My wife and I consider ourselves as 'veteran' cruisers having been on a number of different cruise lines. We typically opt for a balcony room so we can enjoy time overlooking either the port or the sea. We left out of Manhattan on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, parking on the deck next to the ship. Expensive ($280 for the week) but the convenience was perfect.
Check-in process - we were surprised that you can't register your credit card to be used for on-board charges prior to arriving which would make the check-in process a bit quicker. Everything had to be done at the pier after waiting in long lines.
Room - we had a balcony room on Deck 14. The balcony was probably the smallest one we've ever had. Two small chairs and one very small table. The chairs were very confining and uncomfortable for a large man like me. While the rest of the room was acceptable, the bathroom shower was exceptional. Every ship we've sailed on had a shower flow that conserved water. Not this one - a huge flow! And, jets that would spray you out of the wall if you selected those settings. The room attendant was good and friendly, as expected.