Mitsugirlys STAR end of the world/pre-Christmas cruise detailed review & pictorial

[mitsugirly]

Enjoying your review. Glad your son is OK--I have a new driver also, and know your anxiety! Waiting for Roatan to see if you met "Superman" :)

 

Snorkelmom

 

I tried to figure out which one he might be, but never did. There were about 5 guys out there the entire time but they really didn't talk much, well at least not to us or me the one time I went out by myself. They were busy talking to each other. So nope, didn't get to meet him. I can honestly say I really didn't see anyone that fit that description either. Maybe he was off that day?

[mitsugirly]

too funny about the art work, my husband and I thought the same thing. I ended up tripping over one of the light boxes despite the caution sign warning me about it! It was very crowded and we felt like we were in an art obstacle course.

 

My husband actually ran in to one of the boxes but I stopped by pulling on his arm real quick before he either fell over it (which I doubt he would since he's a skater and can hold his balance really well) or stomped it to death and broke it by kicking it over. He was busy looking down and back talking to our daughter at the time. I almost didn't see it but I was on the other side away from it. It really seemed to get a little dangerous toward the end especially when they set up a table right in the middle of the walkway to conduct sales. :rolleyes:

[lostone65]

Great review! We got off her the day you got on. I agree total chaos outside the terminal with the combination of embarking and disembarking passengers. But the Star and her crew....love them!

 

Sent from my HTC Rezound using Tapatalk 2

[mitsugirly]

Time to skip on over to my favorite “I’m bored and feel lucky so let’s gamble place”, yep the “Star” Casino.

 

 

I have to say by-far, this was the smallest casino I’ve been to yet on NCL. Wow, like I could probably spit standing on one end to the other side. Just kidding, that’s not lady-like, but it was pretty small. There was definitely NO WAY to get lost in here and if you lost the person you came in with, it would take less than 2 minutes to find them.

 

 

You could come down the hall we just came from (6th floor if you remember) or you could come from the other side, which is right there by the Stardust Theater. How convenient is that? You could tell you were getting close to the money because...well the floor told you:

 

They did have something new here that I have never seen on any of the other ships before. There was a game at the entrance that was like one of those boxes you see, full of stuffed animals and you have to guide the clam back and forth to go down and grab something. Everyone tell me you know what I’m talking about and I’m not sounding wacko right now. Anyhow, this had the “prize” on the back wall part of it and it was $$$$ depending on what level you went up. Instead of a claw, it had a “key”. Now this key looked pretty small and of course the hole you have to guide the key in to looked pretty darn big. (Of course aiming it in the hole without hitting the edge proved to be almost next to impossible.) By the end of the cruise I believe 2 people had won the cheapest bottom row (maybe $50 or $100) and someone had actually won one off the top row (which I believe was $500 cash and an ipad). The other odd thing was it didn’t take cash. ONLY your room key card. We watched a lot of frustrated people every night swiping their card because they just knew the next time was going to be “the” time they got it only for their “significant other” having to drag them away and telling them enough is enough. Yes, my husband tried twice and didn’t come close. I really thought I had taken a picture of this contraption but I can’t locate it. Darn.

 

 

I liked their “light” and carpet, if only walking on that gave me some luck I would have been happy.

 

 

 

 

This area is on the Stardust side of the casino.

 

 

 

I also wanted to mention they had a “penny smashing” machine. You swipe your key card and turn the handle and it smashes a penny for you of the star (4 different pictures to choose from). I’m completely convinced that since I didn’t get this “lucky” penny on the first day (I got it on the last day as a souvenir) is the reason I didn’t win much in the casino. Given the chance to do it all over again, I would have bought that lucky Star penny to use in the Star casino on the first day! Darnit!

 

 

I wish I would have taken a picture of it as well. I know, I was a complete slacker on this cruise. However, I do have a GOOD reason and during my actual review, you will learn why. I promise you will agree it was a good enough reason.

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

After not winning the money I had intended to, I think it’s time to head to the spa for a quick peak. No, I don’t spend money at the spa. I’m sure it’s nice, but I just don’t do it. It’s an added cost that someday maybe I can afford, but not for this poor college student at the moment.

