Norwegian Star

The 2001-built Norwegian Star cruise ship is the first Dawn-class liner of NCL-Norwegian, with sistership Norwegian Dawn.

The vessel (IMO number 9195157) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311082000) and registered in Nassau.

History – construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, NCL is a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE (NYC). NCLH’s major shareholders include Apollo Global Management (USA), Genting Group (Malaysia), and TPG Capital (USA). In 2017, the NCL brand held a global cruise market share of 8.7% (passengers) and 8.4% (revenue). NCLH owns the brands NCL, Oceania, and RSSC-Regent.

The 2,350-passenger Norwegian Star entered service in 2001 and was purpose-designed for Freestyle Cruising. The ship offers eleven restaurants plus venues serving Tex-Mex, Japanese, and French cuisine, along with eight bars and lounges. In line with the Freestyle concept, public spaces range from intimate to lively, providing 24/7 entertainment options.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Star staterooms (1,174 total, across 33 categories) include 151 Suites, 368 Balcony, 250 Oceanview, and 383 Inside cabins. Most staterooms measure 140–165 ft² (13–15 m²). The largest accommodation is the 2-Bedroom Garden Villa (2,285 ft² / 212 m²), featuring a massive 3,610 ft² / 335 m² terrace.

The vessel has 14 decks, of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 9 contain staterooms.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

Norwegian Star has two main dining rooms: Versailles (aft) and Aqua (midship). Versailles evokes its namesake with gold accents and French Renaissance décor, while Aqua offers a more contemporary ambiance. Beyond the main dining rooms, the ship features a wide selection of specialty and casual venues, ranging from steakhouses and French bistros to Teppanyaki. Food quality is consistently high, and service is attentive, though desserts may take longer to arrive during peak dining hours (6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.). Meals are cooked to order, ensuring freshness. Specialty restaurant reservations can be made only 24 hours in advance, so early booking is recommended for popular venues such as Moderno Churrascaria, Cagney’s, and Le Bistro.

Below is the complete list of Norwegian Star’s restaurants and food bars:

• Versailles Restaurant (502-seat aft Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining)
• Aqua Restaurant (322-seat forward Dining Room; complimentary)
• Le Bistro (82-seat French specialty restaurant; dinner only; reservations required; US$20 cover charge)
• La Cucina (112-seat Italian specialty restaurant; reservations required; US$15 cover charge; outdoor waterfront seating)
• Ginza (98-seat Asian restaurant; complimentary)
• Sushi Bar (17-seat venue inside Ginza); Sake Bar (8-seat venue inside Ginza)
• Teppanyaki (12-seat Hibachi restaurant; reservations required; US$25; lunch and dinner; live cooking)
• Blue Lagoon (66-seat 24-hour fast-food venue; complimentary)
• Moderno Churrascaria (62-seat Brazilian steakhouse; reservations required; US$20 cover charge; waterfront outdoor seating)
• O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill (24-hour English pub/sports bar; complimentary)
• Market Cafe & Kid’s Cafe (475-seat indoor buffet restaurant; complimentary; with dedicated kids’ section)
• Topsiders Bar & Grill (128-seat venue)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (143-seat specialty steak and seafood restaurant; dinner only; reservations required; US$30 cover charge; free kids’ menu)
• The Sky High Bar (replacing the Bavarian-themed Bier Garten during 2018 refurb; outdoor bar & lounge with seating for ~120 guests)

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

Norwegian Star offers a range of daytime activities such as bingo, arts and crafts, art auctions, and wellness seminars. Evening entertainment is the highlight, with nightly productions in the Stardust Theater, featuring Broadway-style shows, musical revues, and variety acts. Spanning Decks 5–7, the theater is styled like a European opera house and provides excellent comfort.

The spa and sports facilities are open until 11 p.m. most nights. The ship features 7 whirlpools and 3 pools (including the Splash Down kids’ pool). Entertainment offerings also include NCL’s FIREWORKS show, “Rock of Ages,” “Cirque Dreams,” and the “Illusionarium” magic show.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, the supervised “NCL Kids” program, Internet/WiFi access, and laundry services. Norwegian Star’s daily gratuities are US$12 per person. A small wedding chapel is also available.

Below is the complete list of Norwegian Star’s lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Stardust Theatre (1,037 seats; Broadway-style productions; two grand shows nightly)
• Grand Atrium (two-deck midship hub); Art Gallery
• Gatsby’s Champagne Bar; Wine Cellar; Red Lion Pub; Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar; Java Café (73-seat coffee & tea bar); Sugarcane Mojito Bar; Internet Café
• Star Club Casino
• Bliss Ultra Lounge (replacing the 405-seat Spinnaker Lounge during 2018 refurb)
• Spice H2O (adults-only top-deck retreat with private pool, bar, and hot tubs; added in 2018)
• The Galleria Shops (duty-free shopping); Port o’ Call (perfume/cosmetics boutique); Photo Gallery & Shop
• Barong Spa & Salon; Barong Fitness Center; Oasis Pool; Splash Down Kids’ Pool; Jogging Track; Golf Nets; Sports Court (basketball, volleyball, tennis)
• Teen Club & Disco; Video Zone; Planet Kids Centre

Itineraries

Norwegian Star’s itinerary program is based on Northern Europe sailings (Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, UK, and Iceland), primarily homeporting in Copenhagen, Denmark and Southampton, England.

In February 2016, the ship was listed for 11 scheduled calls at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney, NSW Australia (October 7, 2017 – May 1, 2018). In early 2017, she operated three itineraries to/from Australia and New Zealand.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Norwegian Star was paused for more than two years (March 2020–April 2022) and restarted service on April 3, 2022, in the Mediterranean. The South America 2022 program was canceled, including a 14-day “Extraordinary Journeys” Antarctic itinerary from Buenos Aires, featuring calls to Elephant Island and Deception Island.

