I recently returned from a 10-night sailing onboard the Norwegian Star. This Norwegian Cruise Line vessel is over two decades old, and I was interested to see if this older ship is still capable of delivering an excellent cruise vacation.
This cruise was the longest in length that I have taken so far with Norwegian Cruise Line, and it was the perfect opportunity to test out one of the oldest ships in the fleet. We embarked on an exciting itinerary sailing around the United Kingdom and British Isles and had plenty of time to explore everything Norwegian Star has to offer its passengers.
Here are my thoughts about what it's like to sail onboard this 20+-year-old ship!
The food and dining experience onboard Norwegian Star
I have sailed on one other 20+-year-old Norwegian Cruise Line ship before our trip on the Norwegian Star: Norwegian Sun. When comparing Norwegian Sun’s food with the quality of the food and dining onboard other Norwegian ships, such as Norwegian Bliss or Norwegian Getaway, I was disappointed in the food onboard Norwegian Sun.
I was interested to see if Norwegian Star’s food and dining experience would be similar to Norwegian Sun’s. Instead, I found myself pleasantly surprised by just how good the food and dining options were onboard Norwegian Star, whereas I found the food onboard Norwegian Sun to be a bit lacking.
Guests can dine at an impressive six different complimentary food options onboard the Norwegian Star, including The Garden Cafe, which is the main buffet; Ginza, an Asian restaurant; O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, the classic 24-hour eatery; Aqua, a modern main dining room, poolside Topsiders Bar & Grill; and Versailles, a French themed dining room.
Versailles ended up being one of our favorite restaurants, and we ate at this venue several times throughout our 10-day cruise. Considering that older cruise ships tend to have a reputation for having worse food, I was surprised by the quality of the food onboard Norwegian Star!
The other main dining restaurant onboard is Aqua, which has a moody atmosphere and gives guests the feeling of dining in a fancy modern dining establishment. The food that is served in the two restaurants is the same each night, while the actual menu changes each day.
O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, A Norwegian Cruise Line classic can be found onboard, too. This restaurant and dining venue is a 24-hour eatery for guests to grab a tasty bite at any time during the day.
I really appreciate that Norwegian Cruise Line features this 24-hour dining option on many of their ships, and I thought it was awesome that O’Sheehan’s is onboard the older Norwegian Star.
Topsiders Bar & Grill was a great quick-service space to enjoy lunch, as the line in the Garden Cafe can be quite long during peak lunch times.
Ginza was my second favorite dining venue onboard, and I thought this Asian-styled restaurant was a great complimentary option. It served freshly prepared noodles, delicious wok-fried dishes, and authentic soups.
We chose to dine at Ginza for our first night onboard and had a lot of fun trying out this special venue restaurant, as not all Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature a complimentary Asian restaurant.
When it comes to specialty restaurants, there are several for guests to choose from: Moderno Churrascaria, a Brazilian steakhouse and Norwegian Cruise Line classic; La Cucina, an Italian venue; Cagney's Steakhouse; Le Bistro, a French restaurant; Sushi; and Teppanyaki.
During this sailing, we did not get the chance to dine at any of the specialty restaurants. However, if you are someone who likes to elevate their dining experience, I would recommend trying out one of these venues during your sailing.
Overall, I thought that Norwegian Star has some of the best complimentary dining options compared to other Norwegian ships I've been on, including newer vessels!
It can be rather rare to find six complimentary food venues onboard older cruise ships, and I think this is a major advantage for Norwegian Star that sets it apart from some other vessels at sea!
Entertainment onboard Norwegian Star
Norwegian Cruise Line often features great entertainment onboard, and Norwegian Star is no exception.
Stardust Theater, the main entertainment venue onboard, is home to the theater show "Paradis." I thought that the show was great and featured some talented performers!
A con to this show, however, is that it was only performed twice during our 10-day itinerary.
Apart from this enchanting stage show, Norwegian Star had some of the best variety acts I have ever seen on a cruise ship! Onboard our sailing there were two variety acts: a juggler and acrobat duo, along with a magician and contortionist duo.
The juggler and acrobat were called Cameo Rascale, and the magician and contortionist duo was called White Magic. These two variety acts were extremely impressive, and my friends and I commented several times how great they were!
Of course, variety acts are subject to change at any time; however, I thought the specific offerings onboard my sailing were fantastic.
Apart from the stage theater show and the variety acts, guests will also have the chance to experience quite a bit of live music throughout their cruise onboard the Norwegian Star, as there's live music in several of the bars and lounges onboard, as well as in the main atrium space.
From singers, to bands, and even some classical music, there was a lot of different music for everyone to enjoy.
There were also some game shows. During our cruise, the "The Newlywed and Not so Newlywed" show, as well as "Deal or No Deal," were both offered.
The Newlywed Game is a fun and entertaining game show in which chosen married couples can answer funny questions about each other. There are often quite a few laughs during this show!
