Spirited Away

5 reasons the Norwegian Spirit is one of the best sailing today

What does a $100-million refit get you? Well, quite a lot if you’re the Norwegian Spirit, as I found out when I sailed in from Taiwan. This 1998 launched ship received a huge makeover in 2020, giving us one of (if not) the nicest cruise ships sailing currently. Here’s why…

5. Small ship advantages

Being the smallest ship in the NCL fleet ,the Spirit has advantages that only smaller and generally older ships have. Want a traditional promenade for a sunset stroll? She’s got one. How about a great selection of venues you can pop in and out of without the wait? Tick. Places to get stunning views of the sea without paying for ship-within-a-ship? Check.

With capacity for 1,970 guests, the ship never felt overly busy: you still get the buzz from the great music venues and theatre without the worry of long queues to get in. Built in an age before the mega ships of 4,600 passengers with resort-like features, she might not have some of the more exciting experiences but does provide classic cruising with a modern twist. Being a smaller ship, she can also dock in locations closer to city centres instead of larger industrial ports.

4. She’s had a glow-up

The 2020 refit saw Norwegian spent a huge $100 million with every part of the ship modernised. In many refits, you may only see some new carpets, and maybe a new venue, but with the Spirit there was a complete top-to-toe refurbishment – even down to the cabins, which compete very well against even the newest ships. The décor is modern, with a great use of wood throughout the interiors for a chic but not gaudy feel.

Impressive spaces like the atrium and casino with double-height ceilings – and in the casino’s case a separated smoking area – also make the ship feel bigger than it is. There’s a bold use of colour in places like the comedy club and bar to keep things interesting.

One thing she didn’t get was fitted was the Haven (NCL’s ship-within-a-ship suite concept) so everyone gets to enjoy breath-taking views from around the ship. The observation lounge is one of the nicest places on the ship to grab a drink and watch the world go by, which is a feature you find is only available to those suite guests on many of the newer ships.

You could never tell from the interiors that this ship was built in 1998 and the dedication of the maintenance crew keeps both interiors and exteriors looking spotless (a reason never to remove the gratuities on a package which mean these hard-working crew get a share). And with with some of the nicest hull art of any of the NCL ships, she really stands out.

3. Freestyle

One of NCL’s biggest selling points is its Freestyle cruising concept. NCL pioneered this concept and was the unique selling point that made NCL a popular choice for families and people looking for relaxed cruise holidays. With Freestyle, there’s no need for formal wear at dinner, and no shared tables or strict dining times. Competitors have copied this in the years since but NCL arguably still does it best.

The Spirit has all the NCL favourites like The Local, a 24-hour eatery which serves drinks and other meals and snacks around the clock. Windows and Taste are the traditional main dining rooms, with Taste being the more casual space where you could dress down for a main meal. Windows has, as the name, suggests stunning wake views from the double-height section, and of course there is a buffet with meals and snacks throughout the day too.

Spending time on the spirit really does feel like a relaxing get away. Even better, if you have one of their Free at Sea packages, including drinks, WiFi, shore excursion credit, you’ll even get a specialty meal allowance to use in Cagney’s Steakhouse, Le Bistro (French) or Onda by Scarpetta (Italian).

2. Locations, locations, locations

The Spirits itineraries over the last few years have included some of my favourites with Asia benefiting from this ship. I was on an 11-night Taiwan to Japan sailing back in 2024 that took in locations include Keelung, Okinawa, Himeji, Osaka, Mt Fuji and Tokyo. We bookended the cruise with a few nights each in Taipei and Tokyo, a great way to visit these two megacities.

Norwegian’s great value fares allow you to explore this part of the world widely, from South Korea to Australia and Pacific islands, as well Hawaii and even Alaska. Some of these destinations are only accessible by smaller ships too, meaning this is the perfect positioning for her.

French Polynesia has also now been added, allowing you to visit Bora Bora – the definition of bucket-list destination.

1. The people

I can’t 100% guarantee the same experience about the Spirit that I had…but I’ve never met nicer people onboard a ship. With Norwegian selling in most markets, our sailing had the most diverse mix of people on board. We met people from every continent on the ship, making a Spirit sailing a truly international affair.

And after the refit, with kids facilities reduced and the types of itineraries on offer, this ship felt very adult focused. I wouldn’t recommend the Spirit for families looking for a resort-like experience but definitely can recommend it for families who want to adventure together in a stylish setting.

The highlight was the friends we made. We first met a couple by chance the night before we got on the ship in a bar in Taipei. Thanks in part to a charismatic Swede, (you know who you are!), we ended up with a gang on board who truly made the holiday for us. Sheltering from near-monsoon rains undercover at the Bier Garten bar, adventuring to Himeji Castle together and cheering on the musically talented one in the karaoke competition, we had such a great time. So much so that we’ve met up with some since in beautiful Stockholm, took a 24-hour cruise on the Viking Glory and are planning our next cruise adventure together.

Lifelong friends made on the Norwegian Spirit – this ship is the perfect start to your next adventure. Are you ready to sail?