I have nothing to compare this to since this was our first cruise. We purchased FTTF (Faster to the Fun) and found it got us past all the long lines on embarkation day. We were through security and on the ship in no time.
We checked into our ocean view cabin and was pleasantly surprised at the size. It wasn't huge by any means but I expected a much smaller and cramped space. The requested King bed wasn't there but was fixed the next day.
Once we were settled we decided to get the all you can drink soda package. We found out very quickly that if you're not a daily soda drinker in "real" life, you won't drink enough to make it worth the $24 per person. In addition to that, they add on a tip each time you order one so that was an additional .14 each time. Not like that's a lot, but if you order a lot, it adds up.
The cabin was larger than expected. The beds weren't overly comfortable but not the worst I'd ever slept on. The water in the shower was odd. It would randomly go from hot to cold for no reason. That made my normal 5 minute ish showers more like 2 minutes!
I found the embarkation and debarkation in N.O. pretty straight forward with no issues once off the ship. The staff was very nice and the directions on where to go were easy to read and understand. It was relatively painless.
We paid for an all inclusive stay at Mr. Sanchos for $50 per person. Unless you plan on drinking and eating yourself into oblivion it wasn't really worth the money. There were plenty of beach loungers but not nearly enough of them with umbrellas. The food was mediocre and the service lacking.