Review of NCL Star Oct14-21 Bermuda

[punkincc]

What?? No Latitides Party on the Epic?:eek: Buzzkill. We like the freebies. We'll be on the Epic in 2013. Couldn't they hold a party several nights to split it up?

 

You are bringing up fond memories of our Star cruise. From meet & greet to latitudes party to slot pull ( causing us to miss the Martini tasting, probably a blessing ) to VIP cocktail party! And you are sooo right about sitting close to the main isle.

[bluesea777]

Great review so far, Kev and I'm enjoying it!!

 

A few things:

 

- it's hurricane Rafael not Raphael - fortunately it brushed by Bermuda and we were away.

 

- Epic does hold Latitudes parties but not for Bronze.

 

- we were just on the TA on Epic and learnt that Epic held 2 Latitudes parties - one for Silver and another for Gold and Platinum - there were sooo many repeats and loyals on the TA cruise.

 

- we were on the Star in Jan and had a good time - we were in a SJ suite therefore we never went near the Market Cafe. The Epic's Garden Cafe is the best - we even went there for dinner a few times!!

 

- there are some things we liked better on Star than on Epic but we prefer Epic overall.

 

Sorry to hear about your camera mishap. I did own a camera that used AA batteries, but chucked it in favour of camera with single rechargeable battery with a second spare one. Best thing we ever bought. I keep the spare in my pocket and change over when the first one dies out - when we're out in port. That evening I recharge both batteries, ready for the next day.

Edited November 5, 2012 by bluesea777

[luv2cruise53]

Great review so far, Kev and I'm enjoying it!!

 

A few things:

 

- it's hurricane Rafael not Raphael - fortunately it brushed by Bermuda and we were away.

 

- Epic does hold Latitudes parties but not for Bronze.

 

- we were just on the TA on Epic and learnt that Epic held 2 Latitudes parties - one for Silver and another for Gold and Platinum - there were sooo many repeats and loyals on the TA cruise.

 

- we were on the Star in Jan and had a good time - we were in a SJ suite therefore we never went near the Market Cafe. The Epic's Garden Cafe is the best - we even went there for dinner a few times!!

 

- there are things we liked better on Star than on Epic but we prefer Epic overall.

 

Thanks....I know where Raf went but I was building suspense. When I sailed the Epic in 2010 there were no latitudes parties AT ALL. Perhaps they have adjusted. The Breakaway also claims that there will be no latitudes but I can't remember where I either heard or read it so again I could be wrong.

 

The Market was OK for Breakfast and iffy for lunch. Nightime was a no time.

 

I am so jealous you live in Bermuda. If you continue to follow and I make mistakes in Bermuda please feel free to correct me because the only thing worse than no information is misinformation.

 

Thanks

 

Kev:cool:

[bluesea777]

Thanks....I know where Raf went but I was building suspense. When I sailed the Epic in 2010 there were no latitudes parties AT ALL. Perhaps they have adjusted. The Breakaway also claims that there will be no latitudes but I can't remember where I either heard or read it so again I could be wrong.

 

The Market was OK for Breakfast and iffy for lunch. Nightime was a no time.

 

I am so jealous you live in Bermuda. If you continue to follow and I make mistakes in Bermuda please feel free to correct me because the only thing worse than no information is misinformation.

 

Thanks

 

Kev:cool:

 

Looks like you were typing this post while I was editing mine to include the paragraph about camera.

 

To tell you the truth I ain't surprised if Breakaway decides to do away with Latitudes parties (but I hope at least they'll have one for Platinums). We were on Epic TA last year (Oct 2011) and the party was for Silver, Gold and Platinum and there were about 100 approx. That was before they made the change to the Latitudes levels (Nov 2011). The change sent us directly to Platinum from Silver (due to # of cruise days - we averaged 12-14 days per cruise).

 

This year there was sooo many people in the Latitudes party!

 

Looking forward to reading more of your review!

[luv2cruise53]

So out of the Spinnaker and down the hall to the rear entrance of the Red Lion Pub. It was rather crowded and I had no idea if there was a line or a table or a place to sign up for the Pub Crawl. So stupid is as stupid does and I hung against a pole and looked confused which was easy cause I was. Eventually a waitress came by and asked me what I wanted to drink, so I was like.....um....Oh she said "you here for the Pub Hop." Oh hop crawl whatever Yes...So she took my card and said wait right here...like I was going anywhere before I hopped or crawled....

