This was our first Norwegian cruise so wasn't sure what to expect after experiencing Ocean Village, MSC and Celebrity cruises in the past. We were very impressed with the speed and efficiency of embarkation process which was better than we had experienced before especially when you bear in mind there are over 4000 passengers. You have to be a good walker to navigate this ship and with so many people on board sometimes found the lifts a little slow but this was only a little niggle. Luckily I had also read that red carpet was even numbered cabins and blue for odds so that did help.

The entertainment and bars were on decks 5, 6 and 7 and would say the variety and entertainment were the best we've seen on a cruise ship. We saw Pricilla Queen of the Dessert which was fantastic and my partner said it's the best thing he's seen at the theatre. Also Burn the Floor was amazing and the dancers were better than watching Strictly! It's best to try and either book these before you cruise online or from your cabin on the TV to ensure you get a set. We also spent time in Headliners Comedy Club where Howl at the Moon perform - a duo on pianos who take requests and sing them. The Cavern Club was also a good shout with live band although we didn't see the Beatles tribute. For night owls like us Bliss nightclub was a must where you can make some shapes on the dance floor!

There was plenty to do for everyone although when we went to the dance class it was in the Atrium and there were too many people. It would have been better in the theatre to accommodate everyone so we gave up on the lesson. There are also 2 big screens showing films, one in the Atrium and one up on the 15th deck at H20 reserved for adults only. The water slides were good fun and opened between 9am-6pm but a bit on the chilly side New Year's day! The hot tubs came in handy after that. Read more