Norwegian Spirit Oct 20, 2007
I will go first! There were seven of us in my group: Me, my sister Mary, niece JoAnna and her daughter Madison, plus Essie, Lizzie and Vince. We left Macungie about 10am and drove to Weehawken. It took us a bit longer than expected because the navigator failed to direct the exit off I78 to I95, and we ended up in Bayonne, circling to get back where we should be. We made a stop at the palisades to take pictures: We could see Noordam, Spirit, and Miracle. And a lovely saiboat: We got down to the ferry terminal, but on the way from the parking lot, we stopped for more pictures. I was QUITE surprised to see Carnival Miracle leaving at noon! Ferry...Cross the Hudson...

Our ship awaits us... It was a bit of a jaunt from the ferry terminal, but we made it, and were 'on the boat' shortly after 1pm. We were told cabins would not be ready until 2pm, but we sneaked through doors and found ours, and it appeared to be ready. Cabin 11079, interior midship: We went up to the Raffles Court restaurant for lunch. They required you to use the hand sanitizer before they would give you a plate. Nice variety of food, delicious breads. Then it was off to explore.

First to find an intriguing venue was Essie: She continued to find places she liked: Buccaneer Wet & Wild pool area for kids: Tivoli pool:

The atrium: There were some very large groups on board...20-30 people...So the atrium stairs were often full of groups being photographed. And Boy, do they charge for their pictures! I thought Celebrity Zenith was bad with only 8x10 for $14.95. Carnival Elation had 5x8 and smaller, but were still expensive. But these were 5x8 or smaller for $20! I bought the embarkation photo, and one dinner picture. Only purchases I made. You could practice steering the ship forward in the Galaxy of the Stars: Next to the Galaxy was the Library and internet area. Essie couldn't resist trying to get online:

I had seen Phyllis as we got on the elevator to go up to embark, and saw Sean in Raffles Terrace...But didn't catch up with Dani and Pat until dinner. After our exploratory tour, we went back to our cabin and endlessly watched the safety briefing. As we were about to go back on deck for sailaway, Liz knocked on our door. So we went up together. Up as far forward as we could get, and boy, did it become windy! Difficult to hold self and camera steady, the further along we went. There was a real crowd on deck, and the drinking started early. People had buckets of bottles of beer. Essie was envious! We left Noordam behind and backed into the river. Passed some faux riverboats on the way: Crown Princess was in Brooklyn: Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty:

Another venerable vessel: Black Watch was still in Bayonne. With the wind, I couldn't get a clear picture. And a Hudson River sunset: Leaving the bow, I met Manuela and Mike, and we went back up for the passage under the bridge: WE chatted a while, and I went back to the Raffles Terrace and found Phyllis...we had found her by the pool earlier...and Liz joined us, and we chatted until she had to leave to get ready for supper.

Liz and I had decided that 7:30 would be a good time for dinner, in the Windows main restaurant, on the stern of the vessel. Mary and I were there, and Liz came to say the others were in the bar waiting for drinks, which were slow coming. They eventually did, and we went in and got a table for seven (plus Essie and Lizzie). We found our food quite satisfactory, although the breads were not warm...Dani and family were eating with Phyllis & co., and we went over to say hello. They were not particularly happy with their food, not a hot as it should have been, which was a comnplaint JoAnna shared. They were attempting to make the 8:30 show, while we lingered in the dining room until almost 9:30. Mary and I went up to Henry's Pub, but it was a small area and karaoke hadn't started yet. They did have a good singer. So we went to the Galaxy of the Stars, and watched a session of Quest, which became a bit risque. It is amazing what drunks will do to win tshirts and keychains. We were in bed by 11pm. I had decided not to get up for the sail-in, but was awake by 6am, and at 7am decided to get up. I went up on deck, thinking that we might already be docked because of the lack of motion, but we were just easing up the river. Norwegian Crown was behind us, so I got some decent shots of her as she came up and passed to dock above us. New York sunrise: Liz was on deck, and said that Black WAtch had left as we came, but she was not able to get a picture. I went back to the cabin and got Mary and we went up to the buffet for a good breakfast. JoAnna and Maddie ate in the restaurant, and felt there was not enough food...and noone interested in getting them more. Another point...Noone turned down our beds in the evening... We were off the boat about 9:30, some of the last, and made our way over to the ferry terminal. Shared the ferry back to Weehawken with Liz, Donna, and Karen. By bye, Spirit: All for now! CJ

Thanks CJ :D :D Great report and wonderful photos ! Sounds like you all had a great time :mrgreen: Thank goodness Essie was onboard to find all those drinking venues for you :wink: She looks quite at home.....particularly with the pink drink umbrella in her hat :lol: :lol:

Have really so little to add. CJ's report and pictures are SO great :D The weather could not have been more gorgeous. SUNNY and WARM :D :D We got away with having no muster drill :wink: :lol: Less than a 24 hour cruise. Honestly don't remember if we had one on Dawn, but Karen thinks we did If possible, this was even a more "party-hearty" crowd than was on Dawn last spring :shock: The noise level around the Tivoli pool and on the bow was BLASTING :!: :!: Aft at the Raffles Terrace was much better.....you could talk without screaming. They had a great entertainer there, too....."The Chinese Cowboy" He was wonderful :!: The "where the heck did Miracle go" became my question of the day :? You get a bit of this on the video,.......Donna saw her when we pulled into the parking lot at the NJ ferry terminal, but by the time we got over there, she was gone. Must have been the world's quickest turn-around, cause she was the last in, in the morning. Is she heading for drydock? Our chariot awaits Tour helicopters on the Hudson. Don't remember seeing them there before Crown Princess Our Fabulous Sunset Happy Group at Dinner (Mary was hiding :cry: ) Oh What a Beautiful Morning Black Watch went by us so close in the morning that I felt like I could reach out and touch her. BUT, by the time I had sorted through the debris and found my camera, she was gone :cry: I took the pull-out couch, so I could escape to the balcony for a cigarette. Once that is opened, there is no room to breathe in the cabin :shock: If Donna or Karen had wanted to go on the balcony in the night, they would have had to crawl over me :lol: Also, they had no cabin service :cry: :cry: so no early morning coffee :cry: This was most definitely available on Dawn in the Spring Spirit Video

Wow CJ, the photos are fantastic! Great report! Sounds like a fun time. Essie is a great trouper always ready for a good time! :) Liz, great add-ons, that was one great “chariot” and a grand time from the sounds of it. :)

Yes, Maria...We missed you...and Vic...and CharlieW...and bbt...CJ

We DID, indeed miss all of you. NEXT time....and there WILL be a next time :D :D

creat pictures :D makes me wanna go on a cruise again :D what camera do you have CJ?

Kristen, they were taken with a combination of three cameras. My workhorse and first digital is Kodak EasyShare DX7590. It took the long zoom shots, as it is 38-380. Wide angle shots were shared by Kodak EasyShare V570 dual lens. Both are 5mp. The newest is Kodak EasyShare P880 which I just bought refurbished for the high ISO and 8mp, plus wide angle. I need to play with it a lot more, but it is really nice. CJ