Greetings Everyone!
Recently, my friends and I embarked on an unforgettable 12-day cruising experience to the picturesque British Isles aboard the Norwegian Star. This voyage marked my maiden overseas trip and our first-ever venture into Europe.
The flight journey was as smooth as it could be! Our overnight flight took us to Iceland - an unforgettable experience marking the beginning of our journey. Even though it was nighttime, it never really gained darkness, lending surreal hues to our voyage. The subsequent flight offered us an entrancing bird's eye view of the lush countryside as we voyaged to London's Gatwick.
Upon landing, we experienced the impeccable services of Greg's Trusted Airport Transfers. Not only was the car pristine clean and comfortable, but it also offered us insight into the locales as we traveled southwards to Southampton. Our driver provided intriguing details about the towns en route, keeping our curiosity piqued. Arriving two days prior to our cruise gave us ample opportunity to explore the area a bit more intimately.
Despite showing some signs of age in its design, the Norwegian Star was impressively maintained. We resided comfortably in our inside cabin located on Deck 8, a short walk away from O'Sheehans. However, I found the open atrium layout from Deck 7 to Deck 9 a bit noisy.
When it came to dining, each experience was an absolute delight. From savoring the mouthwatering offerings at Cagney's and Moderno's to enjoying my favorite meals at Teppanyaki, it was a culinary excursion in itself! The buffet and main dining rooms consistently provided cleanliness and a pleasant ambiance. Opting for early dining left us enough time to relish our food and gear up for the evening shows.
While I'm not usually a performance enthusiast, I was captivated by the impressive Duo Delight and the thrilling magic show. Additionally, the onboard movie theater was a pleasant surprise with its exciting film selections.
The voyage itself was exemplary, with a fascinating itinerary that had us journeying from Southampton to Le Havre of France; Zeebrugge in Belgium; Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) in Netherlands; Edinburgh and Ivergordon in Scotland; three Irish ports including Dublin, Belfast, and Cork; and our final port was the captivating Portland, England.
Given the extensive list of excursion choices, we found the Hop-on and Hop-off buses the best bet for most of the ports. They offered us a comprehensive tour of the city and major local highlights which would surely inform my preferences for my next trip to this enchanting itinerary.
We decided to use NCL for our flights and were quite satisfied with the arrangements. Even though the return flight felt a bit stretched, having arrived two days early and staying an extra day was perfect for our plan.
Considering all the experiences, I would enthusiastically sign up for this cruise again. It was more than just a trip - it was a uniquely enriching experience. Can't wait to share more of such adventures with all of you.