NCL Spirit 1 Day cruise

[melika091900]

DId anyone take this cruise yesterday from San francisco???

I was wondering since my sister and her husband were on there and she told me that everyone was sea sick, vomitting all over in the halls, etc

and that it was so rocky,,

I didnt know if she was just saying that since it was her 1st cruise or what,,, any info i would like

thanks

melissa

carnival conquest western caribbean 2004

celebrity mercury mexico 2003

coming soon NCL star mexico 1/06

[Cruise_More_Often]

Yes, the seas were typical for the Northern California coast. It was a rockin and a rollin out there! Tell your sister that not all cruises are like that. I've already advised those cruisers taking the 2-day to take their Bonine!

[shoreguy]

Yes, the seas were typical for the Northern California coast. It was a rockin and a rollin out there! Tell your sister that not all cruises are like that. I've already advised those cruisers taking the 2-day to take their Bonine!

 

And you wonder why more ships don't homeport or cruise from SF. :D

[RYPERO]

This was our first cruise out of SF and yes it was the second rockiest cruise I have been one. The waiters were even stumbling and those guys and gals are usually pretty good about it. I got some good video of the water splashing about 10' out of the pool. We didn't get sick but we could deffinately feel it.

[Catnip]

WOW!!!!!! Wonder how the dancers did..........:rolleyes:

[emcemt]

can anyone from the first sailing report on the changes to the much criticised Raffles buffet?? Any changes to the cabins?? Any other info????

[melika091900]

I would love to see some pics of that,,, the pool and the water,,,

can you post them or email me

melissaofoia@sbcglobal.net

thank you

they even said the dealers in the casino were barfing!!! sounds pretty bad

[RYPERO]

can anyone from the first sailing report on the changes to the much criticised Raffles buffet?? Any changes to the cabins?? Any other info????

 

I never saw the buffet before but nothing looked new. The cabins were untouched, just cleaned thoroughly and there was new carpet throughout. On deck 13 you can see where they have laid out for the new cabins, so it looks as if they are still planning on adding them.

[sunshine 229]

I never saw the buffet before but nothing looked new. The cabins were untouched, just cleaned thoroughly and there was new carpet throughout. On deck 13 you can see where they have laid out for the new cabins, so it looks as if they are still planning on adding them.

Can anyone tell us what used to be on deck thirteen where they have laid out the new cabins?

[matt690]

Is the Spirit going back into drydock? Was this a cruise in between?

[RYPERO]

Can anyone tell us what used to be on deck thirteen where they have laid out the new cabins?

 

 

I believe there was a sports court on the starbord side and the jogging track on both sides, other then that there was just wind screens and loungers

[sunshine 229]

I believe there was a sports court on the starbord side and the jogging track on both sides, other then that there was just wind screens and loungers

Thanks for the info and the picture.

 

So I'm assuming that the open deck at the very front and back of deck13 will remain, for those who want to get a high up view, but the cabins will just be enclosed in the center section, down the sides of the deck?

 

To bad for the joggers, but it wouldn't matter to me too much. I often do a few early morning turns around the deck, while on a cruise, but I'm more about a brisk walk than a run so I guess, if I ever find myself on this ship, I can do that on the Promenade Deck.

[Don Haynes]

NCl had planned to add 11 BA cabins on each side of deck 13 by the smokestack but it wasn't done during this drydock because a subcontractor let us all down....

[Phamer55]

I went on this cruise, here's my opinion of it:

* Embarkation was terrible, very long waits due to flawed computer systems

* The food was lacking. On every cruise I've been on (6) the food has been wonderful; not this one. The dinner menu in the Garden Dining Room was very poor. Normally, I had have a hard time deciding between the entrees and appetizers. With this menu, it was hard to find anything that sounded good. I would have thought they would try to show their best as this cruise should be trying to sell NCL to us; it did the opposite. The lunch at the buffet was also bad, hardly any food was left when we finally got on the ship thanks to the lines. Even the ice cream was all melted. The breakfast menu in the Windows Dining Room was also not as good as I've had on other cruises - no omlettes or Eggs Benedict.

* The service was hit or miss. The dining room service for dinner & breakfast was excellent. However, the bar service was very slow and unorganized. We were basically ignored while trying to get a drink at Henry's Pub. Plus, we were tricked into getting buying their souvenir glasses when ordering a Pina Colada; it would have been nice if they had asked us if we wanted to spend the $8 for a drink! Also, our friends were treated very rudely by one of the dealers at the casino.

* The ship decor was very nice. I liked the new carpets and all in all it was a beatiful ship. Still, it does not even compare to the RCI Radiance-class ships I have been on; nor was it as nice as the Grandeur Of The Seas.

* The stateroom cabins were not as nice as other cruises I have been on. The closet space in our inside was a lot less than we have on RCI or HAL. Plus, they didn't make out single beds into a queen. When we pushed the beds together, we had hoped the cabin steward would have used sheets to make them into a queen, but he basically kept them as two single beds.

