By Candice Cain
The bow of the "Norwegian Spirit"
Norwegian Cruise Line offers the "youngest fleet on the planet." The "Norwegian Spirit," however, is one of the older ships in the fleet. It was built in 1998 and was first owned by Star
cruises. When it was acquired by Norwegian in 2004, the cruise line decided to keep the Asian influences throughout the ship. It was refurbished in 2004, then again in the fall of 2008, but the decor remained untouched. It is the only Norwegian ship with this subdued Asian theme.
Features
The hallway of the deluxe penthouse (Room 5000) on the "Spirit"
The "Norwegian Spirit" features a wide variety of staterooms, from inside cabins to owner's suites. There are 11 restaurants on the ship as well as room service, and it has eight bars. Passengers are never at a loss for things to do, with a wide variety of activities available on the ship and fantastic shore excursions when in port. There is a kids' water park area, a pool for adults, two exercise pools, four hot tubs, a spa, a fitness center, a library, a salon, karaoke rooms, a disco, a teen disco, a theater, a basketball court, a golf driving area and more to keep passengers occupied throughout the days and nights during their cruise. Don't forget to bring your room card (which also acts as a credit card) when you are shopping.
Pros and Cons
There are definitely more pros than cons on the "Norwegian Spirit." The rooms are spacious, but you do get what you pay for. If you upgrade to a higher class, you will have more room. The butler and concierge services that come with the high-end suites and penthouses are worth the extra price, especially if you are traveling with young children. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately, a lot of the staff doesn't speak the best English, so you may run into a language barrier on-board. The casino is nice, but it takes a long time to get assistance if you win big or need help with a slot machine. The food is hit and miss, depending on where you eat. Do go to the midnight chocolate buffet--it's divine.
Bottom Line
The "Norwegian Spirit" is a nice, clean ship with a wonderful staff, good food and a lot of activities. The higher-end rooms, specifically those with balconies and the suites, are a lot better than the inside and ocean-view staterooms because there is quite a lot more room. The butler service and concierge service in the higher-end suites will make your vacation stress-free. The staff aboard the "Norwegian Spirit" treats their passengers like royalty, even if they do not have a good grasp of the English language. Passengers are sure to have a great time on any cruise that they take on the "Norwegian Spirit."
Resources
About the Author:
Candice "Candy" Cain began writing professionally in 1994. She is star of the developmental reality series, "Wedding Lane with Candy Cain." She has been published in several magazines and writes her own blog covering destination weddings. Cain has a Bachelor of Arts in dramatic literature from the George Washington University.
