Shadowmeboy's Star studded Christmas Mexican Riviera review!

[fabby50]

We are on the Star Mexican Rivera 2018 Christmas week cruise. I have been hoping someone would post a review of Christmas week and am eagerly awaiting your posts! THANK YOU!

[shadowmeboy]

Mike and I were supposed to be on this cruise, but we got an invitation to a Haven experience, and because the Star doesn't have a Haven, we jumped ship to the Escape. Luckily, Shadowmeboy took over the helm of the cruise critic meet and greet already for me. Yay!

So I'm double interested in this review!

Following along!

Joyce

 

Joyce, great review on the Escape. Definitely would have been fun to have you along, but glad you got that awesome upgrade!

[shadowmeboy]

So excited for another of your reviews! Can't wait to see more:)

 

more coming soon!

[shadowmeboy]

Looking forward to the rest of your review! Going on the Star in March!

 

Glad to have you following. Same itinerary?

[shadowmeboy]

We are on the Star Mexican Rivera 2018 Christmas week cruise. I have been hoping someone would post a review of Christmas week and am eagerly awaiting your posts! THANK YOU!

 

Glad to oblige! It was decorated beautifully! It was fun to get away also on Christmas, it was snowing at home.

[shadowmeboy]

Picking up where I left off. We are still in San Pedro at the Best Western Plus San Pedro Inn and Suites.

 

We head down to the included Breakfast.

 

 

 

I make a breakfast sandwich

 

 

Susan has bacon and eggs.

 

We head back up to our room. We make sure we have everything, bags are tagged, and we have documentaion out for the port. At 9:45 am, we request an Uber to take us to the World Cruise Center. The hotel had a shuttle, but it was full and I had heard stories of multiple trips needing to be made before, we just got our own transportation.

 

The Uber arrives and we load everything in and head to the terminal.

 

 

the drive to the terminal

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

Getting to the terminal takes you past the USS Iowa, a former US Navy battleship, which served from WWII all the way to the Persian Gulf War.

 

 

 

 

 

Parking for the USS Iowa

[shadowmeboy]

 

Close up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is the Star next to the World Cruise Terminal

 

[shadowmeboy]

After handing our bags off to a porter. We head inside. First off is the Health form.

 

 

Up the escalator

 

 

 

Someone is excited!

 

 

there is our line!

 

 

short line due to being on the early side!

 

 

Selfie time!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Checking in at the desk. The lady runs all our stuff then goes to get our keycard. She pulls one card thing out of where our keycards should be. She gets all confused and asks another agent. Come to find out!

 

 

We got VIP!!!! Susan is super excited! We get directed to the priority waiting area.

 

 

 

 

the non priority waiting area.

 

 

We finally get our keycards from the Concierge Monica Fotache.

[shadowmeboy]

Here are the day 1 dailies:

 

 

 

 

 

We also get this in case we need to make or change reservations.

 

 

 

refreshments in the lounge

[shadowmeboy]

Finally its time to board!

 

we head out to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Remember to Washy Washy!

 

 

 

 

 

Our boarding photo!

 

 

taken from the elevator on our way to lunch up in Cagney's

 

 

tree outside the hostess desk for Moderno and Cagney's

[shadowmeboy]

 

the gingerbread house was right by the hostess stand as well.

 

 

Tephany was our hostess and a hoot.

 

 

a better shot of the tree.

 

VIP Lunch Menu

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

Susan deep in thought about what she is going to order.

 

 

I got a shrimp cocktail appetizer as did Susan.

 

 

yummy!

 

 

A view of Cagney's

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Susan got the Flounder Milanese

 

 

I got the Grilled Beef Burger

 

 

We both got a Warm Espresso Chocolate Brownie for dessert.

 

Across from Cagney's is the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and Moderno.

 

 

 

Moderno's salad bar goes here.

 

[shadowmeboy]

After lunch, we started exploring and getting our bearings.

 

 

deck 13 by the midship elevators looking down towards the atrium and Java Cafe (deck 7)

 

 

about deck 9 in the elevator

 

 

stairwell all decorated

 

 

 

Christmas tree on either side of the atrium near guest services.

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

The train would be running at different times

 

 

Grand Atrium - O'sheehans is on both sides up one deck on 8. Internet cafe is on 9 (second balcony) above the bird ( top center) the opening is deck 10.

 

 

We stopped by the shore excursion desk and got our Silver discount applied to our prebooked shore excursions. i booked this cruise prior to the Latitudes changes last January, so the discount wasn't automatic. We were also getting double points for booking more than 9 months in advance, which has changed.

 

After shore excursions, we stepped into the cruisenext office and put down our cruisenext deposits. We then booked our June 2019 Canada/New England trip on the Norwegian Dawn in a balcony using those two deposits. Since we booked onboard, we got BA Balcony for the cost of the lowest balcony price, Sweet. Tgloersen and us are cruising out of New York City!

 

we noticed the Latitudes silver and above party notice was posted.

 

 

The cruisenext manager said this cruise was her second on the Star. She changed the party to 6:15 pm after leaving Mazatlan to cut down conflicts on the first Sea Day. So the party is now Day 5 after Mazatlan.

 

 

Photo Gallery - we had to know where our pictures would be as we bought a photo package.

 

 

Our folio was in bookcase three, bottom shelf, second folio from the left. we knew it well by the end of the week. Of note: One of the photographers from the Escape last June was onboard the Star. He said, you guys look familiar. We started naming ships and figured out the common denominator.

[shadowmeboy]

 

Spinaker Lounge - deck 7 aft - game shows, Bingo, trivia, officer Q&A, latitudes and VIP parties all took place in here.

 

 

the poles can make it hard to see.

 

 

 

 

the entrance to the Versailles Main Dining Room is in between the Spinaker entrances mid boat on the aft.

 

MDR lunch menu - embarkation day

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

5 o'clock Somewhere (deck 7 aft-port) can be accessed from midship by the atrium on the port side or from the aft by the port entrance to the Spinaker lounge.

 

 

Versailles MDR - deck 6 aft - entrance deck 7 aft

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

We would typically walk on the starboard side through the photo gallery when going to or from the Spinaker lounge.

 

After exploring deck 7 aft, we headed forward on deck 7 on the starboard side.

 

 

looking forward from the midship elevators - deck 7 starboard

 

 

Ginza noodle house and sushi bar. Teppanyaki is located here as well.

 

 

Looking down on deck 6. To the right is Gatsby's bar. Top right of picture is the entrance to La Cucina. To the left of the Piano is Le Bistro. Underneath me is Park West. This area got really crowded around dinner time. People would wait for reservations for Le Bistro and La Cucina here, along with listening to musical acts and just getting a drink at Gatsby's.

 

 

Ginza's menu

 

 

Teppanyaki menu

 

 

better menu shot

[shadowmeboy]

Continuing forward on 7 Starboard, you get to the Trade Route Boutiques.

 

 

forward of the shops is the Stardust theater - entrances on deck 6 and 7 port and starboard.

 

 

deck 7 starboard above

 

 

 

 

 

entrance on deck 6 starboard

[shadowmeboy]

going aft on 6 on the starboard side

 

you have the Casino

 

 

 

 

Gatsby's area - Park West in front, Le bistro is behind the artwork and pole. Gatsby's to the right along with La Cucina.

 

 

Le Bistro and the Wine Cellar

 

 

 

La Cucina's menu

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

La Cucina

 

 

 

Wine Cellar seating area for Le Bistro

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

Le Bistro's Menu

 

 

 

 

heading midship on the starboard side toward Aqua MDR

 

 

Plaques midship deck 6 by Aqua