Norwegian Spirit Review

4.5 / 5.0
2,123 reviews

A Problematic Christmas Cruise

Review for the Mediterranean Cruise on Norwegian Spirit
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WanderingTheWorld
10+ Cruises • Age 30s

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Sail Date: Dec 2016
Cabin: Inside

My husband and I took an NCL cruise during Christmas 2015. Because we had such a good time, we decided to do it again. After this latest experience, it is doubtful Christmas cruising will become a tradition.

Embarking in Barcelona was a breeze. We were able to enter our stateroom right after we boarded, and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Windows. Our outlook was relaxed and worry-free until the muster drill. After hearing all the required bits about lifeboats and emergencies, the captain made an announcement. Due to the weather, our cruise itinerary would be reversed. I have never seen the mood of a crowd change so quickly. I panicked because we had booked two independent transfers (Livorno to Florence & Civitavecchia to Rome). When we asked guest services for assistance, we were directed to the ONE courtesy phone. When we asked if we could have free internet time to just send out an email, we were told that is against NCL policy. Thankfully, I was able to contact the tour provider using wifi in Palma (our first stop). I highly recommend Tuscany Bus. They have great customer service.

My beef with NCL isn't that they changed the itinerary. The weather is out of their control. What bothered me was the lack of real help after the announcement. Unsurprisingly, guest services was swamped. Why didn't they pull more people? Also, the solution provided was not adequate for the number of people. One courtesy phone?!? The biggest disappointment of all was the decision to stop in Livorno on Christmas Day rather than keep it as a sea day. We cancelled our transfer to Florence because we knew the city would basically be shut down. (Thankfully, we got a refund from Tuscany Bus.) We stayed on board, but the mood and festivities were all muted.

Cabin Review

Inside

Cabin IX

This cabin was a mess! Our safe did not work and was fixed the first night. Our shower had a loose tile. It had to be retiled on day 2, so we had to carry our things up 5 decks and get ready for dinner in a different room. Our toilet repeatedly quit working. Because the issue couldn't be properly fixed, we had to move to a different stateroom on Christmas morning.

Port Reviews

Barcelona

A great city!! We stayed here before and after our cruise. We took day trips on our own to Tarragona and Girona.

Marseille

There was not enough time here. We took a ferry to the Frioul Islands. Gorgeous!

Naples

Naples is a dirty city, but we found some escapes. Check out the Bourbon Tunnels and the views from Ovo Castle.

Florence (Livorno)

What an ugly port! Due to an itinerary change, we docked here on Christmas Day. We had planned to go to Florence but did not since most everything would be closed.

Palma de Mallorca (Majorca)

Such a quaint town! We visited the cathedral and the Arab baths. We got lost walking the streets and found a peaceful convent.

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