As with any Norwegian Cruise Line vacation, it can be very important to reference the Freestyle Daily, the onboard ship schedule. Each night of our cruise, a physical copy of the schedule was delivered; this is a great resource for guests to find when and where entertainment around the ship will happen.
Read: 19 things we loved and hated about the Norwegian Star
What were the staterooms like onboard Norwegian Star?
For our cruise, we stayed in a standard interior stateroom. This was the most affordable stateroom category, and this is true for many other sailings across other cruise lines.
Norwegian Star was recently refurbished, and this refurbishment can be seen in the staterooms. While the ship is over two decades old, the staterooms look and feel very comfortable, up-to-date, and modern.
The beds in the cabin could be split into two separate beds, and that is how our stateroom was configured. These beds were very comfortable, and we had good nights of sleep during our sailing.
Read: Our in-depth review of what the cheapest room is like onboard the Norwegian Star
We also thought that the stateroom bathroom was great for an older cruise ship. The shower is a standing shower with a shower door.
Oftentimes, older ships have a curtain for the shower door, but Norwegian Star has actual doors in the showers for all staterooms. The bathroom was a good size and featured plenty of counter space and shelves for guests to store their toiletries during their cruise.
Our specific stateroom also had a good amount of storage space. A large closet with plenty of shelves, as well as several drawers, can be used by passengers to store their clothing and belongings.
There were also two small desk spaces for guests to charge their electronics and devices. Guests will find that there are both standard US outlets and European outlets in every stateroom. A great feature that was added during the refurbishment was a standard USB outlet under the lamps near the bed.
In addition to interior staterooms, passengers can also find Oceanview staterooms, Balcony staterooms, Club Balcony staterooms, and Suites. There are many stateroom categories onboard that can help to accommodate many travelers' needs, desires, and budgets.
A glimpse into the lounges and bars found onboard Norwegian Star
For nightlife and a tasty drink guests, do not need to look far! There are nine different bars and lounges onboard this older ship. All of these have been updated and refurbished and can provide a great atmosphere for guests to relax and enjoy a drink after a long day exploring an exciting port.
The nine lounges and bars onboard are:
Bliss Ultra Lounge
Gatsby’s Champagne Bar
O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill
Proof Whiskey Bar
Sky High Bar
Spice H2O
Star Casino Bar
Sugarcane Mojito Bar
Topsiders Bar & Grill.
Some of our personal favorite bars and lounges onboard were the Sugarcane Mojito Bar, the Proof Whiskey Bar, and the Bliss Ultra Lounge.
At the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. guests can sample and try a wide selection of different mojitos, as well as several other drinks. I recommend trying the ginger mojito!
For those who wish to try several different mojitos at once, you're able to order a mojito flight that comes with six smaller mojitos. The mojito flight currently costs $24.
At the Proof Whiskey Bar, guests can try several various whiskies, as well as other beverages. In addition to tasty beverages, we liked this bar because it is close to some great windows, and is located on the side of the ship that docks at ports. This was a great lounge and bar to watch sail away each day!
The Bliss Ultra Lounge is one of the entertainment hubs onboard Norwegian Star. This lounge is where guests can find nightly entertainment including dancing, music, game shows, and more. If you are looking for a fun spot for nightlife onboard the Norwegian Star, the Bliss Ultra Lounge is your go-to!
Norweigan Star's activities and public spaces
When it comes to activities and public spaces, there is so much for guests to explore! While this ship does not have as much to do and see onboard as some of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newer vessels, I do still think guests can enjoy a great sea day when sailing on this ship.
When it comes to sports onboard passengers can try out some basketball or golf on Decks 14 and 12. Plus, there's an impressive amount of hot tubs onboard: 6. I will say that during our cold weather sailing around the United Kingdom, some of the hot tubs were often a bit chilly. Make sure to check a different hot tub onboard if one seems a little cold for your liking.
Six hot tubs are a good amount onboard, and newer Norwegian Cruise Line ships do not always have this many!
There is one main pool onboard the Norwegian Star located on Deck 11. This pool is fairly sizable for an older ship. We did not see too many people using the main pool on our journey, largely due to the colder weather during our itinerary.
Norwegian Star has a great walking and jogging track that goes all the way around the ship. Passengers can take in some great views from this walking path located on Deck 13. If you are sailing on a colder weather itinerary, make sure to bring a scarf or jacket up onto the walking and jogging track as it can get quite chilly!
The Mandara Spa and Salon is located on Deck 11. Here, you can opt to be pampered during a spa treatment or book a pass to the Spa Thermal Suite.
In addition to the onboard spa, those guests looking to do a little self-care can also find the Pulse Fitness Center located on Deck 12. Working out on a cruise ship can be a unique experience, and if you are someone who enjoys some fitness on your vacation I recommend checking it out.
Oftentimes, cruise ships have treadmills that face large windows, this way guests can workout while still enjoying the ocean views.
