Conference abbott::cruise_travel

437.0. "trip report - NCL Starward" by CHUCHU::BERARDI (THERESA) Mon Mar 29 1993 17:12

    
    
    NCL Starward: March 7 - 14th - Trip report:
    
    Our cruise was wonderful - all I had hoped for!  Got to figure out
    a way to get paid for vacationing...!! 
    
    The ship - was small, but very well maintained.  Always clean,
    not as many amenities as the new, larger boats seem to have,
    but being small was nice.. 
    
    The meals were average... the buffets on the pool deck could have
    been better... not too much variety there.  Types of food were
    pretty much 'Continental'.... fish, chicken, beef...
    but then again, I'm an Italian food lover.!
    
    We went to the following ports:
    
    Aruba - we went to the Palm Desert beach... nice beach.. white sand..
    had lots to do... I went parasailing for the first time.. was neat!
    We also rented a Sunfish... they had other things to rent .. for 
    windsurfing, sailing, floats, lounge chairs... 
    If you're looking for a private beach, though, this is not it.
    
    Curacao - we went downtown... nothing special other than the bridge
    you cross to ge tto the shopping section, that the move for boats 
    to come thru the bay.  We went on a snorkeling trip... rough waters
    to get there... snorkeling wasnt anything spectacular, and the beach
    had rough sand.. hard to walk on.
    
    Tortola/Virgin Gorda - we stopped at Tortola, and could take a ferry
    over to Virgin Gorda.  Would have liked to spend more time on these
    islands.. they were beautiful!  and what a change from the previous
    two islands (which were more like deserts)... these were lush,
    tropical.  We went to Cane Garden Bay on Tortola.. beautiful beach
    with bars right on the beach... the taxi driver took us on a short
    tour of the island, then waited for us while we were at the beach...
    that is the way to go.. skip the ship's tours, and get your own
    cab driver... they'll take you wherever you want.. and its very
    reasonable.... you also get more of a flavor for the island.
    
    We then took the ferry over to Virgin Gorda... went to the Baths..
    thru the 'Caves'... out to Devil's Bay... all was fantastic!
    Beautiful beach.. not many people... 
    Be sure to wear comfortable shoes...   
    
    St John/St Thomas - We got off early at St John where we boarded 
    a Schooner... to Honeymoon Bay.. went snorkeling.. was neat...
    saw some really pretty fish... and some coral.  
    The schooner then took us back to the ship.. which was then 
    docked at St Thomas.  Want to go back and go to Trunk Bay...
    where there is supposedly an underwater snorkeling trail.
    
    When we arrived back at San Juan, we couldnt get our flight out
    due to the 'Blizzard of the Century'... so we ended up staying
    for an add'l 3 days... went to the EL Yunque rain forest.. that
    was really neat.. had Cocos Frios (coconut juice from the coconut),
    hiked a couple of trails... worth the trip if you have time in 
    P.R. .. also went to Loquillo Beach... pretty beach... lots of
    palm trees... not far from San Juan.
    
    
    
    
    
    

    We are sailing on November 7 from Los Angeles to Mexico on the
    Starward.  Has anyone been on this ship or this itinerary recently? 
    The ports are Cabo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.  
    
    BTW,  I have read all of the notes in the file on Mexico cruises and
    the Starward to date.  Any new input or suggestions?
    
    Thanks.