This review is long but we did a lot on this cruise. This is my 2nd cruise with NCL (the first was last summer on the Gem from NYC to Florida and the Bahamas). My husband & I (in our early 50's) have been on many cruises. We are diamond members on Royal Caribbean, but have been on a few on each of Disney, Princess, and Holland America. We booked this only a few months ago online. We booked BD balcony cabin 8744 for myself and my husband and a ID inside cabin 8407 for my sons age 22 and 19. This was one of the most expensive cruises we have been on but it was exciting to go on one of the first cruises on this ship and to leave out of NYC.

We left out of Hartford on the Entertainment/Academy bus. This was pricey but you can't beat the convenience of being dropped off and picked up right at the port. The bus was very clean and the ride fairly quick.

Sunday Embarkation: We got to the dock around 12:15 and the embarkation process was very quick, no lines and right on the ship. We entered on deck 7 with no fanfare. No one at the entrance to help direct us or to say welcome aboard...this was a first as the other cruises we have been on usually at least have personnel to welcome you onboard. This was not that important to us but thought it was worth mentioning. From here we headed up to our floor to check out our rooms: Read more