review norwegian star cruise ship

Norwegian Star Review: The Good Bad and the Ugly

By: Author coupletraveltheworld

Posted on Last updated: August 27, 2023

Categories Cruise Reviews

Considering cruising on the Norwegian Star but don’t know what the ship will be like?

You have come to the right place. We have traveled on Norwegian Cruise Line a lot (here’s a Norwegian Getaway review, a Norwegian Sun review and a Norwegian Sky review ) and are now finally platinum members (yippee – hello free speciality dining meals!) so we know a thing or two about Norwegian ships.

Norwegian Star is one of the smaller of the Norwegian cruise fleet, it is also one of the older ships which means it doesn’t have some of the facilities of the large ships like waterslides but we still really enjoyed our cruise.

We cruised on the Norwegian Star for over 30 nights on a back to back sailing from Southhampton UK to Reykjavík Iceland up the coast of Scotland and Norway. During this time, I noted my thoughts on the ship so keep reading for the good, the bad and the ugly of the Norwegian Star to decide whether you would like to cruise on it for your next vacation.

Entertainment

The entertainment on the ship was of a really high quality overall. The ship has a production team which consist of 3 lead female singers, 3 lead male singers and backup dancers. I believe this team rotates every 8 months or so so the production team may vary depending on when you travel.

If you are on a cruise for around 10 days (this was 1 leg of our 3) they will do 3 shows in total. These shows are on repeat for a few months so if you do back to back cruising, you will likely need to see the same show twice. That being said, we really liked the production shows and were happy to see them a few times. There was a good show when we sailed called “What the World Needs” celebrating music of Burt Bacharach.

We also met the cast around the ship and they were all really nice and friendly. They are allowed to access some of the guest facilities like the gym and buffet so you often see them around. Most of them are up for a chat.

In addition to the production performances, there are 3-4 guest acts that Norwegian hires which perform in the Stardust theatre (the main stage). This is the only theatre on the ship.

During our cruise, we had a guest singer, a magic show, a juggler, a violinist and an acrobatic duo. All shows were good but the acrobatic duo ( MP Art Duo ) were absolutely phenomenal and absolutely world class having previously worked for Cirque du Soleil. 

This is a great cruise for young adults so if you are in your 20s/30s and thinking to book this cruise we would say, go for it as the entertainment was great for this age group.

My Dad was disappointed we didn’t have a comedian onboard on the first two legs of the cruise like there has previously been on other ships. Being a smaller ship, there was less overall entertainment than larger ships like the Norwegian Epic and less choice but it was still overall a very high quality. We were on back-to-back sailings and on the third leg of the cruise a comedian did come on. Although, I would rate the entertainment and comedic value as poor. It was disappointing to say the least.

A benefit to the larger ships is that you don’t need to book shows in advance. You can just show up and get a seat.  I really liked this as it meant you didn’t have to plan your schedule in advance.

In addition to the theatre performances which are generally on 7pm and 9pm (two shows nightly) there was various other entertainment around the ship like piano players, guitarists and violinists to watch as you enjoy a drink.

Rating: 9/10

The food on the Norwegian Star was overall of a very high quality. There are 2 free main dining areas (Versailles and Aqua) as well as a pub area (O’Sheehans), a Chinese restaurant (Ginza) and a buffet (the Garden Buffet) that you can visit without a speciality dining package.

Versailles is the fancier of the two free restaurants onboard the Norwegian Star with an old-world Mary Antoinette vibe. The ceilings at the restaurant are high and the decor of the restaurant is regal and gold. Lovely oil paintings line the walls.

Aqua presents more modern-style dining with more modern furniture and finishings as well as a star ceiling.

Versailles was my preference of the two as I preferred the decor and the service tended to be faster as a whole. Both Versailles and Aqua serve exactly the same menu each night and share a galley so the food for both restaurants is identical.

I think some guests just choose to dine at whichever restaurant is closer to their cabin. There are a lot of larger guests onboard the cruise – it is a foodies paradise after-all – and some of them can’t walk very far.

Versailles restaurant

The menu for Versailles and Aqua changed nightly and for the most part I couldn’t fault it. Some of my personal highlights (if you see them come up) are the peanut bang bang chicken and shrimp and the rainbow trout.

Bang bang chicken and shrimp served at Versailles and Aqua on the Norwegian Star

Coconut shrimp on the Norwegian star

We dined at Ginza, the included Chinese restaurant only twice over the 30 nights we were onboard the Norwegian Star on our back to back sailing.

I would say the food at Ginza was a bit ordinary overall. It had a bit of an MSG taste if I’m honest. A special mention to the fried vegetable pot stickers at Ginza which stood out from the rest of the menu and are worthwhile ordering if you decide to dine there. 

The pub O’Sheehans was the only restaurant on the Star that opened 24/7. In the past Norwegian cruises have offered a late night small buffet so you can have a snack after the show finished but it seems this stopped after COVID-19 which I think is a bit poor. 

O’Sheehans has a great pub menu and is worth visiting for their burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs. It is also the only place on the ship which serves Guinness beer which my husband and father appreciated. If you are traveling in a group, it is also one of the most likely places you will get a window ocean view table as the tables at Versailles are mostly set up for couples.

The Garden cafe had some good food on offer too. One night they had suckling pig on the menu which was seriously delicious and we really enjoyed.

There are also 6 specialty dining restaurants onboard the Star where a fee, dining package or voucher applies: Cagneys Steakhouse, La Cucina Italian, Le Bistro French, Moderno Brazilian, Sushi and Teppanyaki. If you don’t have a dining package included in your cruise/ are not a platinum number, I believe you can purchase a package onboard for around $50 USD per person per restaurant.

Out of the 6 specialty dining restaurants onboard the Norwegian Star we tried 4: Cagneys Steakhouse, La Cucina Italian, Le Bistro French and Moderno Brazilian.

We had 1 speciality dining included in our cruise as part of a promotion. Plus, if you cruise with Norwegian a lot and hit “platinum status” you get 2 extra speciality dining included per cruise of 5 days or longer. So in total we had 3 per cruise and 9 speciality dining in total during our 30 days at sea.

Cagneys Steakhouse had very good food especially the Filet Mignon steak (highly recommended). A few in our group tried some of the other steak cuts at the restaurants and none compared to the quality of the Filet Mignon. Don’t be turned off by the fact that you don’t get as much Filet Mignon 8oz as the other cuts of steak where you get as much as double as it is plenty and you will leave feeling rather full, quality over quantity I say. Other good options at the restaurant are the onion soup (very good) and the shrimp cocktail. 

La Cucina Italian was a big let-down. If you only want to try a few of the speciality dining restaurants onboard, I would avoid this one. The pizza was border-line uneatable. The pasta meals were pretty basic with the one saving grace the lasagne, which was above average.

We dined at Le Bistro French several times during the cruise as the food was absolutely top notch. My family were disgusted by the idea of ordering escargots (snails) but after trying one of my garlic snail deliciousness, they ended up all ordering the entree themselves next time we dined there.

The beetroot goats cheese salad as well as the duck main are also highly recommended. I ordered duck every single time we dined at Le Bistro as it was that good!

Duck meal at Le Bistro French restaurant Norwegian Star

Moderno Brazilian was a mixed bag. The boys really enjoyed it but my mother and myself didn’t really rate it. I would say the meat was a bit too salty for my personal taste. It does include a really nice buffet which includes sushi and yummy cheeses to start with as an entree which is really nice.

Beverages and Bars onboard

On Norwegian, you have the choice to buy a NCL beverage package which gives you access to all drinks (except speciality coffees like lattes) under $15 in value OR you can buy what you want onboard as you go.

If we are traveling in a group, as we were on this cruise, we usually buy the beverage package as it is more economical if you are consuming a bit of grog. Norwegian often offers “Free at Sea” promos where they throw in the beverage package into the price of the cruise for a few hundred extra. There is also a beverage gratuity added if you decide to purchase the beverage package.

There are numerous bars you can visit around the ship with our favorites being Gatsbys, the Mojito bar, the Bliss lounge and the Whisky bar.

I was very happy overall with the choice and quality of beverages onboard the Star. If you like a good red wine, I would recommend trying the Barkan Classic from Israel which was really nice.

As mentioned, speciality coffees like lattes are not included in the beverage package and I really think they should be when ships like Costa do include them when buying their beverage package. That is my only complaint about the beverages.

One of our favourite wines onboard the Star

We found the staff on the Norwegian Star a little hit and miss. There were some seriously fantastic but others were borderline bad.

The customer service overall at Norwegian needs serious improvement. You could line up for hours at customer service at the ship and have nothing done for you.  Try calling Norwegian on the phone and it’s even worse. No-one in customer service seems to know what’s going on. For example, as a platinum member, you are supposed to get chocolate covered strawberries delivered to the room. Despite asking multiple times, they did not arrive to our room on our last leg of the cruise.

On the other hand, we met a bartender called Rico who was a champion and made our time on the cruise an absolute pleasure. He’s the best – 10/10 for Rico. Rico worked with a bartender called Jeffrey in a duo who was also really lovely.

The staff at the restaurants were also generally really nice and helpful. We often ordered multiple meals and they were really kind and didn’t care how much we ordered or make us feel like pigs. I also ordered extra this or that like extra shrimp in one meal and they were happy to oblige. 

Norwegian helps you with your luggage when you leave the ship, which is a great service, but when I went to collect mine, someone had spilt some large drink on it which I didn’t appreciate. When I went to inform staff at the terminal, it was difficult to find anyone and no-one seemed to care much.

Rating: 6/10

Cabins – Inside State Room

The Norwegian Star is an older ship and the cabins are really started to shown the age of the ship. The cabins are very clean and comfortable but they are showing signs of age like marks on the counter and yellow-ing of the walls.

We stayed in an inside cabin while onboard and it was ample for 2 people but I would not recommend anymore than 2 people staying inside, despite the fact there is a pull down bunk, it would be extremely crowded with more than 2 people. If you are traveling as a family with kids, I would recommend a larger room, like a balcony.

Included in the inside cabin is a double bed, full size floor to ceiling mirror, tv and desk/makeup station with a mirror as well as a private bathroom with a decent sized shower.

If you are traveling to somewhere that has the midday sun in summer, an inside cabin was really great as it totally blocked out the light. My parents usually book a balcony but loved their inside cabin for the light-blocking capabilities. 

Rating: 7/10

What rooms to avoid on the Norwegian Star?

If you are susceptible to motion sickness, you will want to get a room in mid-ship, ideally on the lowest floor possible.

I would also avoid any rooms in close proximity (either next to or above) restaurants and bars due to noise.