As with all Norwegian Cruise Line ships, there's a casino onboard for you to try your luck at a slot machine or a hand of cards. Something rather rare, however, was the Library on Dec 12. During our sailing, we peeked our heads inside and thought it to be well-stocked with many books for passengers to choose from!
One of our favorite spots onboard was the Spice H2O. This adults-only venue is located at the back of the ship and has plenty of lounge seating for guests to relax and enjoy.
When it comes to activities onboard, the best resource for guests is the Freestyle Daily, which is Norwegian Cruise Line’s onboard ship schedule. Guests will all receive a complimentary printed copy of the Freestyle Daily in their staterooms each night of a cruise.
This schedule details exactly when and where activities around the ship happen. I recommend either carrying the physical copy of the Freestyle Daily with you or referencing the digital version in the Norwegian Cruise Line app. Additionally, I recommend picking out activities and events you might be interested in seeing the night before to make sure you do not miss them the next day.
Are there youth clubs onboard Norwegian Star?
While Norwegian Star appeared to be a ship geared more towards adults, there are still several venues specifically designed with children in mind.
Guppies is Norwegian Cruise Line’s kids' club venue just for the youngest sailors onboard (i.e., those between the ages of 6 months and 3 years old). While here, they'll be given balls, toys, and other sensory items to play with their parents, as it's not a drop-off program.
Splash Academy is for cruisers who are between the ages of 3 and 12 years old. Here, they can participate in active games, arts and crafts, and even jump into character with the creative theme days. The kids' clubs can be a great place for children to meet other kids their age as well as participate in age-appropriate activities and games throughout the cruise.
Finally, Entourage was designed especially for teenage guests from 13 to 17 years old.
Access to the kids' clubs is complimentary to all guests onboard Norwegian Star. Splash Academy and Entourage are drop-off programs, in which parents can drop off their children should they want an adults-only evening, whereas Guppies is a venue designed for parents to participate in activities with their children.
There's also the Video Zone Arcade for some fun onboard near Entourage on Deck 12.
Kids can love cruising just as much if not even more than adult guests! Many of Norwegian Cruise Line's newer ships have plenty for children and younger guests to do. While Norwegian Star is more basic in terms of what it offers younger guests, it still can be a great ship for those guests looking to travel as a family!
There was plenty of onboard shopping!
Out of all the older cruise ships I have been on so far, Norwegian Star has the best onboard shopping I have seen.
The Norwegian Star has five shopping venues onboard: Effy Jewelry, Park West Gallery, The Photo Gallery, The Tides, and Tradewinds. Guests can locate all the onboard shops on Deck 7.
One of the best shops onboard is Tradewinds, as this is where guests can find Norwegian Cruise Line branded merchandise, as well as itinerary-specific items.
If you are someone who is a part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Reward Program, you might receive a discount at the onboard shops, so make sure to ask a crew member!
Norwegian Star's design
Norwegian Star is an older vessel by cruise ship standards, being built in 2001. However, this ship received a refurbishment in 2021 to give it a refresh and update. This refurbishment has ensured that Norwegian Star will be capable of providing excellent cruise vacations for years to come.
Personally, Norwegian Star exceeded my expectations. I was expecting the ship to resemble Norweigan Sun. However, the Norwegian Star is quite different and has a more modern and grand feeling.
While there's no denying that the aesthetics of this ship might be older, this ship is still beautiful!
Another thing that I appreciated was that the ship was relatively easy to navigate and get around. After the first couple of days, I was fairly confident about how to get to various places and venues onboard.
In my opinion, this ship appears newer and in great shape for being over 20 years old! I believe that guests will be impressed with how well Norwegian Star has held up and how successful the refurbishment was.
Where can you sail onboard Norwegian Star?
What initally enticed us to sail on Norwegian Star was the unique itineraries it offers. We were able to find a very affordable sailing onboard that sailed around the United Kingdom and British Isles during the off-season in October!
Oftentimes, Norwegian Cruise Line conducts some of the most unique and interesting itineraries on their older vessels. For this reason, I always recommend choosing a cruise by the itinerary first and then by the ship; this will help ensure an awesome cruise vacation.
Currently the Norwegian Star sails to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, Canada and New England, and has Transatlantic sailings as well.
Read: Was it a good idea to book a UK cruise in the fall? Here's why not
What did I think of sailing on this 20+-year-old ship?
Overall, we thought the Norwegian Star was a great older cruise ship capable of providing an excellent cruise vacation.
This ship has a lot to explore, but it also offers a relaxed atmosphere. For guests traveling on an exciting itinerary, this ship can be the perfect home base, and I would absolutely sail onboard again!
Combined with its affordable cruise fares, exciting itineraries, plethora of complimentary dining, great entertainment, and updated staterooms, Norwegian Star is more than capable of providing the perfect cruise vacation at a relatively affordable price.
Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