 

Now while waiting for my entry whatever...turned out to be a red dot... I think I should fill you all in on a very cool character on our cruise. He was tall and husky and wore wild clothes, smoked cigars and was louder than me. He also resembled to a tee RODNEY DANGERFIELD. This was good because he actually was.....a Rodney dangerfield impersonator working the NY NJ and Catskill areas. The resemblance was uncanny and when he started in with my wife..my wife is etc...the voice was impeccable. He was a howl and truly enjoyed entertaining all of us for free. I hoped he was gonna hop or crawl or whatever with us because he would double the fun...turns out he was and he had a red dot...and I got my red dot and within a 1/2 hour 70 of us had red dots and we were ready to begin.

 

Next up: We Hop We crawl We get lost We fall

 

Kev:cool:

[BabsterA]

More!!! More!!!! We're 75 days away from our Star sailing, so I'm looking forward to the fix your commentary provides. :).

[luv2cruise53]

So by this time we all have our red dots and like I said it seems to be about 70 or 80 of us including Rodney. The Hop-Crawl was led by a crew member who seemed like a very outgoing and humorous guy. Well that makes sense I guess he would have to be. He pumped us all up with a couple of beer drinking type cheers like "heres to the ugly babys born" etc...seriously you really didn't think I would remember any of the several dozen of these we ended up doing...but he sure did and he was loud and funny and also drinking along(he must be the luckiest crew member on board, being paid to get drunk with us...and turns out he deserved it)apparently it was infectious cause soon enough we were all loud and funny. There was a group of 20 somethings on board who were hilarious and reminded me of Spring Breakers, 4 couples...all very good looking and fit and we as a group were thrilled that they were partaking. So the first of 5 began. We were all given a 12 ounce cup of what I can only describe as death with a dash of fruit juice. Yikes we were all looking at each oither with grimaces and fear. We sang a couple more ditties and before we could all finish...if we ever could we were off out the fromt door and through to the atrium...where our fearless leader made it a point that every soul on the ship could hear us.

 

Next Up: Lost

 

Kev:cool:

[luv2cruise53]

So up the stairs to deck 8 we went, a whole conga line of us that as we were going up the stairs the end still stretched to the Red lion and I couldn't see the front. At the top of the stairs we were in Moderno (Not Open) and we turned to the center bar where this next cup looked like a green drink(Midori) and was quite sweet but still strong. I noticed wives giving there husbands or SO's the drinks they couldn't finish from the first round and I said to myself. Hold on....we're in for a bumpy ride. LOL

 

I grabbed my #2 and followed.....the...couple...in front ..of me...through .......the Blue Lagoon.....slowly....with a whole conga line behind me.....and out into the elevator area and.....NADA....nobody but the couple, me and the entire end conga standing around going duh!

 

35 of us...We were Lost....had been abandoned standing around lookin foolish yelling up and down the stairs...helloooooooooo! NADA. Oh great...Lost on a pub crawl....Rodney started knocking out jokes about being lost and the goodness of that if you knew his wife. We were all ROFL...but one girl decided to get on the courtesy phone and she was breathless trying to describe the hilarity of the situation to whoever was listening. Some other bright genius decided that it must be deck 12 cause that was where the next bars were so hopper-crawlers started up the stairs....and me..the de facto leader was like.....NO...there are more bars down here.No up...No down. I felt like we were in the middle of the Poseidon Adventure where the purser wants to stay put and the reverend says... to the bottom to get to the top....LOL

 

Eventually we decided to stay put while the girl on the phone tried in vain to explain..Rodney cracked em left and right and 35 of us were LOST.

