 Expert Review |  | | | | |
| | | | | Overview
Norwegian Spirit, which divides its time offering Caribbean cruises from New Orleans and Canada cruises from Quebec and Boston, offers much of what cruisers have come to expect from NCL: a wide range of restaurants -- a whopping 11 of them covering almost every genre -- state-of-the-art kids' facilities, and numerous bars and lounges. A fall 2008 refurbishment, which saw the addition of eight new cabins, new wallpaper, upholstery, carpeting and tiling throughout, and the replacement of one engine, has the ship newly restored and earning high marks from cruisers. And the introduction of Freestyle 2.0, NCL's new fleetwide service, dining and cabin initiative, has provided a boost in class onboard. Touches range from little gestures, such as a "bubbly" welcome or on-deck Evian spritz, to new programs, such as the introduction of NCL-U "education" courses (beer tasting, digital photography classes) to the more indulgent addition of pillow menus to suites. Built in 1998, Norwegian Spirit began as the Malaysian-based Star Cruises' SuperStar Leo. Interestingly enough, when the ship was transferred to NCL in 2004, many of the Asian influences were left untouched, such as Chinese decor throughout and a specially designed room for mah-jongg. And thankfully, even after this most recent dry-dock, the lovely Oriental theme remains. Asian artwork adorns the walls in public areas and suites, and public spaces are toned down in color compared to other NCL vessels (no bright neon as on Norwegian Jewel and Dawn), making the atmosphere feel a bit more upscale and setting the ship apart from others in the fleet. It is after all, to North American cruisers at least, one of kind. Spirit's one sister ship, SuperStar Virgo, cruises the Far East with an Asian passenger base. | | |  top | | | | Dining
There are two main dining rooms onboard Norwegian Spirit: the Garden Room and Windows. Windows is our top pick and is actually one of the most breathtaking spots on the ship, sitting at the aft end of Deck 6. Dark woods, brocaded chairs and hushed candlelit elegance are framed by gigantic Palladian windows looking over the stern. This room is a classic, and could easily have been found on the famous ocean liners of bygone eras. NCL's "Freestyle Cruising" concept allows passengers to choose when and with whom to dine -- for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But that's not all. NCL's "Freestyle Cruising" means choices beyond the traditional dining rooms. One of our favorites is Cagney's Steakhouse, on Deck 7 behind the Grand Centrum, which levies a $20 per-person fee. The eatery offers entrees ranging from grilled salmon to steaks and chops to whole lobsters; the presentation is attractive, the servers solicitous and the meals nicely prepared. Le Bistro, NCL's French restaurant (surcharge $15), is located forward on Deck 7. Menu items range from appetizers of escargot in garlic butter to Spirit's version of "surf and turf," which includes four small half-tails of lobster, filet mignon, three sauces and a choice of vegetables. A generous portion of salads is offered, including a Caesar complete with anchovies, and a lovely spinach salad with pine nuts and goat cheese. The Bistro's most popular dessert, chocolate fondue, is simply divine: Chunks of fresh fruit are served in a pineapple "boat" and a pot of warmed chocolate is placed on the table for dipping. That item alone is worth the Bistro's surcharge. The Thai/Japanese/Chinese Shogun ($15) serves Asian-fusion dishes such as chicken in green curry, sweet and sour pork, and teriyaki salmon. Not only are the dishes fresh and delicious, but they are also visual works of art. This area is also gorgeous, benefiting greatly from the Asian design influences. The complex also includes a Teppanyaki room ($25) and sushi bar ($15), as well as a Tatami Room where guests sit on the floor for a traditional Japanese dining experience (it accommodates eight, so make reservations early). The Lido buffet, Raffles Cafe, is the least impressive of Spirit's dining areas. While the food itself is hot and ample, the space is a bit problematic; Raffles features a two-sided buffet line (save for desserts and salads) rather than the staggered food station system many cruise lines -- including NCL -- have embraced. Even when the venue didn't "look" busy, there were lines for food and general confusion as to where the queues started. In the evenings, a section of Raffles is converted into a for-fee Italian restaurant -- La Trattoria -- serving pasta and popular Italian fare ($10). Late-night snacks are provided in the casino and include sandwiches, olives, pickles, veggies and dip, and some sort of hot item (the chicken sate with peanut sauce was great). The Blue Lagoon