Star Mexican Riviera - 11/9 Review

[nycruise]

Since a number of reviews have already been posted, I'll make this brief. We flew in from New York and spent 2 days in Hollywood (unfortunately we weren't discovered) at the Hollywood Renaissance pre-cruise. Can't say enough good things about the hotel. It is located in the Hollywood and Highland complex in the heart of Hollywood. The Walk of Fame and Mann's (Grauman's) Chinese theater are part of the complex. Also the Kodak Theater where the Academy Awards are presented is also in the complex. The hotel is beautifully maintained and very stylish. The staff was very accomodating, and the rooms are spotless and QUIET, with great beds, and great views. We had a package that included breakfast in their restaurant Twist, and free admission to Universal Studios.

 

The complex has several very good restaurants, we ate at Wolfgang Puck's Vert and an Italian Restaurant, Trastevere. Both were very good. If you apply for an Elephant Card at the Hollywood and Highland website, there are lots of discounts at the restaurants and retail stores. Also some good fast food joints for a quick snack or lunch. Also Starline Tours is located right outside the Chinese Theater. The whole thing couldn't be more convenient.

 

We booked a Primetime Shuttle from the hotel to the pier. We were picked up around 10:15 AM, they made one stop at the Airport, and were dropped off at the pier in San Pedro at about 11AM. The embarkation was smooth and uneventful and we were in our room at approximately noon. We booked an outside with balcony, portside on deck 10. Since we had been sailed on the Star to Alaska this Summer, their were no suprises regarding the cabin.

 

It was raining heavily on our drive from Hollywood to the pier, but luckily it stopped in the early afternoon and the sun was shining as we sailed away from the pier. We never saw another drop of rain the entire 8 days and we had the smoothest seas of our entire 14 cruises.

 

Having sailed the Mex. Riviera last October with Princess, we chose NCL because it sailed to 2 new ports, Acapulco and Ixtapa. I won't rehash what others have said other than to say we throughly enjoyed the cruise. The food in all venues we tried, was good. I guess we weren't that excited about the food in Endless Summer, so we canceled our second reservation, and instead ate at Aqua and Versailles 3 times each and once in Ginza for dinner. We thought the food and service in Ginza were exceptional. We ate lunch in Versailles on the last sea day and asked for a window right at the rear windows. The view of the ship's wake is amazing, I would highly recommend it.

 

The entertainment was typical cruise entertainment. Enjoyable but nothing to write home about. Many people seem to rave about the Magician, Shawn Faquah (sp?) but we were underwhelmed. Enjoyed Fame, but some of the other shows were repeats from previous cruises on the Star and Dawn. The Caribbean Vide and Kenosis bands were topnotch. The night in Acapulco they brought on an excellant Mariachi band that played for several hours on the deck and additionally had a good Mexican Folkloric show.

 

We had a very young and enthusiastic cruise director, Mike Szwajkowski (that a mouthful and don't ask me to pronounce it) and staff. We really enjoyed them much better than Kieron, who seemed subdued during the Alaska Cruise.

 

Enjoyed making deposits in the Casino, primarily the slots. We tried our luck each evening with the free slot pull, but never hit anything.

 

The ports were great, were took the Overview bus tours in Acapulco and Ixtapa and got a good feel for both ports. The cliff divers in Acapulco were fantastic, I think we had 6 divers at our performance. The buses were new and well air conditioned, all in all both were enjoyable.

 

Since we had been in PV last year, we just got off the ship and did some shopping at the stores near the dock.

 

In Cabo we took the lands end tour, a short 45 minute boat tour around Los Arcos. The weather was picture perfect and the close up views of Los Arcos are breathtaking. We had been to Cabo last year, so we spent the rest of the time shopping at the pier and in town and had a beer at the outdoor bar in the Plaza of the Mariachi's in front of Cabo Wabo.

 

We booked a tour of Los Angeles through the ship and were one of the first off the ship. Customs was slow and our tour left at 9:30am, an hour later than planned. We were dropped of at the airport at around noon.

 

I'm sure I have forgotten a lot, but if you have any specific questions, I'd be more than glad to answer.:)

[jsmeeker]

I think the most amazing thing about your trip was you made it from Hollywood and Highland to San Pedro, with a stop at LAX, in 45 minutes. In the rain!!