 

Next up: FOUND

 

Kev:cool:

[luv2cruise53]

Eventually a crew member came along who was obviously familiar with the Pub Hop-crawl route and told us we were to got to deck 7 promenade forward. So we did. There up by the forward section on the Starboard side was the rest of the grasshoppers. Whew....So we bitched a little to no avail and the fearless leader who was drinking a green drink chilled us out and we began the first of several games. Needless to say they involved drinking. He had 4 couples come up and the wives had to chug a can of beer...that wait... was between their husbands crotch...Disclaimer. If dirty drinking games is not your thing skip the next 2 sections. They had 2 get on their knees and drink it out of a straw so you know what that looked like...LOL

A couple more games and a few more sips of canned beer all around we headed in and down the stairs to the Casino. Here we snaked in quickly..mindful of who was in front and we grabbed a cup of margarita off the tray and snaked back out to the elevator hall once again.Here we moved to a side alcove and the leader who was as tipsy as all of us began some ditty's and then some dirty floor games that the young fit 20 somethings performed positions they had done and we all laughed until we cried. Now up the stairs to 13...right... most of us waited for the elevators and elevated to the Bier Garten. I was in the elevator with Rodney who was still letting them rip and we all howled all the way to the moon.

 

Next up: Rodney and the Bier garten

 

Kev:cool:

[luv2cruise53]

None of us could hop if we tried but we all managed to hop off the elevator to the stairs to the Bier garten where we were greeted to large cheers by passengers who were starting happy hour at 3:30 and getting out of the burning sun. Drink # 4 was another fruit bomb that started this whole mess and the leader sang off some more ditties and we all roared including the happy hour crew who were thoroughly enjoying all of this. The folks on the pool deck had no clue and looked confused if not curious and 2 people movers crashed and dozens of plates with food were flying everywhere. It was a hell of a day at sea sir.

 

Rodney encouraged by the crowds began what was most likely his act on stage and hundreds of us were treated to a roaring impromptu show. It really was a very special time and I am sure most hop-crawls were not as lively and exciting as this one.

 

We ended the hop-crawl at the Oasis Bar where some wise crew member decided all we needed was a small plastic cup of beer, which was probably a wise decision. We all stood off to the side and chatted and laughed and marveled at what a good time it was.

 

I looked at my watch and it was 3:45 so I thought I would go down and take a nap.........I headed towards the front and a whole gaggle of people from the Bier Garten grabbed me and forced me to the champagne bar for.....Guess...........The Martini Tasting

 

Why do you think I call it the day of the Liver.

 

Up Next: Martini Tasting

 

Kev:cool:

[SMSACE6]

OMG!!!! Im laughing so much that my dog is looking at me her head cocked to the side, and that "what's your problem?" look. You are sooo funny! And seriously I am in awe of you and your fellow pub crawlers. I have a rep for holding my liquor well, but I dont think I would have made it that far!:D So funny! Thanks so much for sharing your escapades!:)

[luv2cruise53]

OMG!!!! Im laughing so much that my dog is looking at me her head cocked to the side, and that "what's your problem?" look. You are sooo funny! And seriously I am in awe of you and your fellow pub crawlers. I have a rep for holding my liquor well, but I dont think I would have made it that far!:D So funny! Thanks so much for sharing your escapades!:)

 

Your welcome, and to even think I would have considered a martini tasting is not in my realm of logic, however;you have to remember that all this was done in the space of an hour and a 1/2 and being a big guy it really had not hit me yet. Plus I was truly enjoying the sun, the day, the jokes and being around others as I was solo so I was easy pickings for the cruisers who literally whisked me to the Martini Tasting.

 

Thanks for laughing

 

Kev:cool:

[luv2cruise53]

Sorry to hear about your camera mishap. I did own a camera that used AA batteries, but chucked it in favour of camera with single rechargeable battery with a second spare one. Best thing we ever bought. I keep the spare in my pocket and change over when the first one dies out - when we're out in port. That evening I recharge both batteries, ready for the next day.

 

Yes Bluesea, but it was the batteries as you will see, and I was not about to pay cruise ship prices but when I got to lovely Bermuda I bought some in a little store in Somerset and only paid 4$ for a pair of duracels so I did Ok for pics in Bermuda.

 

Kev:cool:

[turning40withMickey]

The Breakaway also claims that there will be no latitudes but I can't remember where I either heard or read it so again I could be wrong.

