Carnival Spirit questions

J

Jeana

Guest
We'll be sailing Carnival Spirit in May to Alaska. We haven't sailed Carnival in about 10 years... Can anyone give us some tips/info on sailing Carnival these days? How is the food and service? How is the buffet? Any and all information would be greatly appreciated!
 
J

jetblue

Guest
You will have a great time. As you know I just got off the Navigator of the Seas and I must say the food is much better on Carnival. Plus they promise a lobster dinner on every single sailing! The buffets are open nearly all day and don't close down till very late the next morning unlike the Windjammer which shut down after 9pm. Carnival has great food in both the buffet and dining rooms. You will love the Spirit, Carnival's Spirit class ships are some of the nicest in the industry because they only hold just over 2000 people but you never feel crowded and there are rarely any lines! Make sure you go for a balcony room!
 
J

Jeana

Guest
Thank you for your response! I am looking forward to our Carnival trip! Maybe I'll be a convert back to Carnival! :) Sounds really good and yes, we did get a balcony...
 
K

Karry

Guest
We've never been to Alaska, but we are going on the Spirit for the THIRD time in 2 weeks. She's a beautiful ship! :thumb
 
B

Bonz luvs cruising

Guest
HEY NEW JERSEY GIRL!

wHAT ROOM ARE YOU IN ON THE sPIRIT? MY NEIGHBOR AND HER MOM AND I ARE GOING ON THE FEB 2 CRUISE. I WOULD LOVE TO PEEK INSIDE AND SEE THAT FABULOUS VIEW. lET ME KNOW AND WE'LL BUY YOU A DRINK ONBOARD. wE'LL BE ON EMPRESS DECK 6327...SEE YOU THERE!
 
K

Karry

Guest
We are in cabin 8268-I like being one deck below Lido because I can run up in the morning and bring coffee and snax down and sit on the balcony and watch the sun rise without waiting for DH to wake up or room service to come. CAN'T WAIT! :thumb
 
K

Karry

Guest
Mexican Riviera: Acapulco, Ixtapa and Manzanillo. Not all that hyped up about Acapulco, but love Ix and Manz :) It's not "as nice" as Caribbean, but the big draw for us is going to San Diego pre and post cruise. Just =adore San Diego :grin
 
M

Mbandy

Guest
Spirit class ships are great. Don't miss the ruben sandwiches at the deli, a great afternoon snack. Also the chocolate fountain...woo hoo. The chilled fruit soups are great too.
 
K

karobis

Guest
We went on the Spirit last July (mid) and it was great. We actually had great weather. Be prepared for rain showers and cool nights. Dress appropriately. The reindeer sausage at the Red Dog Saloon in Junea was great. Take the Tram at night up Roberts Mt., it's beautiful. We also did the Zip Line in Ketchican which was a lot of fun. The ship was great and we enjoyed it but I actually felt the food has been better on some of our other cruises although it was not bad at all.

Carnival Elation 2005
Carnival Conquest 2006
Carnival Spirit 2007
Carnival Glory 2008

=COOL
 
K

Karry

Guest
Debbie, we had an absolutely FABULOUS time. I am "pretty active" on this board and this is actually the lst time I have posted since we got back. I just haven't gotten back to reality yet. We flew out to SD on Wed pre cruise and stayed until Tuesday post cruise (cruise was Sat-Sunday) and then had to go to work at 6 Wed, Thurs and Fri morning so this is really the lst time I have had time "to think" about the whole t hing. Woke up t his morning and just ACHED to be on our balcony with a cuppa. Had absolutely fantastic weather, BUT it was chilly both sea days going down and coming back. They had the roof closed in the dome pool coming back and if you sit at the front of the pool-near the band, you will be very comfortable. Another hint: stay in the sun. 2nd sea day going down it was nice and warm in the sun, but if you had a lounge chair in the shade it was about 40* cooler! Just wear lots of sun screen! If you need any tips, let me know. We have been on a lot of cruises and I just think this was the BEST. Didn't much care for Aca, but we have been there before. Ixt, take the water taxi to the beaches and go all the way down. Darned but I can't remember the name of where we stopped, but the guy had red table cloths (if you need details I can look at my pics!!!) One other thing-really wish I had taken a picture of this-go to the atrium/lobby during the day and LOOK UP at the stairs leading to the supper club. Amazingly beautiful sight. They are see thru as is 1/2 of the tail which you can see....hard to explain. You'll know what I am talking about. View from up top down is great too. Really wish I had taken a picture of it. HAVE A BLAST. Spirit is absolutely my favorite ship...did this same cruise (same cabin too) last year and darned if I am not aching to book it again for next year. Oh, be sure to go thru the jungle and be on the look out for whales and dolphins. I was on our balcony early one morning (aft wraparound) and happened to look off to the side and saw dolphins jumping ;) That afternoon we saw migrating whales on both sides of the ship. One other piece of advice. This was our 3rd time on Spirit, but sometimes you can "overlook" the little things. They have a hard cover book in the cabin about the designing of the ship. It is outdated as far as the crew, but read how they decorated each public room, then go on a tour and look around you. I swear I didn't notice half of the little details....BON VOYAGE!!! ps/be sure to bring binoculars for the whales AND we saw a Navy excursion on our lst sea day back. Yes, ALL THE WAY out in the middle of the ocean! It was unreal! SUPER TRIP :thumb
 
