Rob_H

Yesterday was the disembarkation/embarkation day in Papetee. We had a port day there, as we're back to back on the next cruise. As usual for back to backs, we had to pick up our new keycards at Guest Services early in the morning before heading out for the day. When I got to guest services before 7am, the line was already stretching out of the atrium. Only two people on duty, nobody triaging the line, so the line was filled with people discussing their bills at length and other last-day whinging. No separate line for the dozen or more of us needing new keycards before starting the day. Luckily I found a senior person I know (and who knows me) and she was able to take me straight to the desk to request just the cards, but this option isn't available to most. The lady in front of me said she had been waiting over an hour in line to get her keycard, and was likely to miss her private tour because of the delay. There needs to be sufficient staffing at times of expected high demand, and somebody going up and down the line checking that people need to be there (many don't) and handling simple requests (like new keycards). This is normal on other Norwegian ships. Our new room wasn't occupied on the previous cruise, but was ready, so we were able to move directly to it, and unpack, before heading out for the day. In Papetee, we took a taxi tour from a guy just outside the gate, $60 per person (4 in a taxi) for a 4 hour drive right around the island. Could be good with the right guide/driver but ours must have been having an off day, not very communicative. Still, a good way to get an overview of the island with a few stops at natural features like waterfalls.

No, we left Moorea at 5 and were in Papetee before 8, they're very close. Those guests left in Papeete after that, for their midnight flight.

There are 1100 passengers on this cruise, although it feels a lot quieter tonight as that plane load of people had to leave tonight (Norwegian couldn't get enough flights for tomorrow). Next cruise is expected to be about 1050 passengers. Surprisingly, there are only about 20-25 passengers back to back to the next cruise, i thought it would be a lot more. That includes us as we tested negative ok this evening.

In Moorea today we took a ship's tour, highlights of Moorea. A bus ride around the island including to a high viewpoint inland. There's not a lot at the port in Moorea (or the whole island really). Beautiful place, nice mountain and sea scenery. For those stressing about getting CFP (local francs) for the next cruise, don't worry, it's hard to spend them, all the tourist related businesses take US Dollars. We're using up the CFP we got in March 2020 for our cruise to French Polynesia on the Jewel which never got there because of all the borders closing.

Boards have worked fine for me on the Bliss, Encore and now Spirit this year. It's super slow and you can't upload (or see) photos, but it does work if you are patient. If i want to post photos, or even just use it without waiting a minute or two for each page i use the "free" minutes or wait for mobile data.

Bora Bora

Tonight we ate at Onda, for the first time on this ship. We used a Latitudes voucher. We sat outside at the back of the ship, Onda has some outside tables, it's the only speciality restaurant on the Spirit that does. Nobody else wanted to be outside so we had the space to ourselves, with a view of the Bora Bora lagoon during sunset. Luxurious and romantic! The food and service was outstanding, rivaling Le Bistro for quality and presentation. Certainly on the next cruise (starting in two days!) we'll be back to Onda. The photo is of the tuna I had, medium rare.

Sunrise in Bora Bora this morning. It's a tender port, tenders are already going ashore.

There was a mix up with our afternoon ships excursion so we ended up needing something else in Ra'iatea. There's a small visitor information centre right near the ship. Everything was sold out, but the friendly lady there called around her taxi driver friends and got us the last two seats in a six seater taxi with 4 others, leaving in an hour or so, when he got back from the first tour. The standard price is US$250 for the whole taxi for a 3 to 4 hour tour. Turns out there were only 3 others in our large taxi so that made the maths easy, $50 each, paid after the tour. Our driver was excellent, took us to a botanic gardens and explained many of the plants, then to the marae (ancient meeting places) at Taputapuotea. He also stopped at a roadside stall to buy us fresh coconuts which he opened for us to drink. On the way back, we went to the belvadere (viewpoint) at sunset to see the view of the mountains forming the rim of the volcanic caldera (the floor of the crater is the main agriculture area). A good tour at a fair price. In the morning, we had wandered around the port (Uturoa), which is the main town. Not really a lot there, it's good to have a tour planned.

The Spirit in Ra'itia

Today (right now!) we're arriving at Ra'iatea in French Polynesia. We have a tour in the afternoon, more tour capacity became available part way through the cruise

We booked at pcrwaikiki.com two days before our May 19 cruise on the Spirit It's next to a Long's Drugs in Waikiki (see site for exact address). Fast, uncrowded, $60 cash each, was accepted by NCL fine.

