Star Review Continued

[sealuber]

tried to edit my post but time expired Here is the rest!

Just got off the Star this morning at around 10:00 am. What can I say??? .

Sunday Sea Day

We woke up and decided to try the buffet. It was not my cup of tea but it wasn't bad. I tend to prefer a sit down restaurant but if you are in a hurry it is worth it. I went down to the Spa hung out there for a while and watched the world sail on by. We had dinner at Endless Summer nights and saw a whale from the window. Did not like the Maitre d was a total jerk. The hostess had seated us at a window table then he came over and said that it was reserved for someone else. Nowhere on the table did it say reserved so I did argue with him that we wanted the table that was orginally offered to us in the end he relented and let us have the table. He just kept giving us nasty looks all through dinner. That was ok, I had my window seat and got to see a whale. We had a great time. The kids also had a blast, they were at the pool most of the day and got a nice tan. I on the other hand got a sunburn. Who goes to Alaska to sunburn? We also attended some presentation on who to buy from we were at the different ports.

Monday

Ketchican

We booked our excursions from NCL big mistake. We could have gotten them cheaper on the outside, but being this was our first cruise we decided to play it safe. In Ketchican my dh and I did the Ziplines. All I can say is incredible. We saw two blk bears down below us an many eagles. I am so ready to do it again. My parents and kids went on the totem pole tour along with the Lumber Jack show that they really enjoyed. We did get to tour the city. It is rather small we ended up buy some knick nacks here and there. Unfortunatly most of them are made in China. We went back on the ship and ended up having lunch at Verasilles dinner at Aqua. Did the spa and went down to see I think it was Man on the run show which was alot of fun to watch. I also think it was Monte Carlo night. We went down to the casino awhile got our picture taken had a couple of drinks and went on our way.

Tues

Juneau

Ordered room service for breakfast, disembarked the ship at 7:00 am. This was our shortest port. Had a wonderful sunny day! We had nothing planned so we did the city tour along with the Mendehall glacier tour. Paid 28.00 per person for both tours. Had a wonderful tour guide Tony who was half Tligiant and from the Raven family. He was really imformative and we learned alot from him. Mendenhall Glacier is not to be missed. Breathtaking! We also saw bear scat. LOL We got back to the ship and lunched again in Verasilles.We were suppose to go to Sawyers Glacier but it was to icy we were diverted to Endicott Arm and then to Dawes Glacier. I know what your taking about Terry, it was so awesome that words cannot describe how I felt. I know that there is someone bigger than us working in wonderful ways! We had dinner again at Endless Summer Nights. Then we went to the Spinniker lounge. I want to say that this night was the not so Newley Wed game. Not sure though.Went to the Spa and Casino.

Wed

Skagway

We had a private tour with Dave from Dyea Dave. He picked us up at the pier and we started our journey to Cacross and Emerald lake. It was a beautiful drive with Dave as our guide. He really knows his stuff and I was in awe listening to him tell us how it really is. He showed us the real Skagway. We made many stops along the way. We saw a young black bear eating dandylions and we took tonz of pictures. We did get to see emerald lake along with the real town of Cacross not the "disney land for tourists that they have built" no offense to anyone that goes there. We just wanted to see something different on our tour. He told us he would take us there if we wanted but we saw too many tour buses and we did want to get back to Skagway. We did get our passports stamped, stoped at a local diner and had the best fry bread ever. Then we headed back. Went back to Verasilles and we had reservations for Le Bistro. Went to the spa before dinner kids swam. Le Bistro was excellent! We went to the show at the Stardust.

Thurs

Prince Rupert BC

Rain Rain GO AWAY!

Ok, I really went into this with an open mind. I figured that I had read a couple of bad reviews but how bad could it be? Well folks, it is! NCL has a monopoly here. No other cruise ship comes through here. I had wanted a local excursion no such luck. NCL has them all contracted to them. We did bite and did the Soaring with the eagles tour. It lasted about an hour and a half. We did go out on a little boat and they threw out some fat and out of nowhere we were surrounded by Eagles. It was amazing! After the tour we walked the town and realized there was nothing! We went back to the ship, ate at Aqua then headed for the Stardust. We saw Cirque of the Pacific it was enjoyable! Went down to the Chocoholic Buffet! Wow!

