ANYBODY have ANY Info on the New SPIRIT???

[thenewkid]

I am dying of curiousity. Does anyone know what "modifications" have been made?? Or any other "juicy" details of the MakeOver??

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Millie Med. Cruise
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North to Alaska - NCL Spirit


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[estebofarr]

I was just going to post the exact same thing!

[thenewkid]

Yay!!
Someone as curious as I am!! What cruise are you on?? Or are you just curious?

[img]http://www.regalweb.co.uk/loony/animated/wine.gif[/img]
Millie Med. Cruise
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North to Alaska - NCL Spirit


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[pam512]

I board the Spirit on Saturday. If I have time, I will go to the Internet Cafe and post some info for you guys. It's all a big mystery right now!

[thenewkid]

Thanks, Pam,
We shall eagerly await your info!!

[img]http://www.regalweb.co.uk/loony/animated/wine.gif[/img]
Millie Med. Cruise
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North to Alaska - NCL Spirit


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[thenewkid]

Anyone else out there??
I have heard that changes are being made. I have heard that changes WILL be made after the Alaska season. Anyone know which is true????

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Millie Med. Cruise
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North to Alaska - NCL Spirit


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[Guest eleven]

This is a news release from NCL's site:

Company announces several updates for the NCL brand including the transfer of Norwegian Sea to Star Cruises
MIAMI, March 17 – Today during a press conference at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention, Norwegian Cruise Line’s President and Chief Executive Office Colin Veitch made several announcements for the NCL brand.

1) SuperStar Leo will be permanently deployed in the NCL fleet after her initial Alaska season and be renamed Norwegian Spirit. The ship will spend the winter in Miami sailing five- and nine-day cruises. Norwegian Spirit’s innovative nine-day itinerary leaves Miami on Friday nights and travels to the Deep Southern Caribbean calling on Bridgetown, Barbados; St. George’s, Grenada; Castries, St. Lucia; St. John’s, Antigua; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands returning on Sundays. According to Veitch, “This unique itinerary will be the only way to cruise the Deep Southern Caribbean and only take a week off work, all with the convenience of a Miami departure, which is just a drive away for the large South Florida market or a short and affordable flight for many markets around the U.S.” Norwegian Spirit’s five-day itinerary will leave Miami on Sundays and call in George Town, Grand Cayman and Roatan, Honduras.

2) Norwegian Sea will be transferred to the Star Cruises fleet in Spring of 2005 enabling NCL’s parent company to go forward with its plans to modify its fleet profile in Asia with relatively modern vessels of medium capacity rather than mega ships. Medium sized ships offer greater deployment flexibility and more diversification of capacity in a developing market where demand patterns have yet to be established. “This move once again demonstrates the advantage of having a diverse fleet in two divergent markets that can be strategically redeployed as part of an ever changing global marketplace,” Veitch said. “The redeployment of a mid-size vessel such as Norwegian Sea to Star Cruises is optimal for the Asian market and utilizing a state-of-the-art mega ship such as SuperStar Leo is ideal in the extremely competitive North American market.”

3) In October 2005, Norwegian Dream will take over Norwegian Sea’s year round cruises out of Houston sailing Exotic Western Caribbean seven-day cruises calling in Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Cancun, Mexico. The company will announce a replacement ship for New Orleans shortly;

4) As NCL continues its fleet renewal program of adding bigger and newer ships, Veitch announced that regretfully the S/S Norway would not return to the North American cruise market. The company continues to evaluate appropriate options for the vessel;

5) NCL will be increasing its deployment in Alaska in 2005 with an additional ship bringing its total to four ships cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage. Further details will be announced in the next few weeks.

A full deployment schedule for the NCL and Orient Lines brands will also be announced in the next few weeks.

More details on Norwegian Spirit
On May 15, 2004, Norwegian Spirit assumes Norwegian Sky’s Alaska program through September 18, 2004.

After the Alaska season, Norwegian Spirit will undergo a significant remodeling and refurbishment to further modify her for North American service. Details on Norwegian Spirit’s refurbishment will be announced soon.

“We have been extremely pleased with the welcome SuperStar Leo has received since we first announced she would enter the NCL fleet for the Alaska season,” Veitch said. “As the slightly smaller sister of Norwegian Star, the ship will be right at home with our family of modern Freestyle Cruising vessels.

“She is the perfect addition to the NCL fleet.”
Norwegian Spirit was built by Meyer Werft in Germany in 1999 and was Star Cruises first newbuild and largest vessel. The ship is 879 feet long and 106 feet wide, slightly smaller than her big sister, Norwegian Star. Norwegian Spirit cruises at a maximum speed of 25 knots.

