Just off the Spirit

just off the Spirit Mediterranean cruise...a few notes. I am a solo traveler, female..mid 50s. I do not participate in solo events, so I don't know much about those. I have been on 15 cruises as a passenger, and I was a Carnival Casino Crew member in the mid 80s. I have cruised mostly on NCL and Carnival.

Ship: Older, but good condition. Inside cabin, deck 10, plenty of storage and room for one person, would be a bit cramped for 3. Nice cabin, no complaints.

Technology: very behind the times. I was on Getaway in 2016, and a big differance here. No account info on tv, must go to guest services for anything. Internet, ridiculously expensive. Worked well. Carnival has NCL beat in this department. I only use wifi for communicating with home. Paid $125 for 250 minutes...last year in Carnival $35 for unlimited social network (Facebook, messenging etc.) NCL needs to work on this...this could be a deal breaker for me.

Activities, Night life - I am not young, I don't drink.. but this was the most boring cruise activities wise I have been on. It was very port intensive, which is why I chose it. However, Funchal port stop was cancelled due to winds. This left 4 out of 10 sea days...virtually nothing to do. Anything they did have was extra $$. Which I have don't agree with. The Getaway, was much better in this area, of course it is a much bigger ship. This ship virtually closed up by 7pm. No pool deck activities, bar closed, lights out and chairs put away by 7:30 pm every night. It was cooler and some days wet weather, but nothing was scheduled that didn't happen. The casino was open, although very small and only a few tables. After 11:30, other than casino, may have had an hour or so more entertainment anywhere else.

Entertainment: Excellant. The shows were some of the best I've seen on a ship. No comedians though. NCL has Best entertainment, in my opinion.

Food: Meh. The Windows and garden rooms food were pretty good, although I can't think of anything phenomenal. Excellent service as well. Buffet was horrible, barely edible. Very crowded during port days as no other food venue was open for lunch. So crowded that If you left your table to get more coffee or dessert...your table would be cleaned and taken over by another passenger imediately. This happened to me several times. The Chinese fusion included resteraunt was horrible, cold, under cooked or over cooked, not edible. Did not go to any pay venue resteraunt said this time. I though it was reasonable when they had a set price..but the new ala cart menus are ridiculous. The main dining venues were good, stick to them and you won't go hungry. Make sure your not hungry after 11:30 pm...buffet completely closed. One venue, blue lagoon open 24 hours. Went there twice and could not get anyone to help me, completely ignored .... heard this from several people.

Room Service- morning continental breakfast great. On time and fresh. Anything else ordered is now $7.95, the whole menu. Didn't order anything else. Last time on getaway, a few items like pizza were $5, but this is completely differant.

Service- exemplary in every department. Some of the best I've experienced

Ports - Casablanca was changed to Tangier (supposedly due to weather, but they announced it 5days in advance) I think there is something else going on with Casblanca. However, Tangier was awesome. Loved it. I did NCL excursions in every port

Las Palmas - loved it and the excursion.

Tenerife - volcano visit canceled, pouring rain whole day. Dissapointed, just drove around the city on a bus.

Funchal - cancelled

Malaga - loved it .. cold and rain all day though

Alicante - loved the city, really nice...poured all day

Barcelona- disembark tour of Monserrat, awesome.

The positives outweighed the negatives, I loved the ports, the service, entertainment, cabin, food in mdr. Had a wonderful time. Just wanted to share my experiences and I don't know if it's because it's Europe or an older ship, but some what dissapointed in NCL. Will I book with them again..yes probably... but will do more comparison shopping.

Also wanted to add, because someone asked me to check, there is no lobster offered anywhere except pay venue (Cagneys). Did have it one night on Getaway and could purchase on Carnival in MDR. None offered on Spirit.

Also, embarkation and debarkation were a breeze. No customs.

Thank you for the review!

Thank you for a thorough and balanced review.

Keith

Thanks for the review as we will be on her in 2 weeks. I hope the weather improves.

How early could you disembark in Barcelona?

Thanks for the informative review :-)

They started disembarking at about 6:30 am for walk off. Very quick. Less than ten minutes for me from leaving ship, getting luggage and getting on the bus for tour.

Thanks for the review. Sailing in her in April, and avidly reading reviews.

Is Blue Lagoon as cramped as it looks (although sounds like the service isn't good anyway)?

Bue lagoon, seats about 15 at the most, and they will not let you take food out of there, Big signs everywhere. They want you to pay $7.99 for room service and there is nothing else open after 11.

Bue lagoon, seats about 15 at the most, and they will not let you take food out of there, Big signs everywhere. They want you to pay $7.99 for room service and there is nothing else open after 11.

Thanks for the information. Doesn't sound like it will be as good as on the other ships.

Blue Lagoon is certainly small, but I have to say that we have always been able to get seated when we want.

On occasion I have seen the bar next to it used as an overspill. We have also been offered food when we have been sitting at that bar.

Thank you for your comments!

I was on the Spirit last April and found the food very good in all venues. I can understand your frustration about leaving your table and having it cleaned and occupied, thought. Maybe you should take small printed cards announcing that you aren't done yet?

I once put my bag and hat on a table on HAL in their buffet, then went to get my breakfast. Some old geezer insisted the cleaner remove my stuff so he and his wife could sit there, but she left my hat, and she argued with him, too. Some people you just can't stop.

We did not go to any of the shows last April, since ours was also port intensive, but I'm not big on nightly entertainment, anyway.

We also found the crew and the service to be amazing.

I have been home a week now from the Spirit Canary Is cruise. Unfortunately the weather was pretty chilly, windy or rainy in most ports. Except Tangier or Malaga.

I was solo on this trip and met up with other solos every night in the Galaxy lounge at 7pm. We were all nearly over 55 + This group varied in size from 8-12 for dinner. We had a great time as people came and went in the group. Some had reservations in the alternative restaurants some nights. We alternated from Windows to the Garden restaurant.

There were some good movies in the main theatre some afternoons.

The entertainment was good, esp. Elements and the major song and dance shows. There were three tenors, a female violinist, magician, hypnotist etc. And some game shows, marriage show, lots of dance classes and times for dancing.

I really liked this ship as it is not one of the giant ones. Comfortable, traditional decor like ships in past. Always seemed to be something going on.

Love going to buffet for the crepes after dinner. Lots of good snacking up there around 10 or 11pm.

I didn't eat at blue lagoon but the wings and things looked good. Stopped often to pick up a coffee or tea to take away. It is a long narrow area but does have a seating section in a corner too and overflow did sit in the bar next to it.

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