Travelers: Family of 5, Mom and Dad in 40's, Boys 14 and 10, Girl 6. Third
cruise.
The cruise was part of a 19 day trip, with the 1st 5 days in Seattle, 2 days
in Vancouver, 7 days on the Spirit and the final days in Girdwood, Alaska and
returning to Florida.
Many thanks go out to all the members of these boards, as the information
learned greatly enhanced the cruise experience reviewed below.
The Ship
The Spirit is a magnificent vessel displaying elegant charm and luxury.
Comments have been made about the decor being too busy and brash, but
stimulating and rich are better decriptions. The ambience created a feeling
of comfort and style that you might get from sitting in a new car about two
steps higher than you could afford. The ship is very new and is in the
finest condition as you would expect from a very modern liner. It seemed
that the designers and builders had thought of everything when the Spirit was
put together. Everything worked as you would expect, no problems of any kind
with plumbing, electric, or the heating/AC systems. Getting around was easy
as the deck layout was well thought out.
There is plenty of deck space for wildlife viewing which will be great for
getting a tan when the ship sails the Caribbean in the fall and winter. The
public areas flowed together from the atrium on the lower level to the
lounges, casino, main restuarant, shops and the showroom. The photo gallery
is conveniently located just above the lobby bar in the atrium. The atrium
is just stunning with triple glass elevators rising from the lobby bar to the
red glass fantail high above. Don't miss the clear spiral staincase up to
Noveau Supper Club, Carnival's upscale, $20 per person, alternative
restuarant. The climb up the stairs is free. Three pools, one domed, four
spas, the gym, salon and Nautica spa areas, along with the La Playa Grille
and pizzeria are all easily accessed on the Lido deck. Bars are located
fore, aft, starboard and port, so you are never far from liquid refresment.
Ice cream and frozen yogurt machines, along with coffee, tea, lemonade and
juices are also available in several places on the Lido deck 24 hours a day.
Cabins: 7259 Verandah Deck with balcony and 7261 Inside Cabin directly across
the hall.
Spacious, well designed, comfortable, cabins are the norm on Carnival and the
Spirit is no exception. Plenty of closet and drawer space, a couch and
balcony were the perfect accomodations for cruising any itinerary. Included
were essential toiletries, plenty of towels, built in hair dryer, 110 volt
outlets both in the bathroom near the vanity mirror. The twin/king bed was
made into a king after being pushed together on the first night of the
cruise. The balcony was ideal for wildlife watching or just viewing the
magnificent scenery of Alaska. It was easy to prop the blacony door open
with the balcony furniture, so the bungee cords brought along weren't needed
in this cabin, but some may find them useful.
The Crew
The Captian and the Hotel Director were seldom heard from or seen. Their
intrduction on stage, shown on the ship's TV, along with their names in the
Carnival Capers was for the most part all the exposure the passengers had to
them. Perhaps they were busy attending to their responsibilities as the
operation of the ship and the hotel with ran as smoothly as a Swiss watch.
Cruise Director Shawn Bussey is enthusiastic enough but did not seem to
connect enough with the passengers. She could use a little more exposure,
maybe at the Captain's cocktail party she could grab a microphone and liven
things up as most of the guests on board were packing the lower atrium and
nearby promenade relaxing with the complimentary beverages provided.
The Camp Carnival Staff deserves commendation for the friendly and joyful
manner in which they do their jobs. Always, always smiling. The kids who
particicpated with them were well cared for, entertained superbly and anxious
to return for another session whenever possible.
The Maitre d' Ken byrne is by far the best at his position. Many with his
responsibilities just do an adequate job, not interacting much with guests
and then waiting at the dining room exit for a tip on the last evening. Not
this gentleman; every evening he would sing a few songs (he was excellent),
make announcements, and lead the wait staff in the post dinner entertainment.
This was in addition to his duties supervising a staff of over 200, and
making sure all the dining guests were satisfied at each meal. Service under
his direction was nearly flawless.
