Norwegian Spirit will undergo a 40-day, $100 million refurbishment

Norwegian Spirit will undergo a 40-day, $100 million refurbishment

written by Sarah Gibson on October 28, 2019

(4:50 p.m. EDT) -- Norwegian Spirit will undergo a 40-day, $100 million refurbishment starting January 2020. It will be the last ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet to undergo the line's Norwegian Edge refurb program. When the ship emerges from dry dock it will have 14 new venues, additional staterooms, an expanded Mandara Spa and new hull art.

"We are excited to reinvigorate Norwegian Spirit so that she continues to provide lasting memories for guests as they sail to some of the most exotic destinations around the world," said Andy Stuart, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Cruisers on Norwegian Spirit after the refurb will find new dining venues, including complimentary options. A third main dining room, Taste, will be added and the Blue Lagoon Cafe will be replaced by the line's 24-hour pub, The Local Bar and Grill. The ship's current buffet, Raffles Court & Raffles Terrace, will be replaced by the line's signature Garden Cafe, which will include Great Outdoors extension (along with Great Outdoors Bar).

The ship's complimentary Asian eatery, Shogun, will be renamed Silk Modern Asian.

Norwegian Spirit will also become the second ship in the fleet to get an Onda by Scarpetta, a new-to-the-line fine dining restaurant debuting on Norwegian Encore in November 2019.

Other new venues will include the Waves Pool Bar, Bliss Ultra Lounge, Spinnaker Lounge and the Humidor Cigar Lounge.

The refurbishment will also see the current Mandara Spa onboard Norwegian Spirit double in size to nearly 7,000 square feet. The new space will include an extra-fee relaxation area with heated loungers, a new Jacuzzi room, a sauna, a steam room and a water therapy experience. Pulse Fitness Center will also be expanded.

The line's popular extra-fee, adults-only daytime lounge, Spice H2O will also be added. It will feature two new whirlpools and a bar, and will replace the kid's water park. At night, Spice H2O is an after-hours entertainment venue.

Norwegian has also said Norwegian Spirit will receive 16 new staterooms: eight with balconies and eight insides. Also, all existing cabins will receive updated decor.

When Norwegian Spirit returns to service in February 2020, it will visit 10 new ports of call across three continents. Its first two voyages after the revitalization will be a 20-night exploration of Europe and Africa, followed by a series of Asian voyages through the end of the year.

Update: of course this ship will no longer go to Asia for the rest of 2020 due to the coronavirus that began in Asia.

Singapore to Switzerland of Asia. My 85th nation visited.

Singapore the Switzerland of Asia

 

Founded as a British trading colony in 1819 Singapore is a modern, clean, relatively crime-free nation known as the Switzerland of Asia. 

This pint-sized nation of only 5 million residents, offers a variety of experiences and in one day it is possible to stroll through a rain forest, visit a variety of places of worship from a multitude of religions, shop in a sophisticated mall on Orchard Road, dine on a variety of meals from all over Asia and the Middle East, take a night safari at the zoo, cruise along the bay, and see world class art in one of its major museums.

Its mosaic of ethnic groups from Chinese (75%) to Malays, to Indians, to Arabs, to Armenians, to British --all living in some way separately, yet coexisting in this crossroads of east and west. Over the decades, as each group moved into the city, it was given its own quarter. The lingering rivalry with Malaysia, with whom Singapore was united (for two years in the early 1960s), has waned overtime, as the country has work hard to mend its racial discord. Singapore even celebrates Racial Harmony day on May 21.

 

 

 

Famous for its strict laws defining public behavior, Singapore prohibits chewing gum, spitting, littering, jaywalking, “unusual sex acts, and even failing to flush a toilet. I am happy I gave up chewing gum earlier this year!

I hope I remember to only use my right hand while interacting with others as the left-hand is reserved only for toilet activities.

Singapore, like Monaco the Vatican City, is a city state which means it's both a city and a country.

Languages spoken are Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil.

 

Raffles Hotel

The tropical waterfront city of Singapore is known for six major districts: The Civic District, Orchard Road., Marina Bay, Little India, Chinatown, and Bugis (A few mosques and temples and lots of youthful shopping)/Kampong Glam where the Malay and Arab quarters are located

I will be there for two days after my cruise and I plan to visit all the major quarters of the city, take a night Safari, explore on the hop on hop off bus, and I will dine in a hawker center.

Update:

Cable car ride to Sentosa

After leaving the ship, I toured Singapore for two days and evenings. I took two routes of the hop on hop off bus, toured Chinatown and Little India, took the cable car ride over to Sentosa, had drinks and dinner at the Raffles Hotel, and spent that first evening at the top of the famous Marina Sands Hotel on the 57 floor lounge terrace with a spectacular views of the bay. 

 

Marina Sands Hotel

Views from top of Marina Sands hotel

I highly recommend taking the hop on hop off bus because its 4 routes provide a nice overview of all the city’s districts.

It rained intermittently the first day but I was fortunate to have been seated in a covered section of the top deck of the HOHO.

It was easy to stroll through bustling China Town (a HOHO stop) with its multitudes of shops containing everything from jade, to lacquerware, to screens, to silk clothing, tea sets, electronics, figurines, and everything beautiful, practical, and impractical–you can even have a suit or dress tailor-made in a day.  In Little India, they were celebration the Deepavali festival, so the streets were crowded with merrymakers and the colorful shops and restaurants were packed with celebrants.

