Also Back from 4/3 Spirit Cruise

[luvcruzing]

There have already been two reviews written about this cruise, so I will just add a few of my own comments. I was glad to read Schittenden’s review that he enjoyed the shows. Some reviewers have been very critical. I usually sat in the balcony and had a good view of the audience below. The shows were so good that the entire audience would stand and applaud at the end, and yet people here have written how bad the performances were. Yes, I know, everything is subjective. I've read the rave reviews about Second City. For me, it was one of the poorer shows. Not my kind of humor, I guess. Many people seemed to enjoy it, though.

 

My cabin was very comfortable, but I was missing the chair at the desk. Never occurred to me to ask for one, but I did wonder why there wasn't one. If I wanted to sit down and enjoy my morning coffee, I would bring the small table in from the balcony so that I would have a place to set my cup down while sitting on the couch. I had one of the white ones, so maybe my chair was removed when the new one was being installed and never replaced? Wonder why my cabin steward didn't notice.

 

I loved my bed and still miss its comforts. Great pillow-top mattress, fluffy pillows, and wonderful comforter.

 

I agree the bathroom had very little mildew that some have complained about.

 

Yes, the TV is small, but I still managed to watch Secretariat, The Social Network, and Life As We Know It. I'm not a movie goer so these were all new to me. I usually watched them in the morning before leaving the ship, or in the afternoon after my excursion.

 

Food was okay, but nothing to write home about. My best meal was lunch on embarkation day. I had the calamari and shrimp caesar salad. Very good. I wasn't surprised at the baby shrimp cocktail at dinner. The menu did state "baby shrimp cocktail." Reminded me of the 99 cent shrimp cocktails we used to get on the Vegas strip. The worst meal I had was when I ordered the scrambled eggs. Barely edible. Powdered? Yuk. I also ordered the jumbo shrimp cocktail in Blue Lagoon. They were tough. I think they’re just too big to use as a cocktail. I think they would be better in a shrimp scampi. I did order the chef’s salad after one of my excursions and took it back to my room. It was very good. Also, one day I ordered the pizza from room service. Frozen, I'm sure, but lots of cheese and hit the spot.

 

I used the breakfast room service (juice, coffee, fruit, rolls, cereal were available) as my wake-up call each morning. Just be aware that the phone call telling you that your breakfast is on the way will come 20-30 minutes before your stated time, and the knock at the door will come about two minutes later.

 

There were a lot of kids on board (spring break), but all seemed to be very well behaved. When I’d be passing through Blue Lagoon on my way to my cabin anywhere between 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., it was packed with kids eating wings and burgers.

 

Lost bigtime in the casino (I also received a “free” cruise through CAS from Caesars Windsor). So much so that I was comped a meal in LeBistro.

 

I booked four beach excursions. The best one by far was Tropicante on Costa Maya. Wonderful sandy beach, wonderful people, wonderful service.

 

Met many great people on the excursions, in the restaurants, and in the casino. Everyone was friendly including the staff.

 

I brought an extension cord with me, but never used it. The only time that I used the electrical outlet was to plug in my curling iron or charge my Ipod, not at the same time.

 

It was a wonderful cruise, liked the ship, and I’d do it again in a second.

[cygnets]

We leave on Sunday and some other reviews were making me nervous about the trip.

We enjoy the casino, hopefully it will be kinder to us.

Did you eat at Windows for lunch the first day? Can we wear shorts there for lunch?

Thank you

[schittenden]

You can wear shorts there for lunch. I had the calamari on embarkation day as well and found it to be very chewy (overcooked), but not terrible. The cobb salad I had with it was very good. I also saw many people with shorts and flip flops in Windows at dinner on different nights, even though it is not permitted according to the daily. (I always wore pants and shoes to dinner at Windows, even though they didn't seem to be enforcing this rule.) Good luck in the Casino. We enjoyed it and the dealers are great.

[luvcruzing]

We leave on Sunday and some other reviews were making me nervous about the trip.

We enjoy the casino, hopefully it will be kinder to us.

Did you eat at Windows for lunch the first day? Can we wear shorts there for lunch?

Thank you

 

Windows is pretty casual - daytime or evening. I did eat lunch there on embarkation day. My calamari was very good. I ate them all, and I think there were enough for two.

[HULA77]

We too were on this cruise (hubby and I and our boys, 8 and 6) and we had a great time and great experience overall.

 

About shorts at Windows - I'd not worry. Our first night we went to Cagney's and our little one's suitcase containing his clothes hadn't arrived yet, so I dressed him in something of his big brother's that fit the best it could. It was shorts and a polo. Not one soul said a word, so I wouldn't worry about the attire.

 

Before we left for the cruise, I too was a little apprehensive about the reviews on Cruise Critic, but you know what? If you go in with a positive outlook and attitude, you can't go wrong. As long as I'm not cleaning, cooking, and working, I'm happy.

 

We met wonderful people (lots from MICHIGAN - YAY!) and made memories of a lifetime.

 

ENJOY THE SPIRIT!!

[cygnets]

Packing now. My kids want to know if they can wear jeans and tees at night if not going to the main dining room?

Thank you

[schittenden]

I'd think they'd be fine in the main dining room in jeans and tees based on what I saw.

[terrymtex01]

OP.. thank you for sharing your vacation with us. We will be on the Spirit for the first time this coming Nov. We are very excited about it as we always read such great reviews about her. Glad you had a great time.

 

We too were on this cruise (hubby and I and our boys, 8 and 6) and we had a great time and great experience overall.

 

About shorts at Windows - I'd not worry. Our first night we went to Cagney's and our little one's suitcase containing his clothes hadn't arrived yet, so I dressed him in something of his big brother's that fit the best it could. It was shorts and a polo. Not one soul said a word, so I wouldn't worry about the attire.

 

Before we left for the cruise, I too was a little apprehensive about the reviews on Cruise Critic, but you know what? If you go in with a positive outlook and attitude, you can't go wrong. As long as I'm not cleaning, cooking, and working, I'm happy.

 

We met wonderful people (lots from MICHIGAN - YAY!) and made memories of a lifetime.

 

ENJOY THE SPIRIT!!

 

Just thought I would add a foot note to your posting and let folks know that with NCL, the first night of the cruise they do not enforce dress codes very much at all because they know suitcases can arrive late.. 8-). Enforcing the dress code on other nights seem to change ship to ship.