Star Trip report 10/3 Free* cruise

[JIMESOPUS]

Sitting here in Southampton today, tomorrow starts our ten day cruise around Ireland on the Star. It’s time to start this “ live “ review. 

 

Unlike a previous review, which was excellent. We will have the drink package, there will be no pictures of cakes and pastries but there will be pictures of Pubs and pints.

 

With another active live thread that will more cultured than this one,

I’m trying to think of an interesting title to this review. Ten days sailing around Ireland from Southampton on the Star, Ten day pub crawl on the Star or a free* Ten day cruise on the Star.

 

We have sailed on the Star, way back in 2012, our first cruise out of Tampa. It was a culture shock for us, 4 ships in port that day, thousands of passengers boarding or getting off. After that cruise we took off the following year, but we kept talking about our experience. Guess we got hooked on cruising. 

 

Since then we have sailed 24 times with NCL, mostly out of NYC. 

 

Last week we venture out and kicked the tires on MSC cruise out of Brooklyn, we were lucky to have a YC cabin ( upgrade bid ), going to miss our Butler Meri

 

Since that first cruise, the Star lost it’s Spinnaker lounge for suites but gained other venues ( sounds familiar to the future of the Joy ). So this will be a new ship for us.

 

 

[JIMESOPUS]

The cost, since this was a “ free “ CAS cruise, was free, right? 

 

Total cost was $160 PP per day.

 

This included the following

$20 PP per day CAS admin fee

$20 PP per day DSC

NCL airfare, yes that’s right NCL booked our flights $1098

Transportation back to the airport $75 PP

Upgrade charge from inside to oceanview

 

We all love promo codes so here is ours.

 

AIRPROM3 -  second guess flys free

ALL4CHO - all four options picked 

DISC35 - 35 % discount

EASYFARE - Early booking fare

LATREW* - latitudes member and associated level

LATRIPLE - 3 points per night

META - Casino Comp cruise

METAUP - Casino Comp upgrade 

SHX50 - excursion $50 off

[JIMESOPUS]

NCL Air, American Airlines this time.

To Southampton, BDL ( Hartford ) to PHL ( Philadelphia ) then LHR ( Heathrow )

To Harford, LHR ( Heathrow ) to ORD ( Chicago ) then BDL ( Hartford )

 

We did Bradley this, past flights out of JFK, Newark and LaGuardia have been terrible for us. Bradley is about a two hour ride through the Hudson Valley, no major highways and the parking is about 1/3 the cost.

 

The trees are starting to turn, a beautiful Sunday afternoon drive.

 

Will we continue to use NCL Air, yes but only on international flights.

 

 Holiday Inn here in Southampton needs to be refreshed, rooms are somewhat dated.

[JIMESOPUS]

Pub #1 - Red Dog Saloon, not in Juneau but here in Southampton. Excellent BBQ for being over here in England.

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

28 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Unlike a previous review, which was excellent. We will have the drink package, there will be no pictures of cakes and pastries but there will be pictures of Pubs and pints.

Bless you!!!

[schmoopie17]

34 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

there will be no pictures of cakes and pastries but there will be pictures of Pubs and pints.

 

 

 

 

In the immortal words of Seinfeld, "Not that there's anything wrong with that."

[mking8288]

Coming along for the virtual cruise, thanks, Jim for sharing.  Last time on the Star, 2009 Mexico and 2008 Alaska for us - this will be a nice refreshing look. 

 

As for it being a free cruise, as you pointed out, there are many associated costs to pay out of pocket ... more like subsidized, comp'd partially by a casino as our friends called it, rebate for generous donations already made while playing 😁😮😆

 

Have a great & wonderful cruise - following along. 

[JGmf]

2 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

We did Bradley this, past flights out of JFK, Newark and LaGuardia have been terrible for us. Bradley is about a two hour ride through the Hudson Valley, no major highways and the parking is about 1/3 the cost.

 

We similarly love Bradley.  Easy-in, easy-out.  Big, clean airport with very reasonable parking costs.

 

Looking forward to the trip report!

[JIMESOPUS]

Since tomorrow is embarkation day we went out for a second pub visit. We returned to the place were we lost @ColoradoKen last September ( Prima TA ), later found in the terminal not looking so well.

Duke of Wellington, very local, friendly pub. We almost got adopted too, but used jet lag to make our escape.

[ColoradoKen]

The Duke of Wellington!  Classic pub in Southampton.  

[SpainAlien]

4 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Sitting here in Southampton today, tomorrow starts our ten day cruise around Ireland on the Star. It’s time to start this “ live “ review. 

 

Unlike a previous review, which was excellent. We will have the drink package, there will be no pictures of cakes and pastries but there will be pictures of Pubs and pints.