We stayed on level 9 (front) and my parents stayed on level 4 (mid) and their room was far more stable. Ours rocked around more when the seas became rougher.

We use wifi to work and purchased the unlimited wifi plan onboard. It was a big let-down. The wifi package costs around $40 USD a day for access, for the fastest package. There are 2 packages that you can choose from: one that is only good for checking emails etc and one that is supposed to be fast enough to stream. Well, half the time it did not work at all.

If the wifi flat out does not work after you buy it, you can visit the Internet Cafe staff and they will normally give you a refund so that is a good saving grace.

Rating: 5/10

Activities onboard

One thing I think Norwegian does really well is that they constantly entertain you while on board. The entertainment schedule you receive on the Freestyle Daily delivered to your room each day is packed with activities to choose from.

There is something to suit everyones taste from Trivia to “Game Shows” like the Newlywed Not So Newlywed show. This game show is a Norwegian classic and if you start to do multiple Norwegian cruises you will see it again and again but it’s pretty funny and doesn’t get old – I will let you experience it for yourself.

There is also karaoke and dance classes you can take part in, amoung other things. They have sadly taken out some of the more “contact activities” since COVID like the ultimate dance off where you partner with a member of the production crew and compete.

We noticed some other thing had also stopped since COVID like the towel animals. I suppose there is too much contact with guests towels for them to continue this cute housekeeping perk.

Rating: 8/10

As I said before, the Norwegian Star is an older ship which means the facilities are nowhere near as high quality as some of the newer and bigger ships in their fleet.

There is a small heated pool with four hot tubs in the middle of the boat as well as 2 hot tubs at the back of the boat for guests use. There are 2 hot tubs at the front of the boat for staff use only. There are no water slides on this cruise or rock climbing.

There is a small basketball court as well as a tiny driving range. The gym area was large and modern. We visited almost every day to try to offset the food we were consuming.

If you have kids there is a kids club area as well.

We visited Edinburgh, the Orkney islands, the Shetland islands, up the coast of Norway, around Iceland and to Greenland. The Star’s itinerary constantly changes based on what time of year you are booking.

Unlike some ships that constantly just go back and forward to the Bahamas or Alaska, the Star visits lots of different ports around the world. For the last few years, the Star has been sailing around South America in December, a route the Sun used to do.

I’m only giving the rating an 8/9 as due to the Star being a cheaper ship it often does not get the dock and has to use tender boats to access the ports of call which is more annoying and takes longer to do.

A cruise port in Iceland visited from the Norwegian Star

How to get the best price?

If you are flexible with dates, you can search Cruisedirect by month for all sailings.

We booked our cruise through Cruisedirect and we recommend you do the same because they consistently have the best deals. We paid around $600 USD per 10 day cruise which was great value.

What we like is that the site is quite user friendly and you can search cruises by price.

7 Night Caribbean Cruises from $469 on Norwegian, only at Cruisedirect.com. FREE Open Bar & Shore Excursions, Plus Up to $500 to Spend On Board!

Norwegian Star Review: Overall rating 8/10

All in all considered, I would give the Star a rating of 8 out of 10. A few areas of the cruise weren’t great but overall I had a really good time and would travel on the ship again.

I would say areas like the lower quality facilities and the older cabins did not overall detract from the enjoyment of my trip. While some of the staff were crap, others we will never forget and really made our journey enjoyable.

The Norwegian Star tends to be selling at a lower price point due to the age and the size of the ship and if you can get a good deal, I would recommend going for it! I think you’ll have a great time.

If you are planning on traveling on the Norwegian Star and have a question or if you have traveled on it as a past guest and have a comment, our readers would love to hear from you as every tip counts so leave a comment below!

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Norwegian Star

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Norwegian Star

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Norwegian Star – capable of carrying 2,298 passengers and 1,031 crew members – was refurbished in 2021 as part of The Norwegian Edge program. The ship offers the Spice H2O adult-only escape, where guests can sip cocktails in their lounge chairs by day and party under the stars by night. 

Beyond its adult spaces, this Norwegian ship is well-suited for multigenerational travel. Kids' needs are satisfied thanks to youth clubs, teen lounges and pools, while adults can relax at the Mandara Spa. At night, the entire gang can enjoy a number of onboard performances and a myriad of meal options available at the ship's 13 restaurants.

In terms of lodging, Star's Inside and Oceanview cabins range from 141 to 195 square feet. For even more space, guests can opt for a Balcony, Club Balcony or Suite category cabin.

Norwegian Star sails to destinations in South America and Europe. The ship also offers transatlantic voyages.

Pros & Cons

Refurbished in 2018

Over half of dining venues require extra fee

• Expert Rating » 3.5
• Traveler Rating » 3.5
• Health Rating » 4.6

Norwegian Star ranks # 18 out of 19 Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 18 in Best Norwegian Cruise Line
• # 73 in Best Cruises to Europe
• # 109 in Best Affordable Cruises

Norwegian Star offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Norwegian Star contains 11 decks. Find out which features are available on each Norwegian Star deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 2043 guests have reviewed Norwegian Star , giving it a rating of 3.6 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Norwegian Star Cruise Ship Review: What I Loved About This Cruise

I booked the cruise through my local travel agent taking advantage of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at Sea promotion.  Since I booked a balcony stateroom, I received three perks for “free”. I decided to go with the Premium Beverage Package, Dining Package, and free WiFi. I will talk about whether it was worth it to choose this option instead of a Sail Away Category later on in this article.

But first, here are things I loved about my cruise on Norwegian Star.

One of the main selling points for me on this seven night cruise was that the ship stopped in six cruise ports.  There were no sea days.  After all, you don’t go to see and experience Europe to spend half of your time on the ship.

The cruise departed from Venice, Italy and visited Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Argostoli, Greece, and Dubrovnik, Croatia.  View Prices on Cruises on Norwegian Star

It’s really hard to choose a favorite since every port was nothing short of amazing.  From the old city in Kotor, the beaches in Greece, the streets of Mykonos, to enjoying a sunset dinner in Santorini, every day of the cruise was epic.

What a great day in Mykonos, Greece during our cruise on @CruiseNorwegian Star. We are definitely coming back here on another cruise. pic.twitter.com/gumL5JkG2B — Cruise Fever ® (@CruiseFever) August 15, 2019

If you’re a fan of the TV show Game of Thrones, you’ll enjoy visiting the Old City in Dubrovnik, Croatia where the show was filmed.

Cruise Starts and Ends in Venice

One of the great things about this cruise is that you start and end in one of the most unique cities on earth. We stayed one night pre cruise and one night post cruise in Venice.  If there was ever a city to stay in and extend your vacation, it is Venice.

Sailaway in Venice on @CruiseNorwegian Star. pic.twitter.com/kTLSIDd0hQ — Cruise Fever ® (@CruiseFever) August 11, 2019

We used Venice Water Taxi for transfers from the airport to our hotel and from our hotel to the cruise port. They showed up right on time and couldn’t be happier with them.

My advice, go and spend a few extra days in Venice, you won’t regret it.

I can’t say enough about how great the crew was on Norwegian Star. There was a friendly smile everywhere I went and had one of the best room stewards I’ve ever had on a cruise.

Traveling can be a bit tricky since my wife has a severe allergy to gluten.  In my first impressions article about this cruise, I talked about how the Assistant Maitre D’ Jasmin went out of her way to make sure she was taken care of.  We can’t thank her enough for all that she did.

The staff on Norwegian Star was one of the friendliest crews I’ve experienced on a cruise.

While I love mega ships and all that they offer, I prefer smaller or medium sized ships when sailing in Europe.  (Especially since cruises in that region tend to be more port intensive)  Norwegian Star, at 91,000 gross tons, is the perfect sized ship for this itinerary.

Although the cruise ship is 18 years old it doesn’t seem like it. Norwegian recently gave the vessel a multi-million dollar renovation and modernization.

One of my favorite features on Norwegian Star is that there are tons of quiet spots on deck once you get away from the main pool. (especially in the front of the ship where there’s also a hot tub)

A walk around the pool deck on @CruiseNorwegian Star while visiting Dubrovnik today. pic.twitter.com/pV4DwOQdgC — Cruise Fever ® (@CruiseFever) August 18, 2019

We ended up booking a balcony cabin on deck 6.  The bathroom had one of the better layouts I’ve seen on a ship. The sink was in the middle with the toilet and shower on the sides.  However, there were sliding doors to both the shower and the toilet.  This feature can come in extremely handy for families.

The cabin had a decent sized balcony and overall it was a comfortable place for us to spend the week.

Since the ship recently updated, our cabin had several handy USB ports for charging electronics.

The main theater had seats on a really nice slope that helped prevent the person in front of you from blocking your view.  There are also some great seats on the side on the top that offer awesome views of the shows.

Dining Options

One of the things that I love about Norwegian Cruise Line is the abundance of food options. I have never seen a ship the size of Norwegian Star offer so many options.  Usually you have to cruise on the newer mega ships if you want 12 or more options for dinner.

If you go hungry on the ship, it’s your own fault.

View Prices on Cruises on Norwegian Star

O’Sheehan’s Bar and Grill is complimentary and open 24/7.

Odds and Ends

At a few of our port stops we arrived earlier than schedules.  This extra time in port was greatly appreciated.

I bought two CruiseNext certificates on board.  They were $250 each and are good for a future deposit on a Norwegian cruise over the next four years. They gave me $250 in onboard credit on my current cruise for buying them. If you are going to cruise again on Norwegian, they really are a no-brainer to buy.

You’ll want to book your dining reservations for specialty restaurants before you get on the ship.  I actually recommend that you book them as far in advance as possible. I waited until two weeks before our cruise to book them and it was hard getting times that we wanted.  Some days the only open times were 9:00 pm.  Considering I like to eat dinner at around 6-7, that just doesn’t work for me.

Cagney’s, the steakhouse onboard, is the most popular specialty restaurant on the ship. For good reason too, the steaks are just incredible.  However, you’ll want to book your reservations as soon as possible.  Since we had three free nights to eat in specialty restaurants, we were hoping to eat there at least twice.

When I went to reserve our dining times two weeks before our cruise, I was only able to book the first night at Cagney’s.  The rest of the cruise was booked solid, apart from 9:00 or 9:30 pm reservations.

Three of the ports on the cruise were tender ports. If you don’t have an excursion booked through Norwegian, you’ll want to get a tender ticket to minimize your wait. In Santorini and Mykonos, the tender was a really short ride so it really helped keep the wait times down.  I think the tender ride in Mykonos was around two minutes max.

There is a Starbucks in the main atrium on Norwegian Star.

Go to the main dining room (Versailles) and skip the buffet for breakfast. They offered great service and you were in and out in no time.

