Review of NCL Star Oct14-21 Bermuda

[luv2cruise53]

Thank you for the great read.

What Bar's can one smoke in? Any Cigar Bars?

 

I know that you can smoke in the Casino, but I did not see a cigar bar. Outside only on port side of top decks and promenade

[luv2cruise53]

Hi Mr. Kevin,

 

Really enjoying your review, it is very entertaining! :D DH and I were also on this cruise and I feel bad that I did not meet you personally, glad that you enjoyed yourself on this cruise. I went to the CC M&G but got there late so I did not meet a lot of ther people, who attended. I never do pub crawls and martini tasting but it sounds like I should have done this one.:D

 

This was our first cruise since May, 2011, DH got ill and had to complete series of treatments and surgery. Thank God, He is now recovering and this was a celebration of life cruise. We also enjoyed our cruise very much, the Star's officers, staff and crew went out of their way to ensure that. We are now taking each day as a gift and plan to cruise as much as work schedule will allow.;)

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review!

Lita

 

I'm glad hubby is recovering. Every day is a gift. I wish I had met you on the cruise. Who knowqs, maybe we did meet but Kevin does not remember. LOL:cool:

 

Kev:cool:

[PCLMassachusetts]

Guess what? A friend of mine just called me and said Hey idiot, what's a Champagne Bar. And I said its the gold bar on the Star. duh He said thats called Gatsby's. Im like oh yeah it was the champagne bar on the EPIC, and he said no idiot, that was Shakers. Well Im thinking there must be an NCL champagne bar because I am having a very blonde moment AGAIN.

 

 

LOL:D

 

This is taken from www.beyondships.com : Star's champagne/martini bar is Gatsby's

So I guess you are also correct. It may not be called "the champagne bar" but according to this site it s A champagne bar.

[Chris41]

Great review

 

So basically you are only allowed to smoke outside or casino. All the other bars are non-smoking?

[luv2cruise53]

This is taken from www.beyondships.com : Star's champagne/martini bar is Gatsby's

 

So I guess you are also correct. It may not be called "the champagne bar" but according to this site it s A champagne bar.

 

 

 

Thank you...vindication...I knew I was thinking champagne for a reason

 

Plus its as gold as fort knox so I equated that in my mind.

But just because I am vindicated here does not make me brilliant, just lucky LOL

 

Kev:cool:

[luv2cruise53]

Great review

 

So basically you are only allowed to smoke outside or casino. All the other bars are non-smoking?

 

That is correct

But those lucky enough to have balconies may smoke on them....but never in the room. If you smoke in the room and they can tell ....i.e. smell it...then the minimum charge for cleaning is $400.00

 

Kev:cool:

[hartsnvt]

Kev,

 

I am on pins and needles to see what happened next. Please!?

[punkincc]

Thank you for the great read.

What Bar's can one smoke in? Any Cigar Bars?

 

No cigar bars, but I believe there are very small glassed in cigar rooms near Gatsbys that are stocked with cigars for purchase and perhaps a couple of chairs so that you can purchase and smoke and still see and probably hear music from the bar area.

[luv2cruise53]

Fear not ye loyal followers, Kev will recover from his coma and will continue his adventures. Stay tuned for some exciting excerpts to follow, including but not limited to.

 

• The day of the swells
  
• The wave pool and band splash down
  
• The promenade roller coaster
  
• The barf bag brigade
  
• Bermuda hot stuff
  
• Oleander scooter tour
  
• Hawaii Five Horseshoe
  

and much much more

 

Thanks for tuning in

 

Kev:cool:

[camz]

Kev - Well written and very, very funny! Are you sure you are not a journalist? If not, maybe you should pursue this field. :D We love the Star as we were just aboard her on the Sept 30th sailing to Bermuda. Reading your adventures is like reliving our cruise experience.

[luv2cruise53]

Kev - Well written and very, very funny! Are you sure you are not a journalist? If not, maybe you should pursue this field. :D We love the Star as we were just aboard her on the Sept 30th sailing to Bermuda. Reading your adventures is like reliving our cruise experience.

 

Thank's,

 

Right now I am nothing. I considered journalism as well as teaching English. When I began Grad school the job offerings in teaching and an english masters degree were limited. My love for rare books, and manuscripts, libraries and archives put me on a new path recently. The study of Archives and historical archives which became a new masters program at UMB recently. Every organization and corporation as well as most governments have archives.There has been very few dedicated masters level education programs dedicated to this field until recently, and most organizations were forced to use record keepers and to train on the job. So I am hedging my bets and staying within a field I admire.

 

That said, I would love to be a travel writer. One that is tongue in cheek with some off stylings that make a traveler and reader feel closer to the subject.

Writing these kinds of reviews polishes my style and who knows, maybe someone out there will appreciate my style and discuss options with me.