 

What did you do to get such good Karma? :D

[10s nut]

Enjoyed your review...How would you compare the cruise to your Princess experience. I was never a fan of NCL until a suite upsell. The butler/suite experience was UNREAL. However, I have sailed on Princess numerous times and haven't been wowed, also haven't been disappointed. What are your thoughts?:confused:

[nycruise]

10s Nut: We sailed a 10 day Mexican Riviera on the Sapphire Princess last year and have to give the edge to Princess. The ship was brand new and larger than the Star. We like Freestyle and Personal Choice, so Princess and NCL are always our first choices. Princess gave a more refined cruise and just seemed to go the extra mile in almost every category. Of course if we had been on an older Princess ship that hadn't been built for Personal Choice it might have been a different experience. Also it didn't hurt that the price of the Princess Cruise was outrageously low for a 10 day cruise.

 

In NCL's favor, we got a concession price on our cruise and were given VIP status, so needless to say we had a great time.

 

Still haven't met a cruise we haven't liked.:D

 

jsmeeker: The stars were truely in alignment that day!;)

[cpayne]

What was the cost of your transfer from the hotel to the pier?

 

What were the gym facilities like on this particular ship? Was there a variety of equipment? Was it in good working condition? Etc.....

 

Thanks.

[KRANKYK]

What were the gym facilities like on this particular ship? Was there a variety of equipment? Was it in good working condition? Etc.....

 

Thanks.

 

I liked the gym -- they had a number of treadmills, ellipticals, etc. I used the ellipticals which were fine, just like a gym. I own a Precor machine at home and like that better. They also have spinning classes, yoga and others for a small fee....

[nycruise]

What was the cost of your transfer from the hotel to the pier?

 

What were the gym facilities like on this particular ship? Was there a variety of equipment? Was it in good working condition? Etc.....

 

Thanks.

 

Ashamed to admit we never used the gym facilities.

 

The tranfsfer was $56 plus tip for 2.

[10s nut]

Now that our cruise has different ports that my friend has seen, this is going to be a tough one. We were counting on Ixtapa and Acapulco. Not sure what to do...or if we can do ANYTHING at this time. :confused:

[margaritagal]

When will NCL post the shore excursions for Mazatlan & Manzanillo?

[10s nut]

I would venture to say that at those two ports, you will have to book once you get on the ship. Since this is a temporary fix, no way will NCL take the time to update the shore excursion list!:( At least we're not going in hurricane season!!

[nycruise]

Now that our cruise has different ports that my friend has seen, this is going to be a tough one. We were counting on Ixtapa and Acapulco. Not sure what to do...or if we can do ANYTHING at this time. :confused:

 

The new ports wouldn't have worked for us since we did P.V. Cabo and Mazatlan last year. The attraction for us were the 3 new ports, Acapulco, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.

 

Since we missed Glacier Bay on the Star this Summer due to the Azipods:mad: , I guess we lucked out and actually made it to the original Itinerary.:D

 

Having said that, we enjoyed Mazatlan and if you haven't been to the Mexican Riv. the new Itinerary should be fine assuming they have no further mechinical problems.

[EmJakeBubbie]

I'm anxious to hear more about the shore tours, but expect them to be typical touring options;)

[cruisingfromMN]

The new ports wouldn't have worked for us since we did P.V. Cabo and Mazatlan last year. The attraction for us were the 3 new ports, Acapulco, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.

 

Since we missed Glacier Bay on the Star this Summer due to the Azipods:mad: , I guess we lucked out and actually made it to the original Itinerary.:D

 

Having said that, we enjoyed Mazatlan and if you haven't been to the Mexican Riv. the new Itinerary should be fine assuming they have no further mechinical problems.

 

We too missed Glacier Bay and even so, were considering re-booking on the Star for February. While the new itinerary is appealing, we are a bit gun-shy about the Star. We also experienced the Azipod on our way to Fanning Island. What's the chance of having yet more problems?

[flyingpirate]

I would venture to say that at those two ports, you will have to book once you get on the ship. Since this is a temporary fix, no way will NCL take the time to update the shore excursion list!:( At least we're not going in hurricane season!!

 

Hi 10s -

 

I'm just leaving notes for you everywhere!

 

Come join the roll call!

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=5375788&posted=1#post5375788