 

Wait, after writing that I started thinking how this poor college student had actually just come from the casino where I was just feeding the machines because they looked hungry and I felt bad for them. Somehow this doesn’t make sense. But that’s alright I would rather have hours of fun than a few minutes of relaxation. I’m a go-go-go type of girl remember? That’s why I don’t splurge on anything other than an interior room. There, that’s my explanation and I’m sticking to it.

 

I have to admit the spa area, entrance and all looked GORGEOUS! I love the way the entrance you walked down in to it and everything was all open. It really had the WOW factor. I really wanted to go in and look around down there but the minute one of the spa ladies heard a creek on the stairs, they were trying to lure you in to their web of relaxation seduction. Nope, you weren’t pulling me in to that. Does anyone know if you can just go down to look and take pictures without actually having anything done? I’ve never tried it before. Or is it an “all inclusive members only” type of thing past the doors?

 

These pictures do not do this place justice at all...keep that in mind.

 

 

 

 

 

The windows that you see along the top are actually the windows you look out in to the spa from the exercise room. Nice view for them.

 

Another thing we discovered while wondering around late one night on the decks outside is that we came across this glass roof (down low like by our feet). So we stopped to peek in and it was the spa! You could see if from the deck. It was pretty neat.

 

 

I know, not the greatest picture since it was dark out, I had to take the picture through glass which was shaped funny and it was pretty windy out there...so hard to keep the camera steady. Throw in the factor that I couldn't use my flash because of the glass and you have an "ok" photo that really doesn't come out the way you had hoped.

 

I might as well give you a quick shot of the work out facility since you were already trying to stare in to the windows from the spa area.

 

 

 

To the right of the picture are the machines facing the spa and overlooking it.

 

Sorry, this is the only picture I got of the fitness area and I did it as I was walking by QUICKLY. Hopefully the people in there just thought I was actually in there working out and just walking faster to burn extra calories. I'm not one that likes to exercise so walking in here is like me walking through and unknown territory that turns out to be the ghetto.

[mitsugirly]

Ok, it's now 10 minutes until 3am and my thought processor is dieing a fast death at the moment. I need to get some rest so that I can continue my journeys and thoughts tomorrow. Everyone have a good night (those of you that "may" still be up, but I'm doubtful and think I'm probably talking to myself at this point). :p

[RIvacationgirl]

Love the pictures. Great job from one nurse to another!:)

[MaryAnn261]

Thanks for the GREAT review. Now... I can't wait for February to get here for sure.

[MaryAnn261]

Thanks for the GREAT review. Now... I can't wait for February to get here for sure.

[MaryAnn261]

Thanks for the GREAT review. Now... I can't wait for February to get here for sure.

[MaryAnn261]

Sorry for the multiple posts... my computer locked up... didn't know it would post that many times. Is there a way for me to delete the extra ones?

[boopsahoy]

Great pictures-thanks!

[oceanlessinNM]

Thanks for the great review and pictures. Only 8 more weeks till we leave for NOLA! Can you tell us what time you got to the pier since it was such a mess? I think you should find a career where you are a nurse/writer/photographer. Hope you got some sleep.

[mitsugirly]

Thanks for the GREAT review. Now... I can't wait for February to get here for sure.

 

Thanks for the GREAT review. Now... I can't wait for February to get here for sure.

 

You can say that again...and again...and even again if you'd like. hehe Just kidding with you. It's happened to me before too. ;)

[mitsugirly]

Great pictures-thanks!

 

Thanks for the comment

 

Thanks for the great review and pictures. Only 8 more weeks till we leave for NOLA! Can you tell us what time you got to the pier since it was such a mess? I think you should find a career where you are a nurse/writer/photographer. Hope you got some sleep.

 

It was probably around 10:30ish when we got there. But that was about the same time that we always arrive at the piers and have never encountered this mess. (Don't think it was any better coming back either because then we were on the "other" side of the passengers...just going in the opposite direction).

