Volumes have been written about cruising and food. My yummy rating on the Norwegian Star was *****. That’s right. Five stars and this is from a person who will choose not to eat when faced with something disgusting or inedible. I did a little reading on Cruise Critic, studied the best cruise ship ratings put out by both Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure every year (as a matter of fact, in the February 2009 issue, NCL isn’t even rated as good in their rankings) and have this to say. Come on folks…what do you expect?

Three star Michelin? Gourmet perfection? Do you want to pay $13,000 a person and up for supposed exquisite food on one of the luxury cruises? Let me ask you. When was the last time you went to a restaurant in your local area and absolutely everything you ate was perfection, tickled your taste buds into gourmet heaven and had no complaints. Whenever we dine out (local or more upscale), there’s always something that isn’t exactly what I expected. Oversalted, underseasoned, cold (when it’s supposed to be hot), tough or had other flaws.

Let’s judge NCL’s Norwegian Star (and other cruise ships) based on that. Stop and consider for a moment what you are actually paying per day to cruise. Then remember what it cost you the last time you went out for fine dining. Was everything spectacular? If your entree or appetizer didn’t meet expectations, did you send it back and ask for something else? Not usually. Yes, if you said…”waiter, there’s a foreign object in my….”, then that item is replaced but not if you just don’t like the way it tastes.

delicious Turkey Scallopine on the Norwegian Star Cruise
The food on the Norwegian Star ranged from excellent to awful (with a lot more excellent than awful) but unlike a restaurant, you could always order another entree that perhaps would be wonderful. I always order at least two appetizers, etc. thinking that one is almost guaranteed to be excellent. And if both happened to range at the top of my “yummy” list, just ate both. Even if you only order one entree and detest it, the obliging Norwegian Star staff will be happy to make another kitchen run and bring it to your table without giving “the look”.

You would have thought our group of 20 was ordering for 50 and it got to the point where the tables were loaded from end-to-end with dishes. I never once saw any of the wait staff sigh, sneer, flash the evil eye or give “the look” during our eating frenzies.

good old pizza on the Norwegian Star Cruise
If nothing suits you, head over to Blue Lagoon and order a burger, hot dog, pizza, fried chicken or cheesecake. Run up to Level 12 where another buffet begins at 5:00 p.m. with chips, guacamole, etc. And then run into Market Square for the nightly dessert buffet with regular ice cream, soft service ice cream, cookies, cakes, a chocolate fondue fountain. Isn’t that enough to rate 5*****?

The sanitation on the Norwegian Star was also extremely impressive. There were little globes filled with sanitizers everywhere on the ship. Before you entered any of the food areas, waiting to get back on the ship in ports, in front of the casino….just everywhere.

sanitizer/disinfectant globe on Norwegian Star Cruise 

All you had to do was place your hand under the globe and sanitizer was dispensed automatically. AND personnel were even stationed next to these globes who gently reminded you to please sanitize before you walked into the food areas. Atta way to go, Norwegian Star.