 

 

Kev:cool:

 

This is noted on the "member benefits" page on myncl....sad, sad, news to me.....and a "higher level" party won't work for me, even though I have paid for FIVE of us to sail twice....I think I should earn the underaged days on my latitudes number, don't you? Even if I split with DH, that's 21 more cruise days each for us. :p (I am a mathematician, too, three kids times seven nights times two cruises split with one DH) I like your idea of a free drink certificate.......I am sure NCL is reading your fantastic review, maybe they will credit you with the idea when they jump on it for the Breakaway!

[luv2cruise53]

This is noted on the "member benefits" page on myncl....sad, sad, news to me.....and a "higher level" party won't work for me, even though I have paid for FIVE of us to sail twice....I think I should earn the underaged days on my latitudes number, don't you? Even if I split with DH, that's 21 more cruise days each for us. :p (I am a mathematician, too, three kids times seven nights times two cruises split with one DH) I like your idea of a free drink certificate.......I am sure NCL is reading your fantastic review, maybe they will credit you with the idea when they jump on it for the Breakaway!

 

No tears Sherry;:(

 

Kev vows here and now to buy you and hubby a drink at our sail away. Trust me when I say even if you refuse I will seek you out and present you both with a big drink each. All those kids and 2 cruises deserves a break.

 

hey wouldn't that be something if NCL was watching this review...I'm just not sure whether they would appreciate it or not.:D

 

Kev

[turning40withMickey]

No tears Sherry;:(

 

Kev vows here and now to buy you and hubby a drink at our sail away. Trust me when I say even if you refuse I will seek you out and present you both with a big drink each. All those kids and 2 cruises deserves a break.

 

hey wouldn't that be something if NCL was watching this review...I'm just not sure whether they would appreciate it or not.:D

 

Kev

 

What's not to appreciate? It's all good!:D

Looking forward to Pub Hop Crawling with you on the Breakaway!

[luv2cruise53]

Well by now you probably are all asking "how can he do it?" Well I couldn't, the elevator ride to 6 was enough to convince me I would be best to sit this one out. But not to dissapoint you all and ever the social animal, I went along for the fun. There were perhaps 30 people milling around the great gold area and waiting to proceed on this voyage. I held back and plopped down on a barstool and no amount of cajoling could get me to sign up for this serious mess. I waved at my bartender and he waved back and 5 minutes later what do you think was sitting in front of me......go ahead....you already know....A frozen mudslide. Yep the icing on the cake as they say. So rather than complain I took hold of that paper tipped straw, ripped it off and imbibed on a tasty frozen mudslide. My bartender, he called me Mr Kevin....I think every bartender on the ship called me Mr Kevin...not that I had met them all ....helllooo its only day 2...give a sailor a chance. Anyway's he says Mr Kevin, you want to start a tab.....I think the frozen mud flew out my nose when I heard that one. NOT. I continued to watch and enjoy the atmosphere as expert bartenders mixed some cool looking martinis. I couldn't tell you what they were but one looked pink, and one looked green and one looked chocolaty.

 

When noone was paying attention to Kev, I oozed off the barstool and melted down the hall...down the stairs and left to 5502....and then back out and right to 5502.

 

Home at last. I turned on my trusty not flat screen TV and turned on the movie channel. Rock of Spider was playing and it was the part where Spidey kisses Russel Brand. Who Knew?:confused:

 

Snore...

 

Next up: Bring on (Whats Left of the night)

 

Kev:cool:

Edited November 6, 2012 by luv2cruise53

[luv2cruise53]

Guess what? A friend of mine just called me and said Hey idiot, what's a Champagne Bar. And I said its the gold bar on the Star. duh He said thats called Gatsby's. Im like oh yeah it was the champagne bar on the EPIC, and he said no idiot, that was Shakers. Well Im thinking there must be an NCL champagne bar because I am having a very blonde moment AGAIN.

 

 

LOL:D

Edited November 6, 2012 by luv2cruise53

[PCLMassachusetts]

By far one of the best reviews that I have ever read. Sailing out of Boston to Bermuda on the Dawn in May and while it isn't this same exact ship/trip, the review is great.

[luv2cruise53]

By far one of the best reviews that I have ever read. Sailing out of Boston to Bermuda on the Dawn in May and while it isn't this same exact ship/trip, the review is great.

