several questions about Spirit sailing

[erpa]

Hello everyone, this is my first time using the CC forum and I have just spent several hours reading all seven pages of NCL forum threads about the Spirit. I'm sailing with my husband on 11/19 for 11-day cruise out of NYC to Dominica, Tortola, Barbados, St. Thomas, Grenada, and Antigua. Even though all of your postings were extremely informative and helpful, I still have many questions! Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

1. The first two days are sea days (actually my favorite, based on past cruises). We are leaving NYC at 4pm. At what point during the next two days can we expect to be in "pool/warm-enough-to-sunbathe" weather? We are hoping that when we awaken on the first day we'll be southward enough to jump in the pool, but can't really tell from the itinerary map.

2. Is it possible to make reservations for the dining rooms before the cruise? We did not go through a travel agent, but booked directly with NCL. We are latitudes members (but have only been on one NCL cruise before so don't know all the perks of latitudes) - does this help with making reservations?

3. I'm not exactly clear about this half-price thing in specialty restaurants - could someone clarify?

4. I made note of the recommendations for tour guides on Tortola and St. Thomas - anyone have recommendations for guides on the other islands mentioned above?

5. How rough are the seas in November going out of NYC?

6. We are avid poker players - we heard there is a poker table in the Spirit casino - true? Does anyone know what they play at this table?

7. Has anyone been on this exact cruise before and can they tell me what night lobster night is?

8. anyone stayed on aft deck 10 with balcony - how are the cabins?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions as it's only July...I would be truly grateful for any answers! Happy sailing...

[Ginamarie]

OK, we cruised on the Spirit at the same time last year, so I can help with some of these answers.

 

1. The weather probably won't be warm enough for the pool until the second sea day. Since you leave at night, the first sea day is spend along the middle of the US coast, and during November, it's not pool weather yet.

 

2. You can't make reservations until you get onboard. If you know where you want to eat, do it as soon as you get onboard.

 

3. Some night they will offer half price in the specialty restaurants if you dine before 6 pm. They didn't offer this on our Sprit cruise, but people have cruised more recently and seen it offered.

 

4. Don't know.

 

5. The seas vary. We had rough seas some days, nice smooth seas other days.

 

6. They did not have a steady poker table, but had tornaments a few times.

 

Good luck.. I'm sure you'll have a great time sailing on the Spirit!