The Walmat of the Sea.
Norwegian Spirit Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean
11 Night Grand Mediterranean (Venice To Barcelona)
Sail date: December 09, 2016
Ship: Norwegian Spirit
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: 5019
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 7 years ago
Review summary
I was very disappointed with our cruise vacation. My wife and I have cruised several times with a variety of lines, and maybe because of that, I have come to expect certain things from a cruise that NCL did not live up to. I don't think I'm being a snob either because I am normally very pleased and have a lot of good things to say. NCL might advertise "Freestyle Cruising", but it should be called "Nickel & Dime Cruising". Everything comes with an extra fee, a confusing answer from someone who can't communicate, and a non-stop barrage of overselling silly products, raffle tickets, trip excursions, etc. You can't even get away from it in your room because our steward told us we HAD to have our room serviced EVERY day so they could check our mini-bar. Even the dining room had items for a fee in the menu. The little tough steak was inclusive, but the rib-eye was $20. We were even charged to leave the ship at one of our ports! (A first EVER!) For our Rome stop, NCL provided a free shuttle to the opposite side of the port from the train station, in a place where there was nothing but taxis to take us back to the other side of town by the port again by the train. (A total shake-down!) I have never actually been happy to get off a ship before this cruise but I was this time, and I hope that NCL chokes on every penny they extorted from me on the cruise... cause I'll never use them again!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Pay a bit more and cruise with any other line. Besides Carnival (which I would rank this right below), the other lines a far better and not much more! This is my LAST NCL CRUISE!
Ports of call
Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy