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Name: Helaine Skelly
Email: helaine.skelly@boeing.com
Age: 52
Occupation: Engineer
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianStar
SailingDate: May 17, 1998
Itinerary: Western Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 94
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 80
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 82
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Jun 1998
Time: 10:02:42
Remote Name: 199.238.253.12
Remote User:
Comments
After all the bad things we had heard about this ship we were a little hesitant to take
the trip. We contacted our travel agent, who contacted Norwegian
Cruise Lines, who assured all of us that the problems had been worked out. I'm very happy
to report that for us the cruise was wonderful, we had a
great time and we did not experience the problems reported by others.
Our package included airfare from Seattle (with a free week of parking), shuttle to and
from the ship and an inside cabin that was upgraded to outside
cabin with bathtub. There were NCL folks at the baggage terminals in Houston directing us
to the buses that were waiting a short distance outside. The
buses are the way to go as a taxi ride is about $90 one way from the international airport
and slightly less from the local airport.
By the time we got out to the port terminal (about 2 p.m.), there was no waiting to board
the ship. NCL kindly provided ice water, juice, coffee and hor
d'oeurves in the waiting area. This little touch was greatly appreciated by us as we were
parched by the hot, humid weather in Houston. Boarding was
quick and painless.
As we boarded, the cruise director met us. She then assigned someone to show us to our
cabin. The cabin was nicer than we expected as it had two
portholes and a bathtub/shower and LOTs of storage space. The ship's channel on the TV was
tuned to a video camera from the bridge with a view of the
channel and the bow of the ship. The ship did list a little, but got better as we went out
to sea. After exploring the ship from bottom to top and fore and
aft we returned to our room to find the luggage there. While we were unpacking, we noticed
that we had sailed!
We took this trip because we thought it was a great itinerary: two days at sea, three days
of activity (Cancun, Cozumel, and Roatan) and two more days
to home. We planned to snorkel all 3 days ashore and I had brought my snorkel-stuff and my
husband planned on using the ship's equipment. We
attended the ship's review of activities ashore and made our final decision on trips. The
sign up for the dolphin trip was the first to sell out. We decided
we wanted someone else to 'pay the driver' so we went with the ship's arrangements. With
one possible exception we got our money's worth. More
about that later.
Our first stop was in Calica. Calica is just a small pier on the Yucatan coast south of
Cancun. Xcaret is about a 5-minute walk away (I wouldn't do it
though-take the bus). Xcaret is an Eco-archeological park. Fairly new, I think. Clean and
full of interesting things to do and see. We did the underground
river float. A six-minute swim with flippers or more pleasant and longer 40 minute float
with the current. You wear a life vest, snorkel and mask. Parts of it
are in darkness and these are 'difficult' areas for some folks. It was fascinating and
very enjoyable. Very cool and refreshing. When you get your life vest,
they give you a bag to lock up your personal items. These bags were then brought to the
exit area from the river float. My husband forgot and left his hat
there when we went to shower. They had safely put aside his sombrero, so he was able to
recover it. A small thing you say, but we were impressed.
There were simple, but clean showering areas. Then we caught the horse show, a guided tour
(English speaking) of some of the park, including the
Mayan village re-creation, and the finale in the grand amphitheater by Ballet de
Folklorico Mexicano, dances and costumes from all the Mexican states.
The ship held dinner (open seating) for us until 10 p.m. so you could stay late to see the
show which ended about 9:30. Of course, there were several
cantinas in the park if you wanted some local foods. I would try to spend more time here
if I went again on this trip. There's a new harbor being dug at
Calica to accommodate more ships and larger ships. Hopefully that will be ready by next
year.
I wanted to see a Mayan ruin, but didn't want to spend a long time on the bus to one, so
we chose the Tulum ruins and the snorkel dive at Xel-Ha
excursion. We got up early the next morning as the ship was sailing at 6 a.m. and we were
not going with it. We were able to have breakfast before we
left the ship as they set up a buffet at that early hour for those persons going on the
tours from that point to Tulum and Chitzen Itza. They gave us box
lunches for the day too. We boarded air-conditioned buses and headed south. Part of the
highway is under construction and not paved. Doesn't matter,
it's a crazy drive anyway. We lost our side mirror before we got to the first rest stop!
