Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Star
Written by Vacation Idea.com Travel Editors.
Norwegian Star is the only seven-day round-trip Hawaiian ship to include the four main islands, Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai. Norwegian Star cruises the Hawaiian islands on a 7-day round-trip itinerary from Honolulu with stops on the four main Hawaiian islands and a remote port on Fanning Island. If you would like to see the main Hawaiian islands in a short time, a voyage aboard Norwegian Star may be the way to go. Especially for families with small kids, cruising has certain advantages, such as having to unpack only once, and a wide choice of onboard activities.
Norwegian Star, which entered service in 2001, was designed and built following Norwegian Cruise Line's Freestyle Cruising philosophy giving its guests more choice than traditional cruise ships.
Guests aboard the ships can dine at ten different restaurants featuring 11 different menus every night, including traditional six-course cruise dining, modern menu, Pacific Rim, Japanese, French, Italian, Hawaiian and Spanish cuisine. The two main dining rooms remain open from 5:30 p.m. to midnight with no fixed dining times, giving the ship's passengers the most flexibility.
For its active passengers, the cruise ship offers the Sports Deck with a golf driving range, volleyball and basketball court. There is also a two deck fitness and spa center with cardiovascular equipment, aerobic, boxercise, steam and sauna rooms, a jet-current exercise pool, an interior 20-yard lap pool, whirlpool and hydrotherapy facilities.
On shore activities include excursions in Hawaii and Fanning Island, mountain biking, sailing, scuba diving and skiing down a volcano for the most adventurous passengers.
Seventy percent of Norwegian Star's guest cabins are outside staterooms, many of which have balconies. The ship has thirtysix suites, an entire deck of 107 mini-suites with balconies, and 20 cabins of various types designed for passengers with disabilities. Many cabins can interconnect to create a two to five bedroom area suitable for families.
Aboard Norwegian Star is Hawaiian-based Mandara Spa where cruise vacation passengers can indulge in an exotic menu of spa and beauty treatments.
A family-friendly ship, Norwegian Star has a large children's center complete with a playroom, outdoor pool, movie theater, computer rooms, teen center, video arcade, a nursery and toddlers' nap room. There is a special children's area in the buffet restaurant with a low-level serving counter and kid-sized tables and chairs.
Entertainment is provided in the 1,150-person Stardust Theater, Dazzles Nightclub, Karaoke Circus/Bar and the Spinnaker Lounge.
See our Norwegian Cruise Line page.
