Tips and Views on Norwegian Spirit from those who have cruised Eastern Med recently

[missskybird]

We have just booked our first NCL cruise on the Spirit visiting the Adriatic including Venice, Malta and Corfu May 2018.

I am now a little apprehensive particularly after reading many less than glowing reviews about the condition of the ship.

 

We have previously sailed with Celebrity in their Suites (but they are now ridiculously priced) and have booked a Penthouse Suite for this cruise. Any views on the condition of their Suites would be very much appreciated.

 

I would also love to hear from anyone who has cruised these ports Dubrovnik, Koper, Split, Corfu and Malta as we have previously cruised Italy and Greek Isles.

 

Thank you :)

[dexddd]

Last time we were on Spirit was late 2015 in a suite. We also toured one of the PH forward on 10. The rooms were overall in good condition and nothing to complain about. The other rooms are kind of dated though. Ship, for being the oldest in the NCL fleet, still looked great in the public areas.

 

Doesn't appear they did much in the drydock earlier this year as far as rooms but not much has been posted.

[9tee2Sea]

just returned from NCL Spirt. YOU WILL LOVE SPLIT!!!!. The old town is a manageable walk from the dock. Lots of local foods, artists selling art work ( bought a couple of small water colors), and I did not see a starbucks anywhere. Took a tour off ship and it took us to the Waterfalls ( 1 hour out of Split and amazing) , the town of Trogir ( nice, but an hour there is long enough). The weather was nice, but I hear during the summer it can get hot. I found the food in Le Bistro and Cagneys on the bland side ( not enough seasonings). If you sail from Venice, make sure you tay on your balcony , the views are just amazing

[missskybird]

just returned from NCL Spirt. YOU WILL LOVE SPLIT!!!!. The old town is a manageable walk from the dock. Lots of local foods, artists selling art work ( bought a couple of small water colors), and I did not see a starbucks anywhere. Took a tour off ship and it took us to the Waterfalls ( 1 hour out of Split and amazing) , the town of Trogir ( nice, but an hour there is long enough). The weather was nice, but I hear during the summer it can get hot. I found the food in Le Bistro and Cagneys on the bland side ( not enough seasonings). If you sail from Venice, make sure you tay on your balcony , the views are just amazing

 

Thank you! Yes we have an overnight in Venice and I am really looking forward to sailing both in and out, it is such an amazing city. Can I just ask what you thought of the ship overall, public areas, restaurants and service?

[jodieh12]

I love the spirit she's my favourite ship! For me she's the cleanest and best maintained, I saw no sign of age in august

 

 

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[Jldevlin]

We love ...love the Spirit .... just big enough ... and just small enough ...We would sail on her again in a heart beat .. enjoy your cruise you have some great ports

[9tee2Sea]

My only complaints about the ship was that all the chairs needed to be replaced. Due to all the usage, they were hard to sit on and not very comfortable. I also found the windows were very dirty which would sometimes make picture taking very difficult. The staff is great and very attentive, but the food is on the bland side ( I come from California...we like spice). Enjoy your cruise.

[fabnfortysomething]

we have sailed on the Spirit twice-last time 2016 and really like the ship

It is very pretty and although some furnishings were a bit worn nothing too drastic

We have visited all those ports except Malta on Spirit and Jade

links to my reviews are at bottom of my post

[CruiseMGM]

We have just booked our first NCL cruise on the Spirit visiting the Adriatic including Venice, Malta and Corfu May 2018.

I am now a little apprehensive particularly after reading many less than glowing reviews about the condition of the ship.

 

<snip> :)

 

I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about the suites, but we're just recently back from a Barcelona-to-Venice cruise on the Spirit, and we were in a balcony cabin on deck 9, aft, with my mother in law in the connecting cabin next to us. This was our first cruise on the Spirit, but our third NCL cruise overall. We've mainly cruised on HAL.

 

We LOVED the Spirit. What a beautiful ship! The main dining rooms were very nice, the library was sufficient to keep my mother in law entertained, the showroom was good, the specialty restaurants were good. We loved the decorations, with the "foo dogs/lions" and the terra cotta warriors, the stunning atrium, just everything about her. Our balcony rooms had sufficient space for us, the balconies were a little small but sufficient to sit on and enjoy the views. We would sail on the Spirit again in a heartbeat!

 

Best wishes! Enjoy your cruise!

[BrianC-80]

Just got off the Spirit last weekend. Oh god it's been a week already. I need another holiday. What was I saying? Oh yeah, the Spirit - I've been on four Norwegian ships now, and the Spirit is probably my new favourite.

 

While there was no significant dry dock, they are making improvements to the ship. For example, our balcony cabin had a new carpet installed right before we boarded (we could smell the newness of it for a few days, and frankly they did a bit of a dodgy job with some carpet glue up a wall near my side of the bed). Not sure if they've made any changes to the general areas though.

 

The food was great in the speciality restaurants, and the same as normal in the MDRs. One thing to note is that they're using the slightly older menus. No lobster, but no upcharging for it in the MDR and some of the older dishes still being on the speciality menus. That was a delight, as I missed the lamb from Le Bistro last year, so I was pleased to be able to get it one last time. There's also a Blue Lagoon and a pub, having never had them replaced with an O'Sheehans. Blue Lagoon is a somewhat odd space, as it's relatively tiny, and a walk through area as well. But they served hand cut chips/fries, which I thought were the best on the ship.

