Must have drinks package (if you drink)

This cruise had some very cool ports. Las Palmas was incredible as was Funchal. Casablanca was different and not a place I would go back to. Going outside the city was a little depressing. With 2 of the first 3 days at sea, it started out a little boring to be honest. This is an older ship and smaller ship so there isn't much to do and the cruise director was very dull.

Our booking didn't come with the premium drink package for whatever reason. Instead, we were given the coveted arcade credits which we of course didn't use. I really felt like we were the only ones without the drink package. It was very sad to see how many people would leave drinks half full and we had to pay $10+ per drink. NCL charges outrageous prices for their drinks. $10+ for a shot of Jameson, $18 for a shot of Jameson Caskmates (the bottle can be bought in the US for $25-$30), $8.20 for a Bud Light/Corona/Wine. Their drink package when purchased comes out to $94 per day (after service charge of 18%). That means you would have to drink 10, yes 10 beers/cocktails to hit that price point and if for some reason you can't drink 10 beers each day of the cruise then each successive day you are losing money. I'm really not sure how they are coming up with those prices. It just doesn't add up. There is really nothing to do on the NCL Spirit besides sit in a lounge and listen to music so drinking is needed.

This cruise was a little more spendy so it had a much older crowd. We are 33 and 35 and I think there were no more than 100 people on the ship that were under 50. We met a lot of very nice people but that does tend to bring a snobbier crowd when the price point is higher. Cruising, especially on NCL is no longer a luxury or for the elite so the glares for not wearing a suit or ballroom gown each night got a little tiring. 

I wouldn't do this cruise in particular again but I would sail with NCL if they included the drinks package. We sailed with NCL a year ago and I really think that the food was better then. It seems to have gone way down hill and really trying to account for the lowest common denominator. You could get steak and lobster in the main dining room for $25 extra. That seem a little steep when you're still getting the same sides and just getting some cheap steak and lobster tail. Cagney's charged $16 for pork ribs and then they served them for FREE the next day at lunch on the pool deck. That was a huge slap in the face. 

As usual the staff was amazing. They are always positive and say good morning/night etc. They are the heroes that make the cruise enjoyable.