My hotel, The Ibis on Bencoolen, is ideally situated near Little India and Bugis and close to bus lines and the MRT/metro. 

I would even stay in this area again, if I didn’t have the option to stay at the Marina Sands.

 

Hong Kong-my first visit!!!!

Hong Kong-my first visit!!!!

Overview:

Before the British captured Hong Kong in 1842, it was a sleepy Chinese fishing village. Eventually becoming a major Shipping port, the British transformed it into a modern Metropolis and finally handed it over to China in 1997. Of note 95% of Hong Kong residents are Chinese and 50% were born there. Cantonese is most widely spoken and because of the 156 year British rule, English is spoken and most signage is also in English.

For tourism purposes, the city is divided into 4 major sections each with its own smaller divisions. 1) Kowloon contains Tsum Sha Tsui, Victoria Harbour, and Mong Kok. Across the harbor is

2) Hong Kong Island which contains Sheung Wan (in the Western section), Central, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay. 3) The new territories and 4) The 234 outlying islands.

 

I plan to soak in as many typical tourist sites as I can without sacrificing quality time spent strolling the streets where I can see traditional Hong Kong life.

Top on my list to visit are:

• Victoria Peak
• A Harbor ferry ride and ride from central to TST
• A tour down Nathan Road
• A day trip to Macau
• The Hong Kong Museum of history and perhaps the heritage Museum on the outskirts of Sha Tin, in the new territories
• The Man Mo temple (Sheung Wan) Hong Kong's oldest and most well known temple, and Tin Hau Temple (Mong Kok and Causeway Bay)
• Hong Kong park (Central)
• A visit to Sheung Wan, (west of Central which retains the feel of prewar Hong Kong)
• Markets such as temple street night market, the ladies market, the flower market, the Jade market, and more
• Strolls along Victoria Harbor
• Stanley Island
• Aberdeen for a sampan ride
• I will likely buy a two day hop on hop off bus ticket. It includes three routes, a harbor ferry ride, the tram up to Victoria Peak, and a sampon ride
• Kowloon waterfront Avenue of the stars--see the nightly "symphony of lights" light show.

Update:

Hong Kong first night --After more than 25 hours of travel, and experiencing a 12 hour time difference, I decided to take the metro from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon to visit some of the night markets. As I had suspected, Hong Kong is a vibrant, colorful, multicultural city. I am loving all the sites, sounds, and smells; Hong Kong is a feast for all the senses. Metro tickets cost HK$10 which is the equivalent of $1.25 US.

Note to self: walk on the left side of the street.

 

Temple Street Night Market

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB2Aze1xXhI

I will post more photos later!

 

 

Manila, Philippines--my first visit!!!

Manila, Philippines

 

Philippines recent history overview:

From the time that Ferdinand Magellan claimed the country for the Spanish, in 1521, it was ruled by Spain for more than 300 years. Following Spain's defeat by the United States in 1898, the Philippines became an American colony, not gaining its independence until after World War II. Prior to that, the Philippines had been ruled by the Chinese, the sultanate of Brunei, and during World War II it endured a brutal Japanese military regime.

 

Today the Philippines is a melting pot of ethnic and religious tolerance--a meeting point of east and west. Largely a Christian nation since it was under Spanish rule, it is home to a growing number of Muslims.

 

Of note, the Philippines was named for the Spanish king Philip.

 

The Philippines official languages are Tagalog, (the Filipino language) and English.

 

My visit:

Today, I visited Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

 

More photos to come…………………………

 

 

 

7 nation Asia cruise brings my total to 87 visited!!

7 nation Asia cruise brings my total to 87 visited!!

I just booked a wonderful Asia cruise that begins in Hong Kong and ends in Singapore and will make stops in ports in the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. If time permits while Hong Kong, I will visit Macau, via ferry.

All of these places are new to me so I will add seven nations to my nations visited count. 

 

I am especially excited about my pre cruise visit to Hong Kong and my post cruise visit to Singapore!

Did you know that TAIPEI is an acronym of Technology, Art, Innovation, People, Environment, and Identity.

Vietnam: What a Dollar Can Buy You

Vietnam is one of the best places to visit if you like beautiful scenery, friendly and gracious people, rich history, scrumpcious food, and bargain prices. They even accept US dollars everywhere—but you must sharpen your bargaining skills to secure the best deals. I am considering a return trip (along with a visit to Cambodia) with the group with whom I toured Viet Nam and Thailand in 2005.
Here is what $1 (Or 20,000 Viet Namese dong) will purchase in 2010:

• 1 Vietnamese conical hat (non la) (I bought one in Halong Bay last time)
• 7 liters of drinking water
• 2 tickets to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi
• 2 chilled Halida beers
• 1 day of bicycle rental
• 2 Vietnamese coffees with sweet condensed milk
• 15 minutes of air time on a Mobifone sim card
• 1 bowl of pho bo (they consume this at breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
• 1 small load of laundry
• 250 grams of candied ginger
• 1 Chinese lantern made of bamboo and fabric
• 40 quail eggs
• 1.25 liters of gasoline