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Login Get ready to experience laid-back luxury as you set sail on the all-new Norwegian Spirit, modernized from bow-to-stern with the adult cruiser in mind. Our most extensive ship renovation ever, harmonized to offer the best of Norwegian Cruise Line's exceptional fleet. Every stateroom modernized. Every bar and lounge redesigned. Every dining experience elevated, featuring our new fine Italian restaurant Onda by Scarpetta. So come aboard and soak in the stunning views of the gorgeous Greek Isles and Turkey. And starting December 2022, Norwegian Spirit will be cruising Australia and New Zealand for the very first time.
Please note, Norwegian Spirit does not offer Youth Programs.
I chose this ship and itinerary (Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia) following recommendations by several cruising vloggers I follow. In general, I really enjoyed the experience on Norwegian Spirit, aside from bad weather that cost us three New Zealand ports and a scenic cruising day in Fjordlands National Park. But there were some shortcomings which also must be addressed. THE GOOD * While Norwegian is considered a family-oriented, entry-level brand, Norwegian Spirit's small size and relative lack of child-oriented amenities give it more of a relaxed, upscale, Holland America-like atmosphere. This, combined with the destination and time of year, meant most of the passengers were age 50+ and there were very few kids. I personally liked this dynamic. But I would not recommend this ship for families with young children who need a lot of suitable activities, particularly on sea days (more to come about this). * Norwegian did a very good job with the US$100 million overhaul of Spirit a few years ago. Despite it being nearly 30 years old, the ship looked very modern and stylish. * This was my first time sailing with Norwegian, and I can see why it is so highly regarded among solo travelers. There is a programming staffer dedicated to solo cruisers who leads a meet-up every night and organizes a dinner for solo cruisers. Even though I was travelling alone, I got to meet a lot of people this way. Which leads to my next point... * I loved the passenger camaraderie on this cruise. I've done many solo trips and two previous solo cruises, and I've never interacted so much with other passengers. And this is coming from someone who is not outgoing generally. * The specialty dining venues, particularly Cagney's Steakhouse, were excellent. On a voyage this long you get 4 specialty meals with the Free-At-Sea package. * The service was very good, with one specific exception that I will get to later. THE MEDIOCRE * The main dining room food was mediocre and sometimes bad. The worst was the Montreal Spiced "Brisket" which looked and tasted like no brisket I've ever seen. And I would've liked to see more food items from this part of the world. * Similarly, while there were some very good wines on board, I was disappointed that there weren't more from Australia and New Zealand. These countries have some of the best wines in the world, and I was hoping to try more of them on a ship sailing there. I don't need to fly nearly 10,000 miles/16,000 kilometers to have wine from Italy and Germany. * The entertainment was hit or miss. The highlight was an Australian-Spanish comedian who performed twice. I also, surprisingly, enjoyed the country music revue "Blazing Boots" (I'm generally not a country music fan). And the house band "Hotwire" was very good. Otherwise, the entertainment was meh. * The inside public spaces got very crowded on our sea days. Bad weather is a common occurrence in New Zealand and southern Australia, and my cruise was no exception. We lost three New Zealand ports and a scenic cruising day to storms, and had to spend four consecutive days at sea - two more than planned. On three of those sea days, passengers were mostly unable to go on deck. A ship that regularly sails in this part of the world should be better equipped for this, such as moving larger activities to the theater. * In this day and age, cabins should have more than one North American outlet. I recommend bringing a universal adapter, or at least one for a European outlet, as well as USB-A cables that can go into the outlets on the nightstands. THE BAD * While the service was generally very good, Norwegian did a very poor job communicating the cancellation of the Dunedin port and the scenic cruising day. Passengers began sharing communications from Dunedin port authorities the morning before the cancellation, but Norwegian didn't say anything until that evening. In addition to damaging trust with passengers, this was very uncourteous to those who were no longer able to cancel third-party excursions in Dunedin. I don't blame Norwegian for cancelling the ports; it can't control the weather. But I do blame it for the poor communication. All told, I had a very good and at times great time. Losing so many of the New Zealand ports was a major bummer, but the Australian ports (which had great weather) and passenger camaraderie partially made up for it.