J

jetblue

Guest
Wow glad to hear you had a great time Karry! Welcome back to the snow and ice! I know you love this stuff. Aren't those atriums on the Spirit class amazing? I noticed that too on the Miracle and Legend when you look up with the clear glass stairs it all just seems to fit perfectly into place. These ships are truly amazing and it sounds like you had a great time! So what's next? You taking a few months off until the Miracle?!? Karry I think you are going to need to squeeze another cruise in there! :)D
 
K

Karry

Guest
Jetblue, Oh, this was absolutely THE BEST. Strange because this is the 3rd time we have been on Spirit and we have been in the same cabin (it was like going home again! :grin) but it was like I saw everything for the lst time. I didn't even know about the jungle...it is a little indoor "promenade" that encircles Pharohs Palace. I always take a tour of the ship when I get on, even if I have been on her before, but after reading that book, I went to all the public rooms and really LOOKED at all the details and I don't know if we will ever be able to top the Spirit. I went UP to the supper club (didn't even know it was there =eek) and 1/2 of the funnel-the red part-is actually stained glass and the sun shining thru it....then going DOWN those glass stairs while looking DOWN 10 decks...well, you can be sure I was hanging onto the bannisters and tested each step before I set my foot on it (and I weigh a little over 100 lbs!) We spent a lot of time after dinner in the atrium/lobby and it was like the lst time I really saw it, the beautiful paintings that extended up to the top decks. It was NOT fun leaving sunny San Diego Tuesday and flying home to the snow/freezing rain. I think we are DEFINITELY going to have to book something between now and September Miracle cruise. But the only CCL ships that leave from NY are Victory and Miracle. Been on Victory tons of times and not too crazy about Canada run. And we've already booked the Miracle for September...I am definitely thinking this same Spirit cruise next year for the Super Bowl again-it leaves 1/31 and Super Bowl is 2/1 (yes, I already looked it up :lol) It was great watching the game at a decent time, and our GIANTS won too! :thumb :thumb I just can't see going on any other cruise line. We just love CCL and those Spirit class ships. But MAYBE we'll do the Legend out of FL next winter. So many ships, so little time....:wave
 
J

jetblue

Guest
Yeah Karry those Spirit class ships are beauties. If only Carnival built more of them. I'm glad to hear that someone else appreciates Carnival, I was beginning to feel like I was the only one! I remember when I walked down those glass stairs for the first time. Now I'm not normally afraid of heights, but woah! That will certainly get your stomach churning. Post some pictures soon! I would love to see how the Spirit looks compared to the other ships!
 
J

j13c85

Guest
My wife and I took this itinerary on Nov 06 and had great time. We also discovered the "jungle" by accident and would up spending a lot of time there. We had some travel games and that was a great, quiet area to play.
 
J

Jeana

Guest
OK... have to ask --- what is "the jungle"???????? Sorry, but I seemed to have missed something here???
 
J

Jamman

Guest
The Jungle is the enclosed promenade on Atlantic deck foward that encircles the Pharohs Palace. It's a quiet place with tables and chairs that most people "discover" by accident, and is decorated like a jungle.
 
J

Jeana

Guest
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm enlightened! Will look for it when we get on board! Thanks!;)
 
Top