Like Norwegian Star, which begins her first Alaska season in May, Norwegian Spirit offers a wide choice of interconnecting cabins perfect for multi-generational families of all sizes. Staterooms feature rich cherry wood finishing and the 391 balcony staterooms offer a much larger bathroom unit than other ships, containing separate WC, shower, and washstand compartments separated by sliding doors. Sixty percent of cabins are outside staterooms and 66 percent of these have balconies.

Most cabins include a sofa bed or pop-up trundle bed, giving a third lower bed, and many have a fourth, pull-down berth. The ship also offers a large number of cabins (including suites and junior-suites) that can be combined to create two-, three- or four-bedroom areas suitable for small and large families.

In keeping with Freestyle Cruising where guests can dine wherever, whenever, and with whomever they wish, Norwegian Spirit features the flexibility of eight restaurants including two main restaurants; NCL’s signature restaurant Le Bistro; a traditional steakhouse; La Trattoria, an Italian café; a buffet restaurant featuring action stations; and a Japanese/Thai/Chinese Asian complex featuring an a la carte section, a sushi bar, and a teppanyaki room.

Norwegian Spirit features world-class amenities including the Moulin Rouge, a 900-seat, two level theatre; the Roman Spa and Fitness Center; Buccaneer’s Wet n’ Wild kids center and a 78-seat cinema. Norwegian Spirit features nine bars and lounges, including a Bier Garten that offers a selection of beers from around the world; a champagne bar called Champagne Charlie’s; Henry’s Pub, a traditional English pub; a karaoke lounge with private karaoke rooms; the Celebrity Disco offering cocktails, entertainment and dancing; and the Observatory, with sweeping ocean views, a dance floor and live entertainment.

For reservations and more information, contact a travel agent or NCL in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030; in Miami-Dade County, Florida, (305) 436-0866; visit NCL’s web site at [url="http://www.ncl.com;"]www.ncl.com;[/url] or on AOL at keyword: NCL; or to download high resolution photography visit [url="http://www.ncl.com/hires"]www.ncl.com/hires[/url].

[runninwild]

Pam, we're booked in one of the three center aft cabins on deck 9. If you get a chance to peak, let me know what it looks like and what the balcony looks like....size? completely covered? etc. Thanks so much.

[teltrainer]

Hi, we're looking at the Spirit for next year so I found this "old" website for "SuperStar Leo" which shows examples of the cabins. With the NCL updates and changes it looks like it will be a lovely ship.

Go to: [url="http://www.starcruise.org/ssleo.htm#1"]SuperStarLeo[/url] To check it out "as it was"

Carnival 1984
Chandris 1986
Norway 1993
Ryndam 1995
Norway 2000
Norway 2002
NCL Sun
12/7 2003 Wedding

HAL Maasdam April 2004

[Stevie17]

We booked our Spirit cruise for Feburary, and I cannot wait to hear the reviews for this ship. It will be interesting to see what changes NCL has in store for her now that she is becoming a permanent member of their fleet.

The photos that I've seen are wonderful...she's a beautiful ship!

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until we sail!!!


NCL Spirit - February 2005
Grand Princess - May 2003
NCL Sun - May 2002
NCL Sea - May 2000

[mushroom]

Hi Runninwild...when are you going? I've booked cabin 9212 for next January for a nine night cruise - it's one of those on the fantail on deck 9...and I think this is the area you are staying in. If you go before I do, I'm counting on you to come back with loads of info regarding balcony size, cabin layout, etc. There are surprisingly few suites for a ship this size.

[pam512]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by runninwild:
Pam, we're booked in one of the three center aft cabins on deck 9. If you get a chance to peak, let me know what it looks like and what the balcony looks like....size? completely covered? etc. Thanks so much.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I will try my best to get a look at the rooms for you. I'm on deck 11, so I'm assuming the cabins are about the same. But I'll write down a note to check. I know that people on future cruises are eagerly awaiting the reports from those of us on the first cruise. It's all just so exciting, isn't it?

[runninwild]

Dear Pam,
The 5 aft suites on deck 9 are like no other cabins on the ship...so if you can peak, I'd be appreciative. The two corners are the AA's,(big owner suites) and the middle 3 are AD's.(smallest of the suites) I booked 9710 which is one of the 3 AD's.
Mushroom...you'll have to give me the report. We're not going until March. We'll be next door to where you are, but those three should be pretty similar. Thanks.

[mushroom]

I guess we'll all be counting on you, Pam! Must feel good to have all of us anxiously awaiting your cruise! Thanks in advance for taking time to help us out.