NCL Spirit vs Sun (vs. Jewel class ships)

[European_CruiseGirl]

We are deciding which Mediterranean cruise to take: Jade or Spirit. We have sailed Jade already 5+ times and really like her. We love the layout, the big Garden Café with hugh selections etc. The only negative for us is that there is no larger kids pool area such as for example the Dawn has.

 

We really also like the itinerary (12days) of the Spirit so would like to try that. The kids pool area seems awesome! However I notice the Spirit is a smaller ship and while I cannot say we had a bad cruise aboard the Sun a couple of years ago we definitely won't sail her again. I do not like mega ships but I suppose the Jewel class ships are just the right size for me. On the Sun everything just seemed so small. The show room, pool area, I cannot put my finger on it. It just felt small. And as the variety in Garden Café is a big deal for us the Sun just lacked there big time compared to Jade, Pearl, Gem etc. I suppose it's a question of space really. You cannot have the same kind of extensive variety available as the jewel class ships have if the size of the Garden Café is much smaller. Mind you we usually have lunch there so I'm talking about lunch selections mainly.

 

So looking for any people who have cruised both Sun and Spirit to give me a comparison about those two ships. Or looking for general comments from anyone who has sailed the Spirit and Jewel class ships (how small did the Spirit feel compared to a Jewel class ship, variety in Garden Café, overall ambiance etc).

 

We are considering between an October 12 day Spirit cruise vs. a November 10 day Jade cruise. We would be staying in two connecting balcony cabins on each ship. Really would like to give the Spirit a try (weather reasons also) but because we just simply did not enjoy the Sun feel very hesitant of trying the Spirit.

Edited April 19, 2014 by European_CruiseGirl

[SteveH2508]

We have sailed both the Jade and the Spirit. I cannot say that the Spirit felt any smaller than the Jade but it is different. The back area by the kids pool is awesome. We were not so keen on the Blue Lagoon arrangement where people are always walking through (similar situation with half of Henry's Pub). Love the atrium and the bar on the Spirit but also like Bar City on the Jade.

 

The promenade deck on the Spirit is nicer - wider and with tables and chairs (almost a mini Waterfront a la Breakaway/Getaway).

 

The Spirit cigar lounge is a bit out of the way for us - Jade's is much more central. The forward observation lounge on the Spirit blows away the one on the Jade.

 

Preferred the Jade casino (kinder slots).

 

Spirit has no Moderno.

 

Spirit cabin seemed slightly smaller (BA balcony) than the Jade.

 

Spirit seems slightly less 'plastic' than the Jade but that is no biggy (it is much older after all).

 

With the Spirit 12 day itinerary you will be ashore most of the time (1 sea day IIRC) so I doubt the differences will matter too much.

 

Cannot comment on the spas. We don't do pools (human soup is not our thing!) so cannot really comment on them either.

 

We found the smaller MDR nicer on the Spirit - the Jade (Azura MDR) was a bit low ceilinged and the chairs not so comfortable in our opinion.

 

We don't use the buffets that much but the Spirit seemed to have a reasonable selection (but no proper bacon that we could find - only that cremated streaky stuff:mad:) I think the Jade buffet might have had a bit more variety but not noticeably so.

[TrumpyNor]

We have also sailed both the Spirit (twice) and the Sun (three times) - and they are similar in size all though the design on the Spirit is very different. Personally I prefer the Sun over the Spirit, because of the layout of the ship (public areas, restaurants, etc.). So if you found the Sun too small, then I unfortunately believe that you will not think anything different regarding the Spirit.

 

Personally I would choose the Jade over both the Sun and the Spirit anytime, just because I personally really prefer the overall layout and design on Jewel class ships. But on the other hand, if you have been on the Jade 5 times already, then it might be nice with a "new" itinerary.... Many love the Spirit because she is a very different ship from the rest of the NCL fleet, but since I get the feeling size is important for you I would go for the Jade.

 

So yo have a "hard" decision to make...

Edited April 19, 2014 by TrumpyNOR

[newmexicoNita]

I have cruised the Sun 3 times, Spirit twice and the jewel class ships 4 times: I love the Sun, but more for personal reasons. The biggest downer for the Spirit is the size of the cabins, they are really small. The décor on the Spirit is awesome, she is truly a beauty from the past. No, not the bells and whistles, but is just a pretty ship with a really friendly crew: what NCL ship doesn't have a friendly crew? The kids pool area is small but really a fun place for the younger ones. Our great granddaughter loved both the kids club and the pool area.

[Sauer-kraut]

When doing a European cruise its all about the ports and less about the ship. I would say do the 12 day cruise, you'll be so busy sightseeing that 'down time' on the ship is really minor. In fact, most travellers have to schedule a day to just take it easy as one can get too caught up in trying to 'see it all'.