Back from 6 Day Bahama Spirit Cruise

[NJPrisonCop]

MaxPower: The menu at the Blue Lagoon consisted of WonTon Soup (not too bad), Tomato Soup (eh.. just ok), fried rice (liked this one), wings (also good), hamburgers (fat suckers too... these were good), Fish and Chips (sometimes dry, but overall pretty good), Mac and Cheese (good for the kids... didn't try it), chicken fingers (not too bad), as well as some other things I didn't try and can't remember.

[KarmaElectra]

I really wish they had a late night dessert place. I was always craving ice cream or cookies late at night and could never find any.

 

Can't help you with the ice cream...but they usually had those big cookies at the late night casino buffet. :)

[JuneauMe]

Entertainment and activities:

I sang karaoke in henry's pub (this became our favorite hang out) quote]

 

Hi Loafie,

My friend and I also spent most of our evenings in Henry's pub during Karaoke... What song did you sing, I'll probably remember that, we had so much fun there and met so many cool people, that I can't remeber anyones name, but I bet I remember the song, LOL

Donna

[Seago2]

The Blue Lagoon has always been a mystery to me. Who would eat on a bicycle on what is essentially a busy hallway? It smells like grease- I hate walking through there because my clothes always smell like... Blue Lagoon. I don't know about it being open 23 hours, either. I was starving one night- couldn't sleep- no go. It was definitely closed at 2 and at 5. Ended up sneaking into a closed Raffles from the outside doors and eating cereal. There were cereal bowls all over so apparently I wasn't the only one to do it!

 

I remember the teens sprawled all over from both of my Spirit cruises- in fact all previous cruises, except HAL. I actually love to see them having a good time- probably because I have 5 teens in the house. Never had my door knocked on, though. That would change things. I have had breakfast cards switched, though. Surprise! Omelet at 6am.

 

Is it me or am I the only person on Earth who either ignores, doesn't notice, or hates all CD's? What good are they, anyway? It's always some DJ who runs away with the show. The CD's that I have met all have that thousand yard stare and always seem to be lording their position over their underlings. I have met great people on the Spirit- Alexandra, the Hotel Director last year was GREAT. Mats, the Security Officer from the year before- also incredibly helpful, nice, friendly. CD's? No idea.

 

I am dreading cruising with only kids because I know that Raffles is going to be part of my life for every meal. They will do Windows once and then look at me like: we're sitting here waiting for food you're trying to convince us we're going to like anyway? Raffles can get congested but you have to plan your surgical strikes and never try for an omelet. Get used to pieces of salmon in every pasta salad and in other things that don't really scream SALMON in your mind.

 

I liked GSC last year- loved it. We walked far off to the right and had our own private beach. In Nassau we took the bus to the bottom of the bridge and walked over to Cabbage Beach. We took a cab back to the straw market (claustrophobic!!!). So it was another one of our nearly free excursions.

 

loafie: how did you get the day passes to the Wyndham? I think I'm going to do that this time.

 

I haven't been on the Spirit in a year, but I have been on her twice, and I have to say that she was spotless both times. Just MHO.

[JuneauMe]

We didn't encounter the same thing in the specialty restaurants - everyone in those restaurants wore "resort casual" dress.

Sea Hound:D

We sat next to a coulple in one of the specialty restaurants wearing frayed camo cargo shorts, BB cap and logo tee's. Even though there are signs for the specialty restaurants that say "No shorts..ect"

So there didn't seem to be a dress code anywhere. Funny thing is, I don't really care too much what other people wear, but the Tank tops and slevless muscle tee's did bother me in the dinning rooms. I realy don't enjoy looking at hairy arm pits when I want to have an upscale dinning expiriance. I never knew this about myself, LOL, because the situation never presented itself. Most people would not wear this at a land based restaurant, so who knew?

Donna

[Droopy_Sails]

Is it me or am I the only person on Earth who either ignores, doesn't notice, or hates all CD's? What good are they, anyway? It's always some DJ who runs away with the show. The CD's that I have met all have that thousand yard stare and always seem to be lording their position over their underlings. I have met great people on the Spirit- Alexandra, the Hotel Director last year was GREAT. Mats, the Security Officer from the year before- also incredibly helpful, nice, friendly. CD's? No idea.

 

Yes! The only two who haven't annoyed me have been Paul Baya and Adrian Lewis (who I think is gone from the fleet now). The hands-down worst is Linda something-or-other. I would stick a screwdriver through my eardrum before I'd listen to her again.