 

With another active live thread that will more cultured than this one,

I’m trying to think of an interesting title to this review. Ten days sailing around Ireland from Southampton on the Star, Ten day pub crawl on the Star or a free* Ten day cruise on the Star.

 

We have sailed on the Star, way back in 2012, our first cruise out of Tampa. It was a culture shock for us, 4 ships in port that day, thousands of passengers boarding or getting off. After that cruise we took off the following year, but we kept talking about our experience. Guess we got hooked on cruising. 

 

Since then we have sailed 24 times with NCL, mostly out of NYC. 

 

Last week we venture out and kicked the tires on MSC cruise out of Brooklyn, we were lucky to have a YC cabin ( upgrade bid ), going to miss our Butler Meri

 

Since that first cruise, the Star lost it’s Spinnaker lounge for suites but gained other venues ( sounds familiar to the future of the Joy ). So this will be a new ship for us.

 

 

I'm looking forward to your review, we are in an oceanview cabin on Star in 42 days. Are you in a port hole cabin, if so please let me know if it noisy, I had one on Dawn in May and on some nights I struggled to sleep and ended up getting earplugs from Guest Services

 

[Tak8]

Looking forward to your trip report.  I'm thinking about the Star next year.

[yankprintster]

6 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

LATRIPLE - 3 points per night

 

Technically, that code means 3 *extra* points per night (so 4 points per night unless you're in a suite, then it's 5.)

[JIMESOPUS]

Good Morning Southampton

Former New Jerseyite Anthem of the Seas, Star and Aurora (P&O)

[dexddd]

The ship in the second picture is the one you want.

 

Have a great time.

Edited October 3, 2023 by dexddd

[vacation44]

Enjoy your reviews and looking forward to this one.   

[schmoopie17]

And here I thought Southampton was just a place to get on and off the ship. Will have to make a point of having a pint (or several) at these fine looking establishments next year.

[Panhandle Couple]

Love the pub pics and reviews!

 

For those who haven't been to the UK, you can find neat pubs in the smallest of towns, or just randomly near a country road intersection.

 

Hopefully Ireland will be the same.

[LauraAnneC]

6 hours ago, Panhandle Couple said:

Love the pub pics and reviews!

 

For those who haven't been to the UK, you can find neat pubs in the smallest of towns, or just randomly near a country road intersection.

 

Hopefully Ireland will be the same.

Ireland is definitely the same! 

[JIMESOPUS]

Nice Walk over to the ship, 801 steps according to Carol's fitbit. Lest the Hotel at 1100 am and was eating lunch at O'Sheehans around 1145 am. 

The cabin, 8618 obstructed ocean view. Right down the hall is O'Sheehan's and hopefully right below the internet cafe on deck #9. Found on the Sun last May that the cafe had the best wifi signal, well see if that’s true. Not sure about the traffic and noise.

[JIMESOPUS]

As expected the upload speeds are terrible. Posting those pictures took over 10 minutes.

[JIMESOPUS]

Working off the " free site ", very slow but it works for now. So far the cabin isn't too bad, very tight but workable. The hallway outside the cabin is very narrow, enough room for one. So far as being " Americans " everyone wants to talk to us. Always had a great time sailing with folks from the UK but this is funny as all hell, they all have the same mission, get their money worth on the drink package. Decided not to upgrade so we will be working off the " free " package. 

[JIMESOPUS]

15 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

And here I thought Southampton was just a place to get on and off the ship. Will have to make a point of having a pint (or several) at these fine looking establishments next year.

Great cruise port, with all the cameras they have here in the UK we felt very safe walking back to the hotel at night.

[Von & John]

Joining for some Pubs & Pints

[mking8288]

@JIMESOPUS  Off to a great start.  Depending on the ports/itinerary, we would book those obstructed OV for savings and then do WP upgrade if Mrs. "wants" a balcony for fresh air in the tropical evenings & mornings.  Whoever is no the side next to that upper bunk/pullman bed ... "mind" or watch your head as it's easy to bump into that, especially if seas are really rough & ship is rocking.  

 

That crooked passage is narrow for sure but quiet otherwise, little foot traffic except for pax staying in that area - yours is one of the handful of sideway cabins, correct ... how does it feel ?  One of these days, might actually book one (not in the immediate future, however)  In the mid/late evenings, you are probably going to hear party music coming up from the atrium lobby below, as NCL does things down there, especially on sea days & if outdoors are closed for weather & safety reasons ... but, they do stop after 11 PM, respecting quieter time, maybe a late night movie on projection TV screen (popcorns too)

 

@graphicguy confirmed/reported that Epic now has Starlink active, onboard and getting decent, usable speed, NCL apparently decided to roll it out while in Europe.  Long overdue, to some of us.  

 

Continuing to follow, thanks for taking the extra time, effort & sharing.