Norwegian Star Review
Toilets didn't work for 2 days and bad customer service
Rating by category
Additional details
Chose this for an extended family cruise (3 suites) for our 50th anniversary. Panama Canal on our bucket list. The cabin was nice, cabin steward attentive, and the restaurants were OK but not something to write home about. Entertainment meh. We did enjoy the talks about the Canal.
Customer service desk personnel were unacceptable and mostly just angered us by blaming ship problems on us (it was somehow our fault that the batteries in the cabin door locks failed twice). The Bistro restaurant was our first choice (we did 4 extra-cost dining experiences). The main dining rooms (Versailles and Aqua were OK, but the food was only OK. Strangely, the onion soup at the Bistro was excellent but really poor at both Versailles and Aqua). Tepanyaki restaurant gave a very good show; food was like Benihana.
There's a big current focus on using hand sanitizers--understandable given norovirus outbreaks. There was one "washy washy" girl (as they called themselves) in the Garden Cafe who made the most of this--super friendly and entertaining. Kudos to Hannah.
Cabin Review
Mini-Suite with Balcony
Generally nice cabin EXCEPT that the bed was exceptionally uncomfortable. Our extended family in two other suites also had horrible beds.
Port Reviews
Acapulco
Did a private excursion to the turtle sanctuary, which was great. Much cheaper than the ship excursion.
Cartagena (Colombia)
Did a on-off bus tour of the old city. Wasn't worth it to us.
San Juan del Sur
Set up a private tour to a "surfer's beach" with beach bars. Very scenic. Boogie Boarded there.