We arrived in Australia a week early to stay with relatives in Adelaide before flying into Sydney. Being summer it was hot not real humid. The city has a diverse population with great places to eat and very laidback. Unlike America tipping is not a thing. Busses and trams crisscross the city. The cruise port is an easy walk from the heart of the city in a district called THE ROCKS. Once boarding the ship, you cannot get off. The lines to board moved fast at 12:30 boarding time. We had been on the Spirit before so after the muster station we ate at Taste to relax. They had on the Super Bowl on the huge TV at the Atrium with Super Bowl parties or the Americans and Canadians onboard. A woman tourist died onboard, so the ship had to wait till police and local authorities completed their work. We left port at 1am the next day and missed Eden our first port and added a sea day to Burnie. Burnie is a port town in Northern Tasmania very eclectic with shops and restaurants like 1950s America. The city provided a shuttle into town where we wore windbreakers at a coffee shop at the beach. We like the Spirit for the small size and friendly staff. H20 seemed to have larger crowds during cooler days than the hot days of Sydney. Melbourne was also an industrial port. The traffic was bad due to detours with the president of Israel visiting. We visited Kiwi fruit farms and vineyards outside town. The voyage across the Tasman Sea was calm and we passed into Fjordland National Park and waterfalls, dolphins, mountains and glaciers. On the East coast we stopped in Dunedin an old town founded by the Scots and Māori. Great people very proud of their home. A major cyclone caused us to miss the port at Christchurch , the captain doubled back to go up the Western coast of the South Island to Wellinton, Napier, Tarangua and Auckland. Great cruise even with missed ports. Be ready for adventure.
Completely Reimagined Staterooms
Experience all that the world has to offer during the day and stretch out in style at night. Every single stateroom has been renovated with the world traveller in mind. Enjoy contemporary design inspired by our newest, most sophisticated ships. Live it up as you wind down.
Suite
Revel in spacious serenity at sea. Our luxurious suites offer only the finest appointments throughout, butler service, and more.
Balcony
Perfect for sun seekers and stargazers. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to your own private balcony. Well-appointed and stylish accommodations offer plenty of room to unwind.
Oceanview
Experience style, comfort and amazing oceanviews. These modern and cozy staterooms feature excellent appointments. All enhanced by stylish touches and clear views of the ocean.
Inside
Experience stylish comfort with everything you need inside. Smart and stylish appointments include a sitting area and more.
COMPLIMENTARY DINING
Every cruise fare includes beautifully crafted menus in our two main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices. From fresh-baked breads, desserts and pastries to our chefs' original dishes made with the freshest ingredients, your dining can be as fine or fun as you want.
Serving a wide variety of culinary delights to please every palate, our complimentary dining options include two main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices. Plus, our Main Dining Rooms offer a menu that changes daily, Chef's Signature Dishes and carefully selected wine recommendations, guaranteeing a different culinary adventure with every visit.
SPECIALITY DINING
Dining aboard Norwegian is about having choices. Enjoy delicious comfort foods as well as more exotic choices from our many complimentary dining options. Or widen your palate further and choose from our speciality restaurants for a cover charge or á la carte. Whether it's a cheeseburger you have a desire for, or Coq au Vin, your dinner is ready when you are. And if you book a Speciality Dining Package, you can savour an array of our speciality restaurants for one special price.
Enjoy a night of gastronomic proportions at one of our many speciality restaurants. Sip your favourite cocktail as you select from choice cuts of Angus beef at Cagney's Steakhouse. Savour French cuisine at Le Bistro. Or indulge in a modern Italian culinary experience at Onda by Scarpetta, coming to Norwegian Spirit in February 2020. No matter what you choose, our speciality dining options feature the tastes you'll crave.
Listen and learn in a lecture held by a guest speaker, Norwegian Cruise Line ships have much to offer to enhance your learning and senses.
With so many bars and lounges to discover, finding your favourite may take a few days. Dance the night away, relax with your favourite beer at one of our many bars or pop some bubbly and toast to the good life. Whether you're looking to meet up with friends or make new ones, there's always an opportunity to mix it up.
When it comes to the entertainment on Norwegian Spirit, there's never a dull moment. Tickle your funny bone during our comedy variety show inside the Stardust Theatre. Enjoy a magical evening with our magician and comedy show. Or don your best white attire and dance the night away during our White Hot Party. It's showtime. All the time.
From top to bottom and from bow to stern, Norwegian Spirit has enough onboard activities to fill every minute of your cruise. Indulge in a refreshing swim at the pool, complete with hot tubs and numerous deck chairs. Wanna get lucky? Bet it all at our award-winning Casinos at Sea®. And when all is said and done, enjoy a pamper session at Mandara Spa. With so much to do, we'll always have you coming back for more.
Forget to pack something? No worries! Our gift shops onboard carry everything you'll need for fun in the sun. Shop from a variety of souvenirs, cosmetics, clothing, snacks and sundry items. Treat yourself at our duty-free shops full of fantastic savings on fine jewellery, accessories, perfume, liquor and tobacco.
When you want some "me" time, look no further than Mandara Spa®. Spend some time in the Thermal Suite, and feel the stress melt away. Relax with a hot-stone massage, one of over 50 speciality treatments offered. Let our pampering professionals soothe and rejuvenate you with facials, massages, acupuncture and a full menu of services.
Please note: Norwegian Spirit does not offer Youth Programs.
