Location: Madrid → Los Alcázares, Spain
Summary: The last train ride home, a warm welcome from a friend, and a look back at Hawaii, Alaska, and the NCL Spirit the final chapter of my journey.
Train to Los Alcázares
Today I made the final part of my journey from Madrid back to Los Alcázares. After a solid night’s sleep, I felt much better when I woke up. I dropped my room key at reception, stepped outside, and my taxi to the train station arrived right on time. A short ride later, I was at the station, waiting for my train to appear on the departures board.
As I approached the queue for the platforms, a guard pulled me aside and took me down in a disabled lift, escorting me directly to my train. I boarded the first‑class carriage, found my pre‑booked seat, and settled in with my Kindle as the train pulled out of Madrid. The journey to Albacete was quiet, smooth, and comfortable.
At Albacete, I transferred to a coach for the next leg of the trip. It wasn’t as comfortable as the train, but the ride was uneventful. When we arrived in Torre Pacheco, I got off and waited for my friend Pat to pick me up. He arrived about ten minutes later, loaded my suitcase into his car, and drove me home.
Back in my apartment, I put my case in the bedroom, grabbed a cold drink, and sat in my massage chair. Within minutes, I was asleep.
Summary of My Hawaii & Alaska Trip
This journey let me see places I’d dreamed of and tick off a few bucket‑list experiences. I loved Hawaii, though I needed more time in every place I visited. Missing Pearl Harbour and the USS Arizona was disappointing, but losing my luggage for the first six days made it unavoidable.
Alaska was extraordinary but physically demanding. You need to be fitter than I am to make the most of it. The highlight was the helicopter trip to the Mendenhall Glacier, an experience I’ll never forget.
As for the NCL Spirit, it was probably the worst cruise ship I’ve been on. I don’t enjoy open dining, I dislike fighting for a seat in a buffet, and I prefer having a designated restaurant and table for meals. The ship felt too small for the number of passengers, and quiet spaces were almost impossible to find.
The people onboard also affected my experience. While I have many American friends and nothing against Americans as a whole, the behaviour of many passengers on this cruise, loud, drunk, rude, and inconsiderate, made things unpleasant at times. Not all were like that, but the ones who were, left a lasting impression.
The food was fine but nothing special. Bars were understaffed and cramped. Seating areas were limited. The Wi-Fi barely worked, and every morning there was a queue at the IT desk with people complaining about lost minutes and no connection.
Would I return to Hawaii? Absolutely, it was beautiful, and the locals were wonderful. Would I return to Alaska? Possibly, but I’d go during salmon season for the bears, and later in the year for whale migration. Would I cruise with NCL again? Not on the Spirit. Maybe on a larger, newer ship. I had planned to book the Spirit’s Japan itinerary later in the year, but after this trip, I changed my mind and booked an escorted coach tour of Japan with a European company instead.
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