Honorable mention goes to Chef Xavier Praxmarer who was spotted at the
midnight buffet working diligently to rearrange a display after an ice
sculpture fell. He is a hands on person, leading by example to ensure that
high quality, well displayed food was always available.
Carnival's naturalist, Michelle, provided information about Alaskan wildlife
and nature throught the cruise, both in scheduled lectures and impromptu
information as wildlife and other natural wonders were observed. She spent
lots of time on the bridge, scanning the waterways and mountainsides, then
alerting the several hundred guests on the "wildlife watch" to the eagles,
whales, otters and porpoises she observed. She also described the
waterways, mountains, fjords and glaciers extensively throughout the voyage.
She also presented an interesting slide show about whales. Her presence
enhanced the cruise greatly, espectially for those interested in wildlife.
Spoiling the nearly perfect rating for the 900 plus crew members was one
Peter Kinloch Anderson, Carnival's Shore Tours Manager, who went out of his
way to criticize and demean the shore excursion choice of five guests,
because they had not booked their glacier helicopter trip through his
department. He was rude, arrogant and condescending and stated outright that
the only reason the helicoptor tour with Coastal was chosen was because it
was cheaper. Did this ignorant bloke (he is from Scotland, thus the bloke
reference) really think the party of five with a previously committed tour,
prepaid and costing several hundred dollars would cancel and go on his
"superior" excursion, forfeiting the entire sum paid and rebook with him?
Apparently he thought so. Carnival would be well advised to remove this
gentlemen to a position with, shall we say, less exposure to the public. And
to further his negative impression, Mr. Anderson was smoking while directing
guests as they disembarked at the pier in Juneau. Had it not been for this
one incident, this entire review would be so positive and upbeat that one
would suspect the reviewer to be an employee of the cruise line.
The staff of this ship, overall, was unbelievably courteous, competent,
friendly and efficient, never intrusive, and not bothered by unusual or even
untimely requests. This is a remarkable accomplishment for a cruise ship on
the waters just over 3 months. Surely there were guests with problems but
they were not readily observed. Apparently most problems were handled
quickly and quietly to the satisfaction of most guests.
The Food
Food on the Spirit seems to be continuing the tradtion of improvement that
Carnival has established over the past few years. While other cruise lines
are cutting corners by eliminating the midnight buffet and lowering quality,
Carnival continues to improve the quality and availability of its menu
offerings. The late night buffet was served every night of the voyage with a
Grand Gala Buffet on the sixth night, featuring many elegantly presented
displays of ice carving, carved fruits and vegetables along with a wide
variety of food selections.
The Empire Restuarant, the ship's main dining room featured a vast array of
items that should please most appetites. The food quality was very good to
excellent and some selections were fabulous. Eat what you like, the
preparations were unique and flavorful. A note to the executive chef at
corporate headquarters; the company recipe for Caesar dressing is a little on
the fishy side, please reconsider the amount of anchovies. Also the area in
which there is the most room for improvement is deserts, in the dining room
as well as the La Playa Grille. Seafood, Vegetarian, Meat, Pasta and Nautica
Spa selections were available each evening, along with a couple other items.
Appetizers were especially tasty with salmon and crab legs being the
highlight of the offerings.
The La Playa Grill, located on the Lido deck serves as the ships buffeteria
and alternative to the ship's main dining room. The food here is very, very
good. There are many selections each day. Carnival features a different
Taste of Nations each day, including, French, Italian, Japanese, Caribbean,
Indian, Mexican, and American. The New York Deli features hot and cold
sandwiches from 11AM to 11PM daily and the Seaview Bistro serves seafood
selections during dinner hours the first six nights.
The Service
Late seating, Table 393
Here is where the stars shined!! Dining room service was impeccable, prompt,
friendly and honest. Antonio, Team Head Waiter, and his assistant Rey, Team
Waiter, both from the Philipines provided prompt and professional service
each evening of the cruise. Menus were delivered instantly upon seating and
special requests were accepted graciously and served with eagerness to
please. Needs were anticipated and it was rarely necessary to request
anything.
