| Cruising is a great way to enjoy a vacation. | | | | was nice to experience darkness whenever I |
| Regardless of where you want to travel, if you | | | | wanted it. This is something that people who have |
| have the opportunity to cruise there, it is | | | | a hard time sleeping might want to consider when |
| well-worth checking into. The benefits of cruising | | | | making reservations in the future. The inside cabin |
| are well-documented, so I won't go into all of | | | | was a bit smaller than I like, it did work. The |
| those again, however, just having returned from | | | | outside cabins were much larger, especially those |
| yet another cruise with my family, I wanted to | | | | with a veranda. As with any ship, it is all about |
| give a professional account about what to expect | | | | personal preference. |
| when taking a cruise, specifically aboard the NCL | | | | The ship did have its share of letdowns. We are |
| Spirit. The Spirit currently (2007 -2008) is | | | | not smokers, so this was a huge one. NCL allows |
| departing from New Orleans. Though cruise ships | | | | smoking in the cabins and in several places |
| frequently change ports the ship itself stays | | | | throughout the ship. It was very irritating to walk |
| pretty much the same. I have quite a bit to | | | | through the hallways smelling smoke. Plus, we |
| report on this ship and this company. | | | | could not use our in-room hairdryer because |
| Overall, NCL receives a passing grade as there | | | | every time we used it, the smell of smoke filled |
| were plenty of positive things I experienced. | | | | our bathroom. That was very annoying and |
| However, there are many things that could be | | | | unappreciated. |
| improved upon. Let's start with the positives. | | | | Another drawback of the cruise was the lack of |
| As with any NCL ship, you can eat whenever you | | | | a soda-service in many places throughout the ship. |
| want wherever you want.. This is a huge positive | | | | First, to get the service you had to pre-pay the |
| for those free-spirited travelers who hate being | | | | $7/day/person. Then you got a "coke" can that |
| strapped to a schedule that someone else | | | | had a lid. The can looks big, but barely holds 6 oz |
| creates. It is very convenient to sleep in late and | | | | of liquid and ice. This created a continuing |
| still have 2-3 restaurants to choose from where | | | | annoyance as the only place to get soda (outside |
| you can eat breakfast. And, if one is a night owl, | | | | of a dining room) was a smoke-filled bar. Then, if |
| like my 14 year old son, you can still get food | | | | you are a big drinker like me, you had to keep |
| anytime you choose. | | | | going back and getting a refill. They never gave |
| The Freestyle goes beyond just being able to eat | | | | you a can of soda and you always had to show |
| when you want. The choice of restaurants is also | | | | your room-key that had a little "coke" sticker on |
| a huge plus. With a variety of choices, one could | | | | it before getting it. Children were a little less, and |
| choose from a typical cruise buffet, a very nice | | | | they had to wear yellow bracelets in order to |
| dining room (called Windows), a more intimate | | | | receive the service. |
| dining room (Garden Room), an Italian sit-down | | | | The elevators did not work in a logical fashion |
| restaurant, a Japanese-style restaurant, and a | | | | much of the time. If you were on deck 7 and |
| wonderful steak restaurant (my favorite called | | | | wanted to go up you would push the up arrow. If |
| Cagney's). There were also a few bar-style | | | | an elevator was on deck 6 going up you would |
| eateries available on the ship as well as the casino | | | | think that the elevator would stop for you. This |
| had a late-night buffet (though I didn't go into the | | | | rarely happened, especially mid-ship. By the end of |
| casino, I heard good reports about the food). | | | | the cruise, people were getting in any elevator |
| Most of the restaurants were included in the price | | | | they could find and ride to whatever floor just to |
| of the cruise, however a few had a $20 per | | | | avoid the wait for another to finally stop. |
| person cover charge but were well-worth the | | | | The entertainment was fair. At times, they had |
| price. The food was always well-prepared and the | | | | content that was not suitable for children even |
| staff were mostly polite and very helpful. They | | | | though children were encouraged to attend. At |
| were usually very helpful when serving my | | | | other times, the shows were fairly entertaining. |
| children (as young as 5 years old) which we | | | | This certainly goes down as a personal |
| appreciated. | | | | preference and each should make up their own |
| Speaking of children, childcare was pretty good. | | | | minds about such things. |
| Now, in all fairness to the reader of this article, | | | | Finally, tips were not up to us. Tips were charged |
| we traveled during low season, so the number of | | | | to you without any discussion. There were times |
| children present was far smaller than during high | | | | when out cabins were not properly cleaned and |
| season. However, my children always asked to go | | | | there were times when the service at a |
| to childcare. That for us was a great sign and a | | | | restaurant was not what I would expect. Still, I |
| welcomed one as we have six children ranging | | | | was charged automatically whether I liked it or |
| from ages 5-16. Even our older children loved the | | | | not. I like the freedom to tip those who do the |
| programs. | | | | best job with the highest tips, but this was not |
| The younger children has their own swimming | | | | possible. I was very disappointed to find out about |
| pool including 2-water-slides. Plus, there were 2 | | | | this on my last night of the cruise. |
| hot-tubs nearby where parents could relax and | | | | Internet service was available, but at 40-70 cents |
| keep an eye on their young ones. There is also a | | | | per minute, who really wants to surf the net. NCL |
| main pool on the top deck along with 4 hot-tubs. | | | | would be much better served to provide |
| Though I never saw anyone swimming in the | | | | more-affordable rates especially for business |
| pool, there were always several people around | | | | owners like myself. Phone charges were even |
| having a good time. | | | | more outrageous. |
| The help-desk staff were very patient and | | | | Overall, I would give NCL a "B-" for this cruise. |
| always informative. And, though we had | | | | Having sailed them before and hearing about how |
| pre-bought our shore excursions from the | | | | much they have improved, I was expecting much |
| excursion staff were available and helpful. NCL | | | | more. It just didn't happen. I did not see the |
| offered several exciting excursions, but they | | | | improvements I was hoping for. However they |
| were a bit over-priced. | | | | did a fairly decent job and the rate was good. |
| For the first time we chose to stay in an interior | | | | Would I sail with NCL again, probably. But having |
| room. This, as it turned out, greatly benefited my | | | | been on other cruises with other companies, NCL |
| sleeping! having always enjoyed an outside cabin, it | | | | would be finish at best in 3rd place. |