Debarkation was a breeze in Venice.  Since we stayed in the EU for the entire cruise, there was no need to go through customs like you do here in the States.  We just held up our passports and they waved us through.

Free at Sea or Sail Away Category

For the past few years, Norwegian Cruise Line has been offering various types of their “Free at Sea” promotion.  Depending on the stateroom category that you book, you will receive perks that include beverage packages, dining packages, free WiFi, shore excursion credits, and free or reduced airfare.

Now these perks aren’t actually free. When booking my cruise, I had the option to choose a Sail Away Category rate which was $200 per person cheaper.  The Sail Away rates do not include the option to choose the free perks.

Since I needed to buy WiFi for work and I usually buy a few nights in specialty restaurants, I decided to pay the $200 per person more to get the Free at Sea perks. Even though we don’t drink, I thought it would also be nice to have the Premium Beverage Package so we could get smoothies, sodas, virgin cocktails anytime we wanted. You also have to pay gratuities on the full price of the drink package ($100 per day so $20 for tips). But I don’t mind that one bit, the crew works hard and deserves every penny of that.

Since I was going to buy WiFi and at least three nights in specialty restaurants, would only be about $80 per person ($12 per day) more to get the Free at Sea perks and we could get unlimited drinks. I thought being able to get specialty coffees and bottled water anytime we wanted would be nice.

One thing I did not realize is that with the Premium Beverage Package, it does not include bottled water, specialty coffees, Gatorade, or drinks like Red Bull.

You do have the option to upgrade to the Ultimate Beverage Package for $30 per day plus gratuities that includes just about all drinks onboard.

Since we were in Greece in the middle of August, we did order a ton of non-alcoholic drinks to keep us cool.  My wife loved the virgin mojitos and the different smoothies that they offered.

However for me, I’ll probably just choose the Sail Away rate for the next cruise I book on Norwegian.  After all, I do have those two CruiseNext certificates that I purchased on board.  If the beverage package included bottled water, specialty coffees, and Gatorade, that would probably make it worth it for me to get the Free at Sea perks.

You really have to decide for yourself if it is worth it for you.  Everyone is different and not every perk is worth the same to everyone.

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My wife and I, along with four other couples took the same cruise in July and agree with the top notch quality of the NCL Star. We select our cruises based on the itinerary, and this was fantastic with no sea days and a new port daily. We stayed in Venice three days prior to boarding as Venice is our favorite port city EVER. We used the Allalaguna water bus to get to the port, and also for touring the other Venitian islands. Several of the ports were overcrowded with tourists with anywhere from two to four other large ships in port, which made getting around in the port cities a challenge with crowding and traffic. That was really the only down side to the trip. Thanks to the NCL Star crew for a great vacation.

Did a Baltic cruise on the star a few years back. A Nice ship but, the rooms could be a little larger. We upgraded to a mini-suite for our cruise.

I cruised on THE BLISS in 2018 to ALASKA..awesome cruise. I recommend only NCL.

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Norwegian Star Cruise Review: A Great Ship, A Great Model, A Great Experience!

While Most companies are continuously going bigger and flashier, the Norwegian star, which can now be considered an “Older ship” still strikes all the chords needed to have an exceptional cruising experience, thanks to Norwegians Cruise Line which are, in my opinion, one of the best in the game! Over my more than 20 cruises on all the most important cruise lines out there, I have gathered enough experience to be able to judge of what quality cruising is and I can sense when they go the extra mile on details, as well as when they “cut the corners short…”. Fortunately, I am happy to report that once again, Norwegian impresses me and definitely doesn’t cut any edges for what you pay!

Overall, an Older ship, Comfortable and not overcrowded

In This Article...

• 2 In a Nutshell…
• 3 Ship Comfort
• 4 Theater Shows
• 5 Room Comfort
• 6 Entertainment onboard’s “fun factor”
• 7 Service Quality
• 9 Cleanliness
• 10 Quality/Price
• 11 Check-in / Check-out
• 12 Fellow Passengers On-Board
• 13 Conclusion
• 14 The Norwegian Star in Pictures
• 15 Pin to Pinterest
• Check-in / Check-out: 6/10
• Entertainment onboard: 6/10
• Theater Shows: 9/10
• Ship Common Areas 8/10
• Ship Comfort: 8/10
• Room Comfort: 8/10
• Service Quality: 8/10
• Food: 10/10
• Cleanliness: 7/10
• Quality/Price: 8/10
• Overall satisfaction: 9/10

In a Nutshell…

Quantum Ultra Class : The Norwegian Star, part of the  Conquest-class  ships operated by  Carnival Cruise Line , brings freedom and flexibility to cruises spanning the  Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, and Transatlantic  routes. Recently Refurbished : As part of  The Norwegian Edge  program, the ship underwent extensive enhancements to its  staterooms, public spaces, restaurants, bars, and lounges . Spice H20 : A new addition to the Norwegian Star,  Spice H20  is an  adult-only escape . By day, guests can sip cocktails from reclined lounge chairs, and by night, it transforms into a lively dance venue beneath the stars. World-Class Spa : The  Mandara Spa® , also recently refurbished, offers pampering services including facials, massages, acupuncture, and more. Ship Details : Gross Register Tonnage : 91,740 tons. Guest Capacity (Double Occupancy) : 2,348. Length : 965 feet. Width (Max Beam) : 125 feet. Year Built : 2001. Crew : 1,031. Cruise Destinations : Set sail from one destination and end in another, experiencing extraordinary journeys across the globe. Find special deals and reserve today on the Norwegian Star by clicking here .

Ship Comfort

One thing I learned while sailing the newest Monster ships out there with all the bells and whistle is that in the cruise industry, “bigger is not better”… In fact, this is in most cases a trick to cramp more rooms and people on the ship while providing the same amenities. This is what will make the ship feel overcrowded and massively decrease the comfort experience of the ship, which is a big factor of appreciation for me. This is where the Norwegian Star marked its first points I believe, with a lot of amenities and space for its size! Even when sailing at full capacity, the ship almost always felt spacious, balancing the passengers throughout the ships different rooms.

Result for Ship Comfort: 8/10

The Norwegian Star at Port

Theater Shows

Wow! This was such a surprise! The 4 shows of their production shows from their official Norwegian star dancers and signers were just fabulous. I had always enjoyed Norwegians theater shows on previous cruises, but I couldn’t remember how good this was! And I wasn’t the only one! On every one of their shows, especially the Vegas one, pretty much everybody was on a standing ovation. This must be one of the best choreographies I have seen on any ships! The other representations were also interesting, and since it was a Cross-Atlantic cruise, they had brought various artists to fit the empty days. Some were good, others were not. None were at the level of the 4 shows from the signers and dancers. The one thing I thought could have been improved is that for a transatlantic cruise of 14 days, they only showed the dancer’s show once each, the same amount as a normal 7-day cruise.

Find special deals and reserve today on the Norwegian Star by clicking here .

They must have used the transatlantic cruise as a little “break” for their performers, but I would have appreciated for them to repeat the shows, as they do on others Ships I have sailed, such as the Norwegian Epic, for example. Yes, it was that good! Norwegian has a reputation of hiring the best of the best quality dancers, while other ships hire seasonal and amateur dancers. Another thing I appreciated was the theatre’s design, which was big and spacious, set on two floors, which provided comfortable and great elevated views from the row in front. Everybody would get a good view of the shows wherever they would sit in the theater. Good Job Norwegian Star!

The Theater

Room Comfort

In General, the room was comfortable, but being a little older of course, this factor will play in the comfort experience. I felt like there were strange smells at times in the room, which was also noted by other passengers. Nothing major and it was dealt with quickly by the room attendant. On a positive note, they had a rehaul in 2018, which means they refurbished some areas of the ship, as well as some things in the room, such as USB ports, a great addition in these years of technology.

Result Room Comfort: 7/10

The Interior Room

Entertainment onboard’s “fun factor”

This is the biggest lack of the ship in my opinion. Out of the 5 different bands or artist playing, only one of them was actually good in my opinion: The Latin American duo which amazingly only a few people seemed to like. There were two bands of Asians playing that always seemed to be off-key, missing notes all the time and seemed unprofessional to anyone having at least an average musical ear! That amazed me that Norwegian would have such novice musicians onboard compared to their theatrical shows which were so high standard! The Soloist guitar player was good though, but not exceptional. The same goes with their pianist, which only played piano versions of pop music in the evenings, no variety such as classical or jazz, whatsoever. This is a shame since some Cruise lines hire some incredibly talented musicians, and none were provided on this cruise. The only talented classical music artist was an incredible Ukrainian violinist which was hired for her onstage performance. The show was amazing though, I just felt they could have provided such talent in their bars.Find special deals and reserve today on the Norwegian Star by clicking here .

The other big lack was their animation team, pretty much unexsistant! Some cruise lines make a great effort to entertain guests with games, animations, etc… The team was barely visible and would do the bare minimum… It Needs some attention urgently to boost the “fun” factor on the ship.

Finally, One of my biggest criticism on this ship was that there was no Nightclub. Yes, No nightclub on a ship of this size is unacceptable. They would only use one of the bars and would end up always empty after the animation team would do their little 30 minutes “dance with the crowd” daily before sending their DJ which was barely visible. No good… I later understood that they used the prime location for a nightclub on a ship, the panoramic view bar up at the highest floor, for their “exclusive guests only” section, leaving the rest of the ship without any decent place to go dancing the night away. A very bad choice of amenities which will hurt the Norwegian star’s reputation again on the “fun factor”.

• Stardust Theater : Picture a grand theater with plush seats, twinkling lights, and anticipation in the air. The  Stardust Theater  is where magic happens. More than  1,000 guests  gather to witness top-notch production shows. From Broadway-style musicals to jaw-dropping acrobatics, this theater hosts performances that’ll make your heart skip a beat.
• Club BOTR : Step into a time machine and groove your way back to the ’70s. At  Club BOTR , the Norwegian Production Cast and Show Orchestra transport you to the hottest disco club. Imagine the soaring melodies of Styx, the disco beats of Donna Summer, and the rock anthems of Queen. Your name’s on the guest list—so shimmy, shake, and be whoever you want to be!
• Deal or No Deal : Ready for some high-stakes drama? In this exhilarating show, contestants play and deal for cash. It’s a battle of nerves, intuition, and a dash of luck. Grab your play cards and join the suspense. Will you strike a deal or go all-in?
• Paradis : Parisian chic meets bohemian allure.  Paradis  is a mysterious, urban show inspired by the City of Light. Imagine an unknown club in Paris where the up-and-coming mingle with the elite. Visual feasts, sultry moves, and a touch of intrigue—it’s all here.
• Spinnaker Lounge : Late-night revelry awaits at the newly-relocated  Spinnaker Lounge . Dance the night away, sip cocktails, and let the music carry you. The stern of Deck 7 becomes your private party zone.
• Mandara Spa and Salon : Need a break from the spotlight? Head to the serene  Mandara Spa . Unwind with massages, facials, and rejuvenating treatments. Or take a dip in the  Thalasso Therapy Pool —total relaxation guaranteed.
• Internet Café : Stay connected even at sea. Norwegian Star has an onboard internet café. Share your adventures, check emails, and send virtual postcards to jealous landlubbers.

