NCL Spirit from BCN 3/10/14

[bapdallas]

My partner Barrry and I are booked on this sailing. We have been on many cruises before, but never on Norwegian. Who else is aboard? And if you are, and have experience on NCL, what is your experience with the FOD/LGBTQIA/EIEIO meetings on ship? Well attended or no? Whereabouts?

 

Look forward to hearing from (and seeinig) you soon - THREE MONTHS from today

 

Best regards

 

Kevin

[bapdallas]

Updating the post to see if any FOD will be on board. Less than 60 days to go? Anyone joining us?

 

K

[bapdallas]

20 days to sailing. Anyone out there booked for this?

[welshcruiser]

Hey! We have just booked this last minute! We were on the Spirit for Christmas 2012.

Mike & Jeff

 

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[bapdallas]

Hi Mike and Jeff

 

THX for responding - and for booking! I was beginning to think we were the only FOD on board (highly doubtful though, given the numbers, right!)

 

So - how was your experience at Christmastime? Were you pleased with your cabin/food/service? Did you use the gym/spa? Wine/Drink package? Have you picked any shore excursions (Barry has booked us one with the toboggan ride and a second one with the camels). And last, but certainly NOT least, the "family" get together(s)?

 

I've been on seven cruises, and Barry at least twice that - but never NCL, so we don't know what to expect in terms of quality and "ambience". We obviously will be skipping tuxedos and jackets, but beyond that, we can only guess. Care to share your insights?

 

Look forward to your response - as well as meeting you! :)

[welshcruiser]

Hi Kevin, thanks for your reply. We had a great time at Christmas, that's one of the reasons we booked again. The ship has variable reviews but we like it, it's smallest & oldest of the fleet. Traditional almost, but obviously with the oriental theme. Service was excellent, as was entertainment. We rarely use gym/sauna sorry! We bought drinks package last time as we do like to drink. However it's not good for Jeff so may not do it this time.

We haven't booked any shore excursions, been to them all before! To be honest things like the toboggan is easy & cheaper to do on your own. We can help &/or you can join us where you haven't booked anything.

 

NCL is very casual, which is our only gripe as we like to 'dress up'! We will probably take a lounge suit to wear occasionally. We went with a straight couple last time so didn't do much in way of 'family', there were some but not large number. Well anyway there's at least 4 this time.......let's have a fun time! When are you travelling? We fly out on sailing day. Mike :)

 

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[bapdallas]

Hi Mike

 

THX for your reply and the info contained therein. We normally do a wine package for our dinners and one for soft drinks during the day (can't live w/o diet coke). We like to drink a bit, but are not big "boozers"

 

I guess we will check out the gym/spa package when on board. I will need to hit the gym on our sea days, since I have been busy since 1/1 getting ready for our move to Portland later this year and not going as religiously as I should.

 

We, too, normally do the sight seeing independently -better opportunity to interact with the locals. But Barry wanted to book those two excursions in advance to minimize stress on this trip. FYI, we'll walk around Casablanca on our own, and we may not do anything when in Malaga (been to the city before, and to Spain twice before)

 

I guess the other thing I might ask you concerns the passenger demographic. I would presume given where the cruise starts , and whence it goes, that the crowd will be predominantly British/European (like yourselves). We are hoping so, because, atittudes towards "us" are still quite a bit better on your side of the Atlantic. We have never had a problem in this regard, but on our last cruise to the Middle East, I was put off BIG TIME by a pompous Minnesota "tea bag" table mate (Although his girlfriend was QUITE festive). Hoping to avoid any potential repeat of that/him. BTW, that experience also explains why I have "laid low" until now on the "all points" Spirit Roll Call

 

FYI, We fly out from SFO on 3/8 through DFW (I think) and Dusseldorf (for sure) and arrive in BCN the morning before to overcome our jet lag.

 

OH, BTW, now that I think of it, in which lounge should we (or FOD if we need to set it up) meet? Given your familiarity with the Spirit, I figured you could make the best recommendation.

 

THX again for the info! I am getting excited about our trip!

 

Best regards

 

K

 

PS - Qu'est ce que c'est "lounge suit"? Don't y'all speak "Merican" LOL ;)

[welshcruiser]

Ha ha, you made me smile before bed! Lounge suit as opposed to dinner suit!

Yes I suspect it's mainly brits on board, including a few ex-pats who live on the Spanish costas. There are obviously a scattering of yanks (sorry! ) & few other European nationals.

FOD meetings usually held in maharaja bar by the casino, which is extremely camp btw! In Malaga we are planning on going up the coast to a gay beach if you're interested!

Why don't we agree to meet up at a bar when we board?

Can I ask how old you are? We are 54 & 47!

 

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[bapdallas]

Let's meet at Maharaja at 5:00 p. m. on night of sailing. Unless we are on emergency drill - then immediately thereafter.

 

I/we probably won't join you for the beach trip - for us, it would only be warm enough if 24C+. We currently live in CA, after all, and would consider anything less "cold"

 

You and I are the same age. Barry is much younger - he is 30 - However, he does plan on celebrating the 20th anniversary of that event during our voyage.

 

BTW it will be impossible to miss us on board. We are both about 6'3, I shave my head, and Barry has dirty blond hair (receding). Prior to the last few months, as I mentioned before, I used to spend a lot of time in the gym. Don't know what size "lounge suit" or "dinner suit" (now confused about both of these:)) I would still wear, but to give you a better idea, last time I bought a stateside business suit state side, I needed a size 54 jacket - and 42 waist. So you see, I certianly do not exaggerate about being impossible to miss

 

Catch up with you later

 

K

[welshcruiser]

Hope you guys are looking forward to the cruise! A week today we will be staying at the hilton gatwick airport.

Looking forward to meeting you. If the weather nice on embarkation day we will probably be up in the bier garten. If we don't see you there on deck we will be in maharaja lounge after drills!

I see you have joined the 'straight' forum, and at least they welcomed you! More than us! :D

 

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