Friday

Last day at sea Happy 4th of July!

Woke up late, ate at Blue Lagoon. Headed for the disembarkation presentation with Ricky the Cruise Director. Went to the spa and to triva more about that later. Basically just really enjoyed our last day aboard. We went to the anniversary reception for cake and campagne. Went to Vesasilles for dinner. Went to see Murray's last show then headed for the Spinniker for Bud Anderson. It was a great show but too many people. Should have had it in the Stardust.

Sat

We had a late disembarkation, woke up late had breakfast and headed on out. So here I sit at the Raddison in Seatac as my husband leaves for Hawaii tommorrow.

Comments

Over all I would give this cruise 4.5 overall it totally met our expectations. We did have 3 towel animals left for us. Not that it mattered but I have seen people post about them. I was disapointed with passengers that did not follow the rules. We went to many shows at the Stardust that said no minors in the first two rows and they were many minors in these two rows. Also kids that were just running loose all over the ship. Had seen several kids on the glass elevators pressing all the buttons just crusing up and down. I have my two pretty much on a leash. I did talk to a rep about this not so much as a complaint but as a comment. She said this cruise was pretty tame as they only had about 700 kids. I went to Movie trivia at the Cinema it was overrun by teenagers. They were screaming the adults. I got called a liar by one of them because they did not hear me say the answer first. The people in front of me left. I looked back and saw some of them making out. I felt like telling them to get a room.

If you go on the Star make sure to play, "The quest" our team won second place. All I can say is that my husband is a good sport.

Comments overheard on the ship

People upset about the automatic tipping (Hello read the website)

People upset about paying at the speciality restaurants and having to make reservations (again website and read your daily)

We did talk to Lucia the cruise consultant onboard and she would not give up anymore details on the F3's

We did buy our cruise rewards certificate

We are definitly ready to cruise again! A BIG HUG AND THANK YOU! To all!!! I used all the info I got from this site to make this the best cruise possible

[MT_DreamChaser]

Great Review! I've been back 5 weeks now from my trip and wish I was still there. I'm glad we went when we did. I don't remember seeing many kids on the trip-which to me is a big plus. I'm sad to hear you say you didn't like Prince Rupert. Of all the stops we made, it was the one where we would like to go back to do a land vacation. Sounds like you had a fantastic time.

[NEW 2 CRUISIN]

...and a big "THANK YOU" to you for sharing your wonderful cruise

experience!

 

Where's your next cruise taking you???

 

:)

[sealuber]

I guess I just did not see anything I liked. All I saw was high prices LOL We have been to Victoria and I live about 30 miles from Canada so I am spoiled in that sense that I did not see anything I had not already seen

[sealuber]

...and a big "THANK YOU" to you for sharing your wonderful cruise

experience!

 

Where's your next cruise taking you???

 

:)

We are thinking of the Mexican Rivera, just because we are on the west coast and it would be cheaper for us to drive. My mom is wanting to come along again lol Ate way too much and spent way over what I wanted lol IT was well worth it though!!

[MT_DreamChaser]

We are thinking of the Mexican Rivera, just because we are on the west coast and it would be cheaper for us to drive. My mom is wanting to come along again lol Ate way too much and spent way over what I wanted lol IT was well worth it though!!

 

 

 

 

I guess great minds think alike. We are looking at the Mexican Riviera too. Too darned expensive to fly to the east coast.

[BaileyandBella]

I just got off the Star 2 weeks ago and we are just about ready to book the Mexican Riv cruise. :)

 

I had read so many bads things about the Star, but I thought she was a gorgeous ship, nothing gaudy etc. I also liked our cabin with the cherry wood furnishings. Since I have been home, I have been reading about all the ships that go to Mexico and many of them don't look so great. Also, most ships now have alternative dining with a cover fee.....why do people think that is just with NCL???

 

Sorry to hear about the kids, we hardly saw any.....but I am worried we might see a lot next time as we are planning on going during Spring Break. :eek:

[BaileyandBella]

I guess great minds think alike. We are looking at the Mexican Riviera too. Too darned expensive to fly to the east coast.

 

Ain't that the truth, especially Miami!!!! The cruises out of there are pretty cheap, but airfare is a fortune. Galveston and New Orleans for Caribbean cruises are high too.

