This was my 9th cruise, my first on NCL. We took a 3 day Pacific Coastal cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, stopping in Astoria OR.

Since we were flying back to the airport, we parked at the Radisson (closest to LAX) and took a car service to the pier ($58. in comfort at our convenience vs. the $20. per person transfer from the airport, shuttle, etc.). We arrived at the pier at about 2PM with only a confirmation number (no ticket or baggage tags) and were on the ship within 20 minutes. Smooth.

We had a guarantee for a BC cabin and were beyond pleased when we found out we not only had a BA cabin, but one of the 6 BA cabins in the back. This was my third time with a balcony off the back - they rule. The balconies are always much larger, it's easy to pick your room out from the pier and there's something psychological about seeing the world in your wake. Really added a lot to our enjoyment. I read a lot of recent reviews about the ship and I must admit I was a little apprehensive about the 'Freestyle' dining concept, the flat tip fee, vibrating noises in the cabins and unfriendly crew. Surprisingly, all the negative things I read were false. Read more