 

I was able to get some rest and now I'm trying to wake up so that I can get started again. *yawn* I would much rather be hearing "washy washy, smiley smiley" :D

[cmdchiefthom]

What a great review and the pictures are awesome. Can't wait to read more...;)

[Julienatul]

Loving your review. I am a nurse also so I totally get the lack of free time. I have also taught in the RN program - bet you enjoyed a break from all those care plans. Your pictures are great. It sounds like it was a great cruise. We will be on the Dawn in March and hopefully the Epic again in the fall, waiting for the kids sail free promo again.

[mitsugirly]

Love the pictures. Great job from one nurse to another!:)

 

It's amazing how many nurses' I ran in to on vacation. Even at the ports we had long conversations with a Nurse that comes to Costa Maya for 1 month at a time. I got some interesting stories from a lot of the Nurse's and I've come to the conclusion that a lot of Nurses cruise. LOL I guess I'm going to fit in just fine. :D

[Cruiser Bruiser]

I have to admit the spa area, entrance and all looked GORGEOUS! I love the way the entrance you walked down in to it and everything was all open. It really had the WOW factor. I really wanted to go in and look around down there but the minute one of the spa ladies heard a creek on the stairs, they were trying to lure you in to their web of relaxation seduction. Nope, you weren’t pulling me in to that. Does anyone know if you can just go down to look and take pictures without actually having anything done? I’ve never tried it before. Or is it an “all inclusive members only” type of thing past the doors?

 

The windows that you see along the top are actually the windows you look out in to the spa from the exercise room. Nice view for them.

 

Another thing we discovered while wondering around late one night on the decks outside is that we came across this glass roof (down low like by our feet). So we stopped to peek in and it was the spa! You could see if from the deck. It was pretty neat.

 

I might as well give you a quick shot of the work out facility since you were already trying to stare in to the windows from the spa area.

 

I love your review, Kim, and your sense of humor!:p I just did 16 nights on the Dawn in October/November, so your review is kind of like an alternate-universe trip down memory lane for me. The spa reception area is quite glamorous, no? I think if you ask at reception, they would likely let you take a picture of the "thermal suite". I paid $199 on that 16-night cruise for a solo spa pass, and I thought it was an exceptional value. Given that we sailed during Superstorm Sandy, it was nice to have a warm spa to which to retreat. If I worked out first (on the upper level), I could usually kill a good 2 hours between the elliptical, the hot tub, the lap pool, the relaxation area, the steam room and the locker room. Save up and give it a try some day if that sounds appealing.

 

Keep it coming, please! Cheers. :cool:

[mitsugirly]

What a great review and the pictures are awesome. Can't wait to read more...;)

 

Thanks for joining me in this adverture. I'm having fun with it. :p

 

Loving your review. I am a nurse also so I totally get the lack of free time. I have also taught in the RN program - bet you enjoyed a break from all those care plans. Your pictures are great. It sounds like it was a great cruise. We will be on the Dawn in March and hopefully the Epic again in the fall, waiting for the kids sail free promo again.

 

Yippee, another Nurse. :D Yes, I REALLY needed this break. This is probably one of the longest breaks I will get between semesters. (I don't go back until January 14th). The books used each semester (which are different of course) are crazy. This coming semester I will have to purchase 19 books. That is just nuts (and very expensive). :eek: But it will all be worth it in the end. I just wish I would have been smart enough to do this when I first graduated from high school back in 1984. I guess it just wasn't "my time" back then.

 

We plan on going on the Star's sister ship (Dawn) next May so maybe YOU need to write me up a grand review to get me pumped up for that cruise. Whatayasay? :D :p

[mitsugirly]

I love your review, Kim, and your sense of humor!:p I just did 16 nights on the Dawn in October/November, so your review is kind of like an alternate-universe trip down memory lane for me. The spa reception area is quite glamorous, no? I think if you ask at reception, they would likely let you take a picture of the "thermal suite". I paid $199 on that 16-night cruise for a solo spa pass, and I thought it was an exceptional value. Given that we sailed during Superstorm Sandy, it was nice to have a warm spa to which to retreat. If I worked out first (on the upper level), I could usually kill a good 2 hours between the elliptical, the hot tub, the lap pool, the relaxation area, the steam room and the locker room. Save up and give it a try some day if that sounds appealing.

