Live from the Star on the way to Singapore

Good morning Abu Dhabi

I have a half day city tour in 40 minutes.

Looks like no tour for me today. When I woke up I had a letter at my cabin door that I have to hand in my passport by 7:30 this morning. That letter wasn't there at midnight when I went back to my stateroom. Handed it in at 7:45 and as I tried to get off at 8:30 security won't let me off because I am flagged in the system as not having my passport handed in. Now standing in line at guest services slightly pissed.

Urgh what a day. My stop at guest services wasn't successful same with asking for a supervisor. So back to my cabin to call the guest service manager. She was really nice and put me on the hop on hop off bus tour and even personally delivered the ticket to my cabin reassuring me that I could get off the ship without problems now.

The bus tour was quite nice although the only stop I got off was the mosque. Stunning beautiful

The negative experience continued when I checked my on board account and saw a $66 charge from shore excursion. That was not how I understood rectifying the passport mess and offering to put me on a tour. Oh well...

Thank you Michael and sorry about your shore mess up.

Your photos are fabulous and very appreciated.

After some relaxation in the cabin I felt hungry as I had no lunch so on to o'sheehans to get a salad and hot dog around 6pm. It was surprisingly empty and very quick and attentive service. Probably one of the best experiences service related I had on the different ships in this window. Had a nice balcony seat to watch the band who was playing there

After that we were already on the way on our way to Oman before we go back to UAE again.

Michael,

What tourist Visas did you have to get ahead of time if any? Or is the ship taking care of it for all the stops?

Also, just confirming, the Visa's that the ship gets for you are also good for private tours that you arrange yourself. It sounds like this was the case on your last stop, sorry you missed the tour you had arranged on your own. But good for you for persevering and getting off the ship!

At some point, if it is not too much work, if you could let us know what the fees were for those visas.

Following and enjoying your posts!:)

following... :)

Michael,

 

What tourist Visas did you have to get ahead of time if any? Or is the ship taking care of it for all the stops?

 

Also, just confirming, the Visa's that the ship gets for you are also good for private tours that you arrange yourself. It sounds like this was the case on your last stop, sorry you missed the tour you had arranged on your own. But good for you for persevering and getting off the ship!

 

At some point, if it is not too much work, if you could let us know what the fees were for those visas.

 

Following and enjoying your posts!:)

Okay I will rant for a bit.

The visa situation is a huge issue this trip. I will just say the following: do your own research. Don't trust some guy on an internet message board, don't trust the NCL call center, don't trust your travel agent. If you are unsure contact the embassy of the places you visit in your home country and explicitly ask for the rules regarding cruise ship passengers. This is not a simple European or Caribbean cruise, so do your own research as it is your responsibility in the end. You do not want to be one of those people who have to stay on board for five days while we are docked in India.

That said, rumours spreading today on board say that 60% of the guests do not have a visa for India. I believe the number is way to high but for sure more than 10%.

I just needed a visa for India but I am german citizen so that will not help you at all. Regarding the costs, so far no charges to my account and I did not get any information that there will be some in the future.

this is exactly the situation I am having now, we are on the Star in a few weeks going from Hong Kong to Singapore, we are US Citizens. I have gotten 6 different answers from NCl regarding our visas for Vietnam and Cambodia ( the only 2 places on the trip that we need visas) ranging from provided on the ship, to not provided to yes provided with 3 different prices) finally i just went an got the Visas on my own from the 2 embassy's rather then wait for them. I love NCL once on the ship but Shoreside needs some work

Yesterday evening I couldn't log into my account so just a few things as I went to bed a bit earlier before midnight.

I tried the first time the late night snacks in the buffet which are served between 9:30 and 11:00 and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety. Not just pizza and fries but also a nice selection of salad, grilled vegetables, chicken and dessert.

I had seen the main show in the theatre on the last cruise so I just stopped by a couple of minute to enjoy it while standing as he guy is doing a pretty awesome job. Details see freestyle daily.

The dancing through the decades was quite busy with people dancing which was a pleasant surprise as well. Last cruise the average age was 64 and it dropped down to 60 on this one.

Here are the missing freestyle dailies from day 2

Day number 3 means a stop in Khasab / Oman

Once a again a warm and sunny day

I signed up for a dhow cruise with the cruisecritic roll call. It was a fantastic half day trip. Rough seas with lots of movement on the way to the omanian fjords some dolphin sightings although they tried to hide and then some snorkeling time.

The crew on the boat showed a great sense of hospitality and bottled water, soda, tea and coffee as well as fruits were included. All of that for $25.

As we had no lunch on the tour and was already 2pm I went to O'sheehans for some snack. It wasn't such a great experience like yesterday but the same slow and inattentive service I am used to from other ships. But the salad was good

I

When I got back to my cabin I got a call from he guest service manager again apologizing sincerely about the shore excursion charge on my account. It has been removed and I got chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of wine tonight as well.

Departure from the port was uneventful as no guests were missing

Tonight's show was band on the run from the production cast. It was a good show and I believe the cast on this ship is really good but the shows do not give them much room to show their full potential. I watched both the 7:30 and 9:30 show as there is not much else going on anyway.

Different to last cruise is that he spinnaker lounge does get busy in the evenings. This is from 11:30 after the themed dance party

Great information so far. Relieved entertainment is good. We are young fifty something's. Enjoying daily updates.

Are there any unlimited internet plans available or just the timed plans.

Thanks for the updates.

Are there any unlimited internet plans available or just the timed plans.

 

 

 

Thanks for the updates.

There is an unlimited plan which was slightly above $500 for 21 days.

Late night hot dog at o'sheehans

Good morning from a very industrial port in Fujairah

There is an unlimited plan which was slightly above $500 for 21 days.

 

Thanks,

 

$500 ......ouch.

Today we had an excursion organized by one of our roll call members again. A tour around Fujairah.

I think we saw pretty much everything that is worth seeing here

Before our tour started we could observe how all the passports got transferred to the immigration authorities

After coming back to the ship early afternoon I tried to get a quick lunch at O'Sheehans and failed completely. I have to take back my first comment about the quick and good service. Today was a mess and I left after being ignored for 15 to 20 minutes with no one stopping by to take my order. So even worse to what I am used to from other ships. No idea why it is so difficult to staff that venue appropriately when you have the data when the tours come back and even the data from the gangway how many guests are coming back.

So instead a quick and good lunch at the buffet where I was able to find a table at the closed side of the buffet.

Here is the freestyle daily for today

Tonight I will watch the barricade boys as I missed them last cruise but heard lots of great things about them.

In the evening we had something I didn't expect. The first rainfall of he cruise and that in the U.A.E

After that the first drinks and some karaoke at the 5'o clock bar

Lots of different singers and an interested audience. This cruise is getting much better than the last one and it is very promising for the next days

I am enjoying your trip to these locations. Thanks for posting as you sail. I sailed on the Star before and after her last dry dock; it's fun to see pictures of her.

.

I am so enjoying following your review.

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I have no idea why some many people raved about the barricade boys. No doubt they are good singers but the show missed something special or exciting for me to keep me entertained. After hat I was just feeling tired and exhausted and decided to go to bed before midnight after some more drinks.

Back in the cabin I found a new towel animal and a plate of chocolate sweets because of the O'Sheehans incident earlier.

The next day will be Muscat in Oman, the only port that is repeated from the previous tour so I have no tour plan and won't set my alarm clock.