Easily the best cruise experience ever, partly because I met a few officers (and many crew members) who made sure I thoroughly enjoyed the ship and its many amenities. Although some of the ports were industrial ports, shuttles were available to get us to the city center which offered interesting things to do.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
It was quick and easy, probably the fastest and easiest embarkation ever on an NCL cruise.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
All were great. I'm familiar with their menus so was able to order/eat items I really liked.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
I only went to the casino and really liked the floor plan because everything was contained in one room. It was large enough to have a variety of slot machines, including some new and old ones that I liked.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
For live music, I really liked the Upgrade, Nature's Rhythm, Soul Inspiration. For stage shows, I enjoyed the performer who did the Frankie Valli/Frank Sinatra show, as well as Elements.
Children's Programs
No young children with me.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
It seemed like I was given the royal treatment everywhere I went, especially after I was seen visiting with some of the officers and dining with the General Manager and Food and Beverage Director. I was happy to be recognized for my loyalty to NCL.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
So easy to find my way around, especially after a recent cruise on NCL Encore which was huge by comparison. Common areas were clean and well-maintained. At one time, during an elevator ride, I noticed that someone had spilled a drink. I brought this to the attention of the buffet washy-washy steward who immediately reported it to a maitre d'
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
It was very comfortable and adequate in size for me. I liked that the walls and furniture were light in color because it made the room seem bigger. My room steward made sure it was always clean and well supplied.
Ship tip
Make your specialty restaurant reservations in advance so you can select the dining time. If the time you pick is not available, select a day and time anyway, then see the restaurant reservations agent on embarkation day to make changes.
This was my embarkation port. I did not do an excursion because I arrived prior to embarkation day to see relatives. The port facility itself looked like an old warehouse, but that did not matter because there was free wi-fi available while waiting, and restrooms were also available.
I did not do an excursion. I took the shuttle to town and took the Wellington City Cable Car which took me to the cable car museum on the hill top. The view up on the hill top was amazing.
I did not do an excursion. I took the public bus to Christchurch and was happy to see the towns along the way. The bus station itself was a sight to behold. It was clean, modern, and information on the buses was automated. I walked to the shopping center where I took a city tour tram. That was delightful!
I did not do an excursion but went to town on my own via public transportation. The city's public transportation was easy to navigate with a day pass. I went to the Docklands area hoping I could get on the Star (Ferris Wheel) but found out it has been non-operational for over a year.
It's a small port in a small town, but that did not matter. I went on an excursion to the golf course which was inhabited by kangaroos. What a fun time to see many kangaroos of different sizes, some with joeys.
This was my disembarkation port. The port itself was very nice, clean and well organized with many helpful personnel. I was able to see the sights because I know someone who lives here. It's a beautiful city with many beautiful buildings.
We were on the spirit in October for the Hawaii , Tahiti and Bora Bora etc. I feel the same as you. It was the best cruise and we have been on many with different Cruise lines but mainly NCL. We renewed our vows onboard and our event rep May made sure our day was perfect. NCL is very lucky to have her. The Captain performed the service and we were honored. What a nice man. The waitstaff were wonderful. I have a dairy allergy and Maria who took care of special diets took very good care of me. Our room steward and all staff were wonderful. We bought 2,000 worth of Cruisenext credits we were so impressed. We will be going in March 2024 to take the Australia and New Zealand cruise. We decided on this cruise because it is the spirit. Thank you so much for the tips.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