Complementing the food waiters was Juan, the bar waiter from Puerto Rico.
Juan anticipated the soft drink needs of the children at dinner and served
them consistently throughout the cruise. Several times each evening, Juan
would deliver a round of Diet Cokes, even though there was no gratuity for
any of the 50 or so soft drinks he served during the week. This guy had the
warmest smile this side of heaven and was well rewarded for the superior
service he provided along with his inspiring smile. Bartenders and Bar
Waiters in other areas of the ship provided quick and friendly service at all
times, even to the children using their soda cards. They had no problems
getting first class service.
Carnival also provided two complimentary cocktail parties, one for all guests
at the Captain's Reception and another at the Repeaters Party for anyone who
had sailed with Carnival in the past. These gestures were very much
appreciated, and quite unexpected. Service was quick and availability of
drinks very sufficient during these events.
Rounding out the excellent service was Cabin Steward Dennis Untal. Ice bin
always filled, room made up promptly, about 12 different towel figures
between 2 cabins during the week, clothes folded and room straightened
regularly were the highlights of his excellent service.
It would be difficult to find a better service team on any ship.
The Entertainment
Shows on the Spirit were well produced and reasonable entertaining, as were
the comedians and magician. The Spirit Orchestra is quite good as were the
other singers and dancers on board. Greater attendance and audience
participation would have enhanced the performances.
A little too much Sinatra perhaps; maybe the music selection will change when
the ship heads south and the passenger profile gets younger and more active.
Late night comedians were funny but some may be offended by the R rated
content.
The Passengers
The 2300 plus Guests sailing on the Spirit were for the most part in the 50+
range as are most Alaska cruisers. However the walker and oxygen tank crowd
was totally absent on Carnival. A small percentage of the guests were
children and teens, but for the most part this was an older subdued group.
Late night activities were quiet and sparsely attended. No wild, outrageous
partying was seen on this itinerary. This is quite understandable though as
the beauty and grandeur of Alaska are not to be traded for a late night
party. Be advised that this will change though when the Spirit reaches the
Caribbean and the partying cruisers embark. The Spirit will "kick it up
another notch", as Emeril would say, and compared to an Alaska cruise, this
ship is gonna rock!!
The Voyage
Embarkation was routine but a little behind schedule as was departure time
from the pier. Overall the voyage was very smooth with great weather. There
was a little rocking and rolling a couple of times and it could be noticed
more in the back of the ship. The captain did have the stabilizers extended
whenever needed to reduce the motion. Sailing under the Lion's Gate bridge
was dramatic as the Spirit's fantail nearly reached the height of the bottom
of the bridge. The afternoon and evening were routine for a cruise, lunching
on the lido deck, unpacking, getting familiar with the ship, getting to
dinner on time, and a comedy show to close out the day. But that routine
would soon change.
Mother nature was out in all her glory for the rest of the week. Words
cannot begin to describe the majesty and grandeur that lay ahead. Pristine
snow capped mountain peaks, waterfalls, valleys and vistas, and wildlife
captivated the hundreds of passengers on the "scenic watch". Eagles, whales,
including one which surfaced about 50 feet from the ship, porpoises, otters
with their young along with several species of waterfoul were spotted
throughout the voyage. The waterways were dotted with local boat traffic,
fishing vessels, lighthouses, islands, and an occasional jumping fish.
The northbound itinerary saves the best for last though as cruising through
Prince William Sound and College Fjord is on Day 6. Viewing glacial valleys
of blue ice between towering mountains of granite, while sailing through
iceberg laden waterways is a most amazing, thrilling and awe inspiring
experience.
Stunning, Awesome, Majestic, Pristine, Beauty and Grandeur are descriptions
that barely begin to convey the experience of this overwhelming display of
the Creator's handiwork!!
