Spirit review (January 6)

[scottyo72]

Two of us had been planning this trip for months, and a week before sailing two friends decided to go along. Our ages range from mid-30s to early 40s. There was one new cruiser, one very experienced cruise, and two on our second cruise.

 

We drove to New Orleans and arrived the afternoon before the cruise. We stayed at the Maison St. Charles, a Quality Inn in the Garden District. The hotel is composed of a collection of old restored buildings surrounding a courtyard with a pool and lounge. It would be a good choice for anyone wanting to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the Quarter while still being close to the terminal and other points of interest.

 

We arrived at the pier at about noon. Check in was very efficient, and we were on the ship 30 minutes after stepping foot out of the car. We sat down and relaxed for a few minutes in the Grand Centrum before heading to lunch in Windows for our first meal. Before we were finished eating, the announcement was made that the cabins were ready, so we headed up to drop of our carry-on items and then met later to explore the ship.

 

The public rooms on the Norwegian Spirit are elegant and tasteful with extensive use of wood veneers, Asian artwork, and rich carpets. Neon and other bright materials are used very sparingly as accents. There was some normal wear and tear, especially on some carpets and windows, but no more than I would expect to see. All of the public spaces including the restaurants and outdoor deck areas were kept clean throughout the week.

 

The cabins were a step down from the sophistication of the public rooms, but other than some of the fabrics, most notably the bedspread, still pleasant. As has been reported before, the mattresses are somewhat hard and overdue for replacement. The sheets and duvet covers were nice. The cabin was well laid with plenty of storage. The bathroom had separate areas for shower, sink, and toilet with sliding glass dividers between. As with the public rooms, the cabin was clean, and the room stewards did a good job of maintaining the room and stocking towels and coffee supplies throughout the week. As an extra treat, we returned to our cabin on several occasions to find gifts of canapés, chocolate covered strawberries, truffles, and sparkling wine sent by various officers and crew members we had interacted with throughout the week.

 

 

The food and service in Windows was good with a few exceptions. I liked the fact that portions were relatively small, so it was possible to get through 4 or 5 courses without being too full, but some of the salads and entrees were too stingy. All of us from first-timer to experienced cruiser loved Freestyle cruising. We never had to wait for a table. We didn’t particularly try to avoid busy times; we just ate when we felt like it. We would have a hard time with a fixed dinner schedule and assigned table mates, so we’ll stick to Freestyle, or at least a dining option that allows us to have dinner in a main dining room on our own schedule with our chosen dining companions whenever possible.

 

Raffles, the buffet was pretty good, especially for breakfast. Lunch was fairly standard buffet food. There was an ice cream selection every afternoon that always included one sugar free option. Blue Lagoon served tasty pug grub type food. The hamburgers at the Bier Garten Grill were really thick and made the perfect poolside lunch on sea days.

 

We tried most of the specialty restaurants. Sushi and La Trattoria were both good. Le Bistro was excellent, but the real standout was Cagney’s. The food and service were near perfection. We didn’t have a problem getting reservations at reasonable times, but we were pretty flexible. We did not get up at 7:00 AM to call or stand in line as other have suggested. For someone only willing to eat at a particular restaurant at a particular time there might have a problem.

 

We only went to one show in the main theatre, the Broadway review. It was enjoyable with the dancers outshining the vocalists. There were at least three live bands and a pianist/ vocalist working various venues around the ship. Each had a unique sound, so there was something for most, if not everyone. There were activities and clubs open well into the night, but with all the activity of four ports of call in seven days, we preferred to chat in a quiet lounge and head back to our cabins relatively early.

 

The first port of call was Roatan. NCL notified us in advance that we would be arriving late due to a mechanical problem. We were delayed an additional hour due to weather, so were able to get off the ship less than an hour and a half before sunset. We decided not to get a cab or arrange other activities, so we just walked around the pier area. There was nothing there of interest and were soon back on board. I was really disappointed to miss snorkeling at West Bay Beach as I had planned, but at least we knew in advance we would be late, and the $50 per person cabin credit was a nice gesture.