serves up burgers, fish and chips, and wok dishes 24 hours a day. NCL's signature Chocoholics' Buffet is also present. Room service is simple, with mostly cold items. The exceptions are ramen noodle soup, made-to-order pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches for kids. Breakfast is continental only, though suite guests get a wider range of room service choices, including hot breakfast, dining room meals served in-suite and a couple of sandwiches not on the menu for guests in standard staterooms. Hint: The room service sandwiches are very nicely presented, but they are pre-made and sit in the refrigerator for who knows how long before your order arrives at your door. This causes the bread to be kind of hard and curled on the outside, soggy from the lettuce on the inside. Opt instead for one of the grilled cheese sandwiches from the kid's menu; they're freshly made and really good. | | | | top | | | | Public Rooms
NCL's ships feature a central atrium called the Grand Centrum, and on Norwegian Spirit this space is the focal point of social interaction. It rises six decks high, capped with a surround of Palladian windows echoing those at the aft of Windows restaurant. A black marble floor leads to a grand and elegant staircase, which climbs to the shops above, and to a lounge, Champagne Charlie's, which features music in the evenings. On the starboard side of the Grand Centrum is a series of upholstered chairs and divans for conversation; on the port side is the Cafe, a small lounge that serves coffees, cakes, cookies and other bar drinks. Behind the staircase is a black marble fountain, which can be seen from the atrium's three glass-enclosed elevators as they rise to higher floors. Aside from the aforementioned Windows, there are three other standout spaces on this ship: Galaxy of the Stars, located on Deck 12 forward, is Spirit's observation lounge; amazing care and detail went into the design of this space. It's vast, for one thing, and bright, with floor-to-ceiling glass surrounding it on three sides. The predominant color is the blue of the carpet, but the furnishings are dark woods, glass-topped tables, deep cushioned chairs and window seats with brocade upholstery. A small bandstand and dance floor are in the middle, a large bar near the entrance; a circular stairway descends to a bridge viewing area, and a computerized navigational chart on a raised platform allows you to follow the course of the ship. Another amazing space on this ship is Charlie's Childcare Center and Buccaneer's Wet and Wild. What? A "kid's club" as a standout? Yep, the best in its class outside of a Disney ship! It's amazing, like having a shipboard amusement park, with tunnels and tubes, rooms filled with those balls that kids love to jump in, a pool complex with slides and fountains and pirate muskets blasting water, and the best game arcade on the seven seas, all bright and colorful, and attended by bright and colorful childcare professionals. Simply the best place to dance the night away is Maharini's Lounge & Nightclub. When NCL acquired SuperStar Leo, the casino was extremely large as befits an Asian audience. During the renovation, a portion of the casino was sectioned off and turned into a lounge that was inspired, according to NCL, by the design and architecture of India. To us, it felt more like a Manhattan-chic VIP nightclub. Blue, red and gold decor is accented by dramatic chandeliers, comfy day beds, plush pillows, velvety curtains, plasma televisions and a dance floor that is packed way into the wee hours (we know -- we were there). There are additional bars and lounges scattered throughout the ship. One favorite is the Cafe, located in the Grand Centrum along the port side. It's a lovely space, quiet amid the goings-on in the atrium and backed by the soothing sounds of the fountain behind it. Champagne Charlie's is located just above the Centrum floor near the shops on Deck 8; music played at night filters throughout the atrium area. Celebrity Disco is small, intimate and fun, but is difficult to get to for those unable to climb stairs. It's located forward on Deck 13, but the only elevator that goes to that deck is midship and then you have to cross open deck to get forward. The Shanghai Bar on Deck 7 features private karaoke rooms for guests who want to try their hand at sing-alongs. Henry's Pub, a clubby room behind the reception desk on Deck 7, serves up beer and spirits -- and darts -- in an Olde English-style environment. For drinks al fresco, try the Bier Garten, located forward on Deck 13. This venue occupies a perch overlooking the central pool complex, and is surrounded by picnic tables. The Bier Garten also serves hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and Bavarian items such as knockwurst and sauerkraut (check the Freestyle Daily for times). However, when weather permits, the cheerful and friendly Raffle's Terrace is the best spot outdoors for a drink or a beer. Located outside and aft on Deck 12, it provides a stunning view over the stern of the ship and out over the kids' pool area. Just aft of the Galaxy of the Stars lounge is a series of public rooms that include the library and Internet center, a game room, a cigar room, and a mah-jongg room. All of these spaces are lovely, but the library and Internet center really stand out. They are calm, peaceful, and small but well-designed spaces, with elegant furnishings and windows lining the starboard side of the ship. Internet prices are reasonable at rates from 30 cents per minute to 75 cents per minute depending on the package you choose. Wireless access is available too, and almost all public spaces have hot spots. There are shops on Deck 8 surrounding the atrium, but they are tiny and don't have a lot to offer (mostly because there is not enough room to offer much of anything). There is a new Colombian Emeralds store onboard, which is unique for a cruise ship, and another jewelry store with the usual baubles. There is a sundry and duty-free shop and a logo/apparel shop. | | | | top | | | | Cabins
There are six basic cabin types on NCL Spirit: insides, portholes, windows, balconies, junior suites and suites. Rooms are brightly decorated, more so than public areas. Bedspreads are fairly garish, ours in pink and yellow stripes (Deck 11). The staterooms are fairly basic with simple furnishings. Inside and outside rooms have a bolster above one of the beds so it can be used for seating. Balcony cabins have an oversized chair and small coffee table. Suites and junior suites have fully furnished seating areas with sofas or settees. Almost all of the rooms on this ship are interconnecting, making them ideal for friends or family groups. What's really impressive is that double metal doors are used (compared to single composite doors in most interconnecting cabins on other ships), so there is virtually no sound seepage from the adjoining room when the doors are closed. Caveat: Although they are virtually soundproof from adjacent cabins, the same is not true from above. Cabins on Deck 11 can be particularly noisy, with scraping chairs from the Lido Deck midship and aft, or loud nighttime music from Galaxy of the Stars forward. However, balconies on Deck 11 have a nice advantage: A wide overhang from the Lido Deck offers privacy from above. Outside cabins have a large picture window, nice because it's a single pane rather than one with that annoying bar down the middle. Balcony staterooms have a full-wall sliding glass door, floor to ceiling, side to side, and an exterior balcony enclosure made of glass. The effect is a spectacular viewing area (and access to fresh air outside). The doors have a hidden child lock on the side opposite the opening, a lever that is relatively high up and not easily reached (or noticed) by little ones. Balconies are quite narrow (40 inches) but adequate and comfortable. Each balcony is furnished with a chair, a short lounger and a little table. The furniture is that ubiquitous white plastic, but the chairs are padded with colorful cushions. Hint: It looks at first as though the lounger is just a taller, bigger chair that doesn't recline, but it does. The secret is in the arms; lift them and push the back of the chair to the angle that suits you, then secure the arms in the hidden slots. An interesting note about the cabins on Spirit: This ship was designed and built for the Asian market, and thus for the Asian frame, which is substantially more petite than that of North Americans. Chairs and handrails are a few inches lower, the bathroom sink is lower, the beds are lower and the furniture is slightly smaller. It's not a hugely noticeable difference, but it's there just the same. Spirit staterooms use sliding doors on their closets, which eliminates the blocked hallway problem found in most cabins. Unfortunately, the closets are very small and have few hangers. There is a corner console unit that holds a small television, an ice bucket and glasses, and a coffee pot with complimentary coffee, cream and sugar packets. You can ask your cabin attendant for as much as you'd like, and for a coffee lover like me, it's heaven. Under the console are some small, shallow drawers. Hint: Pack light, and practice being very tidy. The storage space is minimal, as is the surface space in these rooms. My deep suitcase didn't fit under the low beds and stuffing it into the closet was problematic. Balcony staterooms have a teeny, tiny, wall-mounted bedside table on one side, and if the beds are configured as twins, there is a pop-up floor-bolted table that rises between