This was our second time on the Spirit, we did the same cruise, same time last year. There were 4 neighborhood families in our group, 8 adults and 8 kids, ranging in ages from 7 to 11, and my 16yr old daughter. Driving down from Southern Indiana, we all met up at the Hilton Garden Inn at Meridian Mississippi Friday night. We stayed here before and enjoyed it. Leisurely breakfast, then convoyed down to New Orleans. This year we stayed at the Marriott Metairie on Lake Ponchatrain, about 6 miles from Downtown. With a AAA rate of $84, less than half of what the Marriott downtown charged. Having said that, after the fact, the group thought the downtown hotel to be a better option. We did drive to downtown NO, parked for free by the French Market, and wandered around the touristy areas. Bourbon St was more crowded this year than last, and the sights were just as interesting. We had planned on eating at the Crescent City brew pub, we were told it was 1 hr for our group of 17, no big deal, but 1hr later, we were then told it was an additional 90 minutes. Non too happy, we left and drove back towards the hotel and ate at ??? Sunday Morning, we were planning on an early trip to the pier, but a fire alarm on the 11 th floor had us evacuating the building at 10:20, and delayed us for about 1 hour. Parking at the port is easy, pay your $98, drive in, drop off your bags with the porter, and then park. Take elevator to 2nd floor, and away you go. We carried on 6 bottles of wine, which showed up on the scanner (as expected), and were directed to an NCL employee right by the screening area, paid the corkage fee ($15 per bottle, applied to onboard account), and then into the lattitudes line. We were disappointed in that they announced the first boarding group as we were lining up, that should have been us, dang that fire alarm. Anyway, only took a little time to check in, and then we were on board. This year, they great you with a glass of champagne, orange juice, or Mimosa asa you board. Evidently we boarded 5 times that day. The staff were great, we had carry on bags and coolers of drinks, and they offered to check them in to a baggage check area until the rooms were ready, they even carried our bags for us. The off to Windows for a nice quiet lunch. Much better than heading off up to the buffet. Food and service was great. Once lunch was over, the cabins were ready and off we went to unpack and explore. We always get two adjoining balcony cabins, and get the door unlocked between them. Having a 16yo daughter and a wife, its a nightmare having them share a bathroom, much easier this way. Heck, I came here to relax, not hear them bickering every evening when they're getting ready. Having done this cruise last year, most of the exploring was to see what was new after the month in dry dock. Not much has changed, new carpeting, better bedding, still a beautiful ship. Signed the kids up for the soda card, daughter got soda card and the teen passport booklet, though this was used by the women for foo foo drinks, spiked with liquor from our Rum Runner containers. The guys happily downed several buckets of beer. One note, several people have complained that they get bad service with the soda cards. All our kids got great service. They love bellying up to the bar and ordering their Shirley Temples. We adults got great service too. Everyone was helpful and always smiling. Our cabin stewards introduced themselves, took good care of the cabin, and keeping the cooler filled with ice. We then went to the Galaxy of the stars, and down the staircase to the bridge viewing area. Fascinating place, both the kids and the adults loved it. I would always head down hear early in the morning to watch the captain bring us into the ports. We made reservations for Sunday and Monday in Windows for two tables, table of 8 for the adults, and table of 9 for the kids. My 16yo was in charge of the kids table, and ruled with an iron fist. She was compensated $2 per kid per dinner for the week, and did a great job, received many compliments from other guests. Dinner on Sunday night was at 8:30, and it was wonderful. Great food, great service. So far, we were 2 for 2 in Windows. We were tired after dinner so we went to bed, no partying for us.

Monday. Day at Sea. Breakfast in Windows, again very good. Pokerdave set up our CruiseCritic.com meet and greet, for which we are very grateful, and we met in Shogun at 10am. Several of the officers were there, can't remember all their names, but the effervescent Bruce was there, Adine Barrett, the Restaurant manager, Sean Wurmhoeringer the hotel director, and Karan Arora, the concierge. This meeting paid off in spades. First, talking with Sean, we told him we did the same cruise last year. He rewarded us with invites to the Captains VIP party. Karan also arranged VIP disembarkation at the cruise ports and at New Orleans. Plus other benefits mentioned later. We then headed up to the back of the ship by the kids pool area and watched the kids have fun. Also, one of our party was presented with a pair of shiny silver speado's, which he proceeded to wear, much to the amusement of the rest of the group. Several adult drinks were consumed and a good time was had by all. We grabbed lunch from the buffet, good choices and some great Indian food. After lunch we went to the Lattitudes party at the Galaxy of the Stars. Lots of free drinks, and good jokes by David. No hard sell, just a fun time. Then back to the back of the ship for a little while before heading back to the room to get ready for formal night. Freestyle on NCL means you can wear pretty much what you want, but in our group, the ladies like to dress up, which means the guys have to wear suits, and the kids have Jackets and pants. Did several photo shoots (all of us purchased the photo frenzy, $99 for all the photos, $89 for lattitudes members). Then off to Windows for dinner. Shock, horror, where was the lobster and Beef Wellington. This was absurd, for formal night, they usually have the best menu of the week, but today, not very inspiring at all. We were seated at 5:30, and did not receive our entrees until 6:55, not good, plus the Captains cocktail party was at seven. We quickly ate the entrees, and they told us to come back after the party for our desserts. Captains party was in the art room, lots of free champagne for the adults and soda's for the kids, the appetizers included some monumental shrimp, very good. Met several of his staff as well as the captain himself, who was a gracious host. Got several pictures with him and the kids. Afterwards we went back to Windows for dessert. Again service was not very good. We talked with several other people on the cruise, and they had similar problems, with much smaller groups. We then went to Champagne Charlies for martinis, and were doubly entertained, first by the musical group, and secondly by a young gentleman dancing in the glass elevators by the atrium. He was most entertaining, and would often get other people on the elevator to join in with him. After a couple of hours, the NCL staff asked him to leave. Shame, he was some of the best entertainment we had on the ship all week. Headed up to the Galaxy of the Stars for a couple hours of dancing, then finally sleep.

Tuesday - We spent the day in Costa Maya at Mahahaul, see port review for write up. After problems Monday night, we contacted the Restaurant Manager, who organized us two tables in the Gardens Dining room for the rest of the week. We were well taken care of, great service, the Maitre'd stopped by several times, with lots of fun things to entertain the kids and the adults, and one of the servers - Philip became great friends too, very artful with his silver table scraper. Also, today we got the Lobster and the Beef Wellington. Why didn't they do this menu on Monday. Anyway, the lobster was not served in the tail, but with fish, still very good. Dessert was ok. On NCL the Creme Brulee in the speciality restaurants is very good, but otherwise, nothing matches the Chocolate Melting Cake on Carnival. We went to watch the magician, some of his tricks were good, but a lot of them were sleight of hand, and were hard to see in auditorium, not good. Kept nodding off. Read more