 

For the Spirit cruisers: Sorry to hear you had such a hard time with uncontrolled kids, who unfortunately are just reflecting their parents' lack of consideration for others. I never have any problem telling misbehaving kids (I'm talking about spitting soda, walking on people's feet and knocking on doors, not kids just being exuberant within reason) to knock it off because they're bothering/hurting other people. Most of the time they're so shocked that an adult set some boundaries that they do knock it off.

[KerCar]

 

Honestly, I am really not hard to please, but I have noticed NCL's service going downhill as of late. This is my 6th NCL cruise, and 29th cruise altogether, and I really saw a lower standard set on this ship.

 

I wonder after reading your comments and those of some of your fellow passengers (regarding dress and behavior of teens and adults) if the 6 day cruises attract a different crowd of people than the 8 day??? As noted above, I was on the 8 day sailing before yours. IMO the vast majority of people on my cruise were total class acts. Other than a couple of baseball caps in the dining room, and one couple in athletic looking shorts trying to get into Windows:eek: everyone else appeared to be appropriately dressed. In fact, on formal night I was really surprised by the number of woman in long evening gowns and men in tuxes and suits. There was even a handsome young soldier in full dress blues. When he entered the theater before the start of the show he recieved a round of applause from nearly the entire audience:) I have to admit most of my attention was focused on my two beautiful children, but I'm sure I would have noticed if it was as bad as your sailing!!!!!

 

IMO on our cruise the ship was spotless including the public restrooms which I spent a great deal of time in with my 4 yo! But if some of the passengers were as obnoxious as you report it's not hard to figure out where all the mess came from!!!!

 

Maybe the 6 day sailings attract more of a party crowd and the 8 day sailings are better suited for families??? I'd love to hear other peoples thoughts on this???

 

Hope you enjoy your next cruise more:)

[NJPrisonCop]

Kercar: Well, I can definitely see your point. The 8 day cruise costs a little more, which would keep the low budget/lower class people off that itinerary. I also find that cruises out of NYC attract people who get on my nerves. But then again these are the same people I deal with all day long (Jerseyites). Cruises out of Miami are much more enjoyable. People from all over are on those cruises. NYC Cruises are full of rude NJ, NY, and CT people. I am from NJ, but NOWHERE near the city. I live in the country, where people are nice and well behaved.

[Kristpin]

I also just came back from the Spirt also and I thought the service was horrible!! Service in Windows was awful! Wait staff barely spoke to us. No one was friendly at all. I was extremely disappointed in my NCL experience. This was my second NCL cruise and my last!

P.S. Loved Great Stirrup Cay but the bugs were really bad! I was eaten alive!!

[ZoneHPH]

i think there is plenty of great feedback here.

 

something about NJPrisonCop says is quite possible...i tend to agree to some degree. there is something about the people in our tri-state area that just wreaks of "entitlement". i'm not sure where it comes from. or what makes people feel they deserve everything and have no need to be courteous to others.

 

as for low budget/low class...i don't think NJPrinsonCop means to "=" these two groups. i feel i am budget conscious because i cannot afford a minisuite and higher. (but you should see my bar tab at the end of the week). anyway...you don't have to have money to have class.

 

children reflect their parents. some learn from their experiences to become good citizens of the world...others never learn and find their way on our vacations.

[KerCar]

Kercar: Well, I can definitely see your point. The 8 day cruise costs a little more, which would keep the low budget/lower class people off that itinerary. I also find that cruises out of NYC attract people who get on my nerves. But then again these are the same people I deal with all day long (Jerseyites). Cruises out of Miami are much more enjoyable. People from all over are on those cruises. NYC Cruises are full of rude NJ, NY, and CT people. I am from NJ, but NOWHERE near the city. I live in the country, where people are nice and well behaved.

 

Actually, my point was that maybe the 6 day is more of a party atmosphere for people who want to get away for a few days and let loose. I've heard similiar complaints about short Carnival cruises too. I definitely don't equate how much money someone is willing or able to spend on a cruise with their level of 'class'. Just my opinion:)

[loafie]

Entertainment and activities:

I sang karaoke in henry's pub (this became our favorite hang out) quote]

 

Hi Loafie,

My friend and I also spent most of our evenings in Henry's pub during Karaoke... What song did you sing, I'll probably remember that, we had so much fun there and met so many cool people, that I can't remeber anyones name, but I bet I remember the song, LOL

Donna

 

I sang "I hope you dance". It was a lot of fun.

[loafie]

loafie: how did you get the day passes to the Wyndham? I think I'm going to do that this time.quote]

 

Just show up and ask for them at the reception desk. They will give you a wristband.

