Review of the Norwegian Star NYC to Bermuda - June 24 to July 1, 2012

[broadwaystar32]

Thanks for this great review! I'm glad I found it, as we leave on the Star for Bermuda in less than two weeks!

 

You writing was so captivating and entertaining. I'm shocked that Mr. H would introduce you to his son if he was married. But I suppose it doesn't really matter what the situation was, if you got a weird vibe from him that's reason enough not to get involved, in my opinion.

 

It also made me laugh how all of your "food" pictures were empty plates! I can't wait to try some of the food - we just booked Le Bistro for the night of our anniversary!

[aloesch]

I'm very glad I didn't stumble on your review until today... the suspense of waiting for a new post would have driven me crazy. You are a very gifted story teller, thank you so much for sharing!!

[gizmo911]

This has got to be the best review I have read so far on CC. It was like reading a mini novel. I plan to read it again before my next cruise. This will be the second time that I will be traveling solo. The first time was a little uncomfortable at night. I ate alone in MDR, saw a show and then spent a lot of time in casino. I felt that I missed some really great opportunites and entertainment. I do not drink but I love different types of music. This time I plan to take advantage of what the ship has to offer. I plan to eat at Cagneys, I have already purchased my white outfit to join in the White Hot Party. I think dinning at the Chef Table would really be a nice addition, especially having other guest to dine with. MY only hesitation would be that I do not drink and the cost would be a bit high for just dinner. Is there a reduced price if you do not drink? I may still try it anyway as I have a small amount of OBC available. Your review has given me so much to look forward to as a solo traveler. I am pretty comfortable talking to people, it is just at night I feel a litte awkward visiting venues alone. But I intend to do just that. I can't wait for my November cruise because I am feeling so tired and burned out. I know that it is just what I need. Thanks again for your wonderful review, it did wonders for me.

[Hikini]

This has got to be the best review I have read so far on CC. It was like reading a mini novel. I plan to read it again before my next cruise. This will be the second time that I will be traveling solo. The first time was a little uncomfortable at night. I ate alone in MDR, saw a show and then spent a lot of time in casino. I felt that I missed some really great opportunites and entertainment. I do not drink but I love different types of music. This time I plan to take advantage of what the ship has to offer. I plan to eat at Cagneys, I have already purchased my white outfit to join in the White Hot Party. I think dinning at the Chef Table would really be a nice addition, especially having other guest to dine with. MY only hesitation would be that I do not drink and the cost would be a bit high for just dinner. Is there a reduced price if you do not drink? I may still try it anyway as I have a small amount of OBC available. Your review has given me so much to look forward to as a solo traveler. I am pretty comfortable talking to people, it is just at night I feel a litte awkward visiting venues alone. But I intend to do just that. I can't wait for my November cruise because I am feeling so tired and burned out. I know that it is just what I need. Thanks again for your wonderful review, it did wonders for me.

 

Good luck - you will do just great. We love the Star!

[tiffanieb]

This has got to be the best review I have read so far on CC. It was like reading a mini novel. I plan to read it again before my next cruise. This will be the second time that I will be traveling solo. The first time was a little uncomfortable at night. I ate alone in MDR, saw a show and then spent a lot of time in casino. I felt that I missed some really great opportunites and entertainment. I do not drink but I love different types of music. This time I plan to take advantage of what the ship has to offer. I plan to eat at Cagneys, I have already purchased my white outfit to join in the White Hot Party. I think dinning at the Chef Table would really be a nice addition, especially having other guest to dine with. MY only hesitation would be that I do not drink and the cost would be a bit high for just dinner. Is there a reduced price if you do not drink? I may still try it anyway as I have a small amount of OBC available. Your review has given me so much to look forward to as a solo traveler. I am pretty comfortable talking to people, it is just at night I feel a litte awkward visiting venues alone. But I intend to do just that. I can't wait for my November cruise because I am feeling so tired and burned out. I know that it is just what I need. Thanks again for your wonderful review, it did wonders for me.

 

Gizmo we always travel in a big group maybe it's a good way of meeting new friends always welcome we normally do Mexican Rivera but also Caribbean at least once a year

[Cruise Girl Forever]

I really enjoyed your review. It brought back memories of my cruise to Bermuda as well. I will be looking forward to your next cruise review.

No pressure:D

[Stella777]

Sigh. I open my eyes right on time at 5:59 am. I get up, get dressed and decide to go for a walk on deck 13. There’s no one around.

 

I’m going to get all sappy on everyone for a minute and admit that I actually got really emotional while I was out there walking. This trip was extraordinarily special to me because I was so tired, so stressed, so weighed down and simply burned out when I left and this ship, the crew, Bermuda, the beaches, the sights, the sounds, the food, the wonderful people and even the promise of something with Mr. Handsome gave me the escape and rejuvenation and I needed. I knew I was about the head back into the fray and the craziness of the everyday and that got me worked up.

 

I have to admit that I spent so much writing this review because reliving all these moments has been therapeutic in a way; an escape among of sea of meetings, business travel, budgets, blah, blah, blah, and the routine of the everyday. I’m so tickled at the kind comments, since I usually only write business plans, strategies, emails and the like.

 

I stood there for a while and gave myself a little pep talk – I’m all rested up and ready for battle, it literally will be like Christmas in July with all of the stuff I bought and I still had all of the July 4 celebrations with family and my sweet new nephew to look forward to.