[texascat]

Sounds wonderful! I am hoping that when we go in September they will not have many kids onboard!

 

Sounds like the trip was wonderful!!:D

[BaileyandBella]

How was the menu different at Versailles for lunch VS dinner?

 

If anyone likes Japanese food, one night they had vegetable tempura....it was to die for!

 

Also the mocha cheesecake...YUM!

[mousey]

I just got off the Star 2 weeks ago and we are just about ready to book the Mexican Riv cruise. :)

 

I had read so many bads things about the Star, but I thought she was a gorgeous ship, nothing gaudy etc. I also liked our cabin with the cherry wood furnishings. Since I have been home, I have been reading about all the ships that go to Mexico and many of them don't look so great. Also, most ships now have alternative dining with a cover fee.....why do people think that is just with NCL???

 

Sorry to hear about the kids, we hardly saw any.....but I am worried we might see a lot next time as we are planning on going during Spring Break. :eek:

 

We cruised the Star during Spring Break last year to the Mexican Riviera. The DH, DS (12 at the time), and I. We had a really great time!:D Be prepared as there will be lots of families with kids on the cruise. Kids don't bother us, so it wasn't an issue. Truth be told that was our 3rd spring break cruise in a row. We have never been bugged by the large amount of kids. They are mostly around the pool and we avoid the pool anyway. They are too crowded, and we since we swim in port we don't need to do the pool. Most of the time the kids are in the kid's club anyway. Its just never been a problem to us.

 

Go, enjoy yourself, and have a really great time!

[brunolvr]

Skagway

We had a private tour with Dave from Dyea Dave. He picked us up at the pier and we started our journey to Cacross and Emerald lake. It was a beautiful drive with Dave as our guide. He really knows his stuff and I was in awe listening to him tell us how it really is. He showed us the real Skagway. We made many stops along the way. We saw a young black bear eating dandylions and we took tonz of pictures. We did get to see emerald lake along with the real town of Cacross not the "disney land for tourists that they have built" no offense to anyone that goes there. We just wanted to see something different on our tour. He told us he would take us there if we wanted but we saw too many tour buses and we did want to get back to Skagway. We did get our passports stamped, stoped at a local diner and had the best fry bread ever.

 

Hi, sealuber! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your tour with Dyea Dave. We did a much shorter tour to Dyea with Dyea Dave mostly for the Klondike history side of it and to see the area of the Chilkoot Trail.

 

We also had a great time and Dave is a great tour guide! Do you remember what local diner you stopped at for the fry bread?

 

Thanks again for your great review! I'm trying to convince my husband that another cruise to Alaska on the Star is needed for next year!:D

[BaileyandBella]

and we since we swim in port we don't need to do the pool.

 

At the beach or do you go to a hotel (use their pool) for the day?

[sealuber]

How was the menu different at Versailles for lunch VS dinner?

 

They had a different menu everynight along with the regular menu. I did have the 8oz sirlion on two night with the peppercorn sauce and fries. For being a cruise ship and being in the middle of the ocean the beef was really good. VS menu during the day was more sandwiches and stuff.

[sealuber]

We also had a great time and Dave is a great tour guide! Do you remember what local diner you stopped at for the fry bread?

 

Thanks again for your great review! I'm trying to convince my husband that another cruise to Alaska on the Star is needed for next year!:D

 

It was actually run by a lady that was of first nations heritage. It was a gas station/diner combo. You see it on the Yukon side near the Carcross "disneyland" as Dave likes to call it. We got there and I was like this is the best? Yes it was! It is a local dive and I had a fantastic out of this world club sandwich with brocoli soup. My son had a HUGE hamburger with hand cut french fries. It was a good hearty lunch. As soon as I go through my pics I will post the name. I would gladly go back to Alaska again. My only grip was not enough time in ports.

[sealuber]

We cruised the Star during Spring Break last year to the Mexican Riviera. The DH, DS (12 at the time), and I. We had a really great time!:D Be prepared as there will be lots of families with kids on the cruise. Kids don't bother us, so it wasn't an issue.

 

Kids don't bother me, as I have two. It is when they start yelling at me calling me a liar that I have a problem. I am a pre-school teacher and I am used to working with children. It just seems that when teens are on vacation they tend to check their manners at the door. I had no problem with the kids on the cruise, just the ones that forgot their manners. :)

[BaileyandBella]

I did have the 8oz sirlion on two night with the peppercorn sauce and fries.

