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Thank you all for your replies and info. Much apprecciated 

As we have booked our Christmas cruise on NCL Star through a Brazilian travel agent, everything that involves payment or credit card details has to go via the NCL representatives in Sao Paulo (who are still failing to impress me), therefore we cannot complete the online check in as it asks for mode of payment but it is not a purchase therefore the above named representatives also cannot do anything about it.

Would anybody know if the online check-in is essential or could it easily be done at the cruise terminal in Buenos Aires? Thanks

I will certainly never, ever book another NCL cruise through a Brazilian agency ( quite a list of inconveniences this has caused) although we did it because we loved her service in many other cruises.

44 minutes ago, SpainAlien said:

The MDR is only open for lunch on sea days from 12-1.30

 

 

Thanks! And good to know that they are still distributing the daily programme in print format. I read that NCL was considering having it in the app mostly and no longer deliver the print version to the cabins, but having some available at reception.

On 11/15/2023 at 11:44 AM, SpainAlien said:

Here are the first four days of the Freestyle Daily.  Our port call to Funchal was cancelled due to a pilot strike so today is our first port stop so far: Santa Cruz de Tenerife

 

The ship is in generally good condition, there have been maintenance teams out revarnishing the railings on Deck 7, I haven't noticed any rusty areas and everything seems to be working correctly.  Some of the carpets on the halfway landings between decks seem a bit worn but are not threadbare.  The food is generally good but I miss the fillet steak at breakfast and lunch in Moderno and Cagney's (for suite guests) which is now NY Strip, it's just not the same.  I also miss the hash browns as I don't like the breakfast potatoes

 

Our room steward is Gerardo but he said to call him "Ding".  He's really nice and taking good care of us.

 

Thanks for posting these images. I noticed that, on the Dining Options, it did not mention the MDR as open for lunch. Was that only on that day or was it a norm throughout the cruise? Thanks

On 10/20/2023 at 10:45 PM, caitlynambrai said:

I'm taking the family on the NCL star for 16 days over Xmas and New Year's and there will be a lot of sea days. I'm planning to take some games and activities for the family, but I saw that board games can be checked out at guest services (I watched a video of the Star's library that showed a sign which directed people to guest services to check out games). Does anyone happen to know what sorts of board games they will have?

Pigbacking on your question: is there a globe in that library or at least good Atlas?

On 11/25/2023 at 9:12 PM, schwartzy said:

We did Santiago to Buenos Aires on Norwegian in 2016. Itin looks amazing if you really want to see Antarctica. The main negative I see here is that you definitely cannot do Buenos Aires in a day. If you want to see a lot of the sites of the city, perhaps pick a different itin that ends or starts in Buenos Aires so you can spend a few days there. Not only is it a big city with lots to see, but the sites are in different parts of the city. 

 

I had read that more than 50% of cruises with Falkland on their itineraries do not make it there due to weather conditions. We had our fingers crossed the whole time, and I'm so glad we made it. We had chosen our itin because it included the Falklands. It was really spectacular photographing the penguins.

 

 

Agreed. Besides by March temperatures would be getting colder in the south part of the cruise, ever more unlikely to allow a stop in the Falklands and for years now I do not leave the ship when in Rio, let alone embark or disembark there

On 5/21/2023 at 7:25 AM, erwinj said:

Can Anyone shed some light on the better of the two cruise options below , both in terms of the ships and the itinerary.  

 

This is bucket list and might be the last time we ever leave Australia due to circumstances , many thanks in advance receipt of your advices one and all x

 

For me it would be a choice between mostly nature and part in cold/cool weather and seeing a feat of engineering in warmer climate besides more countries. I will be doing Star for Christmas this year but I may have gone for the Panama option if I had it.

On 11/25/2023 at 6:59 AM, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

Totally wrong South American cruise.   Buenos Aires to Santiago is the one to do.

Indeed, much more impressive in terms of nature and the Strait of Magellan was (almost) the Panama Canal of the XVI century 🙂

1 minute ago, SpainAlien said:

No you can't open it but the cover closes if required

Oh, I see, thus the butterfly screws... for the cover... it makes sense. Thanks!

19 minutes ago, SpainAlien said:

Yes, we had a porthole cabin, we were 4606

 

Thank you 🙂 Oh, it seems it can be opened... is that the case?

2 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

I'm not sure what the TA means by "insisting," but it's certainly not a requirement. Each time I've bought the passes, I have to order them separately for me and my wife. It isn't like the drinks package where if one person gets it, the other guest in the same cabin must also.

Thank you. The problem may be because it is not NCL in the US but in South America and they often get things wrong

1 hour ago, skittl1321 said:

Your TA is wrong.  NCL does not require the entire cabin to have a spa pass.  

