The Norwegian Star of the US shipping company Norwegian Cruise Line will be transferred from Portugal to Argentina in December 2024, as the ship will be stationed in South America during the upcoming winter season. You can currently book the Atlantic crossing from Lisbon to Buenos Aires at reasonable prices. For 17 nights in an inside cabin, you’d pay €974 per person. Also available are outside cabins starting at €1,058 – probably the more sensible deal.
The mentioned prices include all meals in the main and buffet restaurants, as well as the use of most onboard facilities (e.g., shows in the theatre, pool area, etc.).
Norwegian Cruise Line charges an automatic crew gratuity of US$20 (~€17) per person per day to your onboard account. If you disagree with this, you can request an adjustment or removal of this amount at the reception.
The Route
The cruise starts in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. From there, the Norwegian Star heads for its first stop, the flower island of Madeira. During your visit, you should not miss the famous wicker toboggan ride. The city centre of Funchal is also worth seeing. After that, the cruise continues to Tenerife and Mindelo on the Cape Verde Islands.
After three days at sea, the ship reaches the Brazilian coast. The first city on the itinerary is Recife. The metropolis is also known as the “Venice of Brazil.” Afterwards, the Norwegian Star stops in Maceió and Salvador da Bahia. A highlight at the end of the trip is definitely the stop in Rio de Janeiro. The city is world-famous for its street carnival, the Sugarloaf Mountain, and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. After 17 nights, the Norwegian Star reaches the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
Here’s the exact itinerary:
| Date | Location | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 5 | Lisbon | 21:00 | |
| December 6 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| December 7 | Funchal, Madeira | 07:00 | 16:00 |
| December 8 | Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Teneriffe | 07:00 | 16:00 |
| December 9 – 10 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| December 11 | Mindelo, Sao Vicente | 06:00 | 17:00 |
| December 12 – 14 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| December 15 | Recife, Pernambuco | 08:00 | 20:00 |
| December 16 | Maceió, Alagoas | 07:00 | 17:00 |
| December 17 | Salvador da Bahia, Brazil | 09:00 | 17:00 |
| December 18 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| December 19 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 08:00 | 16:00 |
| December 20 – 21 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| December 22 | Buenos Aires | 05:45 |
The Ship
The Norwegian Star was built in 2001 and last renovated in 2021. It is 294 meters long and 32 meters wide. The ship accommodates about 2,300 passengers in 1,174 cabins. Its maximum speed is 23 knots.
The ship has 13 restaurants (some with additional charges) and 11 bars and lounges. The food on Norwegian is somewhat above average compared to the major cruise lines and leans more toward American cuisine.
For onboard entertainment, there is a theatre, casino, and nightclub. Those who want to be active can do so in the fitness centre, on the sports court, or on the outdoor jogging track. Additionally, the Norwegian Star has a wellness area with a sauna, beauty salon, and solarium, as well as 2 pools and 6 whirlpools.
The onboard language is English, and the onboard currency is the US dollar. You can settle your final bill on the ship either by credit card or in cash. Please note that even on European routes, cash is only accepted in the form of US dollars.
Flights
Unless your intention is to follow the path of many Europeans in the first half of the last century and emigrate to Argentina by ship, you’ll probably need a flight back to Europe. Here are some of the currently best options. The prices are for flights including luggage:
- Buenos Aires – Milan: US$781 (~€666) with Lufthansa
- Buenos Aires – Frankfurt: €886 with Copa Airlines & Condor
If you’re going to stay in the region and want to take the opportunity to explore South America, one-way flights from Chile or Brazil usually tend to be quite a bit cheaper than from Argentina.
Cover Picture: Photo by Leonardo Miranda on Unsplash