* The seas were very rough!! This was no fault on NCL, but the seas out on the Pacific this time of year made for a very rough and tumble night. I'm sure this turned off a lot of first time cruisers. They would have been better off returning the port early (like 1-2 am) so people could get a comfortable night of sleep, but I guess that would have cut into the casino time. I feel bad that a lot of people won't enjoy the fun of cruising because of how rough it was (worse I have ever seen at sea).

 

So, overall, like most travels, there were some high moments and some low moments and we did have fun, but I would have to say I was dissapointed with NCL and I will stick with RCI and Princess and even HAL and not go on an NCL cruise again.

[Don Haynes]

I wouldn't discard NCL so quickly. With the high seas I don't even think the employees were feeling their best, which might have shown with their service. What I can't understand is why you wanted to drink alcholic drinks with such high seas, it would only make the seasick more so. Which menu did they offer in the main dining rooms. You didn't expect lobster on the first night, did you? Maybe I have different tastes, I have found every item on NCL's menus good to great. Since you boarded so late I'm sure the buffet was disappointing, but it will be interesting if the food up in the buffet is better or worse than before with the new galley up there. For a one night cruise how could be closet be so small? Keep in mind the Spirit was built for the Asian market, with cruises of 1, 2, and 4 days, closet space wasn't a priority during planning and construction of this vessel. What I found best on the Spirit compared to other ships is her nice sized bath room?

[Cruise_More_Often]

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your cruise, Phamer. We had a blast! But, then, we always do. :D We can hardly wait to go back on the 2-nighter on Friday. We had an excellent lunch at Windows, great afternoon snacks at the Bier Garten above the pool deck, dinner in Le Bistro (best steak either of us have ever had) and breakfast in Windows. Service was impeccable.

 

I would highly recommend this ship. There are new carpets and furniture in all the public spaces. The hallway and cabin carpets look new (I forgot to ask about whether they had been replaced). We liked the Shanghai Bar (I think it used to be called the Bund) for a quick beer in the afternoon. Didn't get to try Henry's Pub or the Blue Lagoon (24-hour food!!); you can only eat so much food!

 

For those of you with kids, I was told by a travel agent we met that the Spirit is known for it's Kids' center. We saw it, and it is huge! Also, I want to use Buccaneer's Wet and Wild, the swim area for the little ones. Waaaaa, I guess I can't.

 

Great "new" ship, NCL!

[danmz]

I agree with phamer they should have pulled out all the stops for a one day cruise. The dinning room service was very slow. The food choices in the main dinning room were not good. The room steward did not turn down the bed . Nothing left in room as to the next day schedule. I thought the ship was nice . But i did not care for the main showroom. And the show most people left half way through. The should have done a normal NCL review.

I did enjoy the cruise and hope they do more 1 nighters. The rough seas did not bother us.

[SailAways]

It is too bad that anyone would complain about a cruise after dry dock.

We have been on only one cruise, but have read plenty on these boards.

From what has been posted, this type of cruise is always somewhat lacking, but a great cruise any way.

It would seem that the crew and staff are getting back into the groove, and things must be different for them too.

I would think the entire experience of being in on the "first", even it

it is after dry dock would be very exciting.

Wish we could have been on this one - We absolutely loved the Spirit on

our trip.

Anxiously awaiting news of all of the changes.

Hopefully, we will be aboard her again one of these days.

Thanks for all of the great posts - keep 'em coming, please!

[Cruise_More_Often]

I agree with phamer they should have pulled out all the stops for a one day cruise. The dinning room service was very slow. The food choices in the main dinning room were not good. The room steward did not turn down the bed . Nothing left in room as to the next day schedule. I thought the ship was nice . But i did not care for the main showroom. And the show most people left half way through. The should have done a normal NCL review.

I did enjoy the cruise and hope they do more 1 nighters. The rough seas did not bother us.

Wow, people sure see things differently. I sat at the show with some people who had never cruised NCL before (they had cruised HAL, RCI, Celebrity, Princess). They said it was the nicest showroom they had seen! There are no sightline problems, nothing at all in the way. I went to the 9:30 show and only 1 person left. No one has mentioned that the entertainment was Chicago's Second City impro group. They are good!

 

The only thing I thougt unusual about the show was that the Cruise Director wasn't there at the beginning to introduce it. I arrived about 5 minutes before the show was to start, while the NCL Showband was playing, and unless he spoke before then, there wasn't much of an into.

[Len3]

:confused: Is it going to be like this out of NYC in the winter?

[danmz]

I was at the 9:30 show also. We left half way through only after seeing others were leaving also. Maybye i just couldnt wait to get to the casino. The showroom had a very cold feel to it. And there was a constant microphone buzz during the show. Maybye i was expecting to much . I have been on NCL several times and always loved there shows .