 

Most of all, I am about to enter into one of the most intense times in my career -- two political conventions, election night (get out there and vote people!), holiday season for our consumer clients and a slew of other things. I'm ready because I'm rested up and ready for battle. But the real thing that pulled me out of my funk? Leaving today means I will definitely need a vacation when it’s all said and done and our agency closes for the last two weeks in December so I’m home free. So where are we going next? (Epic, maybe?).

 

It’s close to my time, so I head back to my room and start to gather up my carry-on bags. Amazing Aramando knocks on my door, not to kick me out but to say goodbye. I ask him what’s next and he says it’s back to Bermuda this afternoon! I know a job is a job and they make the choice, but I think the crew who are on these contracts and are supporting families, saving for education or just trying to see the world are so are special; so even it might not make any difference I give Aramando $150 of my casino winnings for his extra gratuity and make him promise me he’ll get off the ship in Bermuda this time and do something fun! (earlier in the week, we’d had a conversation that he didn’t ever leave the ship when he had time off.)

 

So NCL check-in was amazingly slow but check out was lightning fast even with having to pay duty tax (the conveniently take credit card and luckily it was too much.) Or, it was simply the angels putting me in the right place at the right time. I breezed right off with hardly any lines, my luggage was there when I got off the ship and I walked right up in customs. I go out to look for the taxi line, its brutally hot and I’m getting re-acclimated to the noise and bustle of the city and that’s where I see him. And then see her. See her kissing her husband and hugging her son and getting into their SUV to head to wherever home is. So, it’s the end of Mr. Handsome and it all becomes clear on why you should always trust your instincts.

 

It all replays in my mind -- me feeling hesitant to walk on the deck, stiffening up when he was all touchy feely, the advice from the older high roller. Try to reconcile how I'd feel if as a 14-year-old was party to my dad introducing me to his "pretty friend." I felt really uncomfortable, sad, mad and grossed out.

 

You have to go downstairs and back through the terminal to get to the taxi line on the lower level. You can also drag your luggage across the street on the top level, but that was a no go with all the stuff I had. I board the elevator with some of my fellow passengers and just try to breathe. I will admit that there were times during the cruise where I was feeling good and though why not take him up on his offer? I’m so glad I stuck to my guns here. I dodged a bullet.

 

Getting home was tricky. The storms that had hit DC meant Amtrak had no power along the tracks and trains were cancelled until late in the evening. I wasn’t sure if I was going home to no electricity and did know how family or friends were faring either. Luckily I was able to get a ticket on the Bolt Bus to DC but it didn’t leave for a two and a half hours. I didn’t know where to stow all of my bags and it was so, so hot outside, so I just hunkered down in the Irish bar near the bus stop had a few beers, ordered a plate of nachos and starting catching up with my family and friends to make sure they were ok. Right around the time I was trying to navigate the chaotic scene at the bus stop, I got a text from him. “Are you ok? Heard about storms. Thinking about you.” I deleted and didn’t answer. Later that evening got another one “Get home ok? Miss you!” Ugh, so despicable and I was not going to let this be the lingering memory from my vacation. I just deleted again and haven’t received anything since.

 

So, I’ll end this review (as you can see brevity is not my thing) with a wish for all future all Norwegian Star passengers. May you have smooth sailing, spectacular sunsets and a jolly good time!

 

You know,and you don't have to answer this response, but I had a similar situation on my last cruise with a guy who showed up out of nowhere and told me that I was one of those "liberated women".( I could tell instantly that he was on the prowl, but knew that I was safe aboard the ship with the 'face recognition" mode in place). I am sorry that I did not ask him what he meant, in fact I think that I really didn't want to know since I was on vacation mode and wasn't looking for a one night stand if you know what I mean since I am 61 years old and don't need that kind of thing in my life to necessarily have "fun" on a cruise. He was 59.( I never had this happen to me before on the few cruises that I have been on, but I knew exactly how to handle it). I just wanted to be on a cruise and was solo like you and just chill, relax, meet anyone who wanted to be meeted and just enjoy myself before I went back to my stressful life. Unlike you, I gave him a false phone number since it was convenient to do so, as I did not think that we would ever meet up again because we live in two separate states and I wasn't all that interested in him to keep in touch. if you travel solo again don't feel guilty in doing this unless you do really want to keep in touch:). It was nice to have someone to have breakfast, lunch and dinner with at times and do some activities with, but other than that, I was out and about meeting other people who didn't take that close an interest in me. I really enjoyed your review and look forward to any other excursions you might take and comment on in the future.

[lls713]

Great review:) I'm glad you had a great trip minus the Mr H part lol:) I'm saving it to get ideas for my upcoming cruise:)

[NMLady]

When this review was written originally I hadn't read it since I'd never been on the Star and didn't plan on ever being on the Star -- no Great Outdoors and the Spinnaker Lounge is not the usual fantastic view forward observation lounge.

 

Well, we found NCL had a good deal on a 26 day b2b so now we're booked on the Star for October. So, since the latest reply to this thread had bumped it to the top, I sat here and read the review in one sitting, thoroughly enthralled. I loved every minute of it. It had suspense, personalness, travel guide, and more.

What an excellent writer.

 

I am now looking forward more than ever to hubby's and my journey on the Star. Not going to Bermuda, though. Someday we'll go there and have the relaxing time that the OP reviewer had. Meanwhile we'll have relaxing sea days bringing the Star back to USA from Europe.

[jdvmd]

Excellent review!

[Burpelson]

Great review! Wow. BTW, found while searching for info on Chef's tables.... Good luck in your stressful real world life! Thanks again.

[cruiseclues]

Thanks for your interesting photo review. :):):):)