 

For my cruise (Encore in Alaska), the thermal spa passes sold out before the cruise and there were none offered as day passes or as an add on with treatments.  I felt it was really expensive, but also excellent. I used it for at least an hour, up to 3 hours every day of the cruise.  

Thank you. I also feel something is wrong

10 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

You can purchase a pass for yourself.

Thank you. I am trying now but TA tells me NCL is still insisting on all pax in the cabin having the Pass...

On 11/12/2023 at 5:21 PM, SpainAlien said:

We boarded today in Lisbon, checkin was very smooth and quick.  We went straight to O'Sheehans for lunch and had sausage sliders followed by beef chilli and a blue cheese burger, all very nice so we carried on to the apple pie and carrot cake. The carrot cake is definitely a winner but the apple pie was a little sour. 

 

We are in a deck 4 oceanview cabin which was ready when the announcement came over the speakers. Nice clean cabin with all the leaflets and tickets I would normally expect, shortly afterwards my chocolate strawberries arrived.  All very good so far.  

 

We are having a little rest now but will go out around the ship later.  

 

BTW prime rib is on in the Garden Cafe tonight.

 

If you have any Star related questions please let me know but we are at sea tomorrow and I don't have wifi.

 

Thank you for your review. Very helpful. I am booked on the Christmas cruise from Buenos Aires and also got a cabin on deck 4 (4558). Does your has a porthole as well? Thanks

Thanks for your review. I am booked on the Star for the Christmas cruise so it is also nice to read the positive points about the ship and service

I am booked on Norwegian Star for Christmas and was interested in the whole cruise Spa Pass but it seems that it can only be booked if all pax in the same cabin get one too. In my case I would be the only one interested but I could not find anything on NCL's web site that confirms that to be the case. Wondering now if I could still try to book it only for myself... unfortunately reservation was done on a third country so I cannot book it via the NCL site either...

If I may ask, how was Christmas celebrated on this cruise? I am booked on NCL Star for this year's Christmas cruise and I know about the decorations and the carols singing but I wonder if there were special events besides that or any religious celebration at all (NCL Spirit used to have a ecumenical chapel but I think it was the only ship on the fleet). Do you also recall if the main celebration was on Christmas Eve (when we should be at sea) or on Christmas Day (we are supposed to be in Puerto Madryn)? Thanks

Coming back to this topic as I was wondering if NCL provide any religious celebration for Christmas. I know the ships have no chapel, etc but some lines, like MSC, arrange for a mass or ecumenical celebration at the Theater or similar. Not a must but just wondering. Thanks

On 10/8/2023 at 11:48 AM, JIMESOPUS said:

Everything seems to be in a haze including me.

Bliss lounge, deck #7 aft - back in 2012 I think the shops used to be in here

Indeed. On ships like Jade the duty free shops are still at that location. On Star it seems that they swoped places in 2018

thanks for the pic. It seems good enough for a week cruise :-)

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Dear Jan Martin,

You travel report, which I read with interest, is one of the best and most comprehensive I have found so far. It is detailed where it matters and full of useful information. Thanks you for producing and publishing it. I have been to Luminosa before but still I really enjoyed reading it.

Thanks for the info. It would not matter much to me but just happens that I am travelling with someone who drinks loads of coffee :-)

Hi,

Bari historical center is doable in an afternoon and the ship berths nearby. Athens has many possibilities and one can always do the hop-pn-hop-off bus (some circuits last two hours or more). Kotor is also doable on the time the ship is there. There is even time to go up towards the fortress ruins if one is feeling energetic. They also have a small but interesting maritime museum. Kotor is also visited because of the fjord. Split has again a good deal to offer but most can be covered in a day. The city centre is quite compact. What is a bit outside is the maritime museum, which is also interesting and has a couple of letters which came from the name on the hull of the famour Rex (which was sunk nearby). In Bari, Kotor and Split the ship will berth more or less as it does in Katakolon so, walkable.

Thanks again for your reply. Much apprecciated. That would be a pity as I feel that the 'freedom' to choose where to dine, to vary tables and also times is a very positive point in booking a suite.

I noticed you are book on Diadema. We almost went for that one (I did her very first cruise) but the itinerary on Luminosa was more interesting (and I like Mediterranea and Luminosa best)

Cheers

Thanks again. Had to ask as I am finding difficulty finding these kind of info on the Costa site. I am also not clear if one staying in a Samsara suite have meals on the Club Restaurant or on the Samsara one. Costa is very economical with the information they publish online or in the catalogue for that matter (all kind of vague...):rolleyes: