March 7th Spirit sailing

[amistad]

This isn't really a review, but more or less just some of my thought's on the cruise. We took this same cruise last April and liked it so much we did it again. We were 2 adults in an AC, 2 adults and a 3 yr. old in a BB balcony, and 2 adults in an inside (one of the larger one"s). Our ages ranged from 58, 48, 48,47,34, 26,and 3. We flew in the day before and we had rooms at the Sheraton on Canal for 59.00 thru a bidding service. That day we walked around Burbon Street and that evening we watched the parade. The next morning we went to the pier and boarded and had no problems. The concierge did tell us the Cagney's breakfast and lunch were for the AC suite only and we had already expected that. That afternoon during sailaway it was kind of cool so we unpacked the got ready for dinner in the Garden MDR. No wait for a table, but it did take almost 2 hours to eat the three courses. That night we went to the casino and had some luck and then some of us went to the show some wandered and some danced. The next day was a day at sea, we ate breakfast at Cagney's,and our friends ate at the buffet, all at different times. The weather was windy and cool so we used the golf cages, read, bingo, ect. That evening we went to the Garden again and still 2 hours for three courses, dessert seemed to be the hold up. Casino, show's and dancing, everyone enjoyed themselves. I did tell my DD to see if they could get in at Le Bistro, it showed no wait and I watched the 3 yr. old while they had a wonderful meal.

[amistad]

I am splitting this up, because yesterday I tried to post and I got a virus on my computer as soon as I clicked submit.

[amistad]

The next day was our first stop, Costa Maya. We all ate in the buffet and got off the ship, caught the bus and went to Mahahual for massages, drinks food and beach play. This was a great day. That afternoon we all went back to the ship and took naps (I miss my nap). Dinner this time in Cagney's for 4 of us, Filet Mignon, Prime Rib, Salmon Oscar, and Rib Eye, service and food very good, in and out in less then 1 hour and 30 mins. That night we went to the casino and everyone went to do whatever. The next day was Santo Tomas and last year this was our most dissappointing stop, so this year we tried to plan better. Turix Activo took us to Green Bay Resort for the day 20.00 and to the waterfalls if you wanted for another 20.00. This is a great place to go if you are traveling with a child. Nice facility, clean, large pool and a shallow pool with a slide. That evening we went back to the ship and went to dinner at Le Bistro, I had the lobster and DH had the Filet and it was even better then Cagney's in our opinion. Casino, show's, and arcade for the 3 yr. old, another great day.

[amistad]

The next morning we arrived in Belize City, we have been there a few times so this time we booked the Beach Break just so we would tender from the ship directly to our excursion. The beach itself is just ok, it does include, floats, rum punch and regular punch, kayaks a water trampoline and chairs. The sand is nowhere like the nice beaches you are used to when cruising, but it was fine for the day and the playground area they describe is 2 wooden swings and a teter totter made of wood. They do have facials for 20.00 and massages for 1.00 per minute. The day there ends at 2:00 Belize time so the tender picks you up and takes you back to the ship. That evening we decided Le Bistro was so good we went again and it did not dissappoint us service and food really good. I did not mention we never needed reservations which was nice we could just decide each night what we were hungry for.

[amistad]

Our last port was Cozumel and we had made a reservation at Nachi Cocum and I was really glad we did, there were 600 Vanderbilt students on our ship and the Voyager of the Seas, The Freedom of the Seas, the Carnival Freedom were all in port too. I was told the high number of college students this year was because of all the crime in Mexico this year had kids making other plans. The taxi driver told us the day before 6 students got left behind on the island. The day at Nachis was as to be expected, good food and all you can drink, they have good service and clean facilities, massages are 75.00 for 1 hour. That night we ate in the Blue Lagoon, we were all tired and decided to try the oysters in the half shell, crab legs and shrimp cocktail along with some of the old favorites they offer. The servers were very friendly, courteous and quick. I had read recently that people have been treated rudely there, we were great promptly andthey were so good to our Grandson I cannot say enough. This was the night of Elements if I remember correctly and it was a good show. Like alway's we hit the casino, it seemed tight on some night's and good on others. I did see one passenger win 40,000.00 on a high limits slot, but she did play alot and alway's at least on the 25.00 machines. I hated going to bed that night knowing we were almost to the end of the trip.