 

We had this too, my teenager ordered it every night....LOL.

 

It was great!

[terrymtex01]

VERY nice review. I was appauled to read they tried to move you from that table after they had sat you there. I can not TELL you the A** I would have made of myself. I am very sure security would have been called..LOL..

 

You guys will LOVE the Mexican Riviera. We did that cruise on the Star as well and loved it. The water is not as beautiful a blue or as many shades of blue as you see on the Caribbean side, but the ports we went to were just lovely. You really can't go wrong with that cruise.

 

Alas.. We just booked out cruise for next year that will be for our tenth anniversary. We are going on a 14 day Caribbean cruise Nov 1st on Dawn. Because we choose such a long cruise, I don't think we will get to go back to Alaska again next year. Because we are taking another cruise this October and I don't think we will have enough vacation between the Oct this year and the Nov next year. Sad about that, but looking forward to both of the cruises we have booked as of now.

[Wylie Coyote]

I want to start off by saying that I do not hate children/teens...to make sure I don't get bashed for my comments.

 

We enjoy vacations, including cruises, during non-peak periods and when school is in session. This helps reduce large crowds and the tons of kiddos. I would not book a cruise during the 4th of July week (nor Spring Break), because many familes would be vacationing at that very time. Having said that, we plan to enjoy our first trip to Alaska on the NCL Star on August 23rd as many schools will already be in fall session.

[bcpappas]

We went to Mexico during Thanksgiving and took both our mothers with us for a treat. They never really wanted to do the excursions, so my DH and two teen son's and I took advantage of it and off we went. We snorkled in Cabo, Jeep Tours in Puerto Vallarta and horsebacking riding on the beach in Mazatlan. The weather was wonderful and we had a great time. Only thing was we went on Royal Carribean. The cruise had some kids but for those who didn't want to interact with them there was an adult pool.

 

Anyway, I would suggest this cruise.

[MarilynTX]

Sealuber,

 

How were the beds and sheets? We are on the star next month. I have been on many cruises but seldom had a comfy bed.

[sealuber]

I would not book a cruise during the 4th of July week (nor Spring Break), because many familes would be vacationing at that very time. Having said that, we plan to enjoy our first trip to Alaska on the NCL Star on August 23rd as many schools will already be in fall session.

 

We wanted kids lol just because we have two of them and did not want them to be bored. The kids club tries to go a good job of keeping them entertained and out of trouble. They do have problems with the "teenagers" that go for the first two days make friends and never come back. Instead they decide to "take over the ship" not all of them are like that, but the few that are give the rest of them a bad rep. JMO here :)

[sealuber]

Sealuber,

 

How were the beds and sheets? We are on the star next month. I have been on many cruises but seldom had a comfy bed.

 

According to Lucinda or Lucia forgot her name. She is the assistant cruise consultant onboard our cruise were there first to use the egg crate matteress shells. They were comfy. I loved the new pillows. She all said that all 2.0 implementations would be aboard all ships by October.She also said that they had implemented about 1 million dollars in food improvements. I have to say that I rather liked the food alot!

[sealuber]

VERY nice review. I was appauled to read they tried to move you from that table after they had sat you there. I can not TELL you the A** I would have made of myself. I am very sure security would have been called..LOL..

 

.

 

Congrats on your 10years!!! We were celebrating 15 and my parents 39!! He was a jerk, and he knew it too. He finally came by towards the end of the meal and asked if everything was ok. The one great thing that I can say is that my daugher left her purse with her digital camera and it was returned the very next morning. She had forgotten that she had even left it there. The crew was wonderful. We did tip extra for those that I felt we made a connection to.

[sealuber]

VERY nice review. I was appauled to read they tried to move you from that table after they had sat you there. I can not TELL you the A** I would have made of myself. I am very sure security would have been called..LOL..

 

.

 

Congrats on your 10years!!! We were celebrating 15 and my parents 39!! He was a jerk, and he knew it too. He finally came by towards the end of the meal and asked if everything was ok. The one great thing that I can say is that my daugher left her purse with her digital camera and it was returned the very next morning. She had forgotten that she had even left it there. The crew was wonderful. We did tip extra for those that I felt we made a connection to.