Live from the Star on the way to Singapore

[GUEST080219]

Second day in Mumbai was not only with the same company but the same tour guide as well.

 

We started very early so we were able to see the morning celebration in a Hindu temple which was on of the most awesome things I ever experienced. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming to us tourists standing there with our cameras

 

[jimbri]

Great review!

[GUEST080219]

After that we continued to the open air laundry

 

and to the flower market

 

After a way to long "quick lunch" and toilet break we co tinier on the the largest slum in India for a tour.

[GUEST080219]

The tour was a walking tour through a very selected area of the slum which mainly consisted of the industrial part of the recycling and pottery business. Photography was only allowed at very selected places

 

 

 

The tour was not guided by our regular guide but by two locals and was around 60.

 

After that kind of long and exhausting day I decided to skip the shopping. The guide let me off in walking distance to the port gate.

[GUEST080219]

Back in the ship of course a shower first and then some food. As the tour in Goa wasn't starting until 10am that felt a little bit like a sea day so there was enough time to enjoy the evening entertainment. Originally Graffiti Classics was scheduled to perform tonight by they were replaced by White Magic. So two more shows the next days which are a repeat from the last one

 

 

So I replaced the theatre show with more drinking at the bars

[GUEST080219]

Has Peter Croyle mentioned how long he will be on board? We sail on Feb. 6 from Sydney to Auckland and would like to hear his lectures - particularly for Milford Sound.

 

 

 

No idea. I think he will stay on for the whole season. If I get the chance to talk to him and remember it I will ask.

[mids]

Thanks Michael for all your posts I am enjoying hearing about it all.

[GUEST080219]

All the days before NCL said we will get the landing cards for each Indian port the night before delivered to our stateroom door. As the next days tour in Goa didn't start until 10am I stayed up a bit and went back to my cabin after midnight. As I woke up and got out in time to have a quick breakfast. To my surprise I didn't have the landing card at my door but an information flyer about the distribution of the landing cards in the morning. So I needed another stop at the guest services which made my breakfast way to rushed. I don't mind collecting them but giving out false information and then not correcting them in time annoys me a big time. And hat is a common problem on this cruise

 

 

The port was extremely basic as the Nautical was docked at the passenger terminal

[GUEST080219]

The private tour was with Magic Tours again. We saw a temple, two churches, an Portuguese influenced neighborhood and had a photo stop st a beach. The guide, bus and service was very good but in contrast to Mumbai none of the things I saw was something I will still have in my memories 2 years in the future. Driving through the green and beautiful landscape though made me wish I had done some kind of hiking trip though

 

Edited November 30, 2016 by micm

[GUEST080219]

[GUEST080219]

 

Our departure was delayed quite a while because they were lacking a pilot?!?

 

 

As I have seen Graffiti Classics way to often I stocked to the usual bar round and food at O'Sheehans and the buffet.

 

Coming back to my cabin I had some voicemail messages about our private tour tomorrow that the Organisator and other people had canceled due to the rupees situation. I used the next hour to search for alternatives but nothing was really appealing so I planned with a day on the ship in Mangalore

[GUEST080219]

As I had nothing planned anymore in Mangalore I slept in a bit.

That was he view I had when I got up

 

 

As that didn't look to interesting i stayed on board even though NCL seemed to offer a complimentary shuttle according to the signs.

As I had both lunch and an esrly first dinner at O'Sheehans I can tell that apart from the one time bad service it has been spotless since then. I am very happy with that.

[GUEST080219]

This is the freestyle daily for Mangalore

 

The only interesting part of the daily activities today is the Ancora and Graffiti Classics show together. I have seen both of their individual shows so I expect that to be pretty good

[hawkeyetlse]

Coming back to my cabin I had some voicemail messages about our private tour tomorrow that the Organisator and other people had canceled due to the rupees situation.

I understand that the new rupee policy is a big mess for people in India, but why did you all decide to cancel the tour? I thought they were going to let you pay in USD or with credit cards?

 

It sounds like you were quite OK with skipping the port, but it seems like kind of a shame… :(

[OzCanuck]

That's too bad about skipping the port. I know India can be exhausting, mentally and physically, don't blame you for a taking a day on the ship.

[GUEST080219]

I understand that the new rupee policy is a big mess for people in India, but why did you all decide to cancel the tour? I thought they were going to let you pay in USD or with credit cards?

 

It sounds like you were quite OK with skipping the port, but it seems like kind of a shame… :(

 

 

 

As far as I know they already exchanged rupees before they cruised and the tour operator doesn't accept them. Taxi drivers and other locals do though so it cuts their losses. With everyone canceling on a trip that has its cost based on a per vehicle and not per person that changed it for everyone else especially when the people canceling are the ones who set up the tour and did all the communication with the tour operator.

 

From what I heard of those people and staff that went out I didn't miss anything though.

[GUEST080219]

The Ancora and Graffiti Classics show was a bit underwhelming as they were not performing together but just each did half of a show after esch other.

 

 

Next day was our last Indian port Cochin

[GUEST080219]

Today we had a cruise critic shore excursion again

 

First we went to Fort Cochin to watch something really unique... a church

 

The church was so ugly that I didn't even bother taking pictures inside

 

After that we saw the so called Chinese fisher nets, or something like that.

 

[GUEST080219]

After that we we went on a 1 1/2 bus tour to get on the house boat. By the way we had a pretty interesting party/DJ bus in an unusual 3+2 seat configuration

 

 

The house boat trip was exactly what I was looking for. Interesting views and scenery and a great service.

The boat was surprisingly spacious including three bedrooms

 

We had an Indian buffet as well

[GUEST080219]

Those are some of the views we had during the boat trip. It was rather hazy with light rain in between

 

The house boat trip was around two hours.

Edited December 1, 2016 by micm

[GUEST080219]

After another 90 minutes bus ride back we reached the port again. They had a lot of stalls selling different stuff set up on the pier

 

 

As we are not leaving until 10:30 more from that later. Indian regulations say that all landing cards must be completely handed in before we are allowed to leave. Will be interesting to see if my fellow guests can do that.

[Nix111]

Loving the detailed review, thanks for taking the time to post, we board NCL Star in 19 days for the Hong Kong to Singapore 14 night Christmas & New Year cruise so I will be following with interest...

 

Nicky

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[pieshops]

Loving the detailed review, thanks for taking the time to post, we board NCL Star in 19 days for the Hong Kong to Singapore 14 night Christmas & New Year cruise so I will be following with interest...

 

Nicky

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

We are on this cruise with you as well.

 

Very interested to see how the passport port entry process will be handled at each stop

[DebbieT11]

Michael, thanks much for sharing your perspective.... we've not been aboard the Star in a couple years, so joining her in Singapore will be a treat.

[DebbieT11]

Michael, any word on the Koh Samui port yet? I understand devastating rain, floods and mudslides have caused it to be declared an emergency area. Poor folks!