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Norwegian Cruise Line

MS Norwegian Star

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Arvo Poolar
# previous cruises: 1
Date of Trip: June 25, 2006
Itinerary: Alaska-Inside Passage

Alaska is a hidden gem a definite must see and as a intro to cruises doing the inside passage nice calm seas. Although we had it rough for our first night given the fierce wind blowing, but once we actually got into the inside passage and in protected waters things calmed down. Fantastic scenery right outside as you sail never mind all the great shore excursions. Totally awesome trip, lucked out with great weather. Its not the tropics so pack warm clothing, and it can get wet after it is a rain forest area.

Very clean, every night they drained the pool and every hot tub and refilled with fresh water. pressure washed the decks nightly. you MUST sanitize your hands before coming on board, at every restaurant and bar it basically is a condition of entering, even if just passing through the restaurant to get to the rear of the ship. Returning from shore excursions as well very comforting.

Great food, good variety, loved the freestyle dining anywhere anytime and with whom you choose to dine with. Optional dress up night. But mostly dress casual no shorts or jeans after 5pm. Even one of the buffets changed during the night I passed by and saw them carving a Ham but when I returned a couple hours later it was now roast beef.

If doing Alaska get room with a Balcony after all what is passing is one of the reasons of travel, it adds so much more space and does not give the room a small feel. The bathroom was very practical in that it separated the toilet from the sink as well as the shower was separated from the sink so it could be used for multi tasks. Shower was a good size and very hot water.

Saw 4 shows on board all put on very professionally, great venue to watch them Stardusk Theatre, small towns would die for such a theatre. The staff on board are fantastic friendly helpful in every way, always smiling, greet you at every location. The main entertaining troop did 3 shows but all were different very well put on. a guest comedian magician was excellent and they had 4 Chinese acrobats combine their show with the main group all were excellent in there skill set

In every port I took a shore excursion, Juneau did the Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon Bak, only beef was that the stay was too short at the glacier and the salmon bake was unlimited would like to see the time at the glacier extended, will only see that once can always eat baked salmon. Also did the Mt Roberts tram weather cleared and had some great views, obviously if cloudy and the peak is socked in not worth going up. In Skagway did the white pass railway A must do. Did the Klondike gold dredge was fun if not a little hokey but a learning experience on how it was done. Rest of the time spent walking around town shopping 7 blocks long no traffic signals so it does not take long to do the town. Ketchikan did a flight seeing tour over the Misty Fords with Seawind aviation highly recommend booking this portion yourself. Great people and the personal touch all the time. Also squeezed in the duck tour which is a bus-boat that tours the town then into the water to do the harbor. (no ducks seen)

Glacier Bay can't describe it in words and the photos just did not do justice to what we saw simply fantasic. Victoria was our next stop short did the Orca wildlife quest on a jet boat, found the operators very caring to the pod of orca to the point they just would not get close to the pod to disturb them unlike the other operators. my only complaint here was that they kept the boat to the right side of the pod all the time leaving the left side of the boat scambling for views. I think they should of swung the boat around after moving to the left side to give that side opoptimumiews. Although they do not promise that you will see orca it pretty much is a given that you will and we were fortunate on out trip to see 2 pods come together for some socializing. Did not use the pool only a hot tub very nice. can't comment on childcare or baby sitting

I saw a complete cross section of people on the cruise, from handicapped, elderly to babies. Teens soon met up at the teen club and hung out in their areas. I tried every day to do a good deed helping mostly seniors get good sunset pictures, seeing people take single pictures of each other in front of the glaciser tourist place etc I'd offer to take picture of them together. Tied a beutiful tie for a guy who obviously never tied one judging by the knot he hand around his neck. (heard he even got lucky that night) wonder if it had anything to do with the double windsor knot it tied for him. Help people get around the ship as I knew it pretty well by the 2nd day