 

In Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala we booked the Day at Amatique Bay Resort through NCL. The resort was pleasant and well landscaped with a beach and large pool area. The included lunch was good with salad, vegetables, several meat entrees, and a selection of desserts. We enjoyed this excursion, but the bay water is cloudy and the sand is not as nice and white as most Caribbean stops. Also, the facilities are adequate, but the bare concrete floors in the changing rooms and restrooms are not up to luxury resort standards that some might be expecting. There was a warehouse back at the pier with shopping, refreshments, and internet access.

 

In Belize two of us just walked around. We did get out of the tourism village and found some more affordable silver jewelry and other trinkets. The other two took the Altun Ha Mayan ruins tour. They enjoyed the tour but did note that the bus ride was kind of rough. This was also stated in the tour description. If I had it to do over, I would take a tour and get away from the tourism village and surrounding area. The shopping is fun for a while, but I would like to have seen more of the countryside.

 

Cozumel was our last stop. We had to tender due to the number of ships in port. Two of us booked an independent glass bottom boat and snorkel tour through Gaby’s at the tender pier. We had a great time with a small group of people from nearby resorts. The tour was good for us, but I wouldn’t recommend it for people uncomfortable in the water or for children. They didn’t do a safety talk or make you wear life vests, though they were available. The tour included bottled water, juice, and beer. After snorkeling, we did some shopping near the tender pier before heading back to the ship. The other two from our group did the NCL Cozumel Highlights and Shopping tour. They enjoyed the mix of sightseeing and shopping.

 

We all spent the last day at sea lounging poolside before packing and preparing for the trip home. We chose express debarkation. We walked off the ship early Sunday morning with no waiting. The only downside was having to carry our luggage down the stairs as the elevators were full of people and luggage from upper decks.

 

There was a norovirus outbreak on this cruise. Fortunately, no one in our party was affected, but I’m sure it was terrible for those who were. The officers and crew responded with all the normal measures including, but not limited to, extensive cleaning and sanitation, elimination of self service in the buffet, free medical care for GI symptoms, and quarantine of affected passengers. I think this had a negative affect on the length of lines in the buffet and slower service in the main dining room, since the wait staff had take on additional tasks. This was especially true toward the end of the week as even more measures were taken such as removing salt and pepper shakers from the tables.

 

We wanted a relaxing vacation where we could spend time together, and this cruise fit the bill. Vacationers who want to go from planned activity to planned activity all day long might not find it as enjoyable as we did. While disappointing, we were aware that itinerary changes can occur any time for any number of reasons. The main improvements I would like to see are minor cabin refurbishments and improvements in the main dining room.

[zachnlucy]

Excellent review. Thank you for all of the detail. We keep hearing about the worn out bedspreads and are planning to ask our steward to just take ours away and we'll make do with the duvet.

 

Were you in a regular balcony room? Any hints as to how you got all the goodies from the officers?

[scottyo72]

Excellent review. Thank you for all of the detail. We keep hearing about the worn out bedspreads and are planning to ask our steward to just take ours away and we'll make do with the duvet.

 

Were you in a regular balcony room? Any hints as to how you got all the goodies from the officers?

 

He had a balcony, and it would be really hard to go back to anything less. I'm still a little baffled about the royal treatment. I did organize our cruise critic group meeting through the ship coordinator. At the meeting, the Cruise Director, Restaurant Director, Hotel Director, Executive Chef, and Group Events Coordinator all made an appearance, and I made it a point to speak to most of them, and I saw most of them at other points throughout the cruise. I didn't really expect the treats and wouldn't in the future, but it made a big impression on me just to pass officers and have them speak to me by name.

[CaptainChoppers]

Thank you for the wonderful review. DH and I will be sailing on the Spirit out of NY in June. We also booked a balcony room. Does the room have a mini refrigerator? Also, how was the casino. Thanks:)

[scottyo72]

Thank you for the wonderful review. DH and I will be sailing on the Spirit out of NY in June. We also booked a balcony room. Does the room have a mini refrigerator? Also, how was the casino. Thanks:)

 

My understanding is that only suites have refrigerators, but that they have a few spares that can be brought in to cabins only for special medical needs.

