First time cruiser here, but I am involved in the hospitality industry, so I have some perspective on what a consumer expects.
Embarkation was easy, some waiting involved, but not excessive. No long lines for pictures, some "herding" occurs, but that's what it takes to deal with large numbers of people. We got to our room in a very reasonable amount of time and we were pleased with our accommodations. Adequately sized cabin with queen bed, fridge, picture window and plenty of storage space. If you need more, I think you brought too much. The advantage to NCL in "Freestyle Cruising" is that casual attire does not require as much storage as multiple nights of formal attire. The bath was adequate and the shower was very functional and pleasant (nice pressure, no dribble) and plenty of hot water. We enjoyed our time in the cabin and the only complaint I had was the odd level of volume on the various ship-provided presentations on the TV. Turn the volume up to hear one production and the next one would break your eardrums. A minor issue really, except when your spouse is napping and you're watching TV.
Our first night out, there was a bon-voyage BBQ which was compromised by high winds. They had a hard time keeping the burners lit on their warmers and food was not as hot as it should have been. The seasoning was tasty and there was plenty of food to eat, but it wasn't what it might have been. We ate what we could and that was our meal for the evening.