Differences Noted: A Week-Long Cruise Vs. a Cruise to Nowhere - Star 4/27/2012

· Expect to carry your own bags. There is no luggage check in; you’ll be carrying your bags on and off the ship. Pack accordingly.

· There is no room service. Forget waking to coffee and fresh fruit on your balcony (one of our favorite perks).

· Expect an abbreviated list of activities. There was no typical first cruise-day martini clinic or pub crawl. The only alcohol event option was a premium wine tasting and food paring (@ $30 pp).

· Expect a different mix of fellow travelers. We noticed many groups that were travelling together ranging from co-workers, bachelorette and bridal parties, a sweet sixteen parties and more…..

· Expect that different mix of fellow travelers to be amped up and ready to party and have a great time NOW. They can sleep once they get home.

· There will also be an urgency to dine at ‘that special premium restaurant’ during one of just two nights at sea. Those restaurants will be busy all night long! Be sure to book ahead as early as you can. NCL customer service to the contrary, they won’t let you book a reservation for night 2 until after 8 pm on night 1.

· There will be no towel animals on your bed each evening.

· Expect the same urgency for other activities that will range from using the spa to participating in Karaoke night.

· Expect some missteps from a crew inexperienced with off-boarding a Cruises to Nowhere. As with us, there may be incorrect instructions to pack your bags the last night and leave outside your door with luggage tags that will never be delivered to your room; immigration forms will be left on your bed to be completed but won’t be needed; announcements will be made to have your id or passport ready as you leave the ship but those won’t be needed either. All you’ll need to exit the ship is your key card. One swipe and you’re on your way.

· Cell phones – although we were only a few miles off shore, our Verizon cell phones received messages that calls, data and messaging would be charged at a premium rate. We immediately turned both phones off.

On our CTN they emptied the minibars and closed the hot tubs. Not sure if this is standard practice.

We had a blast!

On our CTN they emptied the minibars and closed the hot tubs. Not sure if this is standard practice.

 

We had a blast!

or, they were locked.

any number of days on a ship is great!

Hi.. just wondering which ship were you on?

On our CTN they emptied the minibars and closed the hot tubs. Not sure if this is standard practice.

 

We had a blast!

Hi.. just wondering which ship were you on?

The OP's title indicated Star...in 2012...

The OP's title indicated Star...in 2012...

oh OOPS.. I didn't see anywhere that valleyvillage stated which ship he was on..