Also in 2022 (sailings July 14 and July 25), Northern Europe voyages (10- and 11-day B2B itineraries) were scheduled to depart from Reykjavik, Iceland and visit Greenland—NCL’s first time—including ports Nuuk, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik.

Norwegian Star is a Dawn-class NCL vessel, with her only sistership being Norwegian Dawn. Norwegian Star’s history began with an order placed at Meyer Werft GmbH by Star Cruises for a new Libra-class ship to be named “SuperStar Libra.” The contract value was USD 400 million. When Star Cruises acquired NCL in 2000, the decision was made to transfer this newbuild to NCL, where she was renamed “Norwegian Star.” The first Libra-class ship (“SuperStar Scorpio,” also on order) was transferred as well and entered service as “Norwegian Dawn.”

The ship’s Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage) took place on November 19, 2001. Her dual christening ceremony—held together with NCL Sun—occurred at PortMiami on November 17, 2001. The vessel’s godmother was Brooke Burke (US actress and model, born September 8, 1971).

In 2001, NCL received two newly built ships—Star and Sun—purpose-designed to support the company’s revolutionary “Freestyle Cruising” concept. All three SKY-class vessels collectively represented an investment exceeding USD 1 billion, a significant commitment for the industry at that time.

As a fun historical note, another passenger ship operated between 1996–2001 under the same name, “Norwegian Star.” That vessel was MS Albatros (built 1973), currently operated by Phoenix Reisen. While sailing for Norwegian Capricorn Line, she was also informally referred to as “NCL Star.”

Originally, Norwegian Star operated 7-day Hawaiian Islands cruises from her homeport Honolulu, beginning December 16, 2001. These roundtrip itineraries included calls in Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Fanning Island. The program continued until 2004, when the vessel was reassigned to the US West Coast for Alaska and Mexican Riviera sailings. The relocation introduced updated hull artwork and new onboard venues, including Cagney’s Steakhouse and the “Star Club” casino. On the Hawaiian market, she was replaced by Pride of Aloha (now Norwegian Sky).

In late 2011, the ship was repositioned again and homeported in Tampa, Florida for Western Caribbean cruises. In 2012, she was based in New York City, replacing NCL Gem on Bermuda roundtrips, while NCL Jewel took over Norwegian Star’s Alaska–Mexico deployments. In 2013, Norwegian Star introduced new Northern Europe itineraries, operating Baltic Sea cruises from her homeport Copenhagen, Denmark.

NCL Star refurbishments review

The ship’s most recent drydocking was completed in 2024 (October 21–November 11) at Damen Shiprepair Brest (France). This three-week project included routine maintenance, class and safety inspections, machinery overhauls and repairs (Azipods, bow thrusters), replacement of both stabilizers with Foure Lagadec units, hull repairs, cleaning, and repainting.

The list of deck plan modifications introduced during the May 2018 drydocking (in Barcelona, Spain) includes:

• extensive renovation of all staterooms, public areas, restaurants, bars, lounges
• stateroom upgrades: new flat HDTVs (infotainment system), USB ports, carpets, headboards, artworks, selected furniture
• Bliss Ultra Lounge (formerly Spinnaker Lounge): redesigned with new carpets, custom loungers, expanded seating, upgraded bar menu, new artworks
• Spice H2O added (adults-only deck with swimming pool, hot tubs, full-service bar, nightly entertainment, DJs)
• Los Lobos Cantina (Mexican restaurant) replaced Las Ramblas Bar Restaurant
• Spinnaker Lounge (formerly Observation Lounge)
• Sky High Bar (formerly Bier Garten): enlarged to 120 seats and received an updated bar menu
• renovations across Atrium Café and Bar, Garden Café, Cagney’s Steakhouse, Casino (with new VIP section), Main Dining Rooms (Aqua, Versailles), La Cucina, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki, Atrium Café, Mandara Spa, pool deck, and Theatre

Drydock 2018 was part of NCL’s “Norwegian Edge” fleetwide enhancement program (two-year initiative, budget approx. USD 400 million). Each drydock cost approximately USD 35–40 million.

Drydock refurbishment in 2015 (March 8–22) resulted in the following deck plan updates:

• (Deck 7) Jimmy Buffett’s eatery was replaced by the Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar
• cover charges removed for the Ginza Asian restaurant
• O’Sheehan’s Pub added (Deck 8) and Sugarcane Mojito Bar added (Deck 13)
• new digital signage/touchscreens installed throughout the ship
• renovations completed in the casino (Deck 6), photo gallery (Deck 7), and pool deck (Lido Deck 12)
• all public areas received new carpeting/flooring; windows replaced
• technical enhancements: new hull coating, installation of Green Tech Marine scrubbers to reduce fuel and energy consumption, upgraded tender-boat release systems, and general maintenance

The refurbishment was part of NCL’s “The Norwegian Edge” fleet renovation program (budget approx. USD 400 million).

The list of deck plan changes after the 2010 drydock included:

• (Deck 6) “SoHo Room” restaurant renamed “La Cucina”
• (Deck 7) relocation of several venues: Photo Gallery, duty-free shops, Spinnaker Lounge (moved from Deck 12; the new venue is larger); addition of new conference rooms
• (Deck 8) new restaurants added: Moderno and O’Sheehan’s
• (Deck 12) major reconfiguration: former public spaces converted into 48 new Suites, including 28 Penthouse Suites; introduction of a new suite category (Deluxe Owner’s Suite – SA, no balcony, floor-to-ceiling slanted panoramic windows), new Family Suites, and new Interior Rooms (IC); the former cinema was converted into four conference rooms
• shipwide carpeting replacement and cabin renovations