Another Star Review 6/18-6/25

[fungirl3]

Hi everyone! I'll try not to repeat what others said. We had a wonderful time the whole week! Since this was our first cruise everything was new and exciting to us. We had 27 family and friends with us. We all ate dinner together at the Aqua on Thursday night. I had made reservations by email in advance and double checked when we got on board. They were able to

accomodate all of us at 4 tables near each other. I asked the ship photographer if they could take a picture of us and they met us in front of the Aqua 15 minutes before our 5:30 reservation and took our picture on the stairs. It turned out lovely. Dinner that night was Italian. I had the lasagna and it was wonderful!

 

First day, our safe didn't work so I called it in and they had a new battery in within a half hour. It worked fine after that. Great service always. I asked

for an extra bath towel and they gave me one every day. Room service a couple of times was prompt and the food pretty good. Sandwiches, pizza, cesear salad. Breakfast at Market Cafe (buffet) was good. My DH got tired of eating other meals there so we went to Versalles a lot and it was always good. One night at Cagney's for steak and lobster. Very good. Make reservations though.

 

I took a case of Costco water in one of my suitecases. No problem with check in and it sure was handy.

 

Unfortunately my dad got sick. He had a touch of the flu before the cruise and it started up again. When mother called to cancel their Skagway excursions, they said he needed a doctors note. When they went to see the doctor, he wanted to make sure they weren't contagious so confined them to their room for 24 hours. They weren't locked in and were able to order room service from the restaurants and mother said they were treated very well. They got their money back for the train ride and were given their Victoria tour free. Dad was fine for a couple of days, then got sick again Friday night and had to be wheelchaired to the Medical Center. They did an EKG and blood test. He had low potassium levels so they put him on an IV for several hours. Back to his room to rest Saturday where they were again treated very well, not confined, mother could come and go. But she ate with him, again from the restaurants, not just the room service menu. And they got their money back from missing the Victoria excursion. They still managed to have a good time and are glad they went. I am too. :)

 

We went to the Andrew Lloyd Weber show, Sean's Magician, Sam the comedian, and the Liars club. We were team 12 and I was holding our sign.

Don't vote for Sean! But we did anyway.

I also listened a bit to Jana up in the Star Bar. She's great and very personable. Wish I would have had time to listen to her more. We all thought the shows were great. You know they are if they end too soon and you still want more. :)

 

We all did great in the casinos. I thought there were more winners there than in the casinos in Washington and Oregon. I won $360.00 the first night so pampered myself with the spa on three different days. Facial, full body massage, and hair updo for our Thursday night dinner. All were wonderful. I was asked after the massage if I would like to buy their product. I said no thank you and that seemed fine.

 

I spent a lot on family pictures for formal night. $24.95 each but then they gave me a 20% off on pictures the rest of the cruise. We haven't ever had a family portrait and since our 3 kids are all grown up now, we bought a lot of pictures and they were very good. Better late than never.

 

 

We had our balcony door open the whole cruise and it was wonderful to hear the water all the time. We ordered Bon Voyage packages, shrimp, and flowers to different family members and all were worth it. The kids couldn't eat all the cake because it was so big but they said it was very good.

 

I wouldn't have spent so much on excursions and explored the towns a little more. We had to rush in Juneau on the last tram for the evening but it was well worth it and I think I got some beautiful pictures of the Star from way above. We did mangage to shop and buy some jewelry at the Fire and Ice store right across from the tram depot in Juneau. Locally owned/designed and the girls in there are very nice.

 

On the Skagway train, everyone says sit on the left so you can see the view. We ended up on the right but all the different waterfalls on that side are amazing! If you're planning a water feature for your yard, you can get 100 different ideas.

 

Ketchikan was fun. Enjoyed the logging show but wish we could have spent more time there exploring. Maybe I need to take a longer cruise next time! LOL!!!

 

Victoria was beautiful. It was a warm sunny day on Saturday so lots of people out and about. The Buchart Gardens were gorgeous! We did the city tour with the gardens which was fun and interesting but I would now know to have at least 2 1/2 to 3 hours at the Gardens. We were there about 1 hour 45 minutes.

 

All these things gave me a taste for more so I'll keep reading how you all are doing. Since DH doesn't like warm climates, I'm trying to talk him into the Canada/New England cruise in the Fall of 2008. Anyone done that cruise?

 

Overall, we had the best time, the cruise staff were always nice and friendly.