Result Entertainment onboard: 6/10

Service Quality

Amazing service is provided everywhere on the ship, to the highest standards in the industry! Great job to the team. Usually, on American ships, I noticed that the service is always better to attend to the demanding American customers compared to the European lines. Norwegian’s crew will always give that extra smile needed to make every seem happy, which is greatly appreciated!

Result Service Quality: 8/10

WOW! I must admit that very rarely will I hand over a 10 in a category, but here, I must give it to Norwegian. The food was plainly spectacular! Actually, out of all the ships that I have been on (over 20 from different lines), this has got to be the best food of any ship! First, the buffet was complete and different every night! The deserts were great too and the seating area was also well designed to provide enough space for everybody. Opening hours of the buffet were also extended for early and late breakfast and lunch.

But where the Norwegian Star shinned to my eyes was at the Versaille and Aqua restaurants provided at no extra cost. The quality of the food that was provided was, repeatedly incredible and I was surprised at how the chef reinvented every meal to the highest standards, every single night. This is a very difficult task to achieve since these meals need to be made in mass, for thousands of customers over an eating period of only about 4 hours. But I have not experienced even one bad night out of the 14. Special “hats down” for their desserts, which were just incredible, the best in the industry. I believe their chef was Portuguese and Filipino, and they definitely deserve my greatest respect for their work!

• Aqua and Versailles : These two main dining rooms offer traditional-style dining. Aqua, with its contemporary ambiance, invites you to savor your meal in a calm, cool setting. Meanwhile, Versailles transports you to French Renaissance splendor, complete with gold accents and gilt. Whether you prefer a cozy table for two or lively company, these dining rooms accommodate your wishes.
• O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill : Picture this: chunky wooden tables, ocean views, and a sense of intimacy. O’Sheehan’s, open 24 hours, serves up classic comfort food. Mac ‘n’ cheese, burgers, fries, and nachos—perfect for those late-night cravings. The only thing missing? A bowling alley, but hey, we’ve got the ocean right outside!
• The Garden Cafe : This bustling buffet on Deck 12 caters to all appetites. Breakfast omelets, waffles, and fresh salads at lunchtime. As the sun sets, it transforms into a casual dinner spot. Grab a plate, explore the stations, and let your culinary adventure begin.
• La Cucina : Deck 6 hosts this Italian eatery, where pasta and pizza reign supreme. Imagine twirling forkfuls of linguine while gazing out at the sea. Buon appetito!
• Moderno Churrascaria : Brazilian steakhouse vibes await on Deck 13. Neutral decor, private dining, and succulent meats—this is where the Star Bar once stood. Savor each juicy bite as you sip a mojito from the Sugarcane Mojito Bar nearby.
• Le Bistro : Norwegian’s signature French-Mediterranean restaurant resides on Deck 6. The ambiance matters almost as much as the food. Dim lighting, linen-draped tables, and Continental delights. Escargot, anyone?

Ginza : Now let’s talk Asian flavors. Ginza, free of charge, specializes in Asian recipes. Reserve early for the teppanyaki room—it seats only 12 lucky guests. And don’t miss the sushi bar with its whimsical “train” delivering delectable morsels.

Topsiders Bar & Grill : Picture yourself poolside, sun-kissed and hungry. Topsiders offers casual fare—think burgers, hot dogs, and refreshing drinks. It’s where you unwind after a dip in the pool or a lively dance at the deck party.

Result Food: 10/10

Great Food Selection on the Norwegian Star

Cleanliness

Cleanliness is very important on any ships since germs spread fast, especially on a 14 days ocean crossing. And Norwegian did a great job on this. They would have a “washy washy” staff in front of every entrance to the buffet for people to clean their hands prior to getting their food. A tiny detail for some, but an important one. For example, on a recent review, I have made about the MSC Meraviglia, absolutely no hand sanitizer would be found at any entrances of the buffet, which would result in so many people getting sick and coughing, contaminating others too. Totally unacceptable. Norwegian is one of those companies that take cleanliness seriously and this is well appreciated.

Result Cleanliness: 8/10

Quality/Price

Norwegian’s prices are well balanced in general. You get an above average experience, for an affordable price! Since I always liked my experience with Norwegian, I wouldn’t even hesitate to pay a little more on a cruise to be able to be with them. In my opinion, the two best cruising companies are Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. And while Royal Carribean ultimately really rarely lowers their prices, I feel like Norwegian has one of the best Quality/Price Ratio in the industry. Once again, well done Norwegian!

The only points to watch out is their overpriced “extras” like their excursions for example. They could also improve their internet service, which is absolutely overpriced compared to the competition in 2018. The internet is a necessity and with their actual prices, most passengers would prefer staying disconnected to pay their “at the minute” prices, in some plans 3 to 4 times higher than on other ships.

The service charge is also overpriced, at 14.50 $ per person per day. With 2 to 3 passengers in a room, this adds up very quickly and makes you feel like you are paying the crew’s entire wage out of that service fee. On the day they let people adjust the service fee, amazingly long queues formed at the reception to adjust the service fee. The service fee has always been part of the way cruise companies make their money, passing back the wage bill to the customers who already fully paid their cruise. But at 14.50 USD, it is a little hard to justify, while other cruises ask much lower, around the 10$ mark which I feel is more adequate.

Result Quality/Price: 8/10

Check-in / Check-out

This is one area that I didn’t appreciate. Being a Silver member of Norwegian, one of their promoted advantage of the status is to have priority Boarding. While in Rome, since there were so many senior passengers of premium and up class, they decided to drop the priority boarding for anybody lower than premium… False advertisement? After asking them they claimed this is written somewhere on the member’s terms, that they can deny this privilege at any time… It Must be written in the fine prints somewhere I couldn’t see it because everywhere I looked. Anyhow, outside this unfortunate check-in event, I felt it was a little bit chaotic and the experience was not pleasant, which could be the fault of the port of Civitavecchia where I boarded. Disembarkation day in Miami was also very painful, as they had 2 full-size cruises disembarking in the same terminal, and all passengers of both ships would be sent to the same immigration queue! This created a 1+ hour wait queuing and is not normal in Miami with other cruise lines. MSC, for example, is doing a much better job with their newer terminals, as well as Royal Caribbean. But anyhow, I cannot rank this category higher than a 6.

Fellow Passengers On-Board

Norwegian passengers are usually mostly North American and some Europeans, many times Norwegians for some reason (the company is actually American, not Norwegian). The age is also spread and would average usually between 45 to 55 years old. However, this cruise was very different since it was a transatlantic cruise. The average age was official of 65 years old and the night club was empty every single night with everybody back to their cabins after 11-12 pm. But this happens on every transatlantic crossing on every company. I have actually met people that were on the Norwegian star just after me and stated that the crowd came back to its normal levels, with ages averaging between 45 to 55 years old.

Sailing on the Norwegian star was a surprising experience! While there were some things lacking like the “fun factor” and onboard entertainment, Norwegian excelled amazingly at other areas such as their theater shows and the amazing food in the restaurants. It was overall one of my favourite cruises I have done and will push me to be a loyal customer to Norwegian in the future. I will definitely try to board other ships to compare them and see if this success is repeated! If you happen to find a good deal on the Norwegian Star, my recommendation would be to book it soon enough!

Result Overall satisfaction: 9/10

The Norwegian Star in Pictures

Amazing Chef Meals in the Restaurant

The Restaurant

Piano Cafe at the Atrium

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Norwegian Star Cruise Ship Review & Guide

Sat in the Bliss Ultra Lounge for one last time, I was sad to disembark the Norwegian Star Cruise Ship, but not gutted.

This was my 3rd cruise with NCL and the first time I hadn’t been devastated our voyage was over.

That’s not to say we didn’t have a great time. We did and we’ve already planned future cruises with Norwegian, but, for me, the Norwegian Star just didn’t live up to the high standard our first cruise on the NCL Epic or the Canary Islands cruise on the NCL Spirit set.

Want to know why I didn’t fall in love with it? I’m sharing all my thoughts as well as giving you a mini ship tour in this Norwegian Star cruise ship review!

Norwegian Star Cruise Ship At A Glance

• Built-in 2001, the NCL Star was refurbished in 2018.
• Coming in at 91,740 gross register tonnage, the overall length of the ship is 965ft and the max beam (width) is 125ft.
• The maximum guest capacity is 2,348, with the ship crew totalling 1,031.
• At the moment, the NCL Star sails in Bermuda, Carribean, Europe, South America & Transatlantic.
• The Norwegian Star has 15 delicious dining options as well as 10 bars and lounges and even a wine cellar to keep your thirst at bay.
• Highlights onboard include the Star Club casino, the Mandara Spa, outdoor and indoor swimming pools as well as the spectacular Stardust theatre.

Cruising With NCL

Despite its name, Norwegian Cruise Line is an American Cruise Line so everything is paid in dollars. This means, that depending on how the GBP is doing, UK cruisers can get a great deal. I was also told that, because the European cruise industry is one of the most competitive in the world, NCL offers some of their best deals to UK cruisers.

The main difference between NCL and the rest of the cruise industry is their signature freestyle cruising. Although most cruise companies are now relaxing dress codes and making the whole experience more informal, nobody does freestyle cruising with Norwegian.

Essentially, freestyling cruising is just like staying in a regular holiday resort. Forget any images of a stuffy atmosphere with a strict dress code, NCL cruises are all about relaxing and doing your cruise on your own terms.

Unlike a lot of cruises, there’s no timetable about when to eat, you simply eat when you want to. There’s no formal dress code, with relaxed casual being the standard across the ship.

That’s no to say you can’t dress up or enjoy some more traditional elements of a cruise. There are some dining rooms that don’t allow jeans etc. but you don’t have to go to that restaurant because there is so much choice. You’ll also get to dress up on Norwegian’s Night Out, but again, this is completely optional and you wouldn’t be out of place in jeans and a top.

Norwegian Star Cruise Ship Review

For reference, I cruised on the Norwegian Star in the middle of October 2019 on the 7 night Greek Isles and Italy cruise from Venice and that experience is what I’ll be basing this review on.