 

The casino is big, bright, and nice. I'm not a gambler, so I can't comment on how lucky it is. We mostly went through the casino to get to Maharini's, a very hip, under utilized lounge with velvet drapes and furniture and huge flat panel TV's.

[electricron]

Thank you for the wonderful review. DH and I will be sailing on the Spirit out of NY in June. We also booked a balcony room. Does the room have a mini refrigerator? Also, how was the casino. Thanks:)

 

The Spirit, Dream, and Majesty; at the present time; do not have fridges in every cabin. If you need a fridge to keep medicines cool, you can ask for one to be installed in your cabin. Just contact NCL's "Special Needs" office to arrange it before your cruise.

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/contactUs.html#9

Guests with Special Needs

A dedicated special needs coordinator is available to assist guests with special needs, such as wheelchairs, seeing-eye dogs, oxygen, etc.

 

Email Address

accessdesk@ncl.com

 

Mailing Address

7665 Corporate Center Drive

Miami, Florida 33126

 

Hours of Operation

Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm EST

[KerCar]

Welcome home! I really enjoyed your review! I will be back on the Spirit this spring! This time we are bringing along a few family members so your reveiw was quite helpful. Do you remember if the specialties offered any special 2 for 1 deals??? Also, do you remember the name of the cruise director??? Just wondering if it is the same guy we had in June.

 

Thanks:)

[scottyo72]

Welcome home! I really enjoyed your review! I will be back on the Spirit this spring! This time we are bringing along a few family members so your reveiw was quite helpful. Do you remember if the specialties offered any special 2 for 1 deals??? Also, do you remember the name of the cruise director??? Just wondering if it is the same guy we had in June.

 

Thanks:)

 

I didn't notice any specials, but I didn't particularly look for them. Darrin (sp) from Canada was the cruise director. I don't remember the assistants. Rightly or wrongly, cruise directors give me flashbacks of summer camp counsellors, so they don't really matter much to my cruising experience.

[KerCar]

I didn't notice any specials, but I didn't particularly look for them. Darrin (sp) from Canada was the cruise director. I don't remember the assistants. Rightly or wrongly, cruise directors give me flashbacks of summer camp counsellors, so they don't really matter much to my cruising experience.

 

Thanks! Darrin was the CD back in June. A lot of people don't like him, but I'm like you don't really care who the CD is as long as I'm having a good time:) The only reason I even remember his name is that he came to our M&G and hung out and chatted with us for a bit.

 

Also, not sure if this has been asked yet, but did any of the officers mention anything about the Spirit's engine issue and how and when it will be resolved???

 

Thanks:)

[scottyo72]

Thanks! Darrin was the CD back in June. A lot of people don't like him, but I'm like you don't really care who the CD is as long as I'm having a good time:) The only reason I even remember his name is that he came to our M&G and hung out and chatted with us for a bit.

 

Also, not sure if this has been asked yet, but did any of the officers mention anything about the Spirit's engine issue and how and when it will be resolved???

 

Thanks:)

 

I intended to ask someone, but I figured the hospitality staff wouldn't have much to say, and I never chased down anyone who might have more information than NCL had already released.

[dottyparka]

Hi Scott,

 

Sounds like you had as great of a time on this cruise as we did. With all the bashing going around of this ship (and this sailing, in particular!), it's nice to see reviews from people who refute the notion that the Spirit is a floating garbage can.

[Whippets]

Scotty72,

Thank you for your straight forward, detailed Spirit review. Having read the multitudes of negative comments by others, I was concerned as we board in less than two weeks. Your accessment of the situation in the regular dining rooms certainly makes perfect sense, everyone was hesitant to eat in the buffet area.

 

Thanks Again.

[scottyo72]

Hi Scott,

 

Sounds like you had as great of a time on this cruise as we did. With all the bashing going around of this ship (and this sailing, in particular!), it's nice to see reviews from people who refute the notion that the Spirit is a floating garbage can.

