed NCL to Alaska, and while we were in Juneau, there were I beleive 2 other ships..RCCL and Princess I believe.. Well Princess was first in line at the port and NCL was a bit further away..

There was a snobbish type of person there talking to my husband and asked what line we were on..He mentioned NCL..the guy replied..oh you went cheap huh (or something to that fashion) and then proceeded to say that him and his family sailed on Princess..My husband looked at him and said..Well that's nice..the main thing is we both got here..cheap or not :)

One thing I realized is that under the bed is storage..not a boxspring..for almost a week I was looking at open suitcases or closed ones...Made the room look so messy..Oh well live and learn

We are married 37years this year..and like most people first you get married, have kids, work hard, put kids through college and get them married. Our plan was on our 25th to go on a trip to Switzerland..well for some reason or another,,we never made it and planned on a cruise for our 30th..that came and we had 2 weddings and one off to college that year..(everytime we had money put away the kids "smelled" it) The year prior my husband was put out on medical disability at age 52 and still is. My husband had a knee replacement and when our 35th anniversery came around we FINALLY went on a 5 day cruise..loved it (didn't let the kids know about our savings) My husband went into the hospital 3wks later to have the other knee replaced. We loved the cruising so much, but can't afford to do it every year..but this August for our 37th anniversery we are going to Alaska for a 7day cruise, and have plans for in 5yrs when I turn 60 and God willing retire, go on a Med cruise. They are something special..and even if we don't cruise every year..we try to do "something" for vacation now..as kids we really didn't go on any...and now the grandkids are old enough to come on vacation with us..Maybe it's not the amount of time you spend with them..but the Quality of time you spend together and memories made will be what keeps you going..