Embarkation & Disembarkation

If you ask anyone who’s been on a cruise before, they will tell you that Embarkation is the most stressful thing about cruising. The queues seem to be endless, you have to complete forms and go through both the ship’s security and immigration.

On top of that, everyone always seems to head straight for the buffet once they’re on the ship making getting something to eat and getting a table nearly impossible. But hey, it could be worse, you’re on a cruise!

Comparing the NCL Star embarkation with the other two, this was hands down the most stressful. I don’t know whether it’s to do with the embarkation port being in Venice, opposed to Barcelona where our previous two cruises had been, but this was so badly organised in comparison.

My mum is disabled and usually, NCL has a big banner for when you arrive at the port, directing you to go through a priority, fast-track entrance. Not only was there no signage for this in Venice, but the staff seemed reluctant to let my mum use this service despite obviously being disabled.

Once we got through the fast-track embarkation, things were a little better but again, staff didn’t seem very enthusiastic and weren’t guiding people to where they needed to go next. I sound like I’m picking at little things, but there was a hugely noticeable difference between this embarkation experience and the previous two.

As for disembarkation at the end of the cruise, this was much much smoother and well organised. Although, word of warning for anyone disembarking at Venice, there’s no luggage conveyor belt meaning you have to wander around a hall looking for your luggage. Although this will be organised into colour tag groupings, making your case stand out somehow will help you spot it in the sea of black suitcases.

Itinerary & Shore Excursions

We select our cruises based on the itinerary, so that’s what really sold our cruise.

Our original itinerary looked like this: Day 1 : Embarkation in Venice, Italy Day 2 : Kotor, Montenegro Day 3 : Corfu, Greece Day 4 : Santorini, Greece Day 5 : Mykonos, Greece Day 6: Kefalonia, Greece Day 7: Dubrovnik, Greece Day 8: Disembarkation in Venice, Italy

Unfortunately, due to cruise restrictions implemented by Venice cruise port, we were informed upon embarkation that our itinerary had changed meaning we wouldn’t be docking in Kotor, Montenegro. Actually, we did make a stop in Bar, Montenegro but this was only a technical stop for 2 hours and nobody was allowed to get off the ship.

If you’re thinking of doing this cruise, I’d recommend double-checking the amount of time you actually get in port. In some ports were only there a couple of hours, which after queuing for the tender, gave you practically no time in port. For me, I would have prefered fewer ports on the itinerary but longer in each one but obviously, this is affected by a lot of external factors that NCL can’t control.

Saying that I would definitely recommend doing some of the NCL shore excursions, especially when you don’t have long in the port. All of the ones I’ve done have been excellent and worth the cost. Oh, and you also have the added benefit that, if your trip is delayed in returning back to the ship, the ship won’t leave without you!

Fed up of me being a moaning Minnie? Me too. In fact, you’ll be relieved to hear that our stateroom on the Norwegian Star cruise ship was the best out of all three NCL cabins we’ve had.

As I said at the beginning, the Norwegian Star was refurbished in 2018 and you can really tell that the staterooms have been recently refreshed.

I loved everything from the multiple mirrors, the dressing table area with a seat and hairdryer to the inclusion of multiple USB sockets around the room making charging electricals a dream.

I stayed in the same cabin as my parents to help my mum but at no time did we feel cramped or on top of each other and we’re not exactly small humans.

For anyone new to cruising, cabins are much smaller than your average hotel room most noticeable in the bathroom. However, for the amount of time you spend in your cabin, you don’t need anything more.

For reference, these photos were taken in a Balcony stateroom, with the sofa converting into an additional bed.

Eating & Drinking on the Norwegian Star

Would it really be a cruise without good food and a cocktail or two?!

Foodies will be pleased to know that there are 15 delicious dining options for you to try on the Norwegian Star cruise ship.

In case you didn’t know, dining is split into two groups: complimentary options that are included in your cruise fare, and speciality dining options which come at an additional cost.

Complimentary dining options include:

• Ginza Asian Restaurant – an Asian Fusion dining venue featuring everything from noodles and soup to fried rice and sweet and sour.
• O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill – Open 24 hours, this is based on an Irish pub and serves classics such as burgers and even shepherds pie! We actually came here for breakfast most mornings as we found it much calmer than the Garden cafe.
• Aqua – One of the two main dining rooms, there’s a standard menu plus daily specials.
• Garden Cafe – This is the buffet and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. With action stations including from meat-carving, made-to-order pasta and waffles, you’ll find something here that you love. Word of warning, the choice can be overwhelming.
• Topsiders Bar & Grill – Located next to the Oasis Swimming Pool, you’ll find burgers and hot dogs along with a salad bar here.
• Versailles – The second of the two main dining rooms, this is a bit more traditional than Aqua but offers the same menu.
• Room Service – This is technically complimentary, although you will have to pay a small convenience charge.

Speciality dining options include:

• Moderno Churrascaria – A Brazilian steakhouse that includes a salad bar and slow-roasted meats.
• La Cucina – An Italian ristorante offering classics such as pasta carbonara or shrimp fettuccine.
• Atrium Cafe & Bar – Serving Starbucks coffee, this is a great spot to sit back and relax.
• Cagney’s Steakhouse – An American-style steakhouse that includes Angus beef and their famous Parmesan truffle fries.
• Le Bistro – A French restaurant that lets you sample Mediterranean, nouveau and classic cuisine.
• Sushi & Sake Bar – Enjoy traditional sushi and sashimi at this a la carte restaurant.
• Teppanyaki – A Japanese Hibachi restaurant that is like dinner and a show.

Need a drink to wash all that food down? You have 10 to choose from! Apart from the ones I’ve already mentioned these include:

• 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – A Tropical themed bar that has a signature margarita.
• Bliss Ultra Lounge – The main lounge that always has plenty of entertainment and music.
• Gatsby’s Champagne Bar – Featuring a great choice of champagne and vodka, this is a 1920’s themed bar that has live music most nights.
• Sky High Bar – An outdoor bar that serves frozen drinks.
• Spice H20 – The adults-only bar that serves cocktails during the day, transforming to a nightclub at night.
• Star Club Casino Bar – This bar is in the heart of the Casino letting you hit the slots and sip a drink.
• Sugarcane Mojito Bar – Whether it’s day or night, enjoy a mojito the way you like.

All the food & drink we tried was delicious but it was let down on two occasions.

The first point was mainly about the lack of communication. Whilst NCL operates on a freestyle system and you can just walk-in to restaurants, you can also make reservations at most via an app, interactive touch-screens, the website, calling the reservations team or going to the reservations desk.

Before the cruise, we booked our first night in Aqua no problem and decided to book again for the next night. On our previous NCL cruises we did this doing the app, but when I checked the app it said no reservations were available. I checked all the other dates and the same thing happened.

Assuming that there was an app error, I made a call to the reservations desk and the rudest person answered, so rude in fact that I ended up making a complaint. Extremely patronising, she first told me no reservations were available. Asking if that was the case for all the other dates, she said we could make a reservation for early (6 pm) or late (9.30 pm) but clearly didn’t want us too as she emphasised that we should just walk-in.

What was even more confusing was that the Freestyle Daily (a little newspaper telling you what’s happening on the ship) kept telling you you could make reservations for most restaurants and didn’t mention this change at all.

Another night, we went to the Ginza Asian Restaurant. On our previous ship, this got really busy and, as it is advertised on the website as not accepting reservations (fair enough), we went early. It was only on the off-chance that me and my mum were playing around with one of the interactive screens that we saw that you could make a reservation for it via the screen. Yet, when I checked the app whilst I was stood at the screen, it still said you couldn’t make reservations. We check this out a couple of times and it was the same every day. Hmmm.

Not being able to make reservations wasn’t a deal-breaker, but the lack of communication and confusion around making them really let the dining service down.

The next issue was around the Teppanyaki. Unlike on the NCL Spirit where it was only one table, the teppanyaki on the Norwegian Star cruise ship is in a huge room, with 4 tables being served at the same time, each with their own chef. This would be fine, but each chef begins at a slightly different time but has the same script meaning you can hear all the other tables whilst your own chef is cooking too.

Adding to the fact Teppanyaki is super noisy, it just became this unbearably loud and confusing mess with each chef competing for attention about the clatter of knives and singing. Not ideal when you’re paying extra for it either.

The only reason I can see NCL changing the format of this is for more money. This is hugely popular and more people being served at the same time is more money in the till. As I say, it would have been better if all the chefs were doing the same thing at the same time so they didn’t have to compete but ultimately this ruined the experience.

On-Board Activities & Entertainment

I don’t think I’ve ever been bored on a cruise. There is always so much to do, from the onboard shopping to organised activities.

As I mentioned before, everyone receives a copy of the Freestyle Daily in their stateroom in the evening. In this, you’ll find out everything that is going on on the ship, from casino events to arts and crafts.

Speaking of arts and crafts, me & my mum even did a canvas painting class whilst onboard. Whilst this class was at an extra cost, many of the activities are complimentary, cater to all taste and abilities, including plenty of things for children & teenagers.

Some of the onboard activities include:

• The Barong Fitness Centre which also offered lots of classes every day.
• Basketball & volleyball court as well as 2 golf driving nets.
• 6 hot tubs, an indoor lap pool and jacuzzi plus the main Oasis Pool.
• A jogging and walking track to keep your step count up.
• The Mandara Spa & Salon offering a variety of treatments including a Thermal Suite.
• An internet cafe so you can stay in touch.
• The Splash Academy for children aged 3-12 or the Teen Club.
• The Star Club Casino that features 158 slot machines as well as Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and Let It Ride.
• The Library where you can check out a wide variety of books.
• A video arcade.
• A Wine Cellar offering wine tasting.
• An amazing selection of shops including Effy Jewellery, Pandora, designer bags, luxury beauty products, food and drink as well as souvenir gifts.
• An Art Gallery and regular art auctions.

In addition to other performances, the following regular shows are being performed on the Norwegian Star cruise ship at the Stardust Theatre:

• Band on The Run – Transporting you back to one of the hottest clubs of the 70’s, Club BOTR, this show features songs from Donna Summer and Queen.
• Paradis – Inspired by Parisian culture, this show is a visual spectacle that embraces both the bohemian and chic.
• Vegas! The Show – Featuring everything from The Rat Pack and Elvis to Tina Turner to Cher, embrace everything Las Vegas has to offer in this story of the most influential entertainers in Sin City.
• What The World Needs Now – Celebrating the song-writing of Burt Bacharach, this is a beautiful show full of singing and dances.

Overall Thoughts on Norwegian Star Cruise Ship

Overall, I have a great time sailing on the Norwegian Star cruise ship, but it’s not my favourite from the NCL fleet.