[Sea Hound]

something about NJPrisonCop says is quite possible...i tend to agree to some degree. there is something about the people in our tri-state area that just wreaks of "entitlement". i'm not sure where it comes from. or what makes people feel they deserve everything and have no need to be courteous to others.

 

I didn't want to bring this up (since I'm a southerner born and bred;)) but I did notice some of this on the 6/10 Spirit cruise. The ship was full and most cruisers were from your tri-state area. I've been around the world in a military career and am generally an outgoing person but I found that, every time I tried to start a conversation with a fellow cruiser, I was looked at with a "You talking to me??" attitude. I finally gave up trying to enteract with my fellow cruisers. It's a shame because I'm a heck of a conversationalist:D :p!

 

The one person I did strike up a lengthy conversation with was quick to state, as did NJPrisonCop, that he was from "the country" in New York -- NOT the city:rolleyes:!

 

It was an interesting cruise. I loved every minute of it -- this did not detract from my enjoyment of the cruise - it was just something I noticed.

 

Sea Hound:D

[ZoneHPH]

I didn't want to bring this up (since I'm a southerner born and bred;)) but I did notice some of this on the 6/10 Spirit cruise. The ship was full and most cruisers were from your tri-state area. I've been around the world in a military career and am generally an outgoing person but I found that, every time I tried to start a conversation with a fellow cruiser, I was looked at with a "You talking to me??" attitude. I finally gave up trying to enteract with my fellow cruisers. It's a shame because I'm a heck of a conversationalist:D :p!

 

The one person I did strike up a lengthy conversation with was quick to state, as did NJPrisonCop, that he was from "the country" in New York -- NOT the city:rolleyes:!

 

It was an interesting cruise. I loved every minute of it -- this did not detract from my enjoyment of the cruise - it was just something I noticed.

 

Sea Hound:D

 

yeah i know what you mean. it's just a funny thing to see people and how they feel about themselves. it usually reflects in their behavior towards others. one of my favorite things to hear from people, particularly in north jersey is the answer to the following question:

 

Q: so where are you from in NJ?

A: i'm from Bergen County.

 

(crickets chirping)

 

they're response is meant to illicit a response from you that you are to be impressed that they live there. meanwhile...if you don't live in the area...how could you be? heheheheheheh that's the part i think is comical.

 

i dunno...people are just funny sometimes. the ones who have traveled and really go deep into a culture with an open mind...tend to be the ones who study and understand people, rather than judge them.

 

i'll be damned if i go on a cruise ship and let people ruin my cruise. alcohol makes the world go round...literally at times.

 

CHEERS!

[twofit]

Interesting topic you have all started. I agree with alot of points regarding entitlement, and that class is not related to income. I'm in suburban New Jersey next to one of the wealthiest towns in the COUNTRY and yes, many of those people behave as if they should get whatever they want, when they want. My town is a little more middle class and people are very warm and polite, with most parents doing their job when it come to their kids. BUT - I totally agree about the issues of people from the tri-state area, as the kids are usually spoiled and left unsupervised on vacation. Plus the foul mouths and a sense of entitlement! That's why we usually travel out of this area as well, but funds were tight this time, and the Spirit fit our needs. My kids know if we EVER heard of any rude behavior they would lose privaleges instantly; unfortunately too many people don't stand up to their kids! (Those of you on the July 29 sailing please report in about our kids behavior!)

[Waves alot]

My niece & I just returned from the Spirit cruise June 17-23 - It was her first cruise & my eighth. We had a great time - the people were so nice & we love to sail out of New York. It is wonderful to just sail by the Statue of Liberty - a beautiful sight! Yes we saw lots of kids running around but they never bothered us -- we had great weather & lots to do --will try to post review soon -- glad we missed all the negative stuff - guess we were too busy talking to all the friendly people:)

[Droopy_Sails]

I live in a very large city that isn't New York. (I adore New York City, though, and would be living there if I could convince my husband that green space isn't all that.) From my perspective, tri-staters don't have a sense of entitlement so much as they have a different understanding of personal space and volume than many other Americans. Call it a cultural difference within a culture. What seems unduly loud, abrasive, in-your-face, demanding and even rude to many other Americans is just regular give-and-take to many tri-staters, most particularly but not exclusively those from NYC.

 

I'll never forget the first time I went to Manhattan as a teenager and watched two guys on the street bellowing and gesticulating at each other over something to do with a delivery. To my young, outsiders' ears, it sounded like a near-fistfight. My New York host saw my discomfort and laughed, explaining that they were having a simple negotiation with plenty of theater. "That's just how we do things here."

