This was our first NCL cruise for me (31) & DH (35). We've cruised RCCL (5 times), Carnival (1) & Celebrity (1). Overall our cruise was very nice. We got to the pier early so the lines were very small and it was quick going through security and getting signed in. Our room keys weren't ready yet, but we got them an hour or so later. Upon entering the ship you were not only encouraged to go to the buffet but the dining room as well. I had read that they tried to get you to not go to the dining room, that was not the case & to emphasize it more, they gave out cards to tell you to go to the dining room or buffet. This was the only time we went to the main dining room. Food: We only ate in the specialty restaurants at night. The service was great in every dining venue & the maitre d always came by to see if we were okay in every venue. Tequila's, this was worth the $10pp charge, the food was excellent, as were the margarita's from the bar, we went back to this bar to get more later in the cruise. The dessert was so good. Le Bistro - we went twice, food was amazing & worth every penny. Get the fondue! Mussels were excellent as was everything else. La Cucina - was okay, not my idea of real Italian food, if you get the risotto & have eaten risotto before, you'd understand, plus living in NYC it is hard to compare too, not worth the $10pp, I actually wouldn't go back if it was free. Cagney's - okay, I think we ordered the wrong steak as the perk with a penthouse suite, we got to eat at Cagney's for breakfast & my DH got steak and eggs a few times and that steak was excellent, other than the steak, the sides were SO tiny it was funny, yes we could have ordered more but then instead of 4 bowls, we would have had 16... Orchids - went twice, first time was excellent, on the last day it was just okay. The dim sum was good both times though. We went to Blue Lagoon twice for late lunch, the food was good but the service was horrible. It wasn't so much the waiters as the kitchen staff probably. The food didn't come out together, it was just very unorganized. Room - We had a romance suite. The bed was very hard but we had asked for an egg crate and that helped a little. We asked for a top sheet and got it the day we asked but after 2-3 days they decided we didn't need one anymore since we didn't get one again and by night it was too late, and then we just didn't ask. They always cleaned the room, but we had to ask for more soap, toilet paper that ran out. It wasn't great but just okay, they did the minimum. Butlers - Putu & Antonio were so nice, they were great! Concierge - Lisa was so friendly & helpful - she was great too!!

Service throughout the ship - everyone we encountered always said hello & sometimes would engage in conversation. Reception desk they weren't that friendly or helpful.

Dress - saw a lot of people dress up on the first "dress up or not" night. The rest of the cruise it was mixed although a lot wore nice pants or jeans & nice tops for dinner. Pools - there were seats all thought the ship, however after 10am, there was a hard time finding a chair on the upper deck or around the pool. So get there early if you want a chair! Read more