Our cabin was the best we’ve ever had and the facilities onboard were amazing, especially the shopping. Needless to say, I disembarked with a pandora purchase and Valentino bag.

I don’t know whether it’s because I now have something to compare cruises with, but I found little things like the service and lack of communication really let it down.

Whilst both the NCL Epic and the NCL Spirit seemed to have their own character, the NCL Star didn’t seem to flow and, for the first time, I never got my head around the layout.

There’s no aqua park like on the NCL Epic, but this might appeal more to an adult cruiser. Saying that there were still plenty of kids on board when we sailed with lots of activities and things to do.

I wouldn’t not recommend the NCL Star, but I also wouldn’t go out of my way to go back on board. It just wasn’t a standout for me and fails to hold its own in comparison with other cruise ships.

Do you like the look of the Norwegian Star? Have you got a favourite cruise ship? Let me know in the comments below!

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• Norwegian (NCL) / Ship Reviews

Norwegian Star Inside Cabin Tour and Review

by Prof. Cruise · March 26, 2024

Introduction

Ours was cabin 5609 located on deck 5 midship. And by “our,” I mean my mom and I. This was a bucket list extended family cruise taking place over two holidays and a birthday and in total we booked three cabins, two interiors and one club balcony. My mom drew the short straw and had to share one of the inside cabins with me. I kept arguing that it could have been worse, that she could have been in with the 10 year-old who believes that showering more than once a week is an unspeakable burden or his father who believes sleeping past 4am is excessively lazy.

Still, 16-nights in a tiny cabin with me would tax any relationship. So, were mom and I still speaking at the end of it? Read on to find out!

Before I get into the details of what we loved and didn’t love about our inside cabin on the Star, here’s a complete cabin tour (and you can see a complete tour of my in-laws club balcony cabin HERE ):

Tour Of An Inside Cabin On The Norwegian Star

Things We Loved About Our Inside Cabin On The NCL Star

Space and layout.

While the layout of our cabin was atypical, facing horizontally instead of vertically, the space and layout worked well for us.

Four USB Ports

After 14 days of sharing a room together, I realized I’d accidentally been using my mom’s cell phone as a coaster since day one. That’s to say my mom doesn’t utilize technology much while cruising. However, I write a cruise blog and maintain several related social media accounts for a living. Plus, I require a rechargeable clip fan for the gym and rechargeable heated gloves for any time the temp dips below 50 (and now we know exactly how many sentences out of my mouth it takes the average person to realize I’m a weirdo…lol). Lucky for me, there were four USB chargers that I could hog all for myself – one by each bed and two near the desk area (under the TV).

Huge shower with solid sliding door

If you enjoy getting intimate with cloth shower curtains, you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re sharing your inside cabin with a sweaty elephant, you’ll be relieved. Why? Because there’s a solid sliding door on the HUGE shower.

Mini-fridge

True story. One time my husband spent three days of a cruise on the floor of our cabin looking like something you might find in the reject bin at a pretzel factory. He ended up there after throwing out his back while reaching down to put my emergency dessert in the ground-level mini fridge. Silver lining was that he remained within short reach of the fridge which I remembered to restock for him when a brief pang of guilt struck me upon re-boarding our ship after spending 6 hours at the beach. We won’t get into the details of how he peed, but before you accuse me of being a horrible wife, note that it involved a makeshift urinal that had to be emptied regularly despite my best efforts at limiting his liquid intake. #wifeoftheyear

Has that happened to anyone else? No? Fine. But now you understand why I was so thrilled with our elevated fridge on the Star! It was tucked in below some storage shelves and above some drawers. No bending required! And with a stern warning to my husband (who was sharing a similar cabin with our son) to, FOR THE LOVE, not store his underwear, or ANYTHING for that matter, in that bottom drawer, we avoided earning a repeat honor for “weirdest visit to the medical center.”

You might use the mini-fridge to keep beverages cool, but I used it to store some homemade frosted sugar cookies that traveled 5,504 miles from NY to Buenos Aires. Why, you ask? Because they’re that good and my mother-in-law knew that without their safe delivery to me, she would either not see her grandson at all for our 16-night cruise or , even worse, would be 100% responsible for his care for our 16-nights.

Good temperature control

The thermostat in our cabin allowed us to quickly adjust the temperature from hot to cold and it was a good thing, because our itinerary basically included all four seasons. Hand to God we went from wearing shorts and, at times, wondering if we’d spontaneously combusted to each donning enough winter gear to outfit an entire Siberian village in mid-February.

Location right by the midship elevators

Ours was the closest possible cabin to the midship elevators. Was it loud, you ask? We did hear people congregating near the elevators at times, especially while waiting to disembark at port. However, it also allowed us to meet our goal of logging under 20 steps per day. On balance, worth it!

Things We Didn’t Love About Our Inside Cabin On The NCL Star

Only one 3-prong american style outlet.

While there were plenty of USB outlets, there was only one 3-prong American style outlet. You may want to consider packing one of these (these are approved specifically for cruise ships), if you require additional outlets (or bring a European outlet converter if you have one of those already):

Shortage of towels

While our cabin shower was large enough for an elephant, she’d have to run up and down the halls to air dry (What’s more annoying than screaming children running up and down the halls? An elephant with the zoomies), because we didn’t even receive an adequate number of towels for two small-sized humans. Only two large towels were provided each day even after we asked our steward for more (he provided an additional hand towel, but no large towels). While we do try to minimize our towel use as a small step toward reducing our environmental impact, it was tough to have just two large towels for two people who sometimes needed to shower multiple times per day (after a visit to the gym, pool, etc). I found myself hiding a few larger towels in the closet to dry each night, so our steward wouldn’t take them.

No turndown service or towel animals

NCL did away with both of these some time ago and while neither are a huge deal to us, we still enjoy having these services on lines that still provide them.

Overworked cabin steward

Our steward had so many cabins to clean, often ours wasn’t completed until well into the evening. He was extremely positive and friendly, but the level of service just wasn’t comparable to other lines (no evening turndown service, we asked for extra towels and never received them, etc). My in-laws didn’t receive cabin service at all one day because their (wonderful) steward simply ran out of time to complete all of his assigned cabins.

Would I Book An Inside Cabin On The NCL Star Again?

While this was a very basic stateroom, I’m a very basic gal with very basic needs. A minimum of six cruises per year with at least one of them longer than 14 nights to a bucket list destination. See? Easy! Lol. But seriously, I can afford to cruise as often as I do because I usually book the least expensive cabin category available. And I enjoy the same food, the same entertainment, the same ports, and the same beautiful ocean views as those who spend much, much (much!) more. So would I book this cabin on the Star again? Yes! And were mom and I still speaking at the end of it? Yes! In fact, all of us were still speaking after 16 days together. In-laws from both sides and a kid. Long international flights. Tiny cabins. Dozens of meals seated at a small table together. I mean, what were the chances we’d still like each other at the end of it all? But we did! And we can’t wait to do another long, extended family cruise! And with that…

Class Dismissed!

You can check out my full Star ship tour, trip report, and ship review here:

Trip Report: South America/Antarctica Itinerary on the NCL Star

Today’s Cruising Pro Tip

Never purchase cruise/travel insurance through NCL. You’ll pay more and get less than if you purchase it on your own. Use a site like  TravelInsurance.com * to compare rates and plans and get exactly what you want for the least amount of money. Savings can be significant and mean more to spend onboard, at port, or on another cruise! Simply enter your total travel costs (cruise fare, flights, hotels, etc), your dates of travel, and some basic information about yourself and receive a list of plans with prices to compare. It’s easy!

Homework (10 points): Ask any questions you may have about our cabin or experience on the Star to the comments.

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2 Responses

• Pingbacks 0

As always, your descriptions are quite vivid and I can’t shake the image of people running up and down the hallway to dry off. I may have nightmares next time we board a ship to go on a cruise.

OK, I know I should comment on the cabin reviews, USB ports, electric outlets, cabin steward, etc., especially as we will be on the Star in June, but I want to hear more about electric gloves. Living in Phoenix i wear long pants and long sleeve shirts until the temperature gets to about 80. Under 80 and I add a jacket. Under 70 and I add a Carhartt hat. Under 50 and I look like the Michelin Man I’ve go so many layers on. Please review the gloves as our trip on the Star is to the Arctic.

Thanks for the information on outlets. I’ve added a combo American style plug and USB extension to the list.

Your overall review and video is much appreciated as it helps our planning for our June trip. Thank you!

Awe, a fellow Michelin Man. LOL. Also, I take no fewer than 6 hot baths a day during the winters in Seattle. The heated gloves worked okay, but I’ve since switched to rechargeable hand warmers that I slip inside mittens I can flip open (to briefly expose my fingers for using phone, etc). I found the gloves didn’t get my fingers warm enough and I had to keep taking them off to take photos and use my smart phone screen. This new combo works better for me. I find mittens keep my fingers warmer. And the rechargeable hand warmers work great.

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Star

Former name: superstar libra.

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

• Buenos Aires (Argentina)
• Reykjavik (Iceland)
• Lisbon (Portugal)
• Southampton (England)

Norwegian Star current position

Norwegian Star current location is at North Sea (coordinates 58.13942 N / 7.98878 E) cruising en route to NO UVK -> NO KSU. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Star

Norwegian Star current cruise is 14 days, one-way from Reykjavik to Oslo . Prices start from USD 1311 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 01 Sep, 2024 and ends on 15 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Star

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Norwegian Star Itineraries

Norwegian star review, review of norwegian star.

The 2001-built Norwegian Star cruise ship is the first Dawn-class liner of NCL-Norwegian, with sistership Norwegian Dawn .

The vessel (IMO number 9195157) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311082000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL , Oceania and RSSC-Regent .

The 2350-passenger ship Norwegian Star became operational in 2001 and was specially designed for Freestyle Cruising. The cruise ship has eleven restaurants, plus venues serving Tex-Mex, Japanese and French cuisine, and eight bars and lounges. In line with the Freestyle mantra, public spaces range from intimate to exuberant, giving passengers the chance for 24/7 entertainment.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Star staterooms ((1174 total, in 33 grades) include 151x Suites, 368x Balcony, 250x Oceanview and 383x Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 140-165 ft2 (13-15 m2). The largest accommodation is the 2-Bedroom Garden Villa (2285 ft2 / 212 m2, with a huge terrace of 3610 ft2 / 335 m2).