John Muir described glaicers in 1879 this way: "The whole front of the
glacier is gashed and sculptured into a maze of shallow caves and crevasses,
and a bewildering variety of novel architectural forms, clusters of
glittering lance-tipped spires, gables, and obelisks, hold out standing
bastions and plain mural cliffs, adorned along the top with fretted cornice
and battlement, while every gorge and crevasse, groove and hollow, was filled
with light, shimmering and throbbing in pale-blue tones of ineffable
tenderness and beauty".
If you haven't done so yet, and you ever get the chance, go and see and hear
and feel and touch and taste the glaciers: it is a don't miss experience of a
lifetime. Well you cant touch or taste them from the ship but eating some
glacial ice was one of the first things 10 year old Daniel did after landing
on the Herbert Glacier near Juneau.
The Ports
Vancouver is a marvelous city with many first class hotels, eateries,
shopping opportunities and of course a beautiful port, Canada Place. A
somewhat pricey dinner in the revolving restuarant on top of the Harbour
Centre provided panoramic views of the city. Tours of Stanley Park and the
Vancouver Aquarium were enjoyable and informative. The people employed in
the hospitality industry in Vancouver set a standard of excellence in care,
courtesy and service without rival. The Delta Vancouver Suites, a top notch
hotel, located about four blocks from the pier, was an excellent value.
There is a good sized liquor and wine shop located in the Harbour Centre, (3
blocks from the pier and very walkable) that made it convenient to buy a few
bottles of wine just prior to embarkation. Prices are reasonable, especially
with the current exchange rate for US dollars. Taxis were available and
waiting at all major locations in the downtown and port areas.
Ketchikan is a quaint little village with lots of charm featurning Ketchikan
Creek, a salmon hatchery, sailboat harbor, totem poles, the pier and in late
July and early August, a plentiful population of salmon. A walk up Ketchikan
Creek to the hatchery revealed thousands of salmon headed upstream to spawn,
while locals and tourists were catching the fish from a bridge overlooking
the mouth of the creek. Flightseeing excursions of all types are available
here with take offs and landings throughout the day.
Charter boats abound and poles are available to rent for those interested in
fishing from shore or the docks around the harbor.
Juneau, capital of Alaska, is home of the famous Mendenhall Glacier and the
surrounding Juneau icefield, excellent whale watching, the Mt Roberts
Tramway, and the historic district in the downtown area. Tickets for the tram
are good all day for as many trips of you care to make. Planning your own
excursions seems to be a great way to go as it will save you money, give you
flexibility, get you away from the "herd" that must by necessity exist for
large ship tours. And you will have a much better chance of doing your first
choice activity. In Juneau, Orca Enterprises takes you whale watching on a
jet boat with 25 others. The ship tours book with 150 on board a larger
slower vessel. You'll have more time on the water, be closer to whales and
Orca will drop you at your next excursion if at all possible in their
schedule. Try that on a bus with 60 passengers returning to the pier.
Coastal Helicopter operates glacier landings independent of the ship's tours.
Here is a summary of the experiences with these two companies.
Our family of five flew on the Coastal 1 hour glacier landing tour Saturday
August 4, at 1PM and had a great time!!!!!!!! They were picked us up at the
pier about 45 minutes prior to the flight and transportered our party and
another couple to the airport about 10 miles away. The Herbert glacier
landing and flight were memorable. Our pilot (JAG, his initials) was
informative, friendly and took several pictures of us on the glacier. We did
have to fill out the weight form on the van and they did verify with a scale
in the office before the flight. This is a very important safety measure
though and should be expected from a reliable company. Our preflight safety
talk on the van was audible and clear.
