After this year's Alaskan cruise season, the Spirit is scheduled to receive a month long drydock overhaul in San Francisco. NCL will make some minor modifications to the Spirit while it is in drydock.
NCL will be adding 22 cabins on deck 13 aft, and adding another 14 cabins on deck 4. All the galleys will be improved, especially the Terrace, the buffet on deck 12. The casino will be squeezed allowing space for a larger giftshop and a high energy lounge will be added next to the casino. The photo gallery area will be enlarged. Another bar will be added aft of the pool area on deck 12.
The staterooms on the 4th and 13th decks were updated on the deck plans at the NCL's web site today. The other changes to the ship haven't made it to the deck plans yet.

Ron,

many thanks for the information.

I wonder if NCL plans to announce the addition of those cabins as a big plus as they did with "Norwegian Jewel" (more cabins = better cruise experience).

ron I cannot find any of that info on ncl website help

Okay... I heard that there will be NO cabins on Deck 13 after all. Subcontractor issues could not be resolved.

I dloaded pictures of her in drydock- is there any way to post them here?

Hi I'm new to this. How did you get the drydock info. Our travel agent did not know where the Spirit would be between now and Oct 24 when it arrives in Vancouver. I see it is booked for a couple of roundtrips out of San Francisco. I hope it is in drydock as we are going on the Vancouver to NY trip leaving Oct. 25. We have done 3 cruises with NCL. Two New England and Alaska. We know they are in the middle class but we do prefer the casual dress and being able to eat when we want. To me you can't have it all. I hope we are doing the right thing - going for 23 days. Be glad to hear from anyone of any tips. Thanks.

Here she is in drydock in SF: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AYt2jRs4btGJC¬ag=1

Here is a nice slideshow I got from somewhere (maybe here): http://164.109.173.140/spirit_slideshow/pages/P5220509_JPG.htm

NCL has changed the 13th Deck deck plans on its web site again. It seems that the vendor building the new 13th deck BA staterooms didn't complete them in time.
NCL has shorten the Spirit's drydock, and has added a week of short cruises (yes, 1,2 and 4 day cruises) from San Franciso, before starting its Panama Canal repositioning cruise to New York.
But, all the other changes planned for the Spirit are proceeding.

caralena how did you get all this info. I did not see any of this stuff on NCL website. is there any other info or webpages you think I can go to as a first time crusier

Hi Bridgette, we are also doing the Vancouver to New York cruise on the spirit and I was a little apprehensive at first as well. I have never cruised NCL(6 cruises on Princess) and after reading a lot reviews, I was worried that 23 days was a long time if things were not as good as expected. There were some issues with the food in the buffets as the kitchen was at a different location and food deteriorated in transit, but I believe that is being resolved in the refit. And after spending some time reading postings on this forum, and looking at the pictures on Carlalena's slideshow, I believe there is nothing to worry about-the ship looks fantastic! I have been to most of the ports we are stopping at and they are great. We are also spending 2 days in New York at the end, are you spending additional time there?

Hi Ange,
No we are not spending extra time in NY. Our friends are but we have been to NY twice before and feel we will want to get home to our little mini Dachshund. Also, I booked this cruise because I live in Vancouver, hate airports and all that comes with them these days and this way a bus takes us directly to the airport and no bags to worry about. We have had three previous cruises on NCL and although the food is not as good as some other lines we much prefer the freestyle and the fact that you do not have to dress every night for dinner and you can eat when you please. Anyway the cruise has been a code red or sold out since about March so it will be full and hopefully the fact that the ship has been in drydock - it will even be better. However, we are the type that goes with the flow - nothing can be THAT bad and we are just happy to be able to take this cruise with our friends. Bye for now.

Hi, We will be sailing on the Spirit from San Francisco to Miami through the Panama Canal. We Board 29 October. Is it OK to post a URL to another board? There are about 70 of us that are having a meet and mingle on the 30th. If it is OK, I will post the Roll Call URL.
Rusty