Spirit observations....

[cod]

We arrived back this past Sunday..we had a very good time and thought I'd pass along a few things we liked (opposed to things I disliked because honestly, I can't think of any!)

 

If you drive to NO, consider parking at Fulton Place. Cheaper than the terminal parking (which I understand is no longer IN the terminal but in an adjacent outside lot) and VERY good shuttle service.

 

We arrived at the terminal at about 11:00. No line for the scanners or for check-in and then only a short wait to board. The gang-way layout to get ON (and later off) the ship was still rather long and winding but for the first time in many cruises the entire route was flat for the most-part. No slopes to climb and so I had no problem dragging my suitcase on board!

 

We went right to Windows for lunch..not to the Raffles buffet. I really appreciate that NCL has this option. We packed light this time...one carry-on suitcase plus another small bag each to set on top. Our waiter stuck each of our 'set-up's' in an out-of-the-way corner while we ate but we were told that we could have taken it to our cabin as they were ready. Not being noon yet we did not even consider that as an option!!

 

Our cabin and our steward on deck 9 were both great. Our first item was to check out the bed and it was VERY firm. We both like firm mattresses but this was almost unsleepable! When the cabin steward came by later I asked him if he could put a pad of some kind on it the next day and he said 'no problem'. The foam pad he added the next morning made all the difference. (Tip and a big thank you were in order!) Now would be a good time to mention that the entire crew of this ship are the best we've ever encountered. Hard working and always smiling.

 

The food. We only ate in the included DR's. It was all good to excellent. We have no complaints in this department. Never a wait because we are early diners...I can't speak to those who eat later. My husband loves fish and so he usually ordered that if it was on the menu. His favorite was the blackened red snapper served in like-a gumbo. I usually ordered beef which was all good. If there was a pasta dish among the entrees and we did not see a starter that we liked, we would order it as a starter. On our last night my husband order a risotto dish for a starter and the Mai-Mai for his entree. He said several times while eating the rice that it was absolutely delicious and when he'd downed every morsel he said that it was the best rice he'd had since leaving Italy 50 years ago! He wants the recipe!lol If you read this epistle because you are going on the Spirit, you might give it a try!

 

We had room service each morning..including the last. It arrived on time and with a smile each time. We even got a call each time saying it was on the way and then a knock a minute or two later!! Once again I cannot say enough good things about the service on this ship!

 

This was our 4th Spirit cruise and for the last 3 (2 of which were the repos in 201) the entertainment has not changed much. We'd seen the Magician and the acrobats/dancers before (the latter duo is fabulous) and Element of course is a good show and worth a repeat too. But we'd have loved to see something new. But there was always something to see or do so we've really no complaints.

 

We bought the casino coupons mentioned on this board. Took them to the casino service desk the first day at sea, along with our casino cards from our last cruise, and it only took her only a couple of minutes to load the $50 to each card. Won some but insisted on giving it all back (along with another $20 or so) before cruise end. Had fun doing it though!

 

Getting off the ship (self debarking method) was as fast and easy as boarding.

 

I would be hard put to come up with something I did not like or that I wish were improved on. I read some Spirit reviews and wonder if they were really on the same ship. Yes, I know that some people have different likes and dislikes and might well have an episode where things did not go as expected and thus got a bad impression. This has not been the case for us...I only have kudos for this cruise and ship!

 

I purchased a cruise rewards certicate (again) and my 'plot' as of now is the hold out for the Jewel coming to NO in 'late' 2013. (We're not getting any younger so I hope this plan works!lol) We've been on the Sea (gone), the Sky and the Sun besides the Spirit. I'd like to try another class of ship along with a different itinerary which is not going to be the case for the Star this fall.

 

If you have a question I would be happy to try to answer. Keep in mind though that we are staid seniors and clueless regarding party-type questions. It was 'early to bed' and 'early to rise' for us, kind of like home!

 

One more thing that I've seen mentioned here lately regarding OBC's and if they can be used toward the $12pp DSC. Ours were so I don't understand some of what I've been reading.

[PreciousCruiser]

Thanks for posting. Lots of good things to know and glad they were positive. We will be arriving early and will remember to ask if the cabins are ready. That would be awesome if they were! Did you have a coffee pot in your cabin? Some say they do and some say no. I would like to have coffee in the am on my balcony. However, if no coffee pot, no biggie. I'll just order in or go get some and come back. Thanks...:)

[cod]

Yes, there was a coffee pot. We opted to order coffee and a bun (or 2..or 3) of sorts from room service. I agree that I need/want coffee before facing the world but old habits are hard to break and so we went the room service route instead.

[www3traveler]

We arrived back this past Sunday..we had a very good time and thought I'd pass along a few things we liked (opposed to things I disliked because honestly, I can't think of any!)

 

If you drive to NO, consider parking at Fulton Place. Cheaper than the terminal parking (which I understand is no longer IN the terminal but in an adjacent outside lot) and VERY good shuttle service.

 

We arrived at the terminal at about 11:00. No line for the scanners or for check-in and then only a short wait to board. The gang-way layout to get ON (and later off) the ship was still rather long and winding but for the first time in many cruises the entire route was flat for the most-part. No slopes to climb and so I had no problem dragging my suitcase on board!

