The Norwegian STAR

This morning Andy and Terry leave home to board the Norwegian Star for a one week trip to the Mexican Pacific Coast.

This ship has "Freestyle Dining" which means there are no set dining arrangements. The passengers choose when and where they want to have dinner.

As usual, Andy and Terry want to board as early as possible to familiarize themselves with the layout of the ship. Also, as usual, they skimp on breakfast at home because there is always plenty to eat onboard.

With luck, they'll be having brunch at the ship's buffet. The ship is scheduled to sail for Cabo San Lucas at 4 p.m.







They are able to board ship before noon. They drop off their hand luggage in their cabin on Deck 9 and continue on up to Deck 12 to visit the Market Buffet for a quick brunch.


Later, Terry locates the casino.
It opens this evening after the ship leaves Los Angeles.








This ship is new and unfamiliar to Andy and Terry, so it takes a couple of days for them to get used to the routine on board: but they soon get the hang of the way things work on this vessel.



Terry signs up right away for the Casino Rewards Program. She wins a free chance to enter the Slot Machine Tournament to be held on Thursday.








In Cabo San Lucas, they stay aboard and enjoy the views of the harbor from the ship's upper decks.











A Carnival Ship, The Elation, has followed the NCL STAR into the harbor. It drops anchor close by.








The following day the ship docks at Mazatlan. Terry and Andy take a little hike into town on foot. They take a look around town and visit the cathedral.














A day later, they pull into port at Puerto Vallarta.

Everybody is surprised to find a huge Wal - Mart Store across the street from the pier.

Andy needs to pick up a few items, so they head straight for Wal - Mart. It's the same as home, except all of the labels are printed in Spanish.

Terry buys some Wal - Mart lipstick for 51 pesos (that's $3.92 US)... and finds out that it was made in London!














On the voyage back home there is lots of time to check out the rest of the ship.













On this trip the weather has been perfect and the seas have been calmer than Terry and Andy have ever experienced them.

They have an abundance of Good Luck.


Early in the cruise, Andy and Terry decided to join some fellow passengers in a Trivial Pursuit Competition that lasts for seven nights.

After the final session, guess whose team was awarded the first place trophy?






NCL First Place Trivia Team Victory Photo:


(center) Milan, the ship's Trivia Host from Greece:

and (clockwise) Carol and Rita from the Oregon coast,

(top center) Andy and Terry,

Steve from Widbey Island in Washington State,

and a token young lady who was there with us mainly to make our team appear more youthful.




In the end,

Terry was unlucky in the slot tournament, but she did win money on her own on the slot machines.

Terry says she needs a rest from her vacation, but that she'll be ready to travel again in a few weeks.

Andy's already on the computer, looking for another future travel opportunity.

See you then.