The boat has 14 decks , of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are two main dining rooms onboard Norwegian Star for traditional-style dining, Versailles, located aft, and Aqua, located midship. Both are lovely, and Versailles looks very much like its namesake with lots of gold and French Renaissance flourishes. Aqua is contemporary and cool. Besides the main dining room, there is a bevy of alternative venues. In addition to the two main dining rooms, Norwegian Star features a wealth of distinct restaurants to choose from. Themes range from steaks and classic French bistro fare to Benihana-style Teppanyaki. Overall, the food is flavorful and even inventive. Service is excellent throughout, though it's not unusual to wait to receive your dessert during the busiest dinner hours (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm). Meals are cooked to order, so the food passengers receive is hot and fresh. Reservations for Star's specialty restaurants can be made only 24 hours in advance, so if you want to try one of the more popular spots, such as Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian-style steakhouse), Cagney's (American steakhouse), or Le Bistro (French), you should book as early as possible.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Star restaurants and food bars.

• Versailles Restaurant (502-seat aft Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining)
• Aqua Restaurant (322-seat forward Dining Room, complimentary)
• Le Bistro (82-seat French dinner-only specialty restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• La Cucina (112-seat Italian specialty restaurant; reservations-only, US$15 cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• Ginza (98-seat Asian restaurant; complimentary)
• Sushi Bar (17-seat Ginza restaurant); Sake Bar (8-seat, inside Ginza)
• Teppanyaki (12-seat Japanese Hibachi specialty, reservations-only restaurant; US$25; open for Lunch and Dinner; features live cooking demonstrations)
• Blue Lagoon (66-seat 24-hour fast food restaurant, complimentary)
• Moderno Churrascaria (62-seat Brazilian steakhouse; reservations-only; US$20 per person cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill (24-hour English pub/sports bar; complimentary)
• Market Cafe & Kid’s Cafe (475-seat indoor buffet restaurant, complimentary; with a special kids' dedicated area)
• Topsiders Bar & Grill (128-seat)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (143-seat specialty Dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu)
• The Sky High Bar (replacing the 126-seat Bavarian-themed al fresco snack and beer bar Bier Garten during 2018 refurb), is an outdoor bar & lounge with seating for nearly 120 people.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

While Norwegian Star provides the usual fare during days at sea, such as bingo, arts and crafts, art auctions, wellness seminars, the real highlights of entertainment are the nightly shows. The "main event" each evening is held in the Stardust Theater, which features everything - from Broadway-style song-and-dance acts to variety shows. The Stardust Theater spans Decks 5 through 7. It is designed in a European opera house style and is quite comfortable. The spa and sports facilities on Norwegian Star are open until 11 p.m. most nights. The ship also has 7 jacuzzis and 3 pools (Splash Down kids pool). Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. NCL Star tipping/gratuities (US$12 pp per day). For your Norwegian Star cruise ship weddings, there's a small chapel on board.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Star lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Stardust Theatre (1037-seat; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand shows per night)
• Grand Atrium (2-deck midship hub area); Art Gallery
• Gatsby’s Champagne Bar; Wine Cellar; Red Lion (pub); Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar; Java Cafe (73-seat coffee & tea bar); Sugarcane Mojito Bar; Internet Cafe
• Star Club Casino
• Bliss Ultra Lounge (replacing the 405-seat aft Show Lounge & Nightclub Spinnaker Lounge during 2018 refurb)
• Spice H2O (Norwegian's adults-only top-deck spot featuring a private pool, full bar and hot tubs, added during 2018 refurb)
• The Galleria Shops (tax-duty free shops); Port o’ Call (perfumes & cosmetics boutique); Photo Gallery & Shop
• Barong Spa (beauty salon, treatment rooms); Barong Fitness Centre; Oasis Pool; Splash Down Pool/Kid’s Pool; Jogging Track; Golf Nets; Combined sports court (basketball, volleyball, tennis)
• Teen Club & Disco; Video Zone; Planet Kid’s center.

Itineraries

Norwegian Star itinerary program is based on Northern European cruises (Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, UK and Iceland) with homeporting in Copenhagen Denmark and Southampton England .

In February 2016, the ship was listed among the booked vessels at Overseas Passenger Terminal ( Sydney NSW Australia ) for a total of 11 visits (between October 7, 2017, and May 1, 2018). In January-February 2017, the ship operated all 3 itineraries to/from Australia and New Zealand.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the NCL ship Star was paused for 2+ years (March 2020 thru April 2022), restarting on Apr 3rd in the Mediterranean. The South America 2022 program was canceled. It included an Antarctic itinerary (14-day "Extraordinary Journeys") roundtrip from Buenos Aires Argentina and visits to Elephant Island and Deception Island .

Also in 2022 (departures July 14 and July 25) are planned Northern European voyages (10-day and 11-day B2Bs ) that depart from Reykjavik Iceland and visit Greenland (NCL's first-time) with 3 port calls - Nuuk , Qaqortoq , Nanortalik .

Photos of Norwegian Star

Norwegian Star ship related cruise news

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
• Pride of America

Norwegian Star Wiki

Norwegian Star is of the Dawn-class NCL vessels, with only sistership Norwegian Dawn . NCL Star's history started as an order placed to Meyer Werft GmbH by Star Cruises . The order was for a new Libra-class vessel, to be named "SuperStar Libra". Order's cost was USD 400 million. When NCL was acquired by Star Cruises in 2000, a decision was made this new liner to be transferred to NCL Norwegian and renamed "Norwegian Star". The 1st Libra-class ship ("SuperStar Scorpio", also on order) was also transferred to NCL and renamed "Norwegian Dawn".

Ship's Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage) was on November 19, 2001. Vessel's christening ceremony was dual - together with NCL Sun and traditionally held at PortMiami (November 17, 2001). The liner's godmother was Brooke Burke (US actress and model, born Sept 8, 1971).

2001 was the year when to NCL were delivered two brand new ships - Star and Sun. Both vessels were ordered and built specifically to embrace NCL's revolutionary "Freestyle Cruising" concept. All the three SKY-class ships together worth over USD 1 billion - at that time a huge investment in this market.

As a fun fact, there was another passenger ship operated between 1996-2001 under the same name - "Norwegian Star". That was  ms Albatros  - built 1973, and currently owned and operated by the Phoenix Reisen . That ship was also referred to as "NCL Star" since it was in service for "Norwegian Capricorn Line".

Originally, Norwegian Star operated 7-day Hawaiian Islands cruises from homeport  Honolulu , starting on December 16, 2001. Deals were on roundtrips visiting Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Fanning Island . This itinerary was operated up until 2004 when NCL Star was relocated to US West Coast for voyages to Alaska and Mexico Riviera. The change also included a new hull-art and adding Cagney's Steakhouse and "Star Club" casino as new onboard venues. On the Hawaiian market, NCL Star was replaced by Pride of Aloha ship (now Norwegian Sky) .

In late-2011, the ship was once again relocated and homeported in Tampa Florida for Western Caribbean itineraries. In 2012, it was homeported in NYC New York where replaced NCL Gem  for roundtrips to Bermuda, while NCL Jewel  replaced Star in Alaska-Mexico. In 2013, Norwegian Star started a new set of itineraries - in Northern Europe, operating Baltic Sea cruises leaving from homeport Copenhagen Denmark .

NCL Star refurbishments review

The list of deckplan changes after the ship's 3-week drydock refurbishment in 2018 (May, in Barcelona Spain ) includes:

• extensive renovation of all staterooms, public areas, restaurants, bars, lounges
• stateroom upgrades - new flat HDTVs (infotainment system), USB ports, carpets, headboards, artworks, some furniture
• Bliss Ultra Lounge (ex Spinnaker Lounge) - redesigned, new carpets, custom-made loungers, expanded seating, upgraded bar menu, new artworks
• Spice H20 (adults-only serenity deck with swimming pool, hot tubs, full-service bar, nightly live entertainment, DJs)
• Los Lobos Cantina (Mexican restaurant, former Las Ramblas Bar Restaurant)
• Spinnaker Lounge (ex Observation Lounge)
• Sky High Bar (ex Bier Garten) - enlarged (to 120 seats), updated bar menu)
• renovated Atrium Cafe and Bar, Garden Cafe, Cagney's Steakhouse, Casino (new VIP section), Main Dining Rooms (Aqua, Versailles), La Cucina, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki, Atrium Cafe, Mandara Spa, pool deck, Theatre, Atrium Cafe

Drydock 2018 was part of NCL's "Norwegian Edge" program for fleetwide upgrades (2-year project budgeted USD 400 million). Each drydock costs around USD 35-40 million.

The boat's 2015 drydock refurbishment (March 8-22) resulted in the following deckplan changes

• (Deck 7) The Jimmy Buffet’s eatery now has the Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar.
• Cover charges were dropped for the Ginza (Asian) restaurant.
• Added were the O'Sheehan's Pub (on deck 8) and the Sugarcane Mojito Bar (on deck 13).
• New digital signage boards/touchscreens were installed throughout the ship.
• Renovations were done to the casino (deck 6), photo gallery (deck 7), pool deck (Lido deck 12).
• All public areas received new carpeting/flooring, and windows were replaced.
• (technical enhancements) - new hull painting, new scrubbers were added (by Green Tech Marine) reducing fuel/energy consumption. Upgraded were the ship’s tender boat release systems. General maintenance works were done.

Refurbishment 2018 project was part of NCL’s “The Norwegian Edge” fleet renovation program, budgeted around USD 400 million.

The list of deckplan changes after drydock 2010 included:

• (Deck 6) the “SoHo Room” restaurant was renamed “La Cucina”.
• (Deck 7 – relocation of old venues) Photo Gallery, duty-free shops, Spinnaker lounge (from deck 12, the new Spinnaker is larger), new conference rooms
• (Deck 8) new restaurants were added – Moderno, and O’Sheehan’s.
• (Deck 12 changes) Public spaces were converted into Suites. The deck area where the old Spinnaker, Art Gallery and Meeting Rooms were located was converted – new 48 Suites were added, including 28 Penthouse Suites, with a new category suites added (Deluxe Owner’s Suite- SA, without a balcony, but with floor-to-ceiling slanted panoramic windows), new Family Suites and a new category Interior Rooms (IC). Also, the old cinema area was converted into 4 new conference rooms.
• Shipwide carpeting and cabins renovation.

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Norwegian Star

2348 Passengers

• Ship information/Review
• Contacting the ship
• Current position

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Feel Free - the modern concept of Norwegian Cruise Line accompanies you in all the aspects of your voyage. Take advantage of different dining options without fixed table times and eat when you like to. No importance is attached to certain clothing rules, enjoy your vacation as spontaneous and flexible as you want. The ships of the Norwegian Cruise Line are in a sense club ships with an international flair. German menus and German-speaking contact persons make life on board much easier. Whenever possible within Europe, excursions with German speaking guides are offered. Basic knowledge in English, however, is recommended on the ships of the American cruise line.