Everybody involved was very polite and exchanged addresses. By
the time we left Tulum the door was fixed and would shut again.
Tulum was wonderful, but very hot and humid. We took floppy hats, wore hiking boots and
carried insect repellent, sunscreen and bottled water. We
needed all of it. We were there before it actually (officially) opened. We had an English
speaking Mayan guide who answered questions and gave
excellent commentary on the ruins. If you go to the cenote, watch out for the snake. Look
for the bloody handprint of the architect on one of the central
buildings. At that time of the morning there were lots of Iguana and lizards sunning
themselves. All too soon we had to leave, but it was starting to get
really hot and humid so we obliged our driver. There was ice cold bottled water, beer and
Coke waiting on the bus!
From Tulum we went north back up to Xel-Ha. Again, another clean park area, with
inexpensive lockers (a dollar deposit for the key), and snorkel, mask
and flipper rental (a new snorkel you keep). The showers were spotless here also. There
were hammocks tied to palm trees in case you needed a nap.
We, however, headed into the waters and the reef. We explored about 2% of this area's
water, it is so vast. Xel-Ha is a Mayan word for 'mixed waters'
and it is a mixture of fresh and salt. As you look at the fish, you can see the salt water
moving and blurring your vision. It is a really different environment,
full of small and large fish. Just what we needed to cool off from the high temperatures!
Back onto the bus after a nice shower and change of clothing
and on to Playa Del Carmen to catch the people ferry to the dock in Cozumel and the
Norwegian Star. Noisy ferry, long distance to go, but over soon
enough. It really is the only thing going right now. They need a hydrofoil ferry. We did
not even try to go into Cozumel as we were tuckered out. Next
time, Cozumel!
Our third excursion was to Tabayana Bay on Roatan. The ship has had trouble making it to
Roatan sometimes. I don't think it is the ship's fault; getting
there is easy enough when the weather is good. Otherwise the dock is tiny and the area
around it is shallow (a good bet for running aground). Our
weather was good and seas were 3-5 feet most of the time. Getting to Tabayana Bay, or
anywhere on the island is part of the fun. Take a sense of
humor with you when you travel and you'll come out ahead. Tabayana Bay is exceptional:
white sand, palm trees, no harsh currents, clear water and lots
of beautiful coral and fish. Again the showers were clean. Lunch was included in this trip
and the local food (fish with jerk seasonings, rice and tropical
fruits) was better than the 'American' food (hamburgers & hot dogs), but you could
have as much as you wanted of either or both. Here's where we
screwed up: we took the dive in program and paid about $20 more than we should have
because I had my own gear. There wasn't much that we did with
the dive in group that we could have not done on our own. So if you take your gear, and
you get to Tabayana Bay, just buy the lunch package. Coming
back from the bay was easy: when a bus got full, it went back to the dock. Shopping at the
stalls on the dock was interesting. Best deals are made late in
the day.
Just a bit about the ship board experience. There was more to do than we wanted to
do…at all times. We stayed up one night for the chocoholic's
buffet, but couldn't make any of the other ones. By the way, the chocoholics buffet was
pretty impressive. They let folks in 15 minutes before midnight to
take pictures of the food displays. There was bingo, parties for newlyweds, art auctions,
dancing, comedy shows, magic shows, song and dance (Vegas
style), information about where to shop in town, what to buy, how much a taxi should cost,
etc. The meals were very good and sized just right so that you
could try something new and not waste much if you did not care for it. Seconds were
allowed too. The ship's personnel were highly evident: Captain,
Cruise Director and staff, Dive In Director and staff, and photo staff. Personnel on work
duty around the ship always greeted you when you passed.
Everyone works constantly on a ship, and some folks typically pull a 16-hour day or more.
Disembarkation went smoothly. You get colored tags for your baggage the day before. Remove
the old tags you came on with and put on the new tags
for the time you need to make your flight. Put the bags in the hallway and by morning the
little elves have sorted them and incredibly packed floor to
ceiling with them next to the gangway. We actually cleared early, got to the airport in
good time and hoped to catch an earlier flight to Seattle. Our later
flight was overbooked, made two stops and joined with a flight that was already known to
be late. At that point, it wasn't looking too good. But the cruise
line had rebooked us to an earlier flight, (straight through) that we made easily. Good
for them! That's service!!!
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