For Latitudes members platinum and above, the "behind the scenes" tours are still not available. As a result, if you go to the cruisenext desk they will give you a $50 onboard credit, per cabin (for sapphire and above, less for lower levels). However, dinner with officers (Sapphire and Diamond) IS available (if you want to sign up). Yesterday we had a very entertaining dinner with one of the two ship's doctors, a young but highly experienced doctor from Colombia, and a few fellow guests. It's nice to see this is back. The free platinum laundry is twice per cruise per member. The same-day service is really good. The housekeeping is also way above average, perhaps because of the low passenger numbers. There are five diamond members on this sailing (we are two of those), and no ambassadors.

The Bier Garten looks like a regular outdoor bar, overlooking the pool deck and next to a smoking area. Doesn't appear to have any beer on tap.

Even on the sea days, there is only one performance in the theater each evening, at 9pm. Normally on Norwegian there are shows at 7 and 9, if something has only one performance it's usually at 8. On the good side, there are 4 different production shows by the resident company, in 12 days. We've seen Worldbeat and Blazing Boots so far.

Sorry I'm no expedite expert on what is normal in the spa. It's quite small and there's no thermal pool. No locker rooms for the fitness center. I didn't see them in the larger ships (Bliss, Encore) earlier this year either. Fitness center has plenty of treadmills but limited on all the other things (again, no expert), there's mostly one of each weird machine.

Yes. Not unique to the Spirit nor new, it was the same before Covid, waiting on deck had already ended. Before, you had to gather in your assigned assembly station such as the theatre or a restaurant then wait for everybody to arrive then listen to the ship-wide drill. Now you have your card scanned (to show you know how to find the place) then move on.

We've been on the Bliss, Encore and now Spirit this year. On each ship, you should go to your muster station inside as soon as you board, and have your card scanned there. For example if your card shows A1 for your muster station you go to A (usually a restaurant) and check in there. No need to go outside, and after your card is scanned you can leave. There are constant announcements about this on embarkation day, if you still don't do it there's a catch up muster out on deck the next day.

You (and we) enter the US at the first port (Hilo I think). There is no requirement to have a negative test to enter the US by sea (or land), we've done it many times this year. When you travel from HNL to the other states it's just domestic, no rules.

There was a Hotel Officer's Q&A in the Atrium this morning. Yes, there are a few shortages, some items didn't get loaded in Honolulu (even though loading took hours longer than it should have). Items specifically mentioned were frozen iced tea (so the kitchen is making their own instead) and the non-alcoholic beer. There are probably other items. We noticed early in the cruise the "Vacation Hero" cards were missing. These cards with guest feedback are an important part of the way crew benefits and promotions are awarded, so to not have them puts this crew at a disadvantage compared to other ships. Our initial queries about this were met with "no, we don't have them because of the pandemic". Not true as other ships like the Encore and Bliss do currently have them. After further discussions it seems they were actually loaded in Honolulu and will be distributed to everybody soon, which is good for the crew, they can start to be recognised. So many of the crew have been very helpful. Also from the Q&A, they confirmed he second main dining room, Taste, will be closed for this cruise and likely next, because of the low passenger numbers. There's enough capacity in Windows. However, nearly everybody has multiple speciality meals in their packages so it's tough to get any reservations at all at the few speciality restaurants. BTW, there is no bridge viewing room any more. There's also no library or open access collection of books. The cruise director did say there are a couple of hundred books somewhere on board and that anybody who needed a book could ask for one, although it wasn't clear how they'd know what's available.

The atrium

Yes, i the Local is along a corridor on 7 forward of the Atrium. Haven't tried it yet, menu looks the same as other ships. There is the Windows main dining room, Taste (haven't seen it open yet), and Silk, an Asian fusion with same menu as other ships, and which also has sushi for an upcharge.

We did a nice ships tour to the Volcano National Park this morning (port is Hilo). About an hour bus ride to see multiple viewpoints of sulphur vents, steam vents and the Kilauea caldera. Short walks possible in each place. Only about 4.5 hours but a good introduction. Weather was great, we were lucky!

Yes, straight along the corridors to the aft to get to H20 from both 10 and 11. I'll do a full wander round the ship tomorrow, first sea day, and try to check the Bier Garten and other things asked by others above.

Not unexpected as many cruise lines have been cancelling their Asis seasons in recent weeks. Still disappointing, as we had booked a nine cruise 105 day back to back, v from HK on 26 Jan 2023 right through to Vancouver. Good the notice was so far ahead so we can make other plans!