 

We went right to Windows for lunch..not to the Raffles buffet. I really appreciate that NCL has this option. We packed light this time...one carry-on suitcase plus another small bag each to set on top. Our waiter stuck each of our 'set-up's' in an out-of-the-way corner while we ate but we were told that we could have taken it to our cabin as they were ready. Not being noon yet we did not even consider that as an option!!

 

Our cabin and our steward on deck 9 were both great. Our first item was to check out the bed and it was VERY firm. We both like firm mattresses but this was almost unsleepable! When the cabin steward came by later I asked him if he could put a pad of some kind on it the next day and he said 'no problem'. The foam pad he added the next morning made all the difference. (Tip and a big thank you were in order!) Now would be a good time to mention that the entire crew of this ship are the best we've ever encountered. Hard working and always smiling.

 

The food. We only ate in the included DR's. It was all good to excellent. We have no complaints in this department. Never a wait because we are early diners...I can't speak to those who eat later. My husband loves fish and so he usually ordered that if it was on the menu. His favorite was the blackened red snapper served in like-a gumbo. I usually ordered beef which was all good. If there was a pasta dish among the entrees and we did not see a starter that we liked, we would order it as a starter. On our last night my husband order a risotto dish for a starter and the Mai-Mai for his entree. He said several times while eating the rice that it was absolutely delicious and when he'd downed every morsel he said that it was the best rice he'd had since leaving Italy 50 years ago! He wants the recipe!lol If you read this epistle because you are going on the Spirit, you might give it a try!

 

We had room service each morning..including the last. It arrived on time and with a smile each time. We even got a call each time saying it was on the way and then a knock a minute or two later!! Once again I cannot say enough good things about the service on this ship!

 

This was our 4th Spirit cruise and for the last 3 (2 of which were the repos in 201) the entertainment has not changed much. We'd seen the Magician and the acrobats/dancers before (the latter duo is fabulous) and Element of course is a good show and worth a repeat too. But we'd have loved to see something new. But there was always something to see or do so we've really no complaints.

 

We bought the casino coupons mentioned on this board. Took them to the casino service desk the first day at sea, along with our casino cards from our last cruise, and it only took her only a couple of minutes to load the $50 to each card. Won some but insisted on giving it all back (along with another $20 or so) before cruise end. Had fun doing it though!

 

Getting off the ship (self debarking method) was as fast and easy as boarding.

 

I would be hard put to come up with something I did not like or that I wish were improved on. I read some Spirit reviews and wonder if they were really on the same ship. Yes, I know that some people have different likes and dislikes and might well have an episode where things did not go as expected and thus got a bad impression. This has not been the case for us...I only have kudos for this cruise and ship!

 

I purchased a cruise rewards certicate (again) and my 'plot' as of now is the hold out for the Jewel coming to NO in 'late' 2013. (We're not getting any younger so I hope this plan works!lol) We've been on the Sea (gone), the Sky and the Sun besides the Spirit. I'd like to try another class of ship along with a different itinerary which is not going to be the case for the Star this fall.

 

If you have a question I would be happy to try to answer. Keep in mind though that we are staid seniors and clueless regarding party-type questions. It was 'early to bed' and 'early to rise' for us, kind of like home!

 

One more thing that I've seen mentioned here lately regarding OBC's and if they can be used toward the $12pp DSC. Ours were so I don't understand some of what I've been reading.

Cod, I am glad that you enjoyed the cruise. So did I, but I always do. It looks like my next cruise will be on The Star sooner than later, if everything can be arranged. The staff from Captain Lars on down were terrific.

[oreoandboots]

Hi, thanks for the review. What are the casino coupons?

[cod]

Hi Babs, Glad you enjoyed your cruise too! Have fun on the others you have coming up soon! (Lucky)

 

Oreoandboots, if you go to slotplaycoupons.com, then - under offers - click on Norwegian Cruiseline and then pick your ship, you can purchase $50 worth of slot play for $25. It will explain everything and is a very good deal if you plan on playing the slots on your cruise Good luck!

[jdvmd]

Thanks for your great review!

[oreoandboots]

Thank you so much!

[cod]

I meant to mention a little about the ports. For those who are going on tours my take won't help much but here goes.

 

Costa Maya..the port I thought was the worst. We were looking for some water, cokes and t-shirts for the grand kids. (The bottle of water in the cabin that we could have purchased was Pellegrino mineral water which is okay but not what we wanted to down our meds with...I guess the water offered is in anticipation of the Spirit going abroad!). What we found in Costa Maya was $4 and $6 bottles of water, no cokes sold where the water was and $3 cans of cokes from a vendor. Their $10 t-shirts were not what we had in mind either. So back to the ship we went, empty handed.

 

Belize City was next. I've heard so many people say 'just stay on board' but we liked that port for just looking around and for buying what we needed. PLUS the tender boats were large, smooth riding boats...no ships lifeboats this time..thank goodness!! So the ride to shore and back was rather pleasant. The same water was $2 and the bigger individual bottles of coke were $2 too. T-shirt were still a little high.

 

Roatan was a walk off and another good 'walk around the port area'. I think we got another water and a couple of cokes..fairly priced there too.

 

Cozumel is definitely where you want to buy your t-shirts. The first shop after you go upstairs has a huge selection of them for 5 for $20. Other stores were a little higher and perhaps a better quality(?)..not sure.

 

Now I've passed along EVERYTHING I know! Yet I have to add JMHO too!