The cruise liner
Norwegian Spirit was built at Meyer Werft in Germany in 1998 as the
SuperStar Leo. She is 879 ft long and cruises at up to 25 knots. Construction quality and design are both excellent. The ship carries Scandinavian officers, an international crew of 1,300 and 1,966 passengers. In 2004, she transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line to replace the
Norwegian Sky in Alaska.
Star Cruises, a Malaysian-owned firm, is the parent company for NCL, and the SuperStar Leo was that company's first new ship. Previously, the fleet had consisted of second-hand vessels from North Europe and North America. The Leo had the layout for multiple restaurants that would become the trademark for NCL's Freestyle dining, so she was a natural candidate for transfer.
All age groups are attracted to this ship and most are North Americans. The ship is well-designed for families with children. Gratuities are added to the final bill on a per-person, per-diem basis, including children, to cover the cabin and dining staff. The bar stewards get an automatic 15%.
In the fall, the Spirit makes 6-day New England and Canada cruises from New York. She then transfers to New Orleans for 7-day November to March cruises to the Western Caribbean. Two days are spent at sea. From April to August, the Spirit is again based in New York for 6-day trips to Florida and the Bahamas with one night party trips out of the city in between.
Measuring 75,388 tons, this is a large international-grade ship with a high percentage of balconies; she fits well into the NCL fleet. Her decor retains many colors, decorative features and artwork from her Southeast Asian days. The central atrium, executed in marble and wood grain, is a grand social hall surrounded by shops and cafes (bar, pastries, tea and coffee at one, and champagne and bar drinks at another). From here, glass-enclosed elevators rise to the high decks.
Broadway-style revues light up the Moulin Rouge, a balcony and main level show lounge with good sightlines and seating for almost 1,000, while the 430-seat Galaxy of the Stars showcases cabaret. It acts as a grand, comfortable and stylish observation lounge during the day with huge view windows on three sides. Henry's Pub, is a very popular, intimate, ersatz old English-style pub with darts. It stays open late at night, while the Smoking Room dispenses cigars and brandy, and the small disco jumps, once you find it. The Shanghai Bar has several colorful private karaoke rooms. The casino (downsized from Star Cruises' days) and cinema provide alternative diversion. The library and card room, positioned well away from the madding crowd, draw the few in the mood for quieter moments. The 13 decks also encompass an observatory, fitness center and spa, children's area with a separate pool for the young ones and a video arcade for teenagers, jogging track, driving range, basketball court, deck tennis and pool flanked by pagodas.
Dining choices number eight, and three carry an extra charge. Make reservations early for your top choices. Windows, the stunning main dining room executed in a classic ocean liner style, two decks high and divided into three sections, is well-named for its floor-to-ceiling glass wall facing over the wake. The menu here is standard Continental fare. The Garden Room restaurant is the second smaller dining room. Cagney's is the steakhouse and Le Bistro is French. Both require reservations and have supplemental charges. Shogun is for Chinese, Japanese and Thai fusion food, and a 10-seat teppanyaki grill has the chef preparing the meal in front of you. A charge applies here, too. The casual eateries with no charge are Raffles Terrace Cafe, a large lido buffet often with queues for the two main buffet lines; La Trattoria for Italian fare; and Blue Lagoon Cafe for diner-type meals. The Bier Garten overlooking the pool dispenses hamburgers, German-style sausages and salads to be enjoyed at picnic tables.
Of the 983 cabins, two-thirds are outside and three decks of cabins offer narrow balconies. As the Spirit was built for the 3- to 4-day Asian market, the standard cabins are small and when the upper berths are used, they provide truly crowded living quarters. Storage space is tight, but happily, NCL has a very relaxed dress code, so you can pack lightly. Many cabins have connecting doors for family groups. Room service includes a limited menu, mostly cold items and pizza. The largest accommodations are the six Executive Suites and the 12 Zodiac Suites.
With its Southeast Asian origins, the Norwegian Spirit is a colorful ship, and like the newer NCL ships, she has a great choice of dining venues. Establish an eating plan, and then move quickly to secure the dining options you want. The fares are reasonable, so spring for one or two of the extra-charge dining options. The food will be better and the setting more distinctive.
