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Spirit of '98 |
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| The 96-guest Spirit of '98 was actually used in the Kevin Costner film "Wyatt Earp" because of her great ability to resemble a early 20th century coastal steamer. With her wooden cabinetry, plush floral upholstery, Grand Salon and full bar, Spirit of '98 is a nice choice for a small-ship Alaska cruise. This intimate ship has an American crew that is quite friendly. In fact, during your cruise you'll end up being on a first name basis with many of the staff members (which creates a nice sense of community while onboard). A benefit of taking a small-ship Alaska cruise on Cruise West's Spirit of '98 is that the ship will be able to navigate through smaller channels that larger ships cannot fit through. This gives guests the chance to get really close views of the Alaskan nature and wildlife. A cruise on this ship is perfect for someone that's looking for a destination-rich itinerary featuring great onshore excursions and onboard lectures, and who doesn't care about the bells and whistles that some of the other (larger) ships offer. |
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| Spirit of '98 will be featuring cruises in the following regions (subject to change, based on the cruise line's discretion): 2010: 8-night River Voyage of Discovery (sailing round trip from Portland, Oregon) |
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| Being a small ship, there is a limited number of accommodations onboard Spirit of '98. All staterooms onboard Spirit of '98 have a TV, VCR and private bathroom. The most basic accommodations onboard Spirit of '98 are her category A staterooms. Such cabins are approximately 100 square feet in size. A category AA stateroom is the next most premium accommodation onboard this ship. Such staterooms are slightly larger than a category A stateroom. The next step up would be a category AAA stateroom, which is about 136 square feet in size. The two Deluxe staterooms onboard Spirit of '98 are the next most premium accommodations onboard, both of which are located forward on the Main deck. The most premium accommodation onboard Spirit of '98 is her one Owner's Suite, which is located on the Bridge & Sun deck (the highest deck onboard the ship). This suite is much larger than the other staterooms onboard Spirit of '98, as it's around triple the size of a typical stateroom and features a living room, king-size bed, full bathtub and complimentary mini-bar setup. There are two single occupancy staterooms onboard Spirit of '98, which are great for single passengers that are trying to avoid paying 200% of the per person double occupancy rate (which can often times happen on a cruise). |
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| Cruise West has an open seating format, meaning that you're not assigned to a specific table. You just have to make sure that you're aware of the hours that each meal is being served between. The cuisine served onboard Cruise West's Spirit of '98 is quite American. The dining times onboard Spirit of '98 vary depending on each particular day's schedule. Typically, there is an "early riser" continental breakfast that starts at 6:00 am. There will usually also be a full breakfast starting around 7:30 am to 8:00 am. Lunch is usually served around noon, while dinner usually starts between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm. There will be appetizers served during the ship's Social Hour, which takes place each evening before dinner. |
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| Being a smaller ship (there are only four passenger level decks onboard), Spirit of '98 doesn't have a ton of onboard features (relative to what's typical in the mainstream cruising world). The Main deck is the first passenger deck onboard Spirit of '98. On this deck you'll find Soapy's Parlor and the Klondike Dining Room. Just one deck up, on the Lounge deck, you'll find the Grand Salon (a spacious lounge area that serves as the main public space onboard the ship) and bow viewing area. The next deck up is the Upper deck, which has no public spaces (there are only staterooms on this deck). The highest passenger deck onboard Spirit of '98 is the Bridge & Sun deck, where you'll (obviously) find the sun deck, as well as the bridge and the ship's one owner's suite. A nice thing about cruising onboard this ship is that you'll have the opportunity to walk right up to the captain and have a chat, if you so desire. Nightly entertainment onboard Spirit of '98 will feature local music performances, such as guitar playing of folk songs. This ship isn't the place to be if you're looking for much nightlife or a bar scene, as many passengers tend to go to bed earlier in the evening (preparing to rise early for the next day's activities). |
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| Cruise West's dress code is extremely casual, as they say that they "believe in traveling in comfort." They state that you should feel like you're at home while onboard their vessels. Onboard a Cruise West ship you can wear jeans and sweaters during the day, and during the evening as well! Unlike the majority of the cruising world, they don't require jackets, ties, or formal dress during dinner. |
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| There is not a children's program (or facilities) onboard the Spirit of '98, as the cruises offered on this ship aren't really thought of as being for families with children. |
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| Cruise West's pricing includes service charges for all of their staff members, so that's one less thing for you to worry about during your cruise. They go on to state that "tipping is neither expected nor required for Cruise West Staff, on land or at sea. Recognition for exceptional service is discretionary and you are welcome to tip individuals directly." Unlike many other cruise lines, Cruise West does not charge a gratuity automatically onto bar bills. |
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| Passengers must be at least 21 years of age in order to consume alcohol onboard a Cruise West ship. Cruise West does not allow their passengers to bring their own alcohol onboard for consumption. |
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| There is not a casino onboard Spirit of '98. |
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