We arrived (group of 14) to the NY pier via party bus about noon. WE took elevator to the second floor to the NCL rope line. NCL Agent gave each family a number. We then proceeded to check in. At about 12:30 NCL started to call the numbers to board the ship. Went directly to Raffles Restaurant on deck #12 for buffet lunch. Food was Ok Hey its a buffet. We killed time exploring the ship to about 2 p.m. NCL ANNOUNCED THAT OUR Cabin was ready We put carry on luggage away. The cabin was good. WE had a balcony cabin all was great. The balcony was fine, the whole cabin was clean and well maintained. There was enough room for our "stuff". Other members of our family had inside cabins and they also had no complaints. At 4 p.m. we all went to 12th deck to leave N.Y. see Statue of Liberty and to start our cruise. The sky opened up thunder--lightening buckets of rain. It still was fun sailing out of NYC. Dinner--planning was a new experience for us we have cruised 6 or 7 times but this was first time on NCL. There were 14 of us from age 1 to 58 so planning dinner was a challenge. Windows Restaurant was a typical cruise ship dining room. Good food and service. The specialty restaurants--we ate at all of them--- not sure that they are really any better than Windows Restaurant. We think that meal planning especially for large group should be assigned a time each night in Windows Restaurant, then the group could adjust each night if a specialty Restaurant was on the agenda. Anyway we enjoyed all of the restaurants French was best for us. Steak house Cagney's and Italian were OK. Did not eat at sushi Restaurant. The Garden Restaurant is another version of Windows Restaurant pretty good. We did dress up twice for dinner,photos,and family fun. We never felt out of place many people dressed. Pool area--we were up early pool chairs were not really a problem. I was surprised that so many got up early for chairs. It worked out there were a lot of them. No pool side games but bands played all types of music all day long. There was a pool side cook out everyday or you could also eat at the buffet. Windows Restaurant was also open for table service lunch

Shows at night were good Some of our group played BINGO, some gambled, sang etc..we all had plenty to do. Younger members of our family spent time at the kiddie pool and played in the kiddie area. There was also a large video arcade for 10 year old. He also enjoyed the WII video game session on board each afternoon. One great part of this cruise was that we were at sea two days each way. VERY RELAXING!! We stopped at San Juan, Tortola, and Samamma Dominican Republic.

San Juan- walked thru city shopped some of the group went to Bicardi Rum Tour they liked it a lot. Tortola--we went to a beach at a resort (name??) but really not great. Dominican--we has a blast at the beach cost about $59 each and you also needed cash $$ on the island. We were tendered from ship to island. Two more days at sea back to NYC. Again very relaxing!!! Upon arrival to NYC PORT a Porter is an absolute must. He picked our bags up and we went thru customs quickly to our limo bus and home. Read more