 

But right now, I write for me and I write for your enjoyment, so I hope you all keep reading along and get a few laughs as well. I also intend to cover as much information about the experience as I can remember and even if I get some names wrong, I hope you all get my intent.

 

Kev:cool:

[OnTheGoMom921]

This is taken from www.beyondships.com : Star's champagne/martini bar is Gatsby's

 

So I guess you are also correct. It may not be called "the champagne bar" but according to this site it s A champagne bar.

 

 

 

I think you were correct in calling it "the champagne bar"...

 

Doesn't every NCL ship have a "Champagne Bar"? on the Gem, it's Magnums Champagne & Wine Bar...

Edited November 7, 2012 by OnTheGoMom921

[luv2cruise53]

I think you were correct in calling it "the champagne bar"...

 

Doesn't every NCL ship have a "Chamagne Bar"? on the Gem, it's Magnums Champagne & Wine Bar...

 

Yep, thats what I thought as well. I write from experience and my writing reflects what I called a venue or an experience. For instance, I would look at my watch and see it was 7:00PM (A great time for Gatsby's) and say, I think I'll go to the champagne bar. There are also many venues on the Star that were not such great experiences on other ship's that the Star excelled at, as you will see.

 

I could research for accuracy etc...but then it becomes an effort and no fun at all, so if you all bear with me and take names and places with a grain of salt for accuracy we will all have a good time. I hope:rolleyes:

 

Kev:cool:

[bsblindab]

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..

[luv2cruise53]

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:

[bsblindab]

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

[Happy Sails 2 U]

 

Up Next: meet and Greet and Lattitudes Members Party

 

Kev:cool:

 

What's the Latititudes Members Party like? Is there a charge? Is it worth it? One of my cabin mates is a member, but we other two sailors are not (not yet, anyway, although we do have a number, just our first NCL cruise is all)...can we still go with him, even if only one of us is a member and we're all sharing a cabin? Just adore your review...you cute thing.;)

[luv2cruise53]

What's the Latititudes Members Party like? Is there a charge? Is it worth it? One of my cabin mates is a member, but we other two sailors are not (not yet, anyway, although we do have a number, just our first NCL cruise is all)...can we still go with him, even if only one of us is a member and we're all sharing a cabin? Just adore your review...you cute thing.;)

 

I am not sure on that one. I know it is a special party for members only and is free with no charge as a thank you. There are 2 people at the door collecting your invitation which was delivered to your stateroom. The invitation goes into a champagne bucket for raffles. They also looked at my cabin key card and compared to invitation. I know you cannot pay. I think you will have to wait for your next cruise.

 

It is fairly OK some free drinks, no limits but you have to scope out your prime real estate for optimum replenishment. There was beer and wine, champagne and a couple of different fruity concoctions.

 

All in all you are not being shut out of the party of the week. It's just a nice gesture for repeat passengers

 

Kev:cool:

[luv2cruise53]

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

 

Nothing to Shout about What dancing....they don't actually dance LOL

 

But I'll get to that later :cool:

[luv2cruise53]

So I woke up, a little groggy, checked my vital signs...still alive....no headache, cotton mouth Yes but all in all I think the nap was a good decision...Like I had any say in it. LOL....Anyways it was 8:00 according to the Bridge Channel which had been on all thru this and we had 78 degs...Good, and our little navigation line said we were halfway to Bermuda. There was a notice to turn back the clocks tonite so I made a mental note of that. I should also mention they have this handy dandy dial outside of your room that you turn to your hearts desire. Welcome, Do not disturb, make up room, turn down room etc.... I snook a peek outside the room and there was no one about and my handy dandy dial said do not disturb, so I guess the dial gods fixed that for me, cause damned if I did that. LOL. There was the usual Pizza Box here and there outside of room doors and an occasional room service tray but no people. Was I alone on this great behemoth...don't laugh, we were in the Bermuda Triangle and I may very well be the only passenger on a Ghost Ship.....your laughing you cruel readers, and I am terrified.:eek:

 

So I took out my Freestyle daily and my trusty highlighter and looked at the Evening Activities. First things first I was starved. So Dinner options. I thought I might try the MDR, Versailles or Aqua, and since I didn't feel like dressing too much at 78 degs I opted for Aqua and highlighted. Then the show, Band on the Run in the stardust at 9:30...Highlight... then Red Lion for Kenny the Human jukebox...I gotta see this just for the clever name....highlight and then Star bar to top off the day.

 

I checked the Restaurant channel and saw both MDR were showing full but both tapered off at 8:30, so I figured a quick shower and change then head to Aqua or Versaille.