 

Thank you and I too did the Dawn out of Boston to Bermuda 2 years ago. It is almost an exact replica minus a slide. Im now thinking the Dawn must be the elusive champagne bar, or maybe the Spirit. Darn I know I was in an NCL champagne bar at some point.

 

You will love the Dawn and Love Bermuda.

 

Keep reading we are only on day 2.

 

Kev:cool:

Edited November 6, 2012 by luv2cruise53

[teeny25]

Well by now you probably are all asking "how can he do it?" Well I couldn't, the elevator ride to 6 was enough to convince me I would be best to sit this one out. But not to dissapoint you all and ever the social animal, I went along for the fun. There were perhaps 30 people milling around the great gold area and waiting to proceed on this voyage. I held back and plopped down on a barstool and no amount of cajoling could get me to sign up for this serious mess. I waved at my bartender and he waved back and 5 minutes later what do you think was sitting in front of me......go ahead....you already know....A frozen mudslide. Yep the icing on the cake as they say. So rather than complain I took hold of that paper tipped straw, ripped it off and imbibed on a tasty frozen mudslide. My bartender, he called me Mr Kevin....I think every bartender on the ship called me Mr Kevin...not that I had met them all ....helllooo its only day 2...give a sailor a chance. Anyway's he says Mr Kevin, you want to start a tab.....I think the frozen mud flew out my nose when I heard that one. NOT. I continued to watch and enjoy the atmosphere as expert bartenders mixed some cool looking martinis. I couldn't tell you what they were but one looked pink, and one looked green and one looked chocolaty.

 

When noone was paying attention to Kev, I oozed off the barstool and melted down the hall...down the stairs and left to 5502....and then back out and right to 5502.

 

Home at last. I turned on my trusty not flat screen TV and turned on the movie channel. Rock of Spider was playing and it was the part where Spidey kisses Russel Brand. Who Knew?:confused:

 

Snore...

 

Next up: Bring on (Whats Left of the night)

 

Kev:cool:

LOL!!! You so crack me up..I wish you could have waited about a month to sail with us on Nov 25th..but then I wouldn't have this review to help the countdown days go by!

 

We were thinking about doing the pub crawl & martini tasting.. after your adventures I think we will just stick to the martini tasting... :D

 

Keep it coming!! Let me guess.. you walking in and the tv is showing Mary Jane dressed in conservative clothing and singing "Hit me with your best shot"?? tehe

[DMH15]

Kev,

 

Luv your review. Fell asleep reading it on my iphone and woke up at 5 and caught up. It is a very nice and witty read. Although you make a pub crawl sound great I am one who sniffs a cork and I'm tipsy so guess I will pass.

 

Keep up the great review. You are priceless. .

[cruitenn]

Guess what? A friend of mine just called me and said Hey idiot, what's a Champagne Bar. And I said its the gold bar on the Star. duh He said thats called Gatsby's. Im like oh yeah it was the champagne bar on the EPIC, and he said no idiot, that was Shakers. Well Im thinking there must be an NCL champagne bar because I am having a very blonde moment AGAIN.

 

 

LOL:D

 

Hi Mr. Kevin,

 

Really enjoying your review, it is very entertaining! :D DH and I were also on this cruise and I feel bad that I did not meet you personally, glad that you enjoyed yourself on this cruise. I went to the CC M&G but got there late so I did not meet a lot of ther people, who attended. I never do pub crawls and martini tasting but it sounds like I should have done this one.:D

 

This was our first cruise since May, 2011, DH got ill and had to complete series of treatments and surgery. Thank God, He is now recovering and this was a celebration of life cruise. We also enjoyed our cruise very much, the Star's officers, staff and crew went out of their way to ensure that. We are now taking each day as a gift and plan to cruise as much as work schedule will allow.;)

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review!

Lita

[rowdyrosie]

Thank you for the great read.

What Bar's can one smoke in? Any Cigar Bars?

[NYGirl1002]

Okay Kev..I'm not feeling bad for you anymore! You had a great time. I can tell....

 

Your review is so different and so much fun. Hurry and post more before I leave on Sunday for my own adventure.