Embarking and disembarking went smoothly. Overall a 10 on my scale of fun vacations.

 

You guys are going to call me long winded instead of Fungirl3!

[Cholita]

Fungirl- sorry to hear your dad was sick, but at least he was treated well! Sounds like you did quite well in the casino! My mom also did well- in fact, they comped all her excursions and 2/3 of the cost of her cruise! Meanwhile, I blew about $20 in less than five minutes, so I guess I didn't get the lucky genes? I almost indulged in some spa treatments but decided I'd already spent enough in drinks, etc. Hubby and I are interested in doing the Canada/New England Cruise too as he is not a warm-weather type person (this current heat wave is a bit much, don't you think?) Thanks for the great review!

[Hikini]

Glad to hear you had a great time - so did we! I'm sorry your Dad got sick, but glad to hear how he was treated so well.

 

We were in the Liar's Club too - did you get tired of the guy heckling Shawn? My word, he was annoying!

[familyplanner]

I just booked Mexican Riveria for December and can hardly wait. Glad to see some positive reviews:p

[GeorgiaG]

fungirl3

 

Enjoyed all the reviews.We will be on the Star to Alaska Sept 10. We have done the New England/Canada cruise twice, one 4 day one seven day. Enjoyed them both we went in Sept and October. Beautiful weather and great scenery in Nova Scotia. you would enjoy it as much as Alaska. I'll try to answer any questions about a Canada cruise you may have.

 

Georgia

[fungirl3]

Yes Hikini! I got tired of that guy heckling Shawn. He was in the magic show too and when Shawn swallowed the balloon, he kept yelling, "I KNOW HOW YOU DID THAT!" The funny part about that kid was he was kept talking to our 23 year old daughter. He saw our familiy pictures in the photo gallery and came up to her and said, "HEY, I SAW YOUR PICTURE". She thought it was weird and then kept running into him so we were teasing her about being stalked. :)

[Hikini]

Yes Hikini! I got tired of that guy heckling Shawn. He was in the magic show too and when Shawn swallowed the balloon, he kept yelling, "I KNOW HOW YOU DID THAT!" The funny part about that kid was he was kept talking to our 23 year old daughter. He saw our familiy pictures in the photo gallery and came up to her and said, "HEY, I SAW YOUR PICTURE". She thought it was weird and then kept running into him so we were teasing her about being stalked. :)

 

Shawn was so professional handling this guy. I got a kick out of Archie in the Liar's Club though - he said, "How is this guy louder than me and he doesn't have a microphone?!"

[smarterman64]

shawn is awesome. If i am sure he is going to be on the star the next time i book, i will definately book it. I'd even watch the same show twice. He is really amazing. Shawn knows the right things to say whenever he is heckled or anything. He really knows how to get it great :)

[Hikini]

shawn is awesome. If i am sure he is going to be on the star the next time i book, i will definately book it. I'd even watch the same show twice. He is really amazing. Shawn knows the right things to say whenever he is heckled or anything. He really knows how to get it great :)

 

Shawn was visiting with myself and my family after the Liar's Club and this kid (Matt) came up to Shawn with his cell phone open and ready. He was asking Shawn for his phone number! Shawn said, "Nope! I don't have a phone - I live on the ship.":D

[Cholita]

Matt was the teen that was heckling Shawn quite a bit at the close-up show on Saturday if my memory serves me correctly! My hubby is currently quite interested in magic, so being able to see Shawn's shows was one of the highlights of his cruise, as it was for me. My co-workers Mom was on the Star in May and she ended up sitting next to him at one of the restaurants and he chatted away with her!

[Hikini]

Matt was the teen that was heckling Shawn quite a bit at the close-up show on Saturday if my memory serves me correctly! My hubby is currently quite interested in magic, so being able to see Shawn's shows was one of the highlights of his cruise, as it was for me. My co-workers Mom was on the Star in May and she ended up sitting next to him at one of the restaurants and he chatted away with her!

 

Yes, it was Matt who heckled Shawn in every show and the Liar's Club, as well as anywhere else he could find him. Shawn is a class act, and handled it very well. I would have told him (Matt) where to get off very quickly! (Or helped him overboard!):D

[Hikini]

Matt was the teen that was heckling Shawn quite a bit at the close-up show on Saturday if my memory serves me correctly!

 

 

He sat behind us one row and about 3 people to our left. We got to hear him loud and clear the whole time in the close up show. One woman sort of loudly told him, "Shut up you @$$hole!" Didn't work.