them. Standard outside and inside staterooms have a single, nice, roomy bedside table as well as the floor-mounted one for twins. After my first turndown service, I decided I liked the look of the white duvet much better than the bright circus stripes, so I took off the spread and left it that way. Very elegant and welcoming. Hint: The beds on Norwegian Spirit are firm. If you prefer a softer sleep, ask your room stewards to help you out. They can put an egg-carton foam pad on your bed for you. The bathrooms in standard staterooms are unique for cruise ships, similar to the bathrooms found on Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn. Divided into three sections, the center area holds a small sink, mirror and a few shelves for makeup, toothbrushes, medication etc. To one side is a partially hidden toilet, which has a sliding frosted glass "pocket door," and to the other side is a shower stall also with a sliding glass door. The shower is fantastic, almost as big as an in-home shower unit, and with a glass enclosure there is no more billowing or clinging curtain allowing water to soak the floor. The European shower head, which can be removed to use as a hand-held, has several settings for flow: soft and gentle, intense and invigorating, pulse for massage. The pressure is excellent and there is plenty of hot water. The toilet is a bit more problematic. The opening is only 15 inches, which in itself is not too bad, but the toilet sits at a slight angle facing the door. I am short, but I imagine for a tall person the configuration could be a bit claustrophobia-inducing. It is, however, a great innovation, especially for friends who travel together, adding an additional layer of privacy. There are 18 suites on Norwegian Spirit, five on Deck 9 overlooking the stern wake, five on Deck 10 at the very bow, and eight, also on Deck 10, along each side of the forward portion. Anyone lucky enough to be accommodated in one of these will be treated to luxury beyond compare. Large oval-shaped whirlpool tubs, elegant bedrooms, fully furnished "living rooms," dining tables, refrigerators and teak deck furniture are all included, as are two incredible butlers and a chipper, cheerful concierge to satisfy your every whim. I liked the eight junior suites the best, those on the sides of the ship. The bathroom has a one-way floor-to-ceiling window in front of which is the whirlpool tub. Soaking in bubbles high up on Deck 10 while looking out at the sea below is a pleasure I would love to some day experience. Caveat: Because this ship was built for the Asian market, all wiring is 220 volts. There is one 110-volt plug in the stateroom, but it has a maximum capacity of 500 watts. Most hair dryers start at about 800 watts, and if used in these staterooms, will blow the circuitry for an entire corridor of cabins. Leave your hair dryer at home and plan on using the wall-mounted one provided. While it isn't ideal, it's better than blowing all electricity in your hallway. | | | | top | | | | Entertainment
Norwegian Cruise Line has long been known for its excellent production shows, and this ship is no exception. The Stardust Theater is one of the finest at sea, using two decks to create its slant, assuring excellent lines of sight for all seats. The two-deck slant is compensated for in Windows restaurant, just below it, where one end soars two decks high, a true architectural innovation. The shows are elaborate, colorful and exciting. Evening entertainment includes individual performers as well. Two of the lounges featured live music on a daily basis: Champagne Charlie's and Galaxy of the Stars. Champagne Charlie's is above the atrium floor, so anyone in that area could enjoy the offerings every day. Dancing to live music is available nightly in Galaxy of the Stars. There is music in Celebrity Disco at night as well, and a D.J. spinning popular dance tunes in Maharini's. The cruise director's staff did an admirable job of providing fun activities ranging from craft lessons (beaded geckos!) to learning a foreign language (Spanish and Tagalog, the language of the Philippines). And there were plenty of onboard games, trivia contests, bingo, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and even "The Weakest Link," with shipboard logo prizes given out to the winners. The casino, Maharaja's, offers a huge array of slots and table games; slot machines ranged from five cents to $25 (not many players were seen around those), and some allowed you to change denomination in the middle of your play -- to switch from playing quarters to playing dollars and vice versa. The art auctions seemed to be a big hit with those who attended them. | | | | top | | | | Fitness and Recreation