 

I'm not excusing truly bad behavior, and New Yorkers have plenty of that, too. Nor am I pretending that more affluent people don't sometime use their wealth in a bullying, entitled way. Am just pointing out that to people who hail from elsewhere, what looks like hideous rudeness may not be intended to be anything of the kind. Our Spirit one-nighter over Labor Day will be our first out of New York. I'm looking forward to seeing what the other people on board will be like.

[JuneauMe]

people, particularly in north jersey is the answer to the following question:

 

Q: so where are you from in NJ?

A: i'm from Bergen County.

 

(crickets chirping) they're response is meant to illicit a response from you that you are to be impressed that they live there. CHEERS!

 

Hold on, that's not fair...I'm from Bergen County, and I am not expecting anyone to be impressed at all (why would they be?)....Many people know of Bergen County simply because of all the Malls. What, you think ..."your from Jersey, ...What exit? ...is any more of a description of where I live?

[NJPrisonCop]

I work with a lot of guys from Bergen County. They don't seem snootier than anyone else. Eh... oh well.

 

I did not mean to equate income with a strong sense of entitlement. But the lower class people (no matter what they make or do for a living) should be reclassified to "the couth-less" people :) People just sometimes don't know how to act. They are loud, rude, and downright rotten. I didn't mean to offend anyone on this particular cruise. And I find a good time in most situations. I guess the fact that I didn't drink a lot had something to do with it. My wife is pregnant and I didnt want to drink like a fish when she couldnt.

[E&B]

BUT - I totally agree about the issues of people from the tri-state area, as the kids are usually spoiled and left unsupervised on vacation. Plus the foul mouths and a sense of entitlement! That's why we usually travel out of this area as well, but funds were tight this time, and the Spirit fit our needs. My kids know if we EVER heard of any rude behavior they would lose privaleges instantly; unfortunately too many people don't stand up to their kids! (Those of you on the July 29 sailing please report in about our kids behavior!)

 

This isn't just an issue in the tr-state area. There are plenty of issues with this in suburban MA also. My kids are handled the same as yours. They know there are limits and consequences. We'll be on the 7/29 sailing too - without the kids - it was convenient to drop them on with relatives in NY before we travel alone! I'm hoping most others on the cruise feel the same way as we do about parenting.

[JuneauMe]

I work with a lot of guys from Bergen County. They don't seem snootier than anyone else. Eh... oh well.

... I didn't mean to offend anyone on this particular cruise. .

 

There are many more "working class" towns in Bergen county than just those few that make larger incomes, so we the huddled masses don't go in much for all that high falootin talk, LOL. I don't think you offended anyone. There were some people acting like low lifes. I also don't think thay you trashed the ship and the trip or rant and rave and demand a free cruise. You simply said that many little things all added up.

So people, go on the Spirit, it's just some observations from this sailing. He still had a good time, it was just much different than his past sailings on NCL. So go, you'll have yourself a good time.

Some of the Dawn Wave people even had some fun.

[Droopy_Sails]

Some of the Dawn Wave people even had some fun.

 

Good point--actually, the ones being honest say they had fun EXCEPT for the wave!

[crazymomhas2]

when people ask where i'm from i just laugh at the "soprano" questions or the famous what exit on the turnpike as someone else stated..as a working middle class family though i have raised my children to respect other people especially adults! we sailed the 6 day spirit in sept and i have to tell you i would expect someone to tell me if my 11 or 6 yr old were bothering them. maybe the bottom line is the vacation being a "family vacation" or the parents hoping the children will run free so they have their own vacation...the one thing i can say is although i am never rude being from the tri-state area and so close to the "city" when we vacation in southern areas it always seems to move at such a slower pace that i can almost scream!:eek: i am used to a much quicker lifestyle, again i am never rude because i fully believe that any vacation is only what you make it so i won't ruin it.

[ZoneHPH]

Hold on, that's not fair...I'm from Bergen County, and I am not expecting anyone to be impressed at all (why would they be?)....Many people know of Bergen County simply because of all the Malls. What, you think ..."your from Jersey, ...What exit? ...is any more of a description of where I live?

 

oh definitely the malls...that's for sure. and i dunno which periodicals...but i know bergen county was rated in one of those "best places to live/highest income/most affluent" type of surveys.

 

of course it is wrong for me to generalize. but i have to say...in my experience...people that have said "i live in bergen county"...have carried that persona. and yes...there are many working class towns in BC.

 

just comes down to how a person was raised. regardless of financial/social status...rude people are still rude.

 

oh and by the way...16W off the Turnpike and 153 off the Garden State Parkway.