 

Next up: Dinner in an MDR

 

Kev:cool:

[luv2cruise53]

So dressed, refreshed and looking quite hot! I headed out and up one flight and turned toward midship and proceeded. I may have been slightly dizzy as I am known for being dizzy, but the ship seemed to be a rockin a might bit. I went to Aqua and thre were several dozen passengers milling about but when I approached the hostess and said table for 1, she said no problem, may I have your room key. I have no idea why they need to see my room key, I mean we're all on board...we have cabins...anyways, no biggie and she handed me off to a crew member who brought me to a nice table for 2...but for me....Lonely, I'm so lonely.....NOT I do just fine by myself as you know and was not intimidated in the least. The tables are fairly close together and soon I was chatting with both sides and telling them some hurricane jokes, as that seemed to be the talk of the ship as we were heading in to or toward one.

The waitress came by and asked me if I would like to start with a drink...Start, honey I started 8 hours ago.Lets finish with....guesss....a Banana banshee...yep..you are all so good at this by now.

So I checked out the menu and perused the left, which is standard nightly and the right which changes nightly. The left had an Onion soup for a starter that I liked and the entree I liked was the NY sirloin steak, but I checked out the right to be sure. The right had Latin grilled steak...AAy carumba....nada... Thai Chicken and curry....maybe..and Atlantic Poached Cod...No....So my frosty Banshee arrived and I told the very nice waitress, Onion soup, Ny strip Rare That means I wanrt to see red and blood etc....They really DO NOT LIKE THIS. they go out of the way to post raw and uncooked food warnings on menus and at food stations. Yesterday they had a banner over the pool stating this disclaimer. LOL

 

Anyways, I kindly explained that I always have it that way and I understood my risks. She seemed ok so I knew I would at least get a pink steak.

 

The onion sopu ...sopu, thats dizzy kev for soup, arrived and it wasn't much but it had the obligatory crouton topped with cheeses but to be safe I told her please bring me a ceaser salad as well. Soup was OK not great, certainly not bad. The ceaser was better, I really liked the dressings flavor and I put the anchovie in the lady next to me's drink when she wasn't lookin. JK LOL

 

The steak arrived shortly after my slad was cleared. So far the service was impecable and the restaurant was full. so those who complain about service need to be more proactive and tell crew when they want things rather than leaving it up to standard. Quick, slow, gotta catch a show, ..the staff will do their best to get it your way.

 

So back to the steak. Remember that little old lady on the burger king commercials.....Where's the beef? Well it wasn't that bad actually. It looked like about 10-12 ounces so that's OK. Knife in, slice, peek...What...Pink of course, no blood, no red, but I expected this. Next time I am gonna just tell em to brimg it raw and I will roast it over the fake candle.... LOL It wasn't great but it certainly wasn't shoe leather,I ate it all including the garlic mashed red potatoes and the brocoli with cheese sauce which were delectable.

 

I skipped dessert, settled my charge, for the banshee, tipped an extra buck and felt like Rockefeler and headed out the door and up a flight to the atrium and turned aft and headed to the Stardust Lounge.

 

Next up; Band on the Run

 

kev:cool:

Edited November 7, 2012 by luv2cruise53

[canuckgal]

The ceaser was better, I really liked the dressings flavor and I put the anchovie in the lady next to me's drink when she wasn't lookin. JK LOL

 

kev:cool:

 

TOO FUNNY!! that reminds me of this scene from Mr. Bean's Holiday!

[luv2cruise53]

TOO FUNNY!! that reminds me of this scene from Mr. Bean's Holiday!

 

OMG that was hilarious Canuck Girl, just a hoot.

 

Kev:cool:

[luv2cruise53]

Well out of Aqua, atrium bound and I check my watch and it is 9:45. Show started 15 mins ago but I decide to pop in anyways for at least a glimpse. Doors were closed but nobody stopped me from going further. At the bar area there were more than a few people hanging and standing watching the show. I noticed the theater was quite packed, many people movers, no drink tables...Oh I said that before. sorry....There were no aisle seats at all, and a glance at the balcony looked packed as well. there were many seats in the middle but how to get to them I don't know. I sauntered up to the bar and ordered....a ......cosmopolitan....Varietyyy...After I signed my chit I took in the show, which had already had me enthralled with 70's music. Remember I am 53 yrs old and graduated high school in 1976 so this is my era. I heard you...Kev ya old fart you....Anyways like I said the music was great, the set was sort of psychedelic pop but not eye screaming, the singers and dancers I thought were great. I really was enjoying this show. Styx and pre disco greatness. I was expecting Karen and Richard Carpenter to hit the stage at any minute.I actually stayed till the end and the finale was well choreographed,sung and executed I thought very very well. I reccommend this show. 10 out of 10. And yes they did do McCartneys band on the Run

 

So, I got to see most of a good show, I didn't have to scrag into the seats and I had a great drink. Score :p

 

Next up: Kenny the Human jukebox.

 

Kev:cool:

[rpb718]

I sauntered up to the bar and ordered....a ......cosmopolitan....Varietyyy...

 

In the future, before this delightful review has ended, I absolutely MUST know what the final bar bill was for this trip! ;)