[amistad]

Well we had a time change on the last night so we slept in a little, used the workout facility, ate in Cagney's for the last morning and had a relaxing day at sea. I packed that afternoon and the ship was really rocking and rolling. The wind was blowing hard and it was cool again, darn. That night we ate at La Tratorria and it was very good for the 10.00 fee. We did not dress in shorts for dinner, but they were allowed there and in the Garden MDR and in Cagney's. I would not have been comfortable in shorts, I get cold to easy, but I did want to mention it for those that do. After dinner we did the usual and gambled awhile, and put our luggage out. The disembarkation was normal, they called the tag colors about an hour and a half later the they were for, but we were staying in NO for an extra day so no problem. That day we checked in at the JW Marriott also bid 59.00, dropped off our luggage and took the streetcar to the Audobon Zoo, they were having Jazz Fest and it was great. We really enjoyed our day there, so much to see and do. That evening we went to Harrah's and won a little and lost a little and ate at the buffet, they had crab claws, crab legs, prime rib, turkey, crawfish etoufe, ect. The next morning off to the airport and back to reallity. The cruise was good, the only little things we noticed were that the staff was way overworked with the college kids, they had a 400.00 unlimited alchohol package and they were definately using it. The AC suite we were in needs some repairs, nothing that mattered alot to us, but might to some, the last day the Butler was taking maintenance around and making a list. We were suprised that each and everyday we all recieved snacks, and we got several invitations to different things (we did not go), but a nice thought anyway. The coffee machine in the suite is very easy to use and the fresh fruit was much nicer the the fruit Princess provides. I liked the fact you could order food in the suite, but the table is really pretty small. The Butler and Concierge were both very available and offered their service every time we saw them, and they even called to see if everything was ok or if we needed anything. I would say all in all this was a great cruise, and the college kids kept things interesting (walking down the hall way in their underwear)LOL. I was told the next cruise would be 90% college student's and I can't wait to read the reviews for that one. NCL did have plenty of security so they seemed to be prepared. Thanks to everyone on here for good info, TERRY, NITA, and GARYCARLA are alway's a good source for planning a cruise on NCL.

[amistad]

I'm sorry I jumped around and my spelling and punctuation were not the best, but I tried to post yesterday and a bad virus hit my computer when I hit submit, so when I read the thread about not staying on too long at one time I decided to split this up. I hope it will be a little helpful to some that are planning to cruise the spirit and I would be glad to answer questions if I can.

[garycarla]

A real nice review. Thank you for the comment about our input to your trip. We are taking this same cruise in two weeks, again.

 

Just to clarify to others, in your comment below, you were saying, that in YOUR group, only the AC got to use Cagneys. But, other folks in other full suites also got to use Cagneys for breakfast and lunch.

 

Important clarification for those in suites, and to those with second non suite cabins in their party. Hot thread about that elsewhere.

 

Again, thanks for your mini review. We are adjusting our plans based on our input.

 

...We were 2 adults in an AC, 2 adults and a 3 yr. old in a BB balcony, and 2 adults in an inside... The concierge did tell us the Cagney's breakfast and lunch were for the AC suite only ....

[amistad]

You are correct, the full suites can use Cagney's for breakfast and lunch, we were told at check in that only those registered to that cabin could go. I did notice there were only two other tables being used most of the time when we ate breakfast, the service was very good in the mornings and the Concierge was there except when she was escorting people off in Belize for early tenders. I would have liked to try lunch there, but we were busy on port day's and we did Tappenyaki the last sea day for lunch, because it was full for dinner each night. I meant what I said about how helpful you are on here, I learned alot about the CAS program from all of you, even though we have cruised many times this was only our second time with NCL. I was glad we tried more of the specialty restaurants this trip, much quicker and better service and food. I am not complaining about the MDR food, but the staff was overwhelmed this time with the College kids so it just worked better for us.