Tag Archives: Norwegian Spirit

Norwegian Advises Guests of Check-In Process at Hotel

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Norwegian Advises Guests of Check-In Process at Hotel

Guests boarding the Norwegian Dawn for its Dec. 7, 2025, cruise will complete their check-in processes at a hotel in Tampa.

According to a statement issued by Norwegian Cruise Line, passengers must proceed to the Hilton Tampa Downtown instead of the port on that date.

“Please note that check-in and embarkation arrangements have changed due to updated port availability,” the company said in its letter to booked guests.

“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we make these arrangements to ensure a smooth start to your vacation,” Norwegian added.

The company said that guests who arrive early are welcome to check in with NCL staff, drop off luggage, and explore Tampa before boarding.

While check-in is expected to take place between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., complimentary transfers to the ship will begin at 6:00 p.m.

According to the statement, no check-in will take place at the cruise terminal, and all guests are required to proceed to the Hilton before boarding.

The company noted that several restaurants are located inside and near the Hilton, which will also provide a free downtown trolley with stops at both the hotel and the cruise port.

Pool and day room passes will be available for purchase at the hotel and other nearby sister properties, NCL added.

In addition to using the company’s complimentary transportation, guests are also welcome to proceed to the cruise terminal independently after checking in.

While the Norwegian Spirit is now scheduled to depart at 9:00 p.m., passengers must proceed to the port before 7:00 p.m.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience, and although the situation is beyond our control, we recognise the inconvenience it may cause,” Norwegian added.

The Norwegian Dawn is set to offer a seven-night cruise to the Caribbean on Dec. 7, 2025. Sailing round-trip from Tampa, the ship will visit destinations in Mexico, Belize and Honduras.

In addition to one day at sea, the itinerary includes stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán and Harvest Caye.

Three additional ships are scheduled to sail from Tampa on Dec. 7, including the Carnival Miracle, the Celebrity Constellation and the Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

Review: Norwegian Spirit

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Norwegian Spirit features an outdoor beer garden and lounge.
Credit: 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruisers onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) smallest ship will delight in both Norwegian Spirit’s mega refit and its Alaska itineraries.

Sailing between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seward, Alaska, seven-night cruises offer several less-travelled stops with intriguing excursions. Docked at Icy Strait Point on day three, I jumped at the chance to spot humpback whales, otters and porpoises in one of Southeast Alaska’s liveliest marine playgrounds. Hours earlier, I found myself soaring above the treetops, strapped into a seat on one of the world’s largest ziplines. On the last full day in Valdez, Alaska, a small boat excursion navigated through the floes to Columbia Glacier, a massive icefield renowned for its rapid retreat.

In between, the ship called at the popular ports of Juneau and Skagway, and then cruised to Hubbard Glacier. Disembarkation in Seward offered one final adventure, a scenic five-hour train journey to Anchorage where cruisers headed for Denali and beyond, or flights home.

Renovated Spaces and Amenities

Time onboard Norwegian Spirit added to the excitement in unexpected ways. Carrying 2,032 passengers, the ship was built in 1998 for Star Cruises’ Asia market. Ship age, however, is relative, as the decor, furnishings and public spaces are new again following a 2020 bow-to-stern refurbishment priced at more than $100 million.

In contrast to NCL’s colourful, family-oriented mega-ships, the refit intentionally caters to upscale adult cruisers. The ship’s Mandara Spa is double its original size and now offers an extra-fee Thermal Suite sporting heated tile loungers, a coed sauna and a steam room. Plus, the adults-only Spice H2O pool and hot tub retreat on Deck 10 is a quiet spot at the base of the terraced aft decks. And traditionalists will love the wraparound promenade deck and the Spinnaker Observation Lounge for whale and glacier viewing.

The Spinnaker Lounge offers great views.

Credit: 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line

Staterooms have been redone with minimalist decor and muted colours. Most welcome is the bathroom shower with its glass (not plastic curtain) door.

For those who appreciate a variety of dining options, the revamped Norwegian Spirit offers 14 venues. Le Bistro features tempting French classics. Onda by Scarpetta serves Italian. Cagney’s is primarily a steakhouse, though I loved the cedar-plank steelhead trout. Teppanyaki’s enlarged footprint is set in the three-part Asian venue that includes the Sushi Bar and complimentary dinner at Silk. A variety of dining packages are offered for the a la carte or set-charge hot spots.

The ship’s Atrium provides a comfortable place to relax. Credit: 2023 Norwegian Cruise LineFor included dining beyond Silk, clients can check out the Garden Cafe buffet or The Local’s fast-food menus. Of the two main dining rooms, the remodelled, aft-facing Windows is classier, featuring views on three sides. Smaller, dinner-only Taste stretches from port to starboard, midship.

Norwegian Cancels Most of Spirit’s Sailings for 2024 and 2025

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After announcing the cancellation of the ship’s 2024 summer program, Norwegian Cruise Line is cancelling more scheduled sailings onboard the Norwegian Spirit.

According to different statements sent to booked guests, all of the 2025 departures were cancelled, as well as additional dates in 2024.

Essentially leaving the 1999-built ship with no schedule beyond next April, the new cancellations are the result of redeployment moves, Norwegian Cruise Line said in one of the letters.

“As a company, we are committed to providing exceptional vacation experiences, both aboard our ships and by taking our guests to some of the most sought-out destinations around the world. As a result of a fleet redeployment, Norwegian Spirit’s sailings from February 8, 2025, through and including November 23, 2025, have been cancelled,” the company explained.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause,” Norwegian added.

In 2024, the sailings not long going ahead include cruises previously scheduled to depart between May through early June, in addition to itineraries scheduled to sail between September and December.

The Norwegian Spirit was scheduled to sail in the Pacific during the period, offering itineraries across Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii and Tahiti.

While no cruises had originally been planned for January and early February 2025, and the ship’s 2024 summer program had already been cancelled back in May, the new cancellations leave the Spirit with no schedule after the 2023-2024 winter season.

Impacted passengers will receive several compensations, including full refunds and discounts for rebooking on different dates.

Originally built for Star Cruises in 1999, the Norwegian Spirit is currently one of the oldest in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.

With a capacity for 2,000 guests, it went through a $100-million refurbishment in early 2020. The major modernization project saw the addition of 14 new venues to the ship’s public areas, in addition to cabin updates and technical upgrades.