I am a Norwegian Platinum Cruiser, and up until now I have always enjoyed and recommended cruising with Norwegian. This was my first cruise on their newer, larger class of vessels however, and if this new ship is any sign of NCL's future, then you can count me out.

Lets put it this way... If shopping at the Mall on Black Friday is something you enjoy, then this is the ship for you. Dense crowds of people everywhere you go inside the ship, elevators, hallways, shops and restaurants jammed with people. It takes forever get anywhere, there's no place to go, no room to breath. Who designed this Cattle Barge? Then there's the rap and techno playing everywhere, topside as well in public areas where live bands can usually be heard playing Island and party music etc. All this while constantly being hounded by this vessels Used Car Salesmen and Telemarketers trying to sell you something or sign you up for something. I go on vacation to get away from these people and this type of behavior, not to immerse myself in it even further.

Fortunately, I had booked a Haven Spa Suite on this trip, so I was able to escape the Wallet Plundering Matrix outside of the Haven. On the other hand, I also felt somewhat like a Prisoner of the Haven at the same time, unable to venture out and enjoy the other amenities offered throughout the vessel. On those occasions when we did try to explore the rest of the ship, we were quickly driven back, only to be Hounded one last time by someone from NCL standing outside the entrance to the Haven trying to sell us perfume, spa treatments, or something else. Read more