The Norwegian Star was put into service in 2001, last renovated in 2018 and can accommodate 2,348 guests (at double occupancy). It is the sister ship of the Norwegian Dawn and belongs with 91,740 GT to the medium-sized cruise ships of the cruise line. On board you will find various entertainment options for the young and young at heart, relaxing recreational opportunities and an extensive selection of restaurants, bars and lounges with various delicacies. A new highlight on board is the "Spice H2O", which is exclusively reserved for adults. During the day you can sit back and enjoy a delicious cocktail while you can dance under the stars at night until the morning dawns.

The cabins are modern and comfortably furnished. The inside cabins are about 12 m², the outside cabins measure 15 m² and the balcony cabins are about 19 m² in size. The cabins usually have 2 lower beds that can be put together to a queensize bed. Some cabins also have a 3rd and 4th bed, usually as an upper folding bed. Generously designed are the suites and garden villas, that offer about 548 m² space for up to 6 people. The guests of the suites and villas are offered pure luxury, including butler and concierge service as well as daily attentions. You also have access to a private Courtyard area with private pool, sundeck and fitness area.

Atmosphere on Board

The atmosphere on board it is easy and relaxed. Guests from numerous countries travel with the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line. Everything is possible. You can pack festive clothes, as there are gala dinners for some dining options. You do not feel like dressing up? No problem - there are no strict clothing rules on board. In the main restaurants only swimwear and shorts are not desired. The Norwegian Cruise Line offers the perfect holiday for young and young at heart. At the same time there are always quiet corners, cozy bars and places on deck, so that all guests get their money’s worth.

Food and Beverages

According to the "Feel Free" concept, there are no fixed table times aboard the cruise line that restrict you in your daily planning. Choose from a variety of dining options. At the specialty restaurants, you can enjoy delicacies from around the world at an extra cost. So there is a steakhouse, a French restaurant, a sushi bar or a Brazilian churrascaria. At no extra charge, there is a buffet restaurant, two à la carte restaurants, the 24-hour restaurant for those in between, a barbecue bar in the pool area and an Asian restaurant. Younger guests can enjoy themselves in the children's restaurant.

Entertainment, Sports and Relaxation

The theater offers exciting shows every day. Casino, pub or sports bar as well as quieter places like the observatory lounge, the piano bar, the champagne bar and the wine shop can not be missed on board. Special preferences are served, for example, in the Cafe Bar and the Cocktail and Martini Bar. For smokers, the cigar bar is a highlight. Of course, there is also a disco / night club, where you can dance until the early morning hour. After this you can recover in the spacious spa area. There you will find various treatments for relaxation and well-being (some for a fee). Especially popular on board are the sauna and steam sauna. For athletic guests, the fitness area leaves nothing to be desired. Modern equipment and numerous courses are offered. Guests who prefer to do outdoor exercises can do their rounds on the jogging track or play basketball and volleyball. Two golf tees and a ping-pong table complete the sporting offer on board. Younger guests will also find great entertainment at Kid's and Teen's Club or in the video arcade. The karaoke is fun for the whole family!

Our Summary

Onboard guests feel comfortable, who want to experience a relaxed and informal holiday in an international atmosphere. The cruises are offered at relatively low prices. Families feel just as comfortable on the ships as couples or solo travelers.

• Destinations: Antarctica , Azores , British Isles , Canary Islands , Greenland , Iceland , Norwegian Fjords , South America , Transatlantic , Western Caribbean , Western Europe , Western Mediterranean

Overall rating

7.4 Good Based on 75 recent customer reviews.

Our rating of the Norwegian Star:

Our customers say:, more feedback from our customers about this ship (click for details), remarks cabin.

• The cabin description and picture indicated obstructed view with life vest tanks, in fact it was completely obstructed by a life raft the size of of 2 entire staterooms
• Very good position.
• a little noisy maybe because the ship is old
• Very nice and bright

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Norwegian Star

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As one of our mid-size ships, Norwegian Star® offers a wide range of incredible amenities in a relaxed atmosphere. Looking for some “me time?” Recline in the Thermal Suite therapy pool or with a hot stone massage at Mandara Spa®. Dip into total relaxation at the adults-only Spice H2O. Soak in fantastic vistas whilst stretching your legs along the walking/jogging track or getting your game on at the sports courts. Roll into good times with your favourite card and slot games in the casino. And then there’s the delightful dining — discover a diverse assortment of delicious cuisine awaiting your enjoyment, from the finest ingredients at our vibrant Italian ristorante La Cucina to premium cuts at Cagney’s Steakhouse. Then toast the holiday of a lifetime at Proof Whiskey Bar or Gatsby's Champagne Bar or one of our other unique bars and lounges. Enjoy cruises spanning the Mediterranean , Northern Europe , South America , and Transatlantic aboard the Norwegian Star®. cruises spanning the Mediterranean , Northern Europe , South America , and Transatlantic . Onboard, Norwegian Star features a large delicious dining options, bars and lounges, a sprawling spa, an always-exciting casino with VIP area, plus tons of fun for kids of every age. So whether you're exploring Europe , sipping Piña Coladas in The Caribbean , or cruising across the Atlantic, this ship offers it all. -->

• Ship 91,740 Gross Register Tonnage
• Guest 2,298 Guest Capacity double occupancy
• Length 294 m Overall Length
• Width 38 m Max Beam
• Year 2021 Refurbished Year Built 2001
• Crew 1,031 Ship Crew

Norwegian Star CRUISE SHIP HIGHLIGHTS

Norwegian Star Reintroduced

If you think you know Norwegian Star, think again. Recently refurbished as part of The Norwegian Edge program, the ship underwent extensive enhancements to its staterooms, public spaces, restaurants, bars and lounges.

NEW! Starlink High-Speed Internet

Starlink provides fast Internet service at sea and is now available on Norwegian Star. Using advanced low earth orbit satellites, SpaceX's Starlink delivers industry leading broadband internet connectivity, which will improve the capacity, speed, and reliability of Internet on board.

NEW! Spice H20

New to Norwegian Star, Spice H20 is an adult-only escape. By day, you can sip cold cocktails from your reclined lounge chair. By night, it's a whole different beat. Let loose and dance beneath the stars.

World-Class Spa

Revive, refresh and recharge in the recently refurbished Mandara Spa®. Let our pampering professionals soothe and rejuvenate you with facials, massages, acupuncture, and more. Our full menu of services will leave you feeling like a million!

Norwegian Star Cruise Image Gallery

• Moderno Churrascaria
• Mandara Spa
• Stunning views in our Deluxe Owner's Suite
• Garden Villa Courtyard
• Wine Cellar
• Star Casino

Discover Her Unique CRUISE DESTINATIONS

Extraordinary Journeys

Set sail from one destination and end in another. It's the ultimate way to experience it all.

Mediterranean Cruises

Travel through Italy whilst indulging in traditional flavours and admiring iconic landmarks. Discover Barcelona's unique Catalan identity whilst taking in its stunning architecture and delectable dining.

Northern Europe Cruises

Experience incredible history, famous landmarks and unique culture in grand style.

South America Cruises

If you've ever wondered what's at the end of the rainbow, discover exotic South America.

Transatlantic Cruises

Leisure days at sea, exciting moonlit nights, and nothing to distract from the journey ahead.

The ultimate cruise experience. Ideal for two…or the whole family. Enjoy the finest touches throughout. Indulge in all-day luxury. Watch moonlight dance on waves from your private balcony.

Wake up to brilliant views from sliding glass doors, plus enjoy the extra room in your sitting area. Club Balcony Suites also feature a luxurious bath and shower, room for up to four and more.

Experience it all. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to your own private balcony. Or unwind inside in well-appointed and stylish accommodations.

Stylish and comfortable oceanview staterooms feature excellent appointments. All accented by stylish touches and a large picture window with clear views of the sea.

Cruise where comfort meets value. You'll find everything you'll need at sea. Thoughtful and stylish appointments include a TV, sitting area and more.

Experience WHAT’S ON BOARD

• Speciality Dining
• Bars & Lounges
• Entertainment
• Onboard Shopping

Serving a wide variety of culinary delights to please every palate, our complimentary dining options include two main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices. Plus, our Main Dining Rooms offer a menu that changes daily, Chef's Signature Dishes and carefully selected wine recommendations, guaranteeing a different culinary adventure with every visit.

Enjoy a night of gastronomic proportions at one of our many speciality restaurants. Sip your favourite cocktail as you select from choice cuts of Angus beef at Cagney's Steakhouse. Enjoy delicious pasta made with the freshest ingredients inside our rustic and chic Italian eatery, La Cucina. Or savour French cuisine at Le Bistro. No matter what you choose, our speciality dining options feature the tastes you'll crave.

With so many bars and lounges to discover, finding your favourite may take a few days. Pop some bubbly and toast to the good life inside Gatsby's Champagne Bar. Or work on perfecting your tan as you relax poolside at Topsiders Bar. Whether you're looking to meet up with friends or make new ones, there's always an opportunity to mix it up.

When it comes to the entertainment on Norwegian Star, there's never a dull moment. Travel back in time to the 70s club 'Band on the Run' and enjoy the soaring melodies of Styx, Donna Summer, and Queen. This club caters to the elite and your name is at the top of the guest list. Why not experience the mysterious but urban club Paridis production show? A visual feast that will delight and entice all of your senses. Or simply grab a drink and join your Entertainment staff in the Bliss Lounge for our fun packed gameshows and parties, every evening. It's showtime. All the time

From top to bottom and from bow to stern, Norwegian Star ships have enough onboard activities to fill every minute of your cruise. Indulge in a refreshing swim, cocktail or ice cream treat at The Oasis Pool. Wanna get lucky? Bet it all at our award-winning Casinos at Sea®. And when all is said and done, enjoy a pamper session at Mandara Spa. With so much to do, we'll always have you coming back for more.

When you want some "me" time, look no further than Mandara Spa®. Relax with a hot-stone massage, one of over 50 speciality treatments offered. At our onboard spas, treatments range from the classic to the luxurious. Let our pampering professionals soothe and rejuvenate you with facials, massages, acupuncture and a full menu of services.

Forget to pack something? No worries! Our gift shops onboard carry everything you'll need for fun in the sun. Shop from a variety of souvenirs, cosmetics, clothing, snacks and sundry items. Treat yourself at our duty-free shops full of fantastic savings on fine jewellery, accessories, perfume, liquor and tobacco.

Read THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT

Dining On Board

From casual buffets to exquisite speciality restaurants, learn everything there is to know about dining on board.

Cruise Norwegian App

Download the Cruise Norwegian app. Think of it as your travel companion, helping you experience an unforgettable cruise holiday every step of the way.

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