 

There was only two downsides - the reservations in the MDR means that you pretty much always have a wait if you're turning up any time after 6. Ironically, the one time we made a MDR reservation, we missed it having been delayed coming back from an excursion (we overnighted in Haifa). The other issue was simply the level of peeling paint on the hull and promenade.

 

Staff were exceptional. We kinda felt ignored on the Epic apart from the terrific cruise director. It was the reverse on the Spirit - only the cruise director was a bit sub par. Perhaps it was simply because of Fernando, the deputy director, since he was so larger than life that he overshadowed the actual CD. Not that the CD was bad, just a little subdued.

 

But all in all, just take the Spirit to have the chance to sail on NCL circa 2012, and you'll have a great time. Already looking at the Spirit for our next NCL cruise next year.

[missskybird]

We love ...love the Spirit .... just big enough ... and just small enough ...We would sail on her again in a heart beat .. enjoy your cruise you have some great ports

 

I appreciate the feedback, it is always difficult to try a new cruise line...you have made me feel pleased with the choice :)

[missskybird]

I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about the suites, but we're just recently back from a Barcelona-to-Venice cruise on the Spirit, and we were in a balcony cabin on deck 9, aft, with my mother in law in the connecting cabin next to us. This was our first cruise on the Spirit, but our third NCL cruise overall. We've mainly cruised on HAL.

 

We LOVED the Spirit. What a beautiful ship! The main dining rooms were very nice, the library was sufficient to keep my mother in law entertained, the showroom was good, the specialty restaurants were good. We loved the decorations, with the "foo dogs/lions" and the terra cotta warriors, the stunning atrium, just everything about her. Our balcony rooms had sufficient space for us, the balconies were a little small but sufficient to sit on and enjoy the views. We would sail on the Spirit again in a heartbeat!

 

Best wishes! Enjoy your cruise!

 

That's wonderful news..we are very excited about the itinerary, especially sailing in and out of Venice!

[missskybird]

Just got off the Spirit last weekend. Oh god it's been a week already. I need another holiday. What was I saying? Oh yeah, the Spirit - I've been on four Norwegian ships now, and the Spirit is probably my new favourite.

 

While there was no significant dry dock, they are making improvements to the ship. For example, our balcony cabin had a new carpet installed right before we boarded (we could smell the newness of it for a few days, and frankly they did a bit of a dodgy job with some carpet glue up a wall near my side of the bed). Not sure if they've made any changes to the general areas though.

 

The food was great in the speciality restaurants, and the same as normal in the MDRs. One thing to note is that they're using the slightly older menus. No lobster, but no upcharging for it in the MDR and some of the older dishes still being on the speciality menus. That was a delight, as I missed the lamb from Le Bistro last year, so I was pleased to be able to get it one last time. There's also a Blue Lagoon and a pub, having never had them replaced with an O'Sheehans. Blue Lagoon is a somewhat odd space, as it's relatively tiny, and a walk through area as well. But they served hand cut chips/fries, which I thought were the best on the ship.

 

There was only two downsides - the reservations in the MDR means that you pretty much always have a wait if you're turning up any time after 6. Ironically, the one time we made a MDR reservation, we missed it having been delayed coming back from an excursion (we overnighted in Haifa). The other issue was simply the level of peeling paint on the hull and promenade.

 

Staff were exceptional. We kinda felt ignored on the Epic apart from the terrific cruise director. It was the reverse on the Spirit - only the cruise director was a bit sub par. Perhaps it was simply because of Fernando, the deputy director, since he was so larger than life that he overshadowed the actual CD. Not that the CD was bad, just a little subdued.

 

But all in all, just take the Spirit to have the chance to sail on NCL circa 2012, and you'll have a great time. Already looking at the Spirit for our next NCL cruise next year.

 

They do seem to offer a lot more variety with their itineraries, especially for the Adriatic, just a shame they go to Koper rather than Kotor but regardless we are blessed to have the experience. Thank you for your response, I appreciate you taking the time :)

[Iggy68]

This sounds great. I'm cruising for the first time in July this year. Looking forward to the Spirit and this itinerary!

[lachelli]

 

I really hope that this is the same Fernando that used to work on the Epic back in 2015. Do you recall if he is a young Spanish guy in his mid 30's, slim build and very colorful

 

My family adored him, especially my children, he always had time for them and there was something really genuine and sincere about him. Such warm and welcoming person that was always happy and smiling.

 

We are due to sail in the Spirit in October so I am really hoping its the same guy and that he will still be on board for that cruise

[crowne]

That's wonderful news..we are very excited about the itinerary, especially sailing in and out of Venice!

 

 

Yes, that is good news, I'm sailing on Spirit June 29th for the Eastern Mediterranean, my 1st cruise, can't wait!

[irvington]

This has gotten me more excited for our June 18th cruise!

[missskybird]

We love ...love the Spirit .... just big enough ... and just small enough ...We would sail on her again in a heart beat .. enjoy your cruise you have some great ports

 

Thank you that's great to hear!

[missskybird]

This has gotten me more excited for our June 18th cruise!

 

I think the countdown can be just as exciting as the cruise itself! I love the whole shore excursion planning experience and doing the research ;)