GateGuardian Posted January 23, 2012 #1 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Hi everyone, I was on the NCL Star between Jan 15-22 heading to the Western Caribbean. I'm not that good at writing, so these post will be more photography focused. I have about 800 photos to sort out :) but will only post about 100. This was my first cruise and I had a great time on the star. I can officially now say I'm a cruise addict and will be looking forward to another one next year. I will update this thread once I get everything sorted out Itinerary: Day 1: Tampa Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Roatan Day 4: Belize City Day 5: Costa Maya Day 6: Cozumel Day 7: At Sea Day 8: Tampa, Disembarkment Room: Mini-Suite 11580 Breakfast: Market Cafe, Versailles Lunch: Versailles, Blue Lagoon, The Grill, Market Cafe Dinner: Aqua, La Cucina, Endless Summer, Ginza, Cagney's Shore Excursion: ATV in Costa Maya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-and-t Posted January 23, 2012 #2 Share Posted January 23, 2012 So glad to hear that you had a good time! We took our first cruise in late 2010 and were addicted after our first day onboard. :) Cruising is a fabulous way to see the world! My husband & I will be on the Star in April, so I very much look forward to viewing your photos. Thanks for posting! ~ Tanya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ansmom Posted January 23, 2012 #3 Share Posted January 23, 2012 So excited for your review we'll be on the star in november looking forward to the photos! We were on the epic last year and got hooked right away and booked our next cruise soon after we came home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starry Eyes Posted January 23, 2012 #4 Share Posted January 23, 2012 nice lead photo...I am looking forward to the next 99. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rjm11 Posted January 24, 2012 #5 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I love photo reviews! I'm on the Star in April and really looking forward to your review! Thanks for taking the time to do it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlm Posted January 24, 2012 #6 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I'm sorry you didn't join our group for our Meet and Greet. Those who attended were invited to tour the bridge. Toni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #7 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Day -1 - Saturday, January 14, 2012 We flew into Tampa from Toronto Saturday morning. Had to make a detour due to a medical emergency on the plane. We landed in Charlotte mid-way. In total, a 2.5hr flight turned into 6hrs. Didn’t really have a chance to visit Tampa, we just went straight to the hotel and at at Lee Roy Selmon's. It was a good thing we flew down a day early. Else, we may have missed the cruise. We stayed at the Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/TPAAHHF-Hilton-Tampa-Airport-Westshore-Florida/index.do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #8 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I'm sorry you didn't join our group for our Meet and Greet. Those who attended were invited to tour the bridge. Toni I wish I came to the M&G. My roomies didn't want to come :( Fortunately, I did visit the bridge during the behind the scene tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #9 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Day 1 - Tampa, Embarkment Day We took a cab from the Hilton to the port (Terminal 3). Cost was a flat rate of $25. The drop of area was completely full. Luckily, our taxi driver knew an alternative entrance and we were dropped off right at the entrance. We arrived at the terminal around 11:30. Took about 20min to get through security. The line was long and out the door, but it went really fast. We were then directed to the seating area for about 20min where we filled out a health form. Row by row, we were directed to 2 lines: one for Latiude members, which hardly had anyone, and the non-Latitude members. Line moved very quickly and we were done registeration before 1pm. During Registration, they confirmed our credit card#, issued us our ship card (blue coloured), and took pictures for our card. We then moved up a few towards the gangplank and had our first glance at the ship. We entered the ship through deck 7 where the Grand Atrium is and we were greeted with many smiling staff. The first thing we did was proceeded to our staterooms on the 11th fllor to drop off our carry-ons. Here is a pic of the Java Cafe from the 11th floor Our room was 11580 mid port side. It was a mini-suite. Our room steward was Nancy who greeted us when we arrived at our room. With the sofa bed, this room can easily fit 3 adults comfortably. Not sure about 4 though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #10 Share Posted January 24, 2012 The TV; nothihng fancy. There was about 16 channels. Half of those were ship information including a channel about the ship position and pool temperature, a channel with Shaun, the ship consultant advertising about the $100 credit when you place a $250 deposit for future cruise, a channel with recorded shows from the pervious night, a channel where Linda, the shopping consultant, talks about what to buy at the port (nothing useful), a channel about NCL shore excursions. Other Channels include MSNBC, Fox News, E!, and two movie channels with pretty current movies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #11 Share Posted January 24, 2012 The bathroom was very spacious and very clean The bathtub The toilet The balcony Plenty of closet space: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #12 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I uploaded a video of the room here: At the port, the Carnival Lengend (I think) and Holland America Ryndam was also there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #13 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Thanks to sugguestions from CC, we went to Versailles, the MDR, for lunch instead of the buffet. For lunch, I had the portebello mushroom, chicken sandwich (no pic :() and vanilla ice cream (no pic :() After lunch, we toured around the ship: Kiddie pool, Aft 12: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #14 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Hallway on deck 7 and some pic of the atrium: View of Tampa from the ship: You can practise your golf swing here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #15 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Large Chess board, there is also a checker board on the other side of the ship: The Oasis pool deck: The Ryndam leaving before us: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #16 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Room Service Menu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GateGuardian Posted January 24, 2012 Author #17 Share Posted January 24, 2012 For dinner, we went to La Cucina (Italian). There was a $10 charge per person, but the first two nights, there was a 20% discount, so it was only $8. End of day 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emsiam Posted January 24, 2012 #18 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Cant wait to see more !!! Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russianmom Posted January 24, 2012 #19 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Great photos. We are thinking of taking the Star in 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PreciousCruiser Posted January 24, 2012 #20 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Looking forward to your full review. Will probably cruise on The Star in the future since it replaces The Spirit in N.O. Will just do different things on the same itinerary. Thanks in advance... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gelo7 Posted January 24, 2012 #21 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Nice start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upshaw Posted January 24, 2012 #22 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I wish I came to the M&G. My roomies didn't want to come :( Fortunately, I did visit the bridge during the behind the scene tour Great pics, I'm on the Star the last week in Feb. Glad you had a great time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naenaelovespurple28 Posted January 24, 2012 #23 Share Posted January 24, 2012 This is great, can't wait to see more! We will be on the Star 3/4-3/11 and we are soooo excited. I love to see the pics of things before we go to get a nice feel for things as this is our first ever cruise!!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare www3traveler Posted January 24, 2012 #24 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Hi everyone, I was on the NCL Star between Jan 15-22 heading to the Western Caribbean. I'm not that good at writing, so these post will be more photography focused. I have about 800 photos to sort out :) but will only post about 100. This was my first cruise and I had a great time on the star. I can officially now say I'm a cruise addict and will be looking forward to another one next year. I will update this thread once I get everything sorted out Itinerary: Day 1: Tampa Day 2: At Sea Day 3: Roatan Day 4: Belize City Day 5: Costa Maya Day 6: Cozumel Day 7: At Sea Day 8: Tampa, Disembarkment Room: Mini-Suite 11580 Breakfast: Market Cafe, Versailles Lunch: Versailles, Blue Lagoon, The Grill, Market Cafe Dinner: Aqua, La Cucina, Endless Summer, Ginza, Cagney's Shore Excursion: ATV in Costa Maya Thank you for the pictures. Did you take any of the Bridge? What did you think of the staff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fine and Jim Dandy Posted January 24, 2012 #25 Share Posted January 24, 2012 The Ryndam actually left before us because we had a medical emergency before we left port and it delayed us about 40 minutes. Usually the Carnival ship leaves first, Star second and Ryndam third. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.