Name: Susan Gleason
Email: susang@sprintmail.com
Age: 55
Occupation: Free-lance writer
NumberOfCruises: 11
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianStar
SailingDate: August 23, 1998
Itinerary: Cancun, Cozumel, Mex. & Roatan, Honduras
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 88
CabinComfort: 88
FoodRoomService: 89
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 88
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 99
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Sep 1998
Time: 13:58:38
Remote Name: 206.133.185.34
Remote User:

Comments

The cruise was almost perfect! Having read some negative reviews, my husband and I were prepared for the worst. We were pleasantly surprised. We
arranged our own transportation to the ship. They have very good parking: $3.00 short term $4.00 long term. Although we arrived just in time to stand
behind a busload of passengers, the embarkation procedure took only about twenty minutes. The terminal is large and air-conditioned. When we
boarded, we were directed to our cabin and told that there was food available. Our outside cabin was on the fourth deck, #4031. There were two large
portholes and two twin beds and a bunk bed. One of our few disappointments of the cruise was that the two beds could not be pushed together. There
was plenty of storage space, though, and a nice basket of amenities: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. The hair dryer worked well, too.

Our cabin
stewardess, Jovel, did an excellent job of refilling our basket and cleaning our cabin. Except for an hour or so when the water to the toilet was cut off, we
had no problems in the cabin. Although the cabin was far forward, we noticed little turbulance or rocking. The entertainment was better than average.
They had an excellent comedian and a very funny magician that I thought were exceptional entertainers. The other performers were good, including the
passenger talent show. Sitting by the pool with the band playing was delightful, and we received very fast beverage service there, in the lounge, and in all
the bars.

The price of drinks was fair -- about what you'd pay in a bar at home -- plus they had specials and two for ones. I didn't mind paying for Cokes,
but I do think they should have provided soft drinks with meals at no extra charge. We were very pleased with the food in the dining room. We received
excellent service from our waiter and busboy. There was a good variety of food choices, and the showmanship and presentation was first-rate. They had
a number of special nights: Caribbean, Western, Captain's dinner. The waiters and busboys entertained us with parades on two nights, with assorted
dinnerware on their heads and sang to us, too. Very enjoyable! Although we didn't go to the Bistro, our tablemates rated it A-1. We ate breakfast at the
buffet about half of the time. We found the breakfast more than adequate for variety. The food was closer to warm than hot, however, and the lunch
buffet was just average. Too busy, or not hungry -- we only made it to three of the midnight buffets. My only complaint was that I was unable to get a cup
of coffee at any of them. Fortunately, there was water at the table. As a matter of fact, we didn't even have a waiter talk to us after we were seated. Yes
-- all three times!

There was an excellent Mexican buffet by the pool one evening. I felt sorry for my husband because he was still full from dinner and
couldn't eat a thing. I think it was the best buffet. Because we had been to Cancun and Cozumel previously, we chose not to tour there. Our tour in
Roatan to the other side of the island was a good one. The small bus was air-conditioned, much to our relief. We stopped to watch some native dances,
visited a home that was the headquarters of a jam manufacturer, and glided under Mangrove trees in small boats. They stopped to let us shop at one
small store for a short time. Since there were a number of vendors at the dock, and there is limited shopping in this port, we didn't expect more. We got
to see a lot of the countryside as well, and the cheerful, informative and friendly guide chatted and answered all questions. I rated the tour an A+.

The
working crew on this ship was very friendly; the officers and staff didn't seem to mingle much. I also liked the size of the ship. We kept running into people
that we had met before. Because it is an older ship, we noticed that there seemed to be a lot of maintenance going on. True on every ship, I suppose,
but much more noticeable on this one. Overall, though, the ship was clean and ship-shape. I have a minor complaint about the programs. They have a
movie theater that I think they could utilize more often to show a better variety of movies. I heard somebody complain that there were not enough PG
rated, and the movies were not as recent as they could be. I also think they could have attracted larger crowds to Bingo if they charged a little less to
play.

One day there were not enough people present to play. Another slight annoyance -- they were not consistent on the amount of games or the price.
You didn't know what to expect until after you got there. Furthermore, they appear too cost conscious. Sometimes they would give you one paper card
for ten games. By the last game it was difficult to tell which numbers on your card had been used before. I usually played the middle pack for $28, and
actually won several times. So, who am I to complain? I'm not unhappy -- just my thoughts on the matter. The Casino is bright and attractive. The only
problem we had (if you can call it a problem) was that they had to open a table for us to play craps. It's not the Casino's fault that nobody wanted to play.
We won, we lost, we lost, well -- you know the rest. All in all -- the cruise was great. Great people, great food, great service, great weather. We wouldn't
hesitate to recommend it to our friends and family.

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