Carnival Spirit Review
Rating by category
Additional details
We are a couple looking at 50 and choose this cruise after a long time saying that we would try a cruise "one day". After recommendations from friends last year for the Spirit, we jumped on a great Boxing Day Sale price for this cruise. I feel that 8-10 days is a good length of time for a first cruise.
Embarkation and disembarkation from Sydney OPT was very well organized, plenty of staff to point you in the right direction. Soooo much easier than airport travel. We were probably on within 30-40 mins. Sydney is such a beautiful harbor to leave from.
The decor on Deck 2, 3 and in the atrium is truly awful, as has been previously noted, and never grew on me. It made me feel ill at times. For this reason, I will consider another ship out of Sydney for our next cruise. The MDR and Pharaoh's Palace decor, whilst also OTT, did somewhat grow on me.
Cabin Review
Balcony
Allotted to us as a Guaranteed room. Top accommodation deck (8) and 3 rooms from the front. Look to the right about 20 meters and you can see into the bridge. Pretty cool. No noisy kids up and down the corridor on this cruise. Under the spa and gym so pretty quite for being under the Lido. Love the full glass balcony door and barrier.
Port Reviews
Isle of Pines (New Caledonia)
Beautiful, two beaches to swim at, and some local tours on offer.
Mare
You need to take the $20 bus to the beach, nothing really to do at the wharf although I did see a few people swimming. About a 15-20 minute bus ride.
Lifou
Lovely again, some people stung by small jelly fish. We walked up the hill to a church and lookout. Would possibly do a tour on this island next time.