Carnival
Spirit
Southbound Alaska

Linda

Carnival picked us up in Anchorage for our 1 1/2 hour bus ride to Whittier. Very nice ride with wonderful scenery and narration by the driver.

Embarkation was flawless and we were on the ship in minutes.

The Spirit is a beautiful ship. Our balcony cabin was clean and spacious for our family of 4. I knew the Spirit is going into dry-dock in Feb., so I expected some stains in the carpet etc. As seasoned cruisers, that certainly did not bother us in any way.

I loved the layout of the ship. It flowed well and was easy to get around. It never felt crowded. The crew were constantly cleaning and doing maintenance to keep her looking her best.

The food in the formal dining room was good. The beef was not as good as I have had on other Carnival ships, but still better than commercial grade served in restaurants. Seafood was excellent; as were the soups and desserts.

The Lido deck food was excellent with few lines and plenty of options. The staff was prompt in clearing the tables. Tea, coffee etc refills and desserts were constantly brought around to your tables.

Captain Scala did a wonderful job positioning the ship at the Harvard Glacier for a marvelous view.

We had smooth seas and beautiful weather. Layering is best, because the weather can be unpredictable.

Our cabin steward was the best one we have ever had in our 23 years of cruising. His smile will never be forgotten.

My husband loved the shows (no matter how many times he has seen them) and I love Karaoke. Guest Talent Show was a treat for those of us who performed.

The ship docked within walking distance of the towns at each port. At the times we left and came back, there were few lines.

The only drawback we experienced, sadly, was from the cruisers themselves. They were an older crowd who were very demanding and seldom satisfied. They complained constantly about the most ridiculous things.

As for the cruise ship, staff and overall experience, it was wonderful and we would go again in a minute.

Debarkation in Vancouver was easy. A word of warning to those whose travel agents use Yellow Taxi...we did see many of our fellow travelers having problems with their vouchers. There were not enough "Yellow Taxi" cabs to handle the travelers with those vouchers. Not all "yellow" taxis are "Yellow Taxi". Many cruisers gave up on using their vouchers and just paid additional money to go to the airport to catch their flights.

Alaska is a part of the country not to be missed and the Spirit is a wonderful way to see it.