The following is the truth good and bad as given to me by someones dream. Free style cruising (what a joke). Time taken to get on and relative ease were fine. 4 total members in my family in one room. The wife, myself (50) and two children, one a young teen, and one a pre teen. We have all cruised many, many times prior to this one. This was our first cruse on Norwegian cruse line. I had read the many prior reviews and news items on the internet. As we were to be going for Thanksgiving,this cruise offered the itinerary I wanted. What you have here is the Jet Blue of cruising. I was led to believe there would be any time dining (joke). You either stand waiting when you want to eat or wait day in, day out to get reservations to eat. We had 4 beds in our room, 3 straight across and one bunk, now try to think of how you get up in the night without getting every one else up. On all other ships we had bunks on both sides leaving the center open. It was not that long ago a person tipped or did not tip based on service, and not that long ago Holland American cruse line had no tipping. I am trying to endeavor to teach my children the rewards of good work, but with forced tipping, it is now part of the cradle to grave mentality that people of the world feel there entitled to. 

Let us progress. The ship appeared to be in great shape. The idea of the Blue Lagoon (great). Ability to get ice cream from 11am to 4pm (great), though come on you should always have chocolate, which they did not. Let's see 700 plus kids should equal plenty of chocolate. Are there plenty of well timed games and prizes ?(no), but price for price you can buy something nice instead of winning luggage tags. Entertainment would rather watch Jeopardy. Magic act good, rest one trick pony's, would rather have TV. What appears as a well sized pool is only 1/2 that size, as the sides are blue tile and only 4" deep, if that. Also it is salt water not fresh. Kids clubs (joke). They hated it. You must sign them in and out even a 12 year old child each time (now try to make it to a show on time).

Some tips: any ship or cruise line that has you pay additional fees for restaurants, should be telling you our food is so bad you must pay extra to get passable food. Please read the prior two reviews.