 

Yep, I could tell you two were having fun. Every time I passed you, you seemed to be smiling. And I loved the sailaway party with New Orleans in the background, and even the return upriver 5:00 - 6:00 AM. And the walks around Deck 7 every morning. And standing on the balcony with the wind in my face... and all those other things that don't fit neatly into a review. Mmmm. I ready to go again.

 

 

[welove2cruise232]

Do you recall the name of the hotel director?

[zees4u]

really glad too see good things being said about this sailing. my family and i had a grand time. good to know we weren't hallucinating.

[dtiger]

Very informative review.

 

Thanks

[Laurablue]

Scottyo,

 

Can you tell me how to contact the ship coordinator to arrange a meet & greet. I was just on the roll call thread for the March 23rd sailing asking how to get a M & G for our group.

 

I enjoyed your review about the Spirit. I just wished the time would go faster so I could see for myself! :)

[Chipster2]

Great review, thanks.

[HoopTroop]

Review! I leave in a week and I was on the Sun last year around this time and I think I have the same picture of the NOLA skyline!

 

HoopTroop

[tcrny]

It was great to read your review after the Spirit has been bashed by so many people. We are sailing her in April for spring break and I've been trying very hard to not let all the Spirit negativity get me down. This will be our 2nd cruise. We do not go on cruises for the food. It is vacation, away from home, and an opportunity to see different places. Your fun is what you make it, and I am thankful just to have some time away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Maybe many people just have too much expectation.

I am on the 4/19 cruise and I too will be coordinating meet and greet for our roll call. I was told to contact the ship's coordinator. I have to look back at the threads, but I recall seeing someone post the email as shipcoordinatorspirit@ncl.com

[tcrny]

It was great to read your review after the Spirit has been bashed by so many people. We are sailing her in April for spring break and I've been trying very hard to not let all the Spirit negativity get me down. This will be our 2nd cruise. We do not go on cruises for the food. It is vacation, away from home, and an opportunity to see different places. Your fun is what you make it, and I am thankful just to have some time away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Maybe many people just have too much expectation.

I am on the 4/19 cruise and I too will be coordinating meet and greet for our roll call. I was told to contact the ship's coordinator. I have to look back at the threads, but I recall seeing someone post the email as shipcoordinatorspirit@ncl.com

[SunniLicious]

Do you recall the name of the hotel director?

 

Frank - don't recall his last name though.

[nclspirit]

Hi,

This is your fellow bloody mary drinker from the pool...thanks again for the dri nk it was wonderful. Your cruise overview was perfect. I wish that we could say that our cruise that we had planned for 8 months was that memorable....things have worsened since our return. Remember I got a hair cut, well evidently a dirty razor was used and I in turn now have a mrsa staph infection on my neck and top of my head. Also, the norovirus that plagued my husband hit me on thurday night and ended up in the emergency room in the hospital....ugh today I feel slightly among the living. Totally enjoyed your company and the rest of your party on the trip. Don't think we will cruise anytime in the near future. Would love to stay in touch with you. Take care!

:mad::o

[scottyo72]

Hi,

This is your fellow bloody mary drinker from the pool...thanks again for the dri nk it was wonderful. Your cruise overview was perfect. I wish that we could say that our cruise that we had planned for 8 months was that memorable....things have worsened since our return. Remember I got a hair cut, well evidently a dirty razor was used and I in turn now have a mrsa staph infection on my neck and top of my head. Also, the norovirus that plagued my husband hit me on thurday night and ended up in the emergency room in the hospital....ugh today I feel slightly among the living. Totally enjoyed your company and the rest of your party on the trip. Don't think we will cruise anytime in the near future. Would love to stay in touch with you. Take care!

:mad::o

 

Hi. Sorry to hear of even more misfortune. Reading the boards before we left, I always wondered how two people on the same cruise could have such different opinions. Now I know... with 2,000 guests onboard, there really are that many different experiences... stewards, wait staff, tours... there are a lot of variables! drop me aline. scottyo72@yahoo.com