We enjoyed the cruise as a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience. Overall it was a good adventure, and a good value but probably wouldn't choose to do it again. The 6 days at sea were tedious at best and could have been much worse if there had been bad weather. We would certainly cruise on the Spirit again, just not on this itinerary.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Checking in was unbelievably quick since we are "Platinum Latitude" members and were escorted right past the huge line for regular check-in. The security line was very long and took quite a long time to get through. If the security check had been better, the rating would have been 5 stars.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The food overall was pretty good - just a few disappointing items (one pork roast at the buffet carving station was really chewy and dry; some desserts were not particularly good). The filet mignon in Cagney's was excellent - perfectly cooked and very tender. Our two meals at Le Bistro were delicious, but the service was a little less than "attentive". Of the 2 main restaurants, "Taste" was our go-to because of the smaller size and proximity to our cabin. Meals in the main restaurants were well prepared and the service was fine. The buffet was fine - a great selection of food that was mostly tasty and fresh (even the salads). Bar service was mostly good, only a couple of long waits over the 16 days of the cruise.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The fitness center is well-equipped and not overly crowded. The weather was poor for most of the cruise, so there was not a lot of pool time, but it was clean and a few brave souls got in. A disappointment was the "all-purpose room" which had a small selection of games and a small library. There was one deck of cards that were terribly worn and most unusable. There was no chapel and no opportunity for worship on the 2 Sundays of the cruise.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
There was a good mix of entertainment - overall good quality given the length of the cruise. The show band was excellent as were the dancers and singers. The entertainers provided a variey of shows that were interesting.
Children's Programs
We were travelling without children, so we have no idea of what was offered. There were not many children on the cruise as could be expected due to the time of year and length of the cruise.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
With a few minor exceptions, the staff were all attentive and eager to serve us in any way they could. Our room steward was excellent, keeping our cabin in perfect condition.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Even though the Spirit is an older ship, the updating that was recently done make her feel "modern". There were some odd "hidden places" such as the "Taste" restaurant that took some exploring to locate, but nothing seriously deficient. We experienced no mechanical issues other than the dismal internet service. The ship was spotless and well maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin was fine - as good as we could expect. Not overly spacious, but not cramped. The shower was one of the larger that we have experienced. The balcony door was easy to open and close and was a pleasant place to watch the scenery when the temperature allowed. The cabin was very clean and showed no "wear and tear".
Ship tip
Strange as it might seem - bring your own deck of cards - the cards that were provided were the worst we've even experienced - made in China and quickly developed folds. Also bring your own reading material - the "library" was not well stocked.
An interesting place. Sort of a "wilderness experience" built for cruises. A few shops and a lift to the nearby summit to get to the zip line or "adventure park". If the weather had been better we might have done these, but took the whale watching cruise instead, which was worthwhile.
We did not take any excursions (mainly due to the price), but the port was OK to walk around, expecially after 6 days at sea and having warm weather again. Beautiful scenery to see when arriving and departing.
We took the Rainbow Falls excursion and loved it. Beautiful scenery - amazing vegetation and flowers. The hike to the falls was moderately stressful - lots of stairs to climb, but certainly worth the exertion if one is able to do it.
We took the Waimea Canyon excursion and it was worthwhile to see. Not quite as dramatic as advertised, especially if you have seen the Grand Canyon or Copper Canyon in Mexico.
We took the option of visiting Pearl Harbor combined with the airport transfer. Visiting Pearl Harbor is an emotion experience, but should bedone at least once in your life. The USS Missouri battleship was very interesting, but watch your time if you tour the lower decks - it takes quite a while to get through the maze of the interior.
Looks like a trip that was as good as the weather allowed. Unfortunately the game room and library tend to suffer on many ships due to a few inconsiderate folks.
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