What do you think about The Star?

[winncruiser]

I've never been aboard the Star Princess...any thoughts? Will I enjoy it as much as I do The Ruby and The Emerald? Or dislike it even more than I do The Caribbean?

[NotWthOutablcony]

In a nutshell, we loved the CB, especially in comparison to the Star. She just seemed to me to be a ship for the masses. Too much open space to hold large amounts of people as opposed to something like the Sapphire that had an abundance of cozy nooks to sit and visit.

Our last trip on the Star we couldn't sit out on deck, tried a few times but MUTS which was at the other pool, was SO loud!!! At all times durin g the day and night which is why we're thrilled that we get to sail the Sapphire once more without MUTS.

Its still a cruise and I'm sure you're going to have a great time!

[Astro Flyer]

I've never been aboard the Star Princess...any thoughts? Will I enjoy it as much as I do The Ruby and The Emerald? Or dislike it even more than I do The Caribbean?

We've enjoyed the Star on 2 long cruises & enjoyed our experience. It was the 1st Grand-class ship to be retrofitted but due to scheduling problems they were unable to make all of the changes done on the Golden. Those additional updates on the Golden were very nice (most things on the Ruby/Emerald but not gelato in the Piazza) but still enjoyed our time on the Star. Some have reported that it's less crowded than the Emerald-class ships having similar public areas with about 500 less passengers. They also have a covered aft swimming pool area which I've read is not on the newest ships. Guess I'll find out for myself this fall on our 1st cruise on that class of ship the Crown.

 

Info from this CC thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1332168 had this on the Star's next drydock where they'll probably add the items not possible in it's previous one:

 

Star Princess - 11/14/11 to 12/08/11 - 25 Days

[AmberTeka]

I hope more people who have sailed on the star post here. I am a nubie to Princess, with one delightful cruise on the Crown Princess. But I KNOW nothing about the other ships. I am booked for a cruise on The Star at the end of next month...and I am starved for information about her.

 

And thank you dear lovely folks, who take the time from your busy days to post information that is old hat to many of you.

[RMM34667]

In a nutshell, we loved the CB, especially in comparison to the Star. She just seemed to me to be a ship for the masses. Too much open space to hold large amounts of people as opposed to something like the Sapphire that had an abundance of cozy nooks to sit and visit.

Our last trip on the Star we couldn't sit out on deck, tried a few times but MUTS which was at the other pool, was SO loud!!! At all times durin g the day and night which is why we're thrilled that we get to sail the Sapphire once more without MUTS.

Its still a cruise and I'm sure you're going to have a great time!

 

Sorry to have to ask.. But what is CB? and what is MUTS? And I too would love to hear more about the Star..

[IECalCruiser]

We haven't been on the "big girls" but we have been on the Grand, Golden and Star - the last two after their last drydocks. It's true that the Star did not have all of the upgrades of the Golden but IMHO she got the IC and Vines which is all that counts. The Crown Grill is still in the old Tequila's space with southwestern decor but the menu and food quality is the same. The Casino hasn't been moved to the Promenade deck but we don't gamble and that leaves a smoker free route to the Princess Theater via the Promenade deck without going through the Casino and past the open doors of the cigar bar on the Fiesta deck. We don't miss the Fiesta deck "Window Suites" or the the Suites aft on the Sun Deck. We never felt crowded even with the numerous sea days on the South American Cruise. The only significant thing you will give up on the Star are gelato at the IC, the Cafe Caribe and 500 additional passengers. Enjoy her :)

[hmh60]

We were on the Star last year for the 28 day TA and Baltic cruise. We loved her. I loved the covered pool where we could relax on the sometimes chilly days. She was refitted with Vines and International Cafe. We enjoyed her so much that we will be on her again in May. We do love the Ruby as we have been on her five times with a sixth time coming up next month. You should enjoy the Star just as much as the Ruby.

[winncruiser]

I also loved the Crown - the sister ship to The Emerald and The Ruby and The Caribbean (aka The CB). MUTS stands for Movies Under the Stars.

Thus far Star doesn't sound so great..hopefully more posts will prove otherwise!

[hmh60]

I also loved the Crown - the sister ship to The Emerald and The Ruby and The Caribbean (aka The CB). MUTS stands for Movies Under the Stars.

Thus far Star doesn't sound so great..hopefully more posts will prove otherwise!

 

Believe me, there is no reason to think the Star is anything but great. Fewer passengers with just as many amenities. No Caribe Cafe, but with fewer passengers, we really didn't miss it. We just got off the Grand last month. Now we can talk about a ship that needs some TLC!!!!

[RMM34667]

I also loved the Crown - the sister ship to The Emerald and The Ruby and The Caribbean (aka The CB). MUTS stands for Movies Under the Stars.

Thus far Star doesn't sound so great..hopefully more posts will prove otherwise!

 

 

LOL Thanks.. I've sailed the CB (few years back) and do remember MUTS (haha) being pretty loud!

[IECalCruiser]

I also loved the Crown - the sister ship to The Emerald and The Ruby and The Caribbean (aka The CB). MUTS stands for Movies Under the Stars.

Thus far Star doesn't sound so great..hopefully more posts will prove otherwise!

Don't know what makes you think the Star doesn't sound great. We spent 23 days on her going from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso and back and we would sail on her again in a heartbeat :)

 

• She doesn't have a Cafe Caribe but that area (enlarged Horizon Court area) and an enlarged Traditional Dining Room were added to manage the feeding of 500 additional people.
  
• Other than that, her public spaces are the same size with 500 fewer passengers.
  
• The MUTS volume never seemed to bother us.
  
• For peace and quite the is a large deck area on Aloha and Lido decks around the the Terrace pool where you can always find lounge chairs and sun or shade from the "shopping cart handle" Skywalkers. OH NO - now everyone knows :eek:
  
• Love the location for Skywalkers
  

Unless no gelato is a deal breaker, IMHO you should find her a great ship.

[Astro Flyer]

I also loved the Crown - the sister ship to The Emerald and The Ruby and The Caribbean (aka The CB). MUTS stands for Movies Under the Stars.

Thus far Star doesn't sound so great..hopefully more posts will prove otherwise!

 

Besides my earlier post saying how much we enjoyed the Star, these other posts say the same thing. It's different but some of those differences are better experiences. :rolleyes:

 

We spent 30 days from Sydney to LA & enjoyed it enough to book a 28 day TA/Baltic with 'hmh60' on the Star 6 months later. :D

 

Believe me, there is no reason to think the Star is anything but great. Fewer passengers with just as many amenities. No Caribe Cafe, but with fewer passengers, we really didn't miss it. We just got off the Grand last month. Now we can talk about a ship that needs some TLC!!!!

 

Don't know what makes you think the Star doesn't sound great. We spent 23 days on her going from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso and back and we would sail on her again in a heartbeat :)

 

• She doesn't have a Cafe Caribe but that area (enlarged Horizon Court area) and an enlarged Traditional Dining Room were added to manage the feeding of 500 additional people.
  
• Other than that, her public spaces are the same size with 500 fewer passengers.
  
• The MUTS volume never seemed to bother us.
  
• For peace and quite the is a large deck area on Aloha and Lido decks around the the Terrace pool where you can always find lounge chairs and sun or shade from the "shopping cart handle" Skywalkers. OH NO - now everyone knows :eek:
  
• Love the location for Skywalkers
  

Unless no gelato is a deal breaker, IMHO you should find her a great ship.

[captainron]

I also loved the Crown - the sister ship to The Emerald and The Ruby and The Caribbean (aka The CB). MUTS stands for Movies Under the Stars.

Thus far Star doesn't sound so great..hopefully more posts will prove otherwise!

 

Did 30 days across the Pacific on Star in Oct 09. Of all the Princess vessels I have sailed on, she is the most comfortable and has ample space to hide in the lounges and Skywalkers for peace and quiet.

 

Yes she has MUTS but there have been some great concerts...Tina Turner, Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti...not always rock concerts as some folk might have you believe. In addition, one of the midship pools is covered for use in inclement weather.

 

Not sure if Ed Perrin is still the Star's Master, but if he is, you will be certain to have a happy and efficient crew and officers onboard. Always been a happy ship!!! The fact that we had Richard Joseph for our CD was a Godsend as Richard truly is a master of his craft.

 

Ciao for now!!!

[Astro Flyer]

Did 30 days across the Pacific on Star in Oct 09. Of all the Princess vessels I have sailed on, she is the most comfortable and has ample space to hide in the lounges and Skywalkers for peace and quiet.

 

Yes she has MUTS but there have been some great concerts...Tina Turner, Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti...not always rock concerts as some folk might have you believe. In addition, one of the midship pools is covered for use in inclement weather.

 

Not sure if Ed Perrin is still the Star's Master, but if he is, you will be certain to have a happy and efficient crew and officers onboard. Always been a happy ship!!! The fact that we had Richard Joseph for our CD was a Godsend as Richard truly is a master of his craft.

 

Ciao for now!!!

Well said, we were on the same cruise that had to stay overnight in the port for Dunedin due to the winds that broke a mooring line & required tugs to keep us from the container port across the harbor. I read a post from someone (was it you?) about an very irate passenger upset that we had to stay overnight & missed Christchurch the next day. Capt Perrin's reply was great...something like 'madam if we had sailed last night we would have not only missed Christchurch but the remainder of our cruise'. When we sailed the next morning it was very obvious that he made the correct decision when I saw the narrow entrance to the harbor. A great Star Princess cruise along with our next one on her TA/Baltic. :)

[Pam Salvatore]

We enjoyed the Star in the Baltic and the Med last September. Nice ship and especially the entertainment - both the production shows and the lecturer were outstanding. Better than what I have seen on many other ships.

[winncruiser]

Thank you all so much. Now I am really getting excited about our cruise. You have all reassured me that The Star is wonderful...can't wait!

[gertz]

For comfortable uncrowded ships the Star, Grand, Golden and you may as well include the Sapphire, which we well also be on May 7th, and the Diamond, then also throw in the Coral and Island and the small ships which are not my favorite for long cruises.

They are all heads and shoulders, IMO, over the current bunch of newer over crowed ships

[Bucky3]

We cruised back to back on the Star's Fall '09 cruise to/from Sydney - 60 days, and I could have stayed on forever! Loved the ship and look forward to our cruise on her again in 2012.