 

Keep it coming, please! Cheers. :cool:

 

Thanks for your comment. I would love to see the inside of the "thermal suite". That would be awesome but I was too afraid to ask and really didn't know how pushy they are about trying to get you to buy packages for the spa. Maybe one day I'll try it. We'll see.

[sdmike]

Great stuff, Kim. Get some sleep then keep it coming. :) I doubt you would mind, but out of courtesy I'll ask. Can I put a link to this review in my signature area? It's my version of bookmarking for future reference for me and others :)

[mitsugirly]

Great stuff, Kim. Get some sleep then keep it coming. :) I doubt you would mind, but out of courtesy I'll ask. Can I put a link to this review in my signature area? It's my version of bookmarking for future reference for me and others :)

 

Of course I don't mind Mike...link away and thanks for the comment. :)

[mitsugirly]

On to the buffet area because all of this walking is making me hungry, but then again…just being on a cruise tends to make me hungrier than I normally am.

The buffet is located on the 12th floor. One of my favorite ways to access it is up the glass elevators. It’s really neat since the atrium is completely open and you’re in a glass elevator, when you arrive to the 12th floor you can see in to the buffet since they have windows all around it looking down in to the atrium. Of course you can access it from the other elevators as well, it’s just not as fun and cruises are supposed to be fun right?

 

 

 

Now the buffet (named Market Café) was always opened on different sides at different times. It also depended on when you were there what side was opened. It was a hit or miss for us. I believe toward the end we discovered that around 5pm is when they brought out and opened the “better stuff”.

 

 

The buffet was HUGE and on both sides. One side was around 2 buffets long and then it ended (no way out) because it backed up to the Teen Club on the other side of it. The other side went all the way down and out to the end of the ship (which is where the kid’s pool area located on the aft of the ship was). I believe it had 3 areas. The last part of the buffet never had any actual food there other than the crape making area is located here. This is a MUST KNOW of course. Love me some crapes!!! Another MUST KNOW is this is where you will find the yummy soft serve ice cream. You could have it in an ice-cream dish or cone and yes they did have various “sprinkles” to top it off with. Other than that, the buffet portion of this area remained closed.

 

 

 

 

Now I have to say this “Market Café” is probably the cheesiest buffet I’ve ever seen. The décor looked like some school cafeteria set up. I just thought it was plain ugly. Very cheesy lit up signs above the food displays (oranges, apples and so on), the floor was kind of ugly and I just didn’t care for the way it looked. The other NCL ships had nice little dividing tall walls with flowers in them and the tables were set up nicely. Some had high backs in them and booths. This was nothing but tables in a row with regular chairs. Nothing fancy at all to look at here.

 

 

 

 

 

The food was a hit or miss as well. I found that the other ships seem to have more options or something because I could always find something that I liked there. I’m not really a picky eater other than I don’t like chocolate…everyone pick your jaws back up I can see you, yes I’m weird I know. I have another one for yea, I don’t like steak either! I’m not a real big “meat” eater other than dishes with hamburger in it, an occasional hamburger, turkey and chicken. I do love me some seafood though. So it just felt like there wasn’t as much to choose from that I actually liked. But will all this being said, I definitely did not starve to death…after all, I did gain 7 pounds this cruise. Oops I said it out loud again didn’t I. (Hiding my head in shame).

 

This ship did have a “Kids Buffet” area as well called…you guessed it…Kids Café. You would get the normal things that you would find at the “Big Kids Buffet” area. For breakfast they had scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, cereal, while milk, chocolate milk, fruits, orange juice and I think a few more things that my daughter didn’t try.

 

 

IF YOU ARE A BACON EATER…take note, you will find the CRISPY bacon here. (hehe) I also found on the days that the eggs in the “big kids café” were a little runny, the “kids café” would not have runny eggs. SCORE! NO, THERE IS NO BACON POLICE ON THE SHIP…and I have never encountered a bacon police on any of them (I’ve heard others mention this on other cruise lines). It’s a free for all and I LOVE me some bacon.

