Rob_H

The source of this quote is my semi-live review at: We're on board for both cruises (intentionally, unlike some!). Life on board continues as normal for those unaffected, no crew shortages or changes. I (and others) on board will continue to update at that semi-live review.

When we got back (after dark) from our day in Papetee we went to the room (an inside cabin) and were surprised to see a couple of pieces of paper from room service stuffed under the door, asking us to choose our meals that would be delivered to the room. Checking voicemail, there was also a message from room service, asking us to put the little table in the room outside in the corridor, for meals to be delivered to. In other words, they thought we were a quarantine room! Looking outside, there were many little tables outside the rooms, indicating they were occupied by people in quarantine. So our room was now in the midst of quarantine rooms! (to be clear, we had both tested negative the day before). When leaving the ship, another passenger mentioned that many passengers had tested positive for their pre-flight tests home, with the onboard rapid tests. Looks like this was true. So we called guest services. Being embarkation day, they didn't answer the phone at all, as seems to be the normal pattern. Surely for a day like embarkation, when a higher volume of calls is to be expected, it would make sense to have somebody answering the phone? We had to go and join the line in the Atrium. Once we explained the problem (that we didn't want to be surrounded with rooms containing people who had tested positive) the response was good, first trying to move us to an oceanview (that wasn't ready) then to a balcony. We packed (again) and moved to the new room. There were other rooms in that corridor (on 5) that were clearly not quaratine rooms, the incoming guests had their luggage outside. So the problem was solved for us, but not for the others, but suggesting that the other non-quaratine guests should be moved as well fell on deaf ears. Apparently, the people who tested positive were given the option of leaving at Papetee (then waiting till negative to fly home) or stay on board, at Norwegian's expense. I was told there are not many who took the latter option, although I counted 14 rooms with small tables outside in one small section of the corridor around our room. We were shocked, and still are, that Norwegian would set up a corridor full of quarantine rooms, without first moving the existing guests in that corridor. That is so careless.

Yesterday was the disembarkation/embarkation day in Papetee. We had a port day there, as we're back to back on the next cruise. As usual for back to backs, we had to pick up our new keycards at Guest Services early in the morning before heading out for the day. When I got to guest services before 7am, the line was already stretching out of the atrium. Only two people on duty, nobody triaging the line, so the line was filled with people discussing their bills at length and other last-day whinging. No separate line for the dozen or more of us needing new keycards before starting the day. Luckily I found a senior person I know (and who knows me) and she was able to take me straight to the desk to request just the cards, but this option isn't available to most. The lady in front of me said she had been waiting over an hour in line to get her keycard, and was likely to miss her private tour because of the delay. There needs to be sufficient staffing at times of expected high demand, and somebody going up and down the line checking that people need to be there (many don't) and handling simple requests (like new keycards). This is normal on other Norwegian ships. Our new room wasn't occupied on the previous cruise, but was ready, so we were able to move directly to it, and unpack, before heading out for the day. In Papetee, we took a taxi tour from a guy just outside the gate, $60 per person (4 in a taxi) for a 4 hour drive right around the island. Could be good with the right guide/driver but ours must have been having an off day, not very communicative. Still, a good way to get an overview of the island with a few stops at natural features like waterfalls.

No, we left Moorea at 5 and were in Papetee before 8, they're very close. Those guests left in Papeete after that, for their midnight flight.

There are 1100 passengers on this cruise, although it feels a lot quieter tonight as that plane load of people had to leave tonight (Norwegian couldn't get enough flights for tomorrow). Next cruise is expected to be about 1050 passengers. Surprisingly, there are only about 20-25 passengers back to back to the next cruise, i thought it would be a lot more. That includes us as we tested negative ok this evening.

In Moorea today we took a ship's tour, highlights of Moorea. A bus ride around the island including to a high viewpoint inland. There's not a lot at the port in Moorea (or the whole island really). Beautiful place, nice mountain and sea scenery. For those stressing about getting CFP (local francs) for the next cruise, don't worry, it's hard to spend them, all the tourist related businesses take US Dollars. We're using up the CFP we got in March 2020 for our cruise to French Polynesia on the Jewel which never got there because of all the borders closing.

Boards have worked fine for me on the Bliss, Encore and now Spirit this year. It's super slow and you can't upload (or see) photos, but it does work if you are patient. If i want to post photos, or even just use it without waiting a minute or two for each page i use the "free" minutes or wait for mobile data.

Bora Bora

Tonight we ate at Onda, for the first time on this ship. We used a Latitudes voucher. We sat outside at the back of the ship, Onda has some outside tables, it's the only speciality restaurant on the Spirit that does. Nobody else wanted to be outside so we had the space to ourselves, with a view of the Bora Bora lagoon during sunset. Luxurious and romantic! The food and service was outstanding, rivaling Le Bistro for quality and presentation. Certainly on the next cruise (starting in two days!) we'll be back to Onda. The photo is of the tuna I had, medium rare.

Sunrise in Bora Bora this morning. It's a tender port, tenders are already going ashore.

Yesterday we (Rob and Yanet) boarded the Norwegian Spirit in Honolulu, for a 24 day back-to-back voyage to French Polynesia (Tahiti) and back. This is only the second cruise of the Spirit since her restart on May 7th (the last Norwegian ship back in service). I'm happy to (try to) answer any questions about the ship and the destinations, as we travel. We've been on the Spirit before, in October 2019, before the refurbishment. We arrived in Honolulu four days before embarkation, directly off a 35 day b2b2b on the Encore. It's going to be tempting to compare with that ship (and the Bliss, which we spent 37 days on in January and February) but I'll try to resist as they are a very different size and experience. We got to the port around 10.30. Boarding was the usual current process of waiting to have vaccine cards and test results checked, with no separate queue or priority for any level of latitudes membership. Once past that and security, there was a priority lane for latitudes which saved a little time. We were given boarding group A so after a short wait, with entertainment provided by some Hawaiian musicians and dancers, we got on board by 11.30. Lunch was in the Windows main dining room, service was excellent, providing a good first impression. The decor in Windows, and really most of the ship, is however quite bland. The elegant decor and beautiful Asian art of the pre-refurbishment Spirit has been replaced with an inoffensive and boring look similar to a modern budget hotel - lots of mid brown laminates and cream. Our inside cabin was ready by the time we finished, with luggage already delivered. The amount of space to store things in the room seems less than we remember before, it's now as bad as the modern big ships. No elegance or wow factor in the cabins for sure, bland again. There are 1100 passengers on this first leg. Surprising, as there are very few people on the roll call or on another social media group. There wasn't enough interest for a meet and greet, which would be awkward anyway as this cruise has day five as the first sea day. There are four port days in Hawaii, then four sea days, then four port days in French Polynesia. That's enough for an intro! I'll keep the next updates short, as things happen. Questions welcome!