This ship has plenty to keep the avid exercise junkie busy, including a terrific Sports at Sea program (which offers logo items to those who complete their programs). The outside promenade on Deck 7 circles the ship and is the ideal place for a walking circuit; the Sports Deck has a running track (pleasantly unobtrusive as it is set off from sunning areas by a wall; six circuits equals one mile), basketball and volleyball courts, and a golf cage. Ping-Pong tables are located at the aft of Deck 11. There is one large swimming pool on the Lido Deck, big enough for early-morning lap swims, surrounded by four large hot tubs. In warm climes, this deck will get a lot of use. It's very nicely laid out, attractive and accessible. The gym is small but well equipped. Two small swim-against-the-current pools are located within the fitness center; each is heated and approximately 6 ft. wide by 12 ft. long. If you don't get to the big pool before the crowd does, this is the perfect way to get your laps in. There are separate changing rooms, relaxation rooms, and steam and sauna rooms for men and women. The women's side is gorgeous and expansive, with a relaxation room along the port side of the ship, lined with windows looking out to the sea. There are a couple of televisions and several comfy chairs and sofas. There is a large dressing room and a large sauna and steam room for women to use. Those on the men's side are small; the dressing room is small but adequate, the steam and sauna rooms much smaller than those for women. The men's relaxation room is cozy, with a single television, located in an interior room with no windows. A bit of trivia: The men's and women's facilities were reversed during the initial refit for the North American market. The Asian culture exalts men's relaxation and pampering, leaving the smaller and less appealing side for the women. During the changeover, the urinals were removed from what is now the women's side. The Roman Spa, operated by Mandara (Steiner of London), offers treatments ranging from hot stone massages to body-cleansing wraps. Treatment rooms are very small on this ship, and have the usual Bali-centric decor used by Mandara spas. The mid-range for massages seemed to be around $100; look for specials in the Freestyle Daily, especially on port days. | | | | top | | | | Family
If ever a ship were custom-built for families, this is it. Other ships have child care centers and well-trained staff; this ship has a child center that looks like a day camp for the kids of the rich and famous. In fact, approximately one-fifth of Deck 10 is allocated to children and their activities. The center itself is divided into several rooms, each with a purpose and each age-appropriate. Then there is the video arcade, a vast room with games and activities that will keep older children and teens occupied for hours. There's a teen disco, and an activity room for younger children that utilizes climbing tubes and tunnels, a ball crawl, and lots of soft toys, all in bright primary colors. There's an outdoor activity area and a crafts section. Then there is Buccaneer's Wet and Wild, an onboard water park, with a pool surrounded with caves and a mountain, two small slides that require entry through a tunnel, pirate's cannons that shoot water, and even a children's hot tub. An amphitheater has been built between Decks 10 and 11 at the aft end so parents can sit and watch their kids play while enjoying a beer or drink from the Raffles bar. There is no charge for using the center, which takes children from age 2 to 16. Toddlers in diapers are welcome, but only while the parents are onboard; they are given a beeper and notified when their child needs to be changed. | | | | top | | | | Fellow Passengers
NCL's "Freestyle Cruising" appeals to a casual and unpretentious crowd of all ages. Family groups choose this ship for the hundreds of connecting staterooms, and the children's center is one of the best at sea. All age groups are represented, from infants to seniors, and the ship's staff really does an exceptional job of catering to the needs of everyone. | | | | top | | | | Dress Code
Casual. There are two optional formal nights on a seven-night cruise, not confined to either of the two main restaurants. Shorts, tank tops and exercise wear are not allowed in the main or specialty dining rooms at any time. | | | | top | | | | Gratuity
NCL recommends a minimum of $10 per day, which is added to your shipboard account. This amount can be adjusted in either direction; it is suggested that you tip for room service as it's delivered. Beverages purchased onboard and surcharge meals include a gratuity charged at point of service. --by Jana Jones, Updated by Melissa Baldwin | | | | top | | | | | Expert reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation. | |  | |
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