 

 

 

 

For lunch the “Kids Café” would have the normal Pizza and fries (and that’s all I remember because that’s all my daughter ever wanted to eat when we were there). I have NEVER cared for NCL’s pizza whether it be from the buffet or the $5 pizza you order. It was just plain nasty! Well, I did hear (by the wonderful CC people on here) that they have changed their pizza. I overheard one of the boys coming to the buffet (who I might add that he had 2 empty plates in his hand and he loaded them BOTH up with about 5 slices of pizza each…yes, the pizza was gone by then. Thank goodness my daughter had already grabbed her 2 slices or I would have had to tackle that kid and take a slice. j/k) say “This is the best pizza I’ve ever tasted”. So…I thought “well maybe they have changed their recipe” and decided to give it a try. YEP, it’s actually good now! YIPPEE!! Hurray for NCL for changing things up. The sauce taste different and it is thinly sliced pizza (my favorite) and to me, even the cheese was different. Oh I do remember seeing hot dogs there as well. I think I have the only child who can't stand hot dogs...so of course she never had any of those.

 

 

 

 

They had about munchkin tables set up there with the soft foam munchkin chairs to eat at the table. Yes, my legs went numb sometimes crunching myself up under the table while sitting (my daughter insisted on eating there every change she could). This area was well used let me tell you. The other ships (well maybe it was just one that had it) had this kids buffet area and I never once seen anyone use it. It wasn’t even open during every meal like this one was. I think maybe it was where it was set up at…right as you walk in to the buffet area.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Washy-Washy…where were you on this cruise? The washy people (in this case 1 guy) was ONLY at breakfast and ONLY 2 days this cruise. (Or at least at the times we went). I thought this was odd. They did have the little hand sanitizers as you come in, but I’ll let you guess how many people actually used them as they walked in for each meal all day long. Yes, I’m in the health care field, yes my hands are sanitized-abused.

 

 

 

 

 

They had the normal drink machines which offered watered down flavored drinks: lemon-lime, tropical mango, strawberry-kiwi, the unsweetened tea. I think each station varied a little because I did see just plain lemonade once. If you don’t want watered down, you’ll pick the lemonade or lemon-lime, which tasted just like the lemonade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok let’s get to that darn ice machine everyone was complaining about on the cruise. It had a mind of it’s own I tell ya. It was supposed to be a sensor-type thing where you just hold the cup up to it and it dispenses the ice. Well I think the sensor on it was a little off. People would hold cups up forever and nothing would happen. They would wave their hands in front of it…nothing. Walk away, it dispensed and dispensed A LOT. Some people “pushed” on it like it was a button, nothing, move away it worked. It was a hit or miss and drove people insane.

 

 

 

 

I might as well touch base on the crapes while I’m still in the buffet area. With each cruise, it seems to decline in “offerings”. Yes, a tear just rolled down my cheek right now. I got hooked on these on the Epic and their selection was “to die for”. They had so many different types of fillings and a lot of different toppings. YUM! The Spirit didn’t have as much from what I can remember and the guy that made them was hilarious (and new) and had to start over several different times but was a good sport about it. The Pearl, well I discovered you could ask for different things (and they also had a “stash” below of things like banana’s and so on). Well that brings us to the Star. Next to nothing to choose from. I think there was 4 different fillings and 2 toppings-chocolate (yuck) and the “to die for” cream they have. So, I actually only had 2 this cruise. It just didn’t really taste the same to me as the others. While we’re talking about the to die for cream…what is that stuff anyhow? Is it normal whipped topping and they add a pound of sugar to it? I have never been able to find anything that tasted anywhere close to that stuff. I LOVE IT…it just makes me shiver thinking about it. I would put it on my French toast and just moan and groan with excitement when I ate it (ask my husband, he’ll tell you). :D

[mitsugirly]

Right outside of the dining area there were some cute little table and chairs that was in a cove and up against the window that you could eat 1) in peace or 2) in an area that wasn’t windy instead of being outside and 3) in an area that was a good temperature if the buffet was too cold.

 

 

 

This is the cute little hallway leading out of the buffet…remember, I LIKE color. It led out to the pool deck area…and buffet that was out there as well.

 

 

 

Next we'll head out to the pool area since that's the way I'm walking.