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Norwegian Cruise Line

MS Norwegian Spirit

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: CeeCee Alan
# previous cruises: 2
Date of Trip: July 2, 2004
Itinerary: Alaska-Inside Passage

Unless you really love bingo and crackits (whatever those are) and want to be hawked for these at every moment, consider another cruise. There are great things about this cruise (per below) but it was overall not up to expectations.

Very attractive public areas. Tiny pool (but it was too cold to use it anyway).

Lots of choices. Freestyle dining great. Specialty restaurants very good but main dining rooms just about as good. Lobster tails and souffles - can't quarrel with that. Buffet OK, but like eating in Grand Central Station.

We had an outside cabin and it was excellent - spacious, great picture window. Very quiet except for scraping and clanging in the night.

Lecturer and movies very poor. Shows enjoyable (excellent jazz singer), but an emphasis on Las Vegas style and audience participation (i.e., making people look foolish). Some people like this sort of thing. I don't. Cruise director very funny, energetic, and friendly.

On board there was little to do that I found interesting - beaded geckos and bingo don't float my boat. Fortunately I like to read and watch for whales. I enjoyed the art auction as entertainment and a chance to get free champagne - not as an "investment opportunity." Ketchikan and Skagway are pretty much a collection of souvenir shops (some nice souvenirs though). Excursions are recommended. Don't believe the hype that you have to book them well in advance. There were only a very few that ever sold out. Plus, our biggest excursion (a plane trip) was cancelled due to weather. (That happened to most excursions two days of the cruise.)

Little organized mingling. You need to be outgoing if you want to meet others. I met no one I'd invite for dinner. Based on appearances, this is a pretty middle class ship.