The boots provided were less than ideal, and we would have been just as well
off to wear the walking shoes we had on prior to the flight. The boots would
have kept us warm however, if the weather had been cool. They also have
hooded coats available if the clothing you arrive with is not warm enough for
current weather conditions. After taking off the pilot took us on an ariel
tour of the Mendenhall Valley and glacier, the harbor and the surrounding
area. The Juneau ice field was clouded in and not visible. We flew to an
altitude of about 2500 feet for the landing on Herbert Glacier, flying over
breathtaking ridges, mountain peaks and jagged glacial ice formations. We
also saw a mountain goat on the hillside above the glacier and had a nice
tour of the area again on the way back to the airport. It is expensive;
(Coastal is the lowest) $160 each for a 1 hour trip. Worth it though, as
there are sights, sounds, and sensations that you experience on the trip that
no words, pictures or other descriptions could possibly adequately depict.
Go for it!!
Orca Enterprises took us whale watching about and hour after the glacier
landing. We were so pumped from the helicopter flight that it really didn't
seem to make much difference whether or not we saw any whales. But Captain
Larry had about 20 other avid whale watchers to please and he was not about
to dissapoint. What we witnessed over the next 3 hours or so was the most
amazing sight imaginable.
A pod of 6 or 7 humpback whales were feeding as a group in a process known as
bubble net feeding. The whales would dive, form a circle and release a
circle of bubbles around a school of fish. The fish, with a natural fear of
the bubbles head toward the surface and center of the bubble net. After
signaling or telling each other (the whale speak was audible to us from the
hydrophone Captain Larry had placed in the water) that it was time to surface
and capture their meal, the whales would simultaneously breach the surface,
filling thier mouths with the catch. They would lounge around on the surface
a bit and then dive again, raising their massive tails skyward on the way
down to create another bubble net for the next feast. The whales continued
this cooperative feeding over and over for the next couple of hours.
Watching these whales feed in this manner was incredibly thrilling. The mate
informed us that this behavior is somewhat rare and not often seen on
whalewatching expedtions. This was confirmed by Michelle, Carnival's
naturalist. It was a very, very special treat!! We were also able to
observe seals, eagles, and other wildlife on the return trip from Auke Bay to
the harbor. We were on sensory overload after the day in Juneau, shaking our
heads in awe, disbelief and gratitude for the privileges granted us on this
most memorable day.
Skagway, a most relaxing port with a train ride up and down the mountain to
the summit on the Candian border. The scenery was beautiful, picturesque and
tranquil along the 20 mile White Pass Railway line.
Skagway has a colorful gold rush history and heritage, kept alive by the
train, the Red Onion Saloon, Gold Rush cemetery and the town's other historic
structures. As in all the ports, the ususal souveniers are available, from
50 cent train whistles to bronze and gold eagles at $25,000.00 per copy.
Also available are many unusual items, including native art, clothing, furs,
ulu knives and totem poles. Lots of flightseeing and local tours are offered
as well.
Sitka is a quaint village of Russian heritage and reminds you of a European
setting. From the unique domed cathedral to the Russian bishop's former
home, the settlement is a delightful reminder of a time gone by. Tours of
the area are offered at the pier by locals but town is just 1 block away. It
is about a mile and a half to the raptor center, a favorite attraction for
many. Just before the raptor center is a National Forest Park with well
marked trails featuring about a dozen totem poles. Signs at the entrance
warn of recent confirmed bear sightings. A creek runs through the park and
should be loaded with salmon right now as they were just starting to run on
August 6. The area is home to many eagles and other birds of prey. Shopping
was similar to the other ports. The wildlife adventure tour received rave
reviews from those who went.
Seward/Anchorage
Few passengers saw much of Seward as you disembark the ship directly on to a
bus at the pier and are whisked away to the Anchorage airport. The harbor is
filled with boats that were lined up to get out fishing by 6 AM. The stream
of boats continued out of the harbor for most of the early morning.
The ride to Anchorage is quite scenic with snow capped mountains, waterways
and a few glaciers visible along the route. Cruisers meet up with their
luggage at the airport or other Anchorage locations such as local hotels.
Goodbye Carnival Cruise Lines, It was Fabulous!!!
