Norwegian Spirit Review
Rating by category
Additional details
We took a Canary Island cruise on Norwegian Spirit (NCL Cruise Lines) late February 2018 and want to share our experiences with anyone who is thinking of booking a cruise with this organisation which cares little about its customers but does care about making as much money as possible from them. My main headline is that if you wish to be an independent traveller (ie you want to explore the ports of call mainly by yourselves and not on very expensive ship-run excursions) then this Cruise line is definitely not for you. In fact, they actively discourage those options for travel which don’t include them making a profit from it.
Now for the pros and cons which relate to our experiences onboard ship compared with all other cruise lines I have sailed with.
Overall the majority of customer-facing staff (except for all those behind the Reception Desks - who need replacing or retraining because they were very unhelpful) gave punctual service with a smile with the odd hiccup (amusing in hindsight) and they met my expectations. Also, the food in the main restaurants and buffet areas was generally very good despite it getting a little boring towards the end of the ten day cruise. The nightly entertainment was reasonably good on some days to downright spectacular on others. The daytime and early evening entertainment was puerile and juvenile in nature except for the bands with music and songs and the odd trivia quiz. However, there were a number of things which disappointed us, each by itself trivial in nature but collectively made us decide never again to use this Cruise Line because it fell way below our expectations.
Cabin Review
Inside
Well sited for getting to promenade and main dining areas without using lifts. Noise from engines but didn't interrupt sleeping hours. Comfortable bed and well laid out with plenty of wardrobe and cupboard space. Cabin steward was friendly.
Port Reviews
Barcelona
Didn't get to see Barcelona due to incompetence of NCL staff on disembarkation.
Casablanca
The large mosque built by the sea is a must to visit. Walk through the medina on the way back to the ship to fully experience local customs.
Las Palmas (Gran Canaria)
Both the cathedral (outside) and palace (inside) were next door to each other and were well worth a visit as were the mediaeval arab baths. Also take time to wakk through the narrow streets behind these huge buildings to take in the ambience of old Las Palmas.
Malaga
Roman amphitheatre , a fort and a castle worth a visit. Good views from the top. The walk between was invigorating (steep uphill) not for the faint hearted or in hot weather.
Alicante
Good castle views and a nice walk down from there into the city.
Tenerife
Terrible rating only because the Cruise Ship chose a completely different itinerary to what was advertised. This also applies to Madeira.