Just off Spirit w/2 kids--8 and3

[HK Fan]

After years of lurking on this site, I have finally decided to start posting (I'm not very computer savvy). We are just off the Norwegian Spirit Western Caribbean cruise with DH, DD who is 8 and DS who is 3. We had a great time. We are very big fans of freestyle. My husband especially likes the fact that he can wear jeans to dinner. All dining rooms allowed jeans. We had to stay in an inside cabin because there were no other rooms available that would accommodate 4 people. I was a little worried about how that would work out but it turned out to be fine. We had plenty of room and DH who doesn't really like inside rooms because he gets slightly claustrophobic did just fine. The kids loved loved loved the kids club. They also loved Windows restaurant. We found the service in all of the dining areas to be really good. This was the best service we have had in 3 NCL cruises. We had sushi one day for lunch and thought it was a great value for what we had to pay ($30 for DH and myself). In addition to our regular order, the sushi chef made us small rolls of different sushi so we could try the different types of fish. It was an amazing lunch. The shows on the ship were really good. The dancers/singers did a great job, the comedian, Sam Fedele, was hysterical, and we thought the Fountains show on the last day of the cruise was one of the funniest shows we've ever seen.

 

The ports: We went to Costa Maya, rented a taxi and did a beach day at Mahajual. At Santo Tomas in Guatamala, we walked to the pier building and arranged a Livingston Humanitarian Tour with Go With Gus. Guatamala was a really beautiful port and the tour was really extensive. We were surprised at how much we enjoyed the day here. In Belize City, we tendered and arranged a van ride to the Altun Ha ruins. And in Cozumel, we did the Tulum tour with the ship. We tried not to do too much because we had the kids with us but we still ended up with fairly busy days. They were troopers, though. We made sure we gave them snacks and lots of drinks and for the Tulum tour with the long bus ride, DD had her DS game and we took a portable DVD player for DS.

 

Overall, we had a great time. Enjoyed New Orleans for a day before sailing. I'm totally bummed to be back at home in the Chicago area where it's supposed to snow tomorrow. If anyone has questions, especially about taking small children on this ship/itinerary, just let me know. :)

[silkhair1]

I loved the Spirit too, and can't wait to go back on in July!!!!!

[oceanswimmer]

HK Fan, I completely agree with you about freestyle dining. I've only been on two cruises -- the first was a RCCL cruise and while it was nice the hassle of eating at a set time every night was really a pain. It added a lot of stress to our vacation! The second cruise was on the Gem last spring from NYC to the Bahamas and we loved everything. We're going to going to go on the Pearl to Alaska this summer and freestyle played a big part in our choosing NCL.

[Don Haynes]

Spirit has a good western Caribbean itinerary. She may not be as new and large as the Star and Jewel classes, but she isn't that much older or smaller. By no means is the Spirit out of date. She has plenty of restaurants and lounges to please most. Not to mention three decks of balconies.

 

And while her balconies aren't the largest either, they are suitable for sitting outside in the mornings drinking coffee as the ship pulls into port. Something more New Englanders are going to enjoy sailing into Bermuda this summer.

[akeka]

After years of lurking on this site, I have finally decided to start posting (I'm not very computer savvy).

 

Glad you are ready to start posting here. Thank you for the information on the Spirit. We'll be sailing on her in 14 days (but who's counting) and can't wait. Sorry you had to go back to snow. No one ever feels sorry for me having to go home to San Diego;).

[chrisbd1]

Just off the Spirit this morning! I had an excellent time. She's such a beautiful ship! The staff was just so nice and friendly.

[HK Fan]

We've been on three different cruise lines--Carnival, Windjammer Barefoot (we're still mourning the loss of that cruise line) and NCL. We'll be trying Princess next year for a Panama Canal cruise. So far, we just love the freestyle. DH had to wear a suit to work everyday for 10 years at his last job, so the last thing he wants to do is dress up on vacation. The various dining times are also really good for us with our kids.

 

Akeka, I'm so jealous that you will be on the Spirit in two weeks and that you live in San Diego. I grew up in the L.A. area and then DH and I lived in Phoenix for 6 years before moving back to his hometown in Illinois. I definitely prefer the sun to the snow. Have a great time on the cruise.

[klupchak]

Hi-we're leaving on the same trip in 3 days (live Wrigley Field area)-may I contact you to get more ideas? Thanks, Shawn

[HK Fan]

Hi Shawn. Are you traveling with kids? I think I may have just answered one of your other posts on another forum about the Spirit regarding what to do in Santo Tomas. Let me know what questions you have and I will totally answer anything. We had a great time. :)

[klupchak]

Hi-we're heading out of New Orleans on the Spirit, 4/12--wow, 3 days away!!!! Did not book anything for Santo Tomas, as the excursions didn't seem that great and did seem very long (HK Fan, I couldn't find your other answer)? What did anyone do there, and should I just try to find something off the cruise ship (went online for Belize-cave tubing, zipping/Costa Maya, ATVs)? Have 2 sons 15 and a daughter 23, so looking for things that would excite that age group. Also, are you allowed to bring pop on board in New Orleans (we were able to in Miami last year, but NCL said no when I asked whatever person I got on the phone)? Any good shopping tips for any of the ports (and that I can't buy in Chicago)? Would anyone recommend horseback riding on Cozumel?

Thanks, Shawn from Chicago, where we had snow 4 days ago.

[MobileMystic]

We did the Dulce River and Quirigua Ruins. It was a really long day. It was beautiful and well worth the trip...But probably not exiting for the 15 year olds...More of a relaxing slow boat with lots of scenery as opposed to a speed boat...

[karen555]

I asked this before but did not get an answer. Can you tell me if the arcade is still on deck 10? I am booked in one of the new cabins that was added in November. These cabins do not show up on the deck plans yet. They are located where the arcade is showing, I believe. Did they get rid of the arcade? Move it? or make it smaller? Thanks.

[ImPeaches]

I asked this before but did not get an answer. Can you tell me if the arcade is still on deck 10? I am booked in one of the new cabins that was added in November. These cabins do not show up on the deck plans yet. They are located where the arcade is showing, I believe. Did they get rid of the arcade? Move it? or make it smaller? Thanks.

 

The arcade is now on Deck 7, right next to the Blue Lagoon and near the Casino.

[Don Haynes]

I asked this before but did not get an answer. Can you tell me if the arcade is still on deck 10? I am booked in one of the new cabins that was added in November. These cabins do not show up on the deck plans yet. They are located where the arcade is showing, I believe. Did they get rid of the arcade? Move it? or make it smaller? Thanks.

 

You would have though by now NCL would have posted the new deck plans of deck 10 showing the new eleven cabins, three inside